A sermon revised for Pathway Church, A Unitarian Universalist Community in Southlake, TX
November 25, 2007
The Rev. Kathryn A Schmitz
Story before the sermon: Earth had a Challenging Childhood by Connie Barlow
(http://thegreatstory.org/ChallengingChildhood.html)
Meditation: Out of the Stars by Robert T. Weston (#530 in Singing the Living Tradition)
14 billion years ago something happened. Something quite amazing.
And that something, often referred to as the Big Bang, has been unfolding ever since then, bringing the universe, including us, to where we are today.
The story of the universe is quite a story.
So is the story of the science leading up to our current understanding of the universe.
I want to begin this morning with a few comments about our universe, and our understanding of it. I’d then like to use these as a way setting up a consideration of our many ways of understanding life in general.
To begin, I need to acknowledge two sources of information. The first is the book The Big Bang: The Origin of the Universe by Simon Singh. It tells the history of the science behind the Big Bang Theory. The second source I am drawing on is the work of two people who are promoting the idea of viewing the story of the universe as sacred story. I have had several opportunities to hear them speak. They are Connie Barlow, a science writer and Michael Dowd, an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. This husband and wife team believes that scientific story of the universe can become the common creation story uniting all humankind.
Now, if you are like I was before reading Simon Sigh’s book, you may have a general idea of what the Big Bang refers to but none of the details. 500 pages later, I know a lot more of the details, but fortunately for you, it is not necessary to know them for what I am going to talk about.
What I would like you to know is that today, the vast majority of scientists subscribe to the Big Bang Model of the Universe. This is a model which says that, at a time currently estimated to be about 14 billion years ago, everything we know of was contained in a tiny space – or perhaps a point – and then it began expanding outward to become the Universe as we know it today – and still it continues to expand. That’s what scientists think they know.
Here are some things that scientist do not know.
What was happening just before this expansion started?
What started this expansion?
Will the expansion ever stop?
Is there anything beyond this “everything” that is expanding?
Scientists do not know the answers to these questions. Will they some day? Perhaps. Or perhaps some of it will remain a mystery.
Let’s back up.
Every human society has, and has had, ideas and stories about where world came from and where people come from. These stories are important because they help define the role of people in the world and therefore influence the assumptions and structures of society.
There is perhaps a tendency among us modern folks to view ancient explanations as quaint. But I would suggest that we would be well advised to consider what limited tools they worked with.
Consider this fact! When most of the world’s major religions were founded, the prevailing world view was that the world was flat. That the sun revolved – somehow – around the earth – which was the center of the universe. That the earth was covered with the dome of the sky. And in that dome were tiny holes, pin pricks that we call stars, through which the light of God or the Gods would shine at night.
Quaint, perhaps, but it served their purposes.
Consider this, just 100 years ago, scientists believed that our galaxy, the Milky Way, was the whole universe. It was 1923 (only 84 years ago) when it was discovered that this was not true. Our galaxy is just one of billions of galaxies each with billions of stars. Huge changes in our understanding within a human life time.
Several decades earlier than that, in 1894, Albert Michelson, a scientist who had contributed greatly to our understanding of the cosmos had said in a speech, “The most important fundamental laws and facts of physical science have all been discovered, and these are now so firmly established that the possibility of their ever being supplemented … (by) new discoveries is exceedingly remote…(Singh, 267).
This man, who was America’s first Nobel Laureate in physics (Singh, 94), was more than a little bit wrong. Within his lifetime, and throughout the last century, dramatic changes in our understanding of the universe have occurred.
Although Big Bang type models were presented in the 1920’s they were initially dismissed. Albert Einstein, for example, directed withering comments to one young upstart who promoted it. Einstein would later eat his words. He and other brilliant scientists, who began their careers young anti-establishment upstarts, often became the very establishment they urged forward. Their attitude toward the new theories of the latest brilliant minds could make or break careers – Could propel our understanding forward or hold it back. Throughout the history of science, it has sometimes been necessary to simple wait for a generation of scientist to die off and a new one to arise before new models could be adopted. But this is not to say the every new model was the right one.
