Scientists have studied the material world for centuries, and perhaps millennia, trying to understand the nature of matter and the natural processes of the universe and our planet. However, the one thing that has nearly always left them without explanation is the existence of consciousness. In the most recent centuries scientists have held that consciousness is a by product of complex biological systems such as human beings and some rather complex and advance animal life. Being a byproduct, it is viewed as merely a neurochemical induced state of awareness to increase an organism's chances for survival and reproduction. But this answer has proven time and time again not to be sufficient to explain the deeper aspects of consciousness such as self-awareness, relative awareness, emotion, intuition (gut feeling), etc. As a result, the origins and mechanics of the reality of consciousness has been beyond the scope of materialist scientific theory.
However, after discovering the mind bending world of quantum physics and how consciousness actually interfaces with the material world on a sub-atomic level, new theories have been being put forward. One such theory is known as "panpsychism". In the beginning it was merely theory offered on the fringe of the scientific community. However, the theory is becoming more and more mainstream. Panpsychism proposes that "consciousness" is an inherent natural aspect of the universe itself. And so, at the most basic level, consciousness itself pervades the known cosmos, only being outwardly manifest at higher levels in complex organisms. As a result conscious potential exists in all things at all levels and becomes a singularity of vantage point in complex beings. And so, according to this theory, atoms, rocks, trees, mountains, planets, and even stars have some level of consciousness. Here is a quote from this article where physicist Gregory Matloff expounds a little on his take of this theory:
"Gregory Matloff’s ideas are shocking. The veteran physicist at New York City College of Technology recently published a paper arguing that humans may be like the rest of the universe in substance and in spirit. A 'proto-consciousness field' could extend through all of space, he argues. Stars may be thinking entities that deliberately control their paths. Put more bluntly, the entire cosmos may be self-aware."
https://futurism.com/could-universe-conscious/
It appears that the deeper scientists peer into the nature of reality, the stranger and stranger things become until science itself begins to sound more metaphysical/spiritual. In the end, clearly all things point to their being a God. Science cannot ever escape this. However, now they are considering the possibility of existential conscious realities existing in rocks, trees, mountains, and even stars... each a part of a single "proto-consciousness field". It sounds more like the old idea of a "cosmic consciousness" to me. But it differs in that it is viewed as an inherent property in the physical universe's nature.
Here's my issue. If something like this were true... would not the Bible state or imply such?
What are your thoughts on this strange theory and how it compares to biblical truth?
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