Question

Answer 

Religion and Cosmology

A part from its poetic appeal and universal accessibility, The Hidden Heart of the Cosmos written by cosmologist Brian Swimme affords multi-dimensional perspectives to critics if compared to western religions. The essay aims to compare the proposed theories in the book with Christianity and determine whether this new cosmology would be accepted by religions. Quoting lines from the book to concretize the argument, the essay would conclude with a proper conjecture about t
he parallels in scientific theories and religious beliefs.

The parallels with Christianity is observed at the very outset with the author noting that  “Science is not the same as cosmology, even when a cosmology is deeply informed by science. Cosmology is the story of the birth, development, and destiny of the universe, told with the aim of assisting humans in their task of identifying their roles within the great drama”( Swimme, 2017 page:98). Christianity, as observed in the different version of the Holy Bible is the story of the world’s inception, of Mankind’s fall, and the resurrection of the Almighty’s son to assist human beings in their way of life (Garrette: volume 2). Both the Bible and Swimme’s book echoes similar thoughts in the belief that the Universe has a center (God in the bible and consciousness in the book); and everything else is a manifestation of exploring that.

Simme’s theory would be well received by religions simply on account of its acknowledgement of art, philosophy and religious beliefs. As the author declares: “Cosmology is a wisdom tradition drawing upon not just science but religion and art and philosophy. Its principle aim is not the gathering of facts and theories as the transformation of the human.  Cosmology aims at embedding a human being in the numinous dynamics of our solar system” ( Swimm, 2017 page:31)The Bible was written with the intention of showing people the right way of leading life; a considerable section of the holy book talks about the virtues of human beings and dictates followers to abstain from the vices.

Like most religions, Christianity aims to instill in people a zeal for living life meaningfully, resorting to ethical means of survival. The book is keen on portraying the relationships of man with different species of the planet and how everything is interlinked to an almighty existence. Simme echoes similar opinions when he says, “Our natural genetic inheritance presents us with the possibility of farming deeply banded relationships throughout all the ten million species of life as well as throughout the non-living components of the universe. Cosmology, when it is alive and healthy in a culture, evokes in the human a deep zest for life”.(Swimme, 2017. Page:36)

The Old Testament of the Bible dedicates most of its content to discussing the story of creation. The time and state before creation is described in the Bible as a dark and empty infinity (Edersheim, 2013). The sun is considered the source of life, the magnificent haven that radiates energy. It is because of the universality of the concepts presented in the book, that it will be willingly accepted by religions. The thoughts are in accordance and harmony with the religious sentiments, especially when it comes to the descriptions of the earth and its creator:

“The path of white that we are dreamily contemplating has the power of gods”( Swimme, 2017. Page:53).  

Most religious beliefs draw heavily from the myths associated with the celestial figures for teaching the followers on the principles. The author echoes similar thoughts in his assertion that “In a culture where cosmology is living, children are taught by the Sun and the Moon, the rainfall and the sunlight….”(Swimme, 2017 page:42)

There is a mention of an Abysmal chasm, an infinite dimension that is not to be explored by finite beings. This infinity is the creator who nourishes the species on the planet. The book holds similar thoughts in the belief that the universe was created out of the Big Bang and had been ever since endowed with regenerative potentials : “The universe emerges out of an all-nourishing abyss…. Not a thing, nor a collection of things…but rather a power that gives birth and that absorbs existence at a thing’s annihilation” (Swimme, 2017. page:100).

Bibliography:

Bird, Michael F. The Gospel of the Lord: How the Early Church Wrote the Story of Jesus. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2014.

Edersheim, Alfred. Bible History: Old Testament. Ravenio Books, 2013.

Konradt, Matthias, et al. Israel, Church, and the Gentiles in the Gospel of Matthew. Baylor University Press, 2014.

Swimme, Brian Thomas. The hidden heart of the cosmos: Humanity and the new story. Orbis Books, 2017.

Wyatt, Nicolas. The mythic mind: essays on cosmology and religion in Ugaritic and Old Testament literature. Routledge, 2014.