Simon Singh’s history begins with ancient Greeks and comes right up to just a couple years ago. He shows how model after model of the universe competed for acceptance. There is mistake after mistake, miscalculations and errant theories, insufficient equipment and inadequate tools. And yet, Singh reminds us time and time again that each attempt moved humankind one step closer to our current model. Even failed experiments and disproved theories deepened our understanding. Let us not condemn those willing to do the experiments and propose the theories. Rather let us rejoice that there have been those with courage and stamina to engage this process.
After being proposed in the 1920’s, and named in the 1950’s, it was 1992, when one of the last of the significant outstanding questions regarding the Big Bang was answered. Just 15 years ago. It convinced the majority of the holdouts in the scientific community.
So are we ready, now, in the year 2007, to declare that we have the one right model that will stand the test of time? It does seem that each generation likes to think that it is the pinnacle of civilization. That while all who came before had missed a piece of the puzzle, this time, we really have it.
I, for one, am ready to make no such claim.
The universe is expanding and evolving. And so is our understanding of the universe.
The universe shows no sign of stopping anytime soon.
I don’t think our understanding of the universe is likely to stop expanding and evolving either.
Whether we are talking about exploring the farthest reaches of space or the details of subatomic particles there is so much more to know.
And in between the very large and the very small, the same is also true.
Our knowledge continues to expand and evolve in every area of human endeavor – not only in the hard sciences but in our understanding of education, human development, psychology and sociology. We are increasing our understanding of ourselves as global citizens and this means expanding and evolving our understanding of our place in the world and our assumption about how we ought to live.
At all levels we are expanding and evolving. Sometimes in fits and starts. Sometimes with experiments that fail and theories that do not hold up under rigorous testing. But the learning goes on. And may we not condemn ourselves and each other for our failed attempts but rather hope for the courage and stamina to go on.
Given all this, we are fortunate to be part of a liberal religious tradition. For one of the defining characteristics of liberal religious traditions is the ability and willingness to adapt to new learning.
For us revelation is not sealed.
There are no answers either written down or pronounced, that must be accepted in face of new truth to the contrary.
Religious truth is, for each of us, a life long journey. With new discoveries ever possible.
This does not mean that we have no religious truths with which to live today.
Just as each generation of scientists made good use of that which was available in their day, so we live our lives the best we know how.
Each of us holds, within our hearts and heads, a model of the world. And we use that model as we strive to be just and fair, compassionate and loving. We use it to help us to make good choices and to navigate life’s difficult waters.
Most of the time we are using this model unconsciously. Yet, through all of our experiences it is being constantly updated to conform ever more closely to the realities that we have discovered.
Because for us revelation is not sealed, there are many sources of wisdom upon which we can draw. We are not restricted to a certain book, or prophet, or even religious tradition. All of the world is available to us.
Because this is not an idea that is shared by all religions it may be helpful to introduce or review a series of statements that are known as the Unitarian Universalist Association Sources.
You will find them on the insert in your Order of Worship.
The sources are found in the UUA bylaws, adjacent to the more commonly referred to UUA Principle. While the Principles are an interesting description of some of our commonly held values, the Sources are a description of some of our common ways of understanding.
Let me say just a few words about each of these sources. I hope they will serve to demonstrate what I mean about the many places we might search for religious truth.
We begin with:
Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life;
What causes you to feel awe, wonder, mystery? Looking through a telescope and seeing that there really is a ring around Saturn. Beholding the miracle of birth. Being present at the mystery of death. Digging your hands into the ground as you prepare a garden. Listening to beautiful music. Feeling your heart swell with love.
When we experience awe, wonder, mystery we have not only the gift of that experience itself, which might well be enough, but we have a tendency to become more open to the lessons that life has to offer. And since we are unlikely to ever know it all, rather than seeing the unknown as something to fear, we can cultivate a deep appreciation for the mystery with which we live and allow it to strengthen rather than weaken us.
The next source listed is:
Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion and the transforming power of love;
Just as each scientist who helped to develop the Big Bang theory built on what had come before, so we too have the opportunity to learn from those who have gone before. We can listen to the historical voices, the Gandhis and the Kings, whose words still call to us.
Have all of those who stand as models for us been perfect? Have they gotten everything right? Oh, certainly not. And yet they have nudged us in the direction of the beloved community for which we yearn.
