"Science vs. Religion: Mayim Bialik and the OTHER Big Bang Theory" Ep. 4, Season 2

[alphacause]

If you continually have to reinvent your holy books to comport with the advancements in scientific understanding, have the intellectual integrity to say that your holy books are WRONG, at least with respect to matters of science. If you have to take something within your holy books figuratively, just because it contradicts what science proves, then you are not being sophisticated believer. You are just being deceptive to yourself and those around you.

[jewinthecity]

@alphacause Please don't misunderstand what I'm saying here - no one is continually reinventing. We believe that the Torah is eternal and is God's word. However, there is an opinion, dating at least as far back as the 13th century, that the creation story in the Torah is not meant to be understood literally in all its parts. What that means is that there is *room* for science to come up with new discoveries. These are not my ideas - there are great rabbis who believed (and believe) this.

[UglyBonnie]

Well done!

[Yaalah]

The kernel of Schroeder's argument is that time's passing is defined by among other things, a sentient presence. Until the sixth day, the only sentient presence in existence was God. Only once another sentient being was created--man--did time begin to pass as we understand it now.

I just came across your videos. They're fun, and made well. Good luck making more!

[jewinthecity]

@Nosey71 the purpose of this video wasn't to "prove" God exists-it was to show there's a tradition within Orthodox Judaism that allows room science. I don't think faith can be proven. Judaism believes that the world was created in a way that we'd never know for sure - if we were certain there was God watching over us, free will would cease to exist. If you want to know why I'm compelled to believe (I used to be agnostic) please look up "You Gotta Have Faith Fait Faith" on JewintheCitydotcom

[darkangelninja07]

I found this really interesting. My mother raised me in a Jewish home where instead of taking everything in the Torah literally we instead had discussions on our own interpretations of the passage. As you stated my mother said, "It may be that God created the Earth in 6 days, but God's days could be thousands of years long or longer." This had always struck me. I love all types of Sciences, Geometry, my religion, and musical theatre. Also Mayim Bialik is a great inspiration to me.

[dunmer2007]

Outstanding perspective...I think I just turned Jewish! (^_-)

But seriously, being an atheist, I can understand and accept Judaism as a religious truth a LOT more than I do with christianity, because it assumes that it is right, and you will be destroyed if you disagree!..And YES, I am a Jew-lover, an anti-anti Semite if you will!

[ishingo69]

Well whatdayaknow? There really ARE interesting videos on this Youtube thing besides vids of kittens. Who knew.

[Murchad99]

@jewinthecity "just looked up "scientific theory" on Wikipedia and it says "it is often used to refer to a guess.""

The sentence you quoted is prefaced with the word "Colloquially". Just because many people often confuse scientific theory with "educated guess" doesn't make it accurate. I hope you understand why I think the point is worth belaboring.

"there is still *some* amount of doubt"

Absolutely. Even scientific laws can be challenged, with sufficient evidence.

[engineercaseyjones]

Love the explanation. Now if we can just join together in all religions and love and respect one another, celebrate our differences and rejoice in how we are so much alike!

[IamAboe]

I love it, I am going to show this to some college friends off mine. I myself am not a jew but a christian, but I also study marine biology with a focus on evolutionary systemconservation. so I get this question can you combine the two a lot!!! I also love youre open mind. thats a beutifull thing and a example for many people, both religieus and otherwise.

[Murchad99]

@jewinthecity ... attraction. The Scientific Theory of Gravity would NOT be "we're mostly sure gravity causes things to pull on one another but we're not 100% positive"... rather it would be "gravity does what it does because of such and such".

[jhamptonjr]

As I'm sure you know the Christian Bible Old Testament contains much of the Torah (maybe all of it, but I am not a scholar). Ever since I started understanding scientific theories about the creation of the universe it made me start to doubt some of the things I had learned as a child. Then I started thinking, hey, there IS a way to reconcile both. It is just as easy for me to believe that when God spoke, there WAS a Big Big Bang! And I'm glad to see that other people feel the same. Thanks!

[YazooWolf]

Scientists do not absolutely believe 100% as a fact that their are life out there in the universe, but instead, a high possibility exists, for not only intelligent life, but life itself i.e. bacteria and etc. Climate change came into existence when we studied planets like Venus, since it is 700 degrees F., we want to study climate change to prevent that from happening on Earth. Evolution is a plausible explanation on the different fossil forms and huge variety of species in diff. environments.

