DIVINE ENERGY: DIVINE ENERGY: QUANTUM MECHANICS, QUANTUM MECHANICS, PSYCHOTHERAPY, AND PSYCHOTHERAPY, AND

WORLD RELIGIONSWORLD RELIGIONS(in reference to St. Gregory (in reference to St. Gregory

Palamas)Palamas)

According to D. M. RogichAccording to D. M. Rogich

Presentation by Liza TanczykPresentation by Liza Tanczyk

Theology 3306Theology 3306

November 21, 2013November 21, 2013

STRUCTURE OF PRESENTATIONSTRUCTURE OF PRESENTATION

THE SCIENCE OF ENERGYTHE SCIENCE OF ENERGY Energy in modern theoretical quantum mechanics (to p. 184)Energy in modern theoretical quantum mechanics (to p. 184)

THEOLOGY – PHYSICS DIALOGUETHEOLOGY – PHYSICS DIALOGUE Palamite energy and quantum theory. Dialogue on energy: Teilhard Palamite energy and quantum theory. Dialogue on energy: Teilhard

and Cobband Cobb

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CREATOR AND CREATIONRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CREATOR AND CREATION Jesus: the divine personification of E = mcJesus: the divine personification of E = mc22

PALAMITE COSMOLOGYPALAMITE COSMOLOGY Energy, time, space: hesychast christology and physicsEnergy, time, space: hesychast christology and physics

CRITISICMS OF PALAMISMCRITISICMS OF PALAMISM Same title as above, plus Same title as above, plus ““Aristotelian Aristotelian ““createdcreated”” categories categories””

PALAMAS RESONATES WITH MODERN PHYSICSPALAMAS RESONATES WITH MODERN PHYSICS Quantum theory supports the divine energy conceptQuantum theory supports the divine energy concept

EAST-WEST DEBATEEAST-WEST DEBATE Updating: Uniting the Greek East with the Latin West on (uncreated) Updating: Uniting the Greek East with the Latin West on (uncreated)

gracegrace

PSYCHOTHERAPY AND HESYCHASMPSYCHOTHERAPY AND HESYCHASM Same titleSame title

HESYCHASM VIS-À-VIS EASTERN RELIGIONSHESYCHASM VIS-À-VIS EASTERN RELIGIONS The mysticism of world religions and hesychast christologyThe mysticism of world religions and hesychast christology

Follows reading chronologically. Slide titles simplified. RogichFollows reading chronologically. Slide titles simplified. Rogich ’’s original titles in s original titles in small print .small print .

THE SCIENCE OF ENERGYTHE SCIENCE OF ENERGY

Energy and mass are not two separate Energy and mass are not two separate things – they interpenetrate.things – they interpenetrate.

E = mcE = mc2 2

c = speed of light; reduce c, and m increasesc = speed of light; reduce c, and m increases Wave-particle duality Wave-particle duality

Distinction between matter and energy becomes Distinction between matter and energy becomes fuzzy around speed of lightfuzzy around speed of light

NewtonNewton’’s Laws of Motion: a body changes s Laws of Motion: a body changes according to exterior forces.according to exterior forces.

Quantum mechanics: a body changes Quantum mechanics: a body changes according to ever-present interior energy.according to ever-present interior energy.

THEOLOGY – PHYSICS DIALOGUETHEOLOGY – PHYSICS DIALOGUE Some physicists are starting to recognize the need Some physicists are starting to recognize the need

to factor to factor ““consciousnessconsciousness”” into laws of physics into laws of physics Theologians are also considering science parallels Theologians are also considering science parallels e.g. Tielhard:e.g. Tielhard: ““There is a single energy operating in the worldThere is a single energy operating in the world””

– It occurs in two forms:It occurs in two forms:

1.1. TangentiTangential al

Causes Causes physical physical effecteffect

Results in Results in creationcreation

2. Radial2. Radial

Draws creation Draws creation forwardforward

UncreatedUncreatedZone of Zone of

participation of participation of creation in the creation in the

DivineDivine

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CREATORRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CREATORAND CREATIONAND CREATION

Incarnation – duality of energy and mass Incarnation – duality of energy and mass reach their unified potential.reach their unified potential.

Personal God works through uncreated Personal God works through uncreated energies on physical worldenergies on physical world

God is not distant but co-minglingGod is not distant but co-mingling Created nature is not ontologically Created nature is not ontologically

autonomous – it was created to participate autonomous – it was created to participate in Godin God

K. Ware: K. Ware: ““God did not set the universe in God did not set the universe in motion and leave it to tick on its own. motion and leave it to tick on its own. Creation is continuous and present.Creation is continuous and present.””

PALAMITE COSMOLOGYPALAMITE COSMOLOGY

GodGod’’s energy is converted to physicality. s energy is converted to physicality. Part of it attaches to the creation. Part of it attaches to the creation.