And we can listen to those who speak to us today. Those who can articulate the issues facing our society and the world. And who remind us that the creation of a just and fair society will take the efforts of us all.
The third source listed is:
Wisdom from the world's religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;
This source reflects a belief that while no one has the whole truth, many have a piece of it. When we look to the various religious traditions of the world we can choose to look at the worst they have to offer and dismiss them, or we can look at the best the have to offer and be inspired. As I mentioned earlier, most of the major religious traditions of the world developed at times when people had access to much less knowledge, and yet throughout the ages these traditions have tried and tested much. It is a gift to us if we look to the best of what they have to offer.
Fourth,
Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God's love by loving our neighbor as ourselves;
The Jewish and Christian teachings are called out separately in part out of respect for the fact that they are the historical roots of Unitarian Universalism. In each of these sources, I understand there to be a piece of evolution at play. In the first sources we saw the renewal of life, in the second the transforming power of love, in third the wisdom of the world’s traditions tested in the crucible of centuries.
In this fourth source, which calls us to respond to God’s love by loving our neighbor as ourselves, I see our evolving understanding of ourselves as citizens of the world. We are expanding the circle of who we mean when we say “neighbor.” Once upon a time, your neighbors were the people in your village.
Now, as evidenced, for example, our increasing awareness of the lives and conditions of people around the globe, our neighborhood has become very large, indeed, the whole world.
Fifth,
Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit.
As we have been talking about the knowledge we gain from science evolves. The use of reason and the continuing learnings of science are critical as we try to have an honest picture of the world in which we live. Reason and science balance well with some our other ways of knowing – both need each other. As Albert Einstein said, “Science can only ascertain what is, but not what should be, and outside of its domain valve judgments of all kinds remain necessary. (Singh, 496)
Lastly, the most recently added source reads:
Spiritual teachings of Earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature. (added G.A.1994)
This source brings us to the source of life itself and encourages us to learn our lessons there.
The addition of this source, in the mid-1990’s, also reflects the evolving nature of this list. As I mentioned, it is a part of the by-laws of the Unitarian Universalist Association. The by-laws can be updated by a democratic process involving the delegates of the member congregation. This list of sources is itself meant to evolve and change. This is why the first line refers to our tradition as a living tradition. Because it is something alive and growing.
This list is a list of possibilities. It is meant to be descriptive not prescriptive. That is, it is meant to describe the sources that many U-U-s draw on, and is in no way meant to imply that we should limit ourselves to these sources. Some of us will draw more on some sources than others.
For myself I know that I would like to add another source. It would be something to do with life in community. There is something about the gifts and challenges of being part of a community – the communities within our congregations for sure, but our others communities as well – There is something about the gifts and challenges of being part of a community that deeply informs my spiritual life. It is in communities such as this that we can safely learn to be in greater dialogue with others, that we share our talents and learn to new skills, that can explore together, that we can risk sharing ourselves, and that we can deepen our compassion. Life, experienced in community, can strengthen us and inspire us in ways that go far beyond the community itself.
By the way, the term Big Bang was actually created by an opponent of the Model. When he was on a BBC program he repeatedly referred to it with distain as the “Big Bang idea.” (Singh, 352)
That was 1950 and the name caught on quickly with people on all sides of the debate.
Connie Barlow and Michael Dowd, the speakers I mentioned earlier, have a different name for the Big Bang. Connie and Michael prefer to call it the Great Radiance.
They base this choice on the importance of language and imagery. Since everything in the universe is a result of this “Big Bang” event, whatever you call it, and we, people, are part of the universe, than we are also a result of the event.
For Connie and Michael, calling it the Big Bang would seem to make us shrapnel.
So Connie and Michael prefer to call it the Great Radiance.
I tend to like the term Great Radiance, too.
I like the idea of being part of something radiating light, outward, expanding, and evolving.
I like being part of our universe and life on planet Earth.
I like being part of the human race.
I like being part of a liberal religious tradition, a living tradition in which we can grow and learn.
May you, too, find yourself radiating light, growing outward, expanding, and evolving in this chaotic and wonderful adventure that we call life.