[Rowan07001484]

@YazooWolf

scientists believe many different things. they are not all one person.

[mattwho81]

Ive never understood why people think science and religion have to be at odds: I personally have always felt science tells us how god made the universe and religion tells us why.

[Rowan07001484]

@mattwho81

religion is still to tell me why.

anyway. I think that a scientist can believe in what ever the hell they want to. there is no reason to suggest, that just because a person knows about how certain things work, that they can't also believe in god.

I don't believe in god. I sometimes do, but most of the time, I think who created the creator? if there is one. I just can't imagine a time when nothing existed.

[graciamiros]

Many people accept as scientific that there is intelligent life in other galaxies, or the theory of evolution, or climate change, when there is absolutely no evidence to defend these principles. It is not science, but stupidity the new religion of postmodernism. I think real scientists, regardless of our beliefs, see signs that there is intelligent design of the universe and life.

Sorry, I´m spanish, and my english lenguage knowledge is very poor.

[fizk]

@jewinthecity I wish I could just fly over to where ever you are and have a nice cup of tea and debate about this :P lol. You're very open minded and it would be worth the time investment.

[jewinthecity]

@fizk Judaism DOES require some faith, but there is also something about the history of our people that doesn't make sense. something about returning to the land of Israel as our prophecies said we would that was highly unlikely, yet we did. you're welcome to come for Shabbos whenever you'd like for a lively debate. this video was made only to show that the Torah's creation story can be understood non-literally enough to allow room for any scientific discovery that includes God as the creator.

[fizk]

@jewinthecity In the end, why would a logical, intelligent person posit the existence of the Jewish God when there is literally zero evidence for the existence of any deity/god, let alone the Jewish God?

Indeed, it's very comforting to believe that someone or something is looking over you and that there is an afterlife, but I think an intelligent person such as yourself should take courage! You don't need Judaism to live an amazingly fulfilling life.

[fizk]

@jewinthecity The problem is that you are trying to limit the usefulness of the scientific method – i.e. that the scientific method is useful up to the point where it conflicts with the Jewish religion/Jewish thinking/Torah.

If you want to limit the usefulness of the scientific method in this way, you need to demonstrate that the scientific method cannot and will never provide a plausible explanation of life on Earth and the origins of the Universe without the Jewish God.

Part 2 of 3.

[fizk]

@jewinthecity I understand you're not telling me to believe in God. In fact, I use to believe in God very seriously.

First, a minor but important correction. One does not "believe" in science. Scientific theories are based on experimental proof, not belief.

Second, what I'm trying to show is that you can *not* believe in the Torah or Jewish thinking and also adhere to the scientific method. Yes, I read Gerold Schoeder's "Science of God" and Natan Slifkin's "Science of Torah".

Part 1 of 3.

[shohchkheh]

The point is, that you do not "believe" in science.

[jewinthecity]

@shohchkheh well - we don't believe in scientific "laws," but scientific theories (of which there are many: the Big Bang Theory, the theory of evolution) are still only theories and have not been proven yet. Something that many scientifically minded people don't always consider.

[fizk]

@jewinthecity There is so much more *evidence* to support the theory of evolution than there is to support any deity/god, let alone the Jewish God. There is literally zero proof to support any deity/god.

Second, what are you going to say when, say, the Big Bang Theory, has been proven correct. Will you become an atheist or try to reconcile that the Big Bang Theory doesn't conflict with Jewish beliefs because....here it comes....God put it there?

Religion is the easy way out.

[jewinthecity]

@fizk in 1959 2/3 of American scientists believed the Universe was eternal. Science is always learning new things. It's true there's more evidence to support science than spiritual ideas, but the there are classical Jewish sources that allow for a non-literal reading of the creation account, i.e. leaving room for scientific discoveries within Jewish thinking. I'm NOT telling you to believe in God. The purpose of the video is to show that people who believe in Torah can ALSO believe in science.

[Murchad99]

@jewinthecity "but scientific theories ( the Big Bang Theory, the theory of evolution) are still only theories and have not been proven yet."