This is the This is the ““image of Godimage of God”” within. within. Human and divine energies co-mingle, Human and divine energies co-mingle,

bringing about theosis.bringing about theosis. Purpose of Incarnation was to re-activate Purpose of Incarnation was to re-activate

divine energy in humans.divine energy in humans. Theosis is not brought about by an Theosis is not brought about by an

individualindividual’’s imitation of God.s imitation of God. Because theosis is beyond space and time, Because theosis is beyond space and time,

it can start while still in this world.it can start while still in this world.

CRITICISMS OF PALAMISMCRITICISMS OF PALAMISM

Aristotelian Aristotelian ““substance metaphysicssubstance metaphysics””: God : God and creature are ontologically distinct, and creature are ontologically distinct, interact as separate autonomous entities.interact as separate autonomous entities.

Man can be sanctified by created, not Man can be sanctified by created, not uncreated grace.uncreated grace.

Aristotelian view is from Aristotelian view is from ““OutsideOutside””, , Palamite view from Palamite view from ““InsideInside””..

Critics of Palamas are uncomfortable Critics of Palamas are uncomfortable because he is not being clear-cut.because he is not being clear-cut.

Palamas: Answers to existence are not in Palamas: Answers to existence are not in intellectual concepts but in intellectual concepts but in ““direct non-direct non-conceptual experience inexpressible in conceptual experience inexpressible in language and philosophical constructlanguage and philosophical construct””.9.9

PALAMAS RESONATES WITH MODERN PALAMAS RESONATES WITH MODERN PHYSICSPHYSICS

Uncreated energy is changeless, appears in various Uncreated energy is changeless, appears in various forms, is real and indestructible (is conserved).forms, is real and indestructible (is conserved).

It is the It is the ““consciousness of matterconsciousness of matter”” that pervades that pervades the universe.the universe.

Divine (radial) energies draw participant into Divine (radial) energies draw participant into encounter with God.encounter with God.

There is no There is no ““gapgap”” between them and God between them and God’’s essence.s essence. Physical energy manifests itself in different forms Physical energy manifests itself in different forms

that can be observed and measured (light, heat).that can be observed and measured (light, heat). But energy But energy ““writ largewrit large”” – the source from where all – the source from where all

the manifestations come – is not readily the manifestations come – is not readily observable.observable.

This can be used as a way of understanding the This can be used as a way of understanding the difference between essence and energies in difference between essence and energies in Palamite theology.Palamite theology.

EAST – WEST DEBATEEAST – WEST DEBATE The impasse between East and West is about The impasse between East and West is about

the essence and energies of God. the essence and energies of God. Divine essence is unknowable, yet energies Divine essence is unknowable, yet energies

are manifestations of the essence.are manifestations of the essence. If all beings can participate in God, He If all beings can participate in God, He

becomes multi-hypostatic.becomes multi-hypostatic. Palamas indicates that experience of divine Palamas indicates that experience of divine

light is temporary.light is temporary. Participation does not result in a permanent Participation does not result in a permanent

union with God. union with God. Hence the West (Aquinas) considers that the Hence the West (Aquinas) considers that the

beatific vision cannot happen until the next beatific vision cannot happen until the next life.life.

PSYCHOTHERAPY AND HESYCHASMPSYCHOTHERAPY AND HESYCHASM

Mind techniques can elicit physiological response Mind techniques can elicit physiological response of relaxation.of relaxation.

The Jesus prayer is not a therapeutic method, but The Jesus prayer is not a therapeutic method, but a means to go beyond the mind to experience the a means to go beyond the mind to experience the reality of God.reality of God.

Is consciousness physical; does it reside in the Is consciousness physical; does it reside in the brain, or is embedded in other cells of the body?brain, or is embedded in other cells of the body?

Is it a property of an independent mind / soul?Is it a property of an independent mind / soul? Palamas: Soul gets its immortality from the Palamas: Soul gets its immortality from the

uncreated image that resides in the Nousuncreated image that resides in the Nous Created consciousness is the neurophysiology of Created consciousness is the neurophysiology of

the brainthe brain Uncreated consciousness is the image of God Uncreated consciousness is the image of God

within.within.

HESYCHASM VIS-À-VIS EASTERN HESYCHASM VIS-À-VIS EASTERN RELIGIONSRELIGIONS

Palamas on mystical ascent: Palamas on mystical ascent: ““One does not ascend by One does not ascend by reason or by transcendental meditation, but by the reason or by transcendental meditation, but by the power of the Holy Spirit. The intellect listens to power of the Holy Spirit. The intellect listens to inexpressible words and sees the invisibleinexpressible words and sees the invisible””..

In contrast to other Eastern religions, this process is In contrast to other Eastern religions, this process is not achieved by the meditator. not achieved by the meditator.

Hinduism and Buddhism seek to attain a state of Hinduism and Buddhism seek to attain a state of nothingness through the efforts of the meditator.nothingness through the efforts of the meditator.

The goal of the meditation is a union with the divine The goal of the meditation is a union with the divine accompanied by a loss of personal individuality.accompanied by a loss of personal individuality.

In hesychasm the object of contemplation is God, not In hesychasm the object of contemplation is God, not nothingness, and does not end in impersonalism. nothingness, and does not end in impersonalism.