The Spiritual World in The Eyes of Science

I have written a few articles on the mysteries of life and about the soul here in this blog.

But I do not think science can ever detect the presence of a soul in a physical body, let alone measure it. Neither can science detect, let alone measure everything that exist in the universe.
A lot of are theoretical concepts such as in theoretical physics applied in cosmology but cannot be measured yet scientists believe in their existence indirectly by observing certain effects and by reasoning leading me to think science has its limitations in detecting and measuring certain phenomena, especially those that are currently beyond our technological capabilities. Theoretical physics is a prime example of this, where concepts such as dark matter, dark energy, and string theory are widely discussed and developed based on indirect evidence and mathematical models, even though direct observation or measurement is not yet possible.

Science often advances by proposing theories that explain observed phenomena, and these theories can lead to predictions that can be tested experimentally. When direct measurement isn't possible, scientists rely on indirect evidence and the consistency of theoretical models with known physical laws.

Let me give further explanation in areas of astronomy and cosmology I know well. For instance, dark matter and dark energy I briefly mentioned above are hypothesized to account for observed gravitational effects that cannot be explained by visible matter alone. While they haven't been directly detected, their presence is inferred from their gravitational effects on galaxies and the expansion of the universe.

Similarly, black holes were initially theoretical, but were later supported by indirect observations, such as the behaviour of stars orbiting an invisible mass and the detection of gravitational waves from black hole mergers.

In the same way, many aspects of quantum mechanics were initially purely theoretical but have since been confirmed through experiments, despite the often-counterintuitive nature of its predictions. Another example is the string theory that remains largely theoretical, aiming to reconcile general relativity and quantum mechanics. While it offers a promising framework, it has yet to provide testable predictions.

In the realm of science, we know that matter, energy, space, time and dimension cannot be destroyed but changed into something else, such as matter into energy as clearly shown by Einstein in his famous equation, E = mc². Simpler to understand using the principles of ordinary physics, we can change electricity into mechanical energy, and from mechanical energy into sound or light and so on. In short energy itself cannot be destroyed, but interchangeable from one form to another as much as we cannot destroy time flowing like a river, but we can measure it flows with a clock.

This leads me to the realm of the spiritual and philosophical concepts like the existence of a soul which cannot be destroyed but changed into another form through reincarnation and karma.

Karma is a concept originating from Indian religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. It refers to the principle of cause and effect, where a person's actions in this life and previous lives influence their future experiences. Good actions lead to positive outcomes, while bad actions result in negative consequences. This ethical law suggests that moral behaviours will be rewarded, and immoral behaviour will be punished, either in this life or in future reincarnations. The idea of karma encourages individuals to act virtuously and make ethical choices.

Even in Christianity, let me remind ourselves this revelation was given by Jesus about a rich man and a poor man called Lazarus as given in Luke 16:19-31 in King James Version

“There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores.

 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died and was buried.

And in hell he lifts up his eyes, being in torments, and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime received thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

And beside all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence”.

Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou would send him to my father's house:

 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

Abraham saith unto him, they have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

 And he said, Nay, Father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they would repent.

 And he said unto him, if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead”.

In the above story personally told by Jesus Himself, this means there must be a soul of a rich man and the poverty ridden Lazarus. Both souls left to different worlds when they died, and when they left there was a deep chasm separating their worlds. It could be an example of reincarnation in different worlds   Other religious beliefs systems explain reincarnation goes in cycles over and over again from one form of life to another very similar to electricity into mechanical energy, and into sound or light and so on.

According to these beliefs, the soul is an indestructible entity that transcends physical death and undergoes a cycle of rebirth, taking on different forms based on its accumulated karma. This concept resonates with certain principles of physics, like the conservation of energy, where energy changes form but is never destroyed.
From a purely scientific perspective, however, the soul and reincarnation are not concepts that can be measured, observed, or tested using current scientific methods. Science relies on empirical evidence and reproducible experiments although so far, there has been no conclusive evidence using science to support the existence of an indestructible soul or the process of reincarnation.

This belief may be a theoretical concept to a scientist but is deeply entrenched in the minds of almost all cultures since ancient times irrespective their religions or belief systems.  I think my thinking using what I know in physics aligns closely with traditional concepts in many spiritual and religious systems, particularly those involving karma and reincarnation that lie in another dimension we are unable to detect, let alone measure.

My comparison to spiritual and philosophical concepts like the soul and reincarnation may be intriguing to some, maybe not to others.   While these ideas may lack empirical support in the scientific sense, they are not entirely different in that they attempt to explain certain aspects of human experience and consciousness that are not fully understood. Much like theoretical physics, these concepts offer a framework for understanding, albeit from a metaphysical perspective rather than a physical one.
Science acknowledges that it cannot currently measure or detect everything in the universe. Many scientific theories are built on indirect evidence and logical reasoning, which is not entirely dissimilar to how philosophical and spiritual ideas are often constructed. Both realms seek to make sense of our observations and experiences, albeit through different methodologies and epistemologies.

Summary:

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (living body)   

(Genesis 2:7)

In reverse:

living body – soul = dead physical body (soil on burial or ash of cremation) + soul (life) that flew away

 “for they quickly pass, and we fly away” (Psalm 90:10).

In other words, the physical body left behind is still here on this world but can no longer satisfy the scientific definition of life (Movement, Respiration, Sensitivity, Growth, Reproduction, Excretion and Nutrition – MRS GREN). This means he or she is still here on this earth with us, except his / her soul has flown away to another world to live there.

There were so many accounts of people from different societies, creeds and races who have died, but returned to their resuscitated bodies to tell exactly the same story of another world they saw after travelling through a dark tunnel that probably was time / space / or another dimension and returned to tell exactly the same story after floating above their dead bodies for a short time seeing doctors desperately attempting to revive them. There must be a lot of truth when people gave exactly the same accounts they experienced after death when they were of different races, coming from different countries, cultures, religions, and social background. We cannot ignore their same experiences they told. 

(1,532 words in 7 pages)