Business University

Right after high school in May 1971, I couldn't wait to get out from under my parents control and out on my own. I had no idea where, what or why? My father suggested while I was thinking about my future I attend the College of Santa Fe and spend some time with the Benedictine Monks in Pecos, New Mexico. Sounded like a plan and since I didn't have one of my own, I moved into the Monastery and enrolled at CSF. My fall semester classes at CSF included Philosophy, Chemistry and Biology. The rest of my day at the Monastery was filled with work and prayer. Did I have a clue yet? No.

Having an ideology of self-worth, significance in the Universe, and a sense of essence is important to many young adults. In the 60's and 70's these questions were being asked by young and old alike. It hasn't changed much and today young adults want to know the truth. I too wanted answers. It seemed to me that I was in a spiritual dessert looking for that spring, the source of life. To that end I studied science, philosophy, and the 'Hall of Fame' of spiritual and philosophical leaders such as Jesus, Moses, Mohammed, Buddha, Gandhi, Plato, Socrates and Aristotle.

One day I was frustrated at what seemed a battle between the spiritual and the physical, like one could exist and not the other - in the end only one would survive! I had just finished Siddhartha, a novel by Hermann Hesse, required reading for my Philosophy class. At the same time I had my biology text on the table opened to the picture of the atom. I had a Bible there in case I got bored with the other stuff. I remember asking, "I just want the truth: Is that too much to ask for?" At the moment the question was directed at no one and someone was listening. I picked up the Bible and inserted a finger between pages and began reading at Romans Chapter 1, verse 20 (a 2,000 year old text), "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse." Basically, there is evidence of a Creator God in creation and there is no excuse for being blind to this. Wow, coincidence. I flipped the pages and at random read Psalm 19:1 (a 4,000 year old text), "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handywork."

In consideration of the biblical text juxtaposed to the picture of the atom - both in my viewing - what I understood at that moment has changed my eternal perspective. I understood, for once I really got it. As we all learn in science the atom is made up of (mainly) three particles: protons, electrons and neutrons. Protons are a positive charge, electron a negative charge, and neutrons have no charge - they are neutral. There is a nucleus consisting of only neutrons and protons (see picture on the right). Electrons then circle the nucleus evenly being attracted by electrostatic force and gravitational pull to the protons and with an equal force of inertia, amazingly held to an orbit. This part follows the rules of science to a 'T'. The marvel here exists in the conflict of the laws of science that exist within the nucleus.

In today's scientific journals scientists identify an unexplained 'nuclear force'. They know this holding force exists and have theories about it. They have yet to prove in a lab what keeps the protons in the nucleus 'glued' together. Coulomb's law declares that like charges repel each other. This has been observed as early as 600 BC by the Greeks, but was formulated precisely, in the 18th century AD, by Coulomb who made large number of quantitative and systematic observations. There does exist a force between all charged bodies according to this law. Yet, unexplained outside the bible, neutrons and protons make up the nucleus of every atom - glued together without the protons repelling each other. What possible force exists that so powerfully holds all of creation in place against such a repelling force? For all our technology and learning they cannot to this day say just what exactly this force is. Ask any PhD. level Physicist. I have and it can be a frustrating experience.

When science has succeeded in separating the atom through fusion or fission, the resulting release of power has had devastating consequences. Nagasaki and Hiroshima were two cities in Japan leveled by the splitting of the nucleus of the atom. That so powerful nuclear force that science is yet to explain with certainty the bible defines with clarity.

Inside the Atom