information matters

I watched a pretty cool documentary on iplayer about Stephen Hawking and one of his more controversial theories, found here.

Its mainly to do with a theory called the Information Paradox he made over 30 years ago about intrinsic information in matter, that when matter is taken in to a black hole, the information is lost - i.e no data can be retrieved, that matter is destroyed. Say for example if you smashed a chocolate egg even into millions of little pieces, you could (with time and an eye for pedantry) collect all the pieces and put it together again, to make the chocolate egg good as new. Not so with matter going into a black hole, so goes the theory, the matter just disappears. Its highly controversial and physicists have clamoured over proving him wrong. Why? Well, here's some of the implications if the theory was true, in Hawking's own words:

"Scientists usually assume there is a unique correspondence between the past and the future, cause and effect. But if information is lost, this is not the case. one wouldn't be able to predict the future with certainty, and one couldn't be sure what happened in the past."

In the end, scientists disregarded this paradox in favour of other more plausible explanations, and indeed Hawking conceded to say that he thought he was wrong too. However, I'm quite intrigued by what he said about loss of information - and it's implications.

"one couldn't be sure what happened in the past."

If matter information was lost, then there would be matter information that scientists would not be able to study, hence closing the door for being able to study everything about the universe, therefore giving a limit to the amount that we can study about the universe. Like if I was to read a book while the author was tipp-exing bits out just as you were reading it. We'd get bits of glorious understanding even if we had a whole page that was not tampered with, but unable to see the whole picture that the original book would give.

"one wouldn't be able to predict the future with certainty"

Equally the lack of information would hit hard on the end-time fire and brimstone zealots, who would as a result would not be able to predict an end time event based on the things that have already occurred, as we have not seen the full picture of the things that have already occurred, what with some of the information relating to the past being lost to black holes. You could even say that the most scientifically plausible origin of the universe, the big bang (one of Hawking's ideas) comes into question itself. Without the full information available before the black holes in the universe started taking them away, the start event of the universe could look a lot different than with the cue cards we've been given. It's difficult to understand just how much matter information could have been lost between a universe start event and the present time. What if it was over half, or even more, and our universe is a dead husk compared to many many years ago? Or, what if the amount is so minimal that we have the picture of the universe like a 1000 piece puzzle with only one piece missing?

Either way, all these 'ifs' come from the perspective of matter information being lost, which, as I have mentioned, is not accepted in scientific circles as a viable way to approach black hole physics. But I am glad that a product of Stephen Hawking's thinking has provided a backdrop for discussion into a potential limit to human scientist discovery and a dent to Christian know-it-all pride, all in one fell swoop.

don't get cocky, kid - all christians are looters.

In this crisis, I've been constantly reminded of the status of the Christian and of grace.
Christians are Christians not by merit or through being good, but because of the cross, by the act of Jesus taking on our sins and paying the punishment of death for them, that we may live without our debt of sin. So, this gift of grace, of second chances, of a new life walking with God, starts with a gift Given to us by God.

It is a gift that came from a great battle and victory won by God against sin and death. Humanity as the spectators get the chance to wear his name, and receive this gift of grace and favour, as if it were spoils of war, akin to looting the dead of their possessions. What God has given us is unmerited, we did not deserve to have it, nor were we entitled to it, in the same way that a rioter has no rightful entitlement to someone else's possessions without paying. It was an act of God's mercy that we should ever be called Christians, and as Christ followers we live in the blessing and the spoil of a great war won on our behalf. We couldn't win any battle against sin without God.

Because of this identity, I can look at the people rioting in England in a different light. Not one of hatred, although no one can like what is going on, but also look upon the rioters with a sense of sadness and loss, that they aren't won for God - yet. They chose their plunder to be earthly possessions and, unless God moves, it will be their own undoing. They look to gain what the world offers, at the expense of their soul. They too were looking for the things that they don't deserve. As they chose to base it on perishable things, then "even what they have will be taken away from them". After all, who can keep their possessions after death? Can we pray for a reversal, that they would seek after the things of the Lord, "that moth and rust will not destroy, that theives will not break in and steal?" Christians receive mercy and grace on a daily basis. Christians don't deserve it, rioters and looters dont deserve it, but the offer is open to all, that it may change all of our hearts.

the riots

It difficult not to have some kind of response to what has been going on in London and elsewhere in the past couple of days. It brings out so many emotions - anger, annoyance, regret, shame, despair, that it took a good sleep or ten to figure out just what I think about the whole situation, and what I feel, eventually.

So in the news, I've seen the family members of Mark Duggan calling for calm, and indeed stressed in their night vigil with regards to their dead family member, that things should not go to violence. It was never their intent.

However, I know from myself, and from the bible, that sin doesnt need an excuse to manifest itself.

"There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins." Ecclesiastes - 7:20

Sin starts at home, because its the starting nature of mankind. I can see the riots as hideous, an abomination, and abject lawlessness, but that doesn't stop the idea that, it could have been me.

"For one look at yourself, take ten looks at Christ" - Robert Murray M'Cheyne

I could've had their background, their social pressures, the isolation and alienation from the rest of society, that would trigger this expression of human depravity. Surely as much as these rioters are morally deprived, so am I. Blessed and cursed am I that this human nature is more subtle in me, and doesn't resort to smashing windows for my next purchase. But I cannot deny the sinful nature's power, on the whole of mankind, and when I yield, in me too, though Christ works with blood sweat and tears to reverse the process in me. The only one who, hand on heart, could truly say they wouldn't have rioted in their situation, is Jesus Christ.

Also, such an explicit demonstration of violence and wrongdoing is a stark reminder of that there must be something wrong. A symptom never appears from being well. Our society is not at its best. We could have pride in our hearts for seeing the recent events of the violence in the arab spring and say "that would never happen in my country" and let it serve whatever racist aims there is in such thinking, but here it is, looting and violence on our doorstep. Its not a revolution, as much as the free love movement of the 60's wasn't a revolution, it was just sin with a new name, just as this "free stuff movement" is. People don't like diagnoses when they describe something bad, but what will it take for people to see that theres something not right with humanity in the way it seeks things for their own ends and not others, seeks not God, but seeks to be Gods themselves?

My response however, cannot be despair. Never despair. God grants second chances to all who would take them. Yes rioters. Rioters and me in equal measure. In the bible, Simon Peter had a bit of the rioter spirit in him, and look what God did in him.

Jesus said of Peter, "on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."

Jesus' mission was for the destitute and those who were deprived.

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:17-19

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Psalm 147:3

God has the potential in him to swing this around, turn chaos into calm, turn a heart bent on destruction to one that looks on the Lord. It is still his world, and he is still on his throne. He never relinquished control. He allows through the free will built into humanity the ability for people to carry out their choices, for good or ill, but he does not stand by uncaring. He weeps when a country reels.

My response has to be prayer. To seek what God already seeks, restoration, and a chance to show his mercy. He suffers just as much as we do. A god on the cross knows suffering on behalf of all the sins of the world. He personally knows the weight of the lawlessness of his creation, and willingly took it. So he can willingly intervene and play a part in this situation London and elsewhere finds itself in.