This is a frustratingly common misunderstanding of the definition of scientific theory. A scientific law differs from a theory in terms of the scope of its application, NOT that the former has more evidence than the latter or has been more "proven". Both are verified and supported, both equally open to appropriate evidence-based detraction.

[jewinthecity]

@Murchad99 I didn't say the theories weren't based on evidence - more that they are theories and not laws (like the law of gravity).

[STHowell80]

Yes, that's right. Change the interpretation of the book to suit your needs. You religious people are truly comical.

[jewinthecity]

@STHowell80 maybe you were too busy laughing at us "comical religious" people to notice one of the points I made, but a rabbi from the TWELFTH century was already saying to not read the creation account literally. This is not about changing the Torah to fit modern discoveries - the idea is that there's been an opinion all along that the creation account in Genesis was never meant to be taken completely literally.

[colonelfantastic89]

@jewinthecity Well, if Genesis (and Exodus and Leviticus.....) isn't ment to be taken literally then how is it supposed to be taken? Figuratively, metaphorically?

[jewinthecity]

@colonelfantastic89 Maimonides's explanation didn't include other parts of the Torah. It was specifically about the creation account in Genesis that he felt could be taken in a non-literal way.

[lenkpattenden]

So I guess the Torah doesn't say that Earth was created before the stars in the heaven or the sun. That would be ludicrous right?

[jewinthecity]

@lenkpattenden you're correct that it does. We noticed that too! But it's a complicated answer, and if you're actually curious to understand how we understand that seeming contradiction, please read "The Science of Torah" by Natan Slifkin.

[megaflunky]

I have often asked people when the creation days were spoken about is how long is a day to God. He is not restrained by the laws of physics because I think he was the one who wrote them. We write laws but are bound to them by choice only. Love this video.

[beelzzebub]

As a Christian, therefore sharing a lot of your creation beliefs, i found this video very insightful :) I find it so odd that people are often unable to build up a belief set in religion AND science.

[irationalpie]

Eventhough, the creation story might not be literally true. That doesn't mean that evolution is true, G-d forbid. The worlds in Bereshith are seen as great sodoth of the Torah. The Qabballa explains creation in the 'Sepher Yesirah'. Although most humans can't understand the meaning of those words aswell.

[jewinthecity]

@irationalpie but there are Orthodox Jews (and rabbis) that believe you CAN understand the account in Bereishis in accordance with evolution. you don't have to personally believe in it, but it's within the Torah spectrum

[KeiKusanagiDekar]

What a wonderful video! While I don't believe exactly what is said about certain things here, I found it to be an extremely level-headed look at accepting both science and religion in your life.

[CtrlOptDel]

Gotta love the way Doctor Bialik managed to - Clark Kent / Superman like - slip into & out of character as Amy, just by putting on & then removing her glasses! XD

Also, I think that people like Professor Brian Cox, Doctor Neil deGrasse Tyson, and even YouTube's own philhellenes may disagree with you on your assertion of their being no wonder in a purely scientific evaluation of the cosmos; but otherwise it was an interesting & thought-provoking video...

[CtrlOptDel]

@CtrlOptDel - *there

[JewishDefender]

Absolutely love your videos, thank you and G-d bless.

[BornInTzyon]

I enjoyed it! I've listened to a lecture on the science & creation via Simple To Remember. It was really insightful, however no one has been able to reconcile the Torah with science concerning mankind. Science says mankind has been in existence for over 50,000 years while Torah says the first man was created nearly 6,000 years ago, listing each generation are him. I'd love to hear your thoughts on that one!

[jewinthecity]

@BornInTzyon An approach I heard is that the first neshama (soul) entered man 6000 years ago. The "men" that have been found before that were missing this spiritual/moral component. If you look up "5800 years ago brain" you'll find that 5800 years ago (almost exactly when the Torah says Adam was created) the brain underwent a big developmental change....

[BornInTzyon]

@jewinthecity Thanks for the quote to research. Interesting. That was the only conclusion I could come up with as well, but wasn't aware that there was any evidence showing as much. I'll have to go research. Thanks for the tip & chanukah sameach.

[jewinthecity]

@BornInTzyon "The Science of Torah" by Natan Slifkin has a lot of good info - it's the book my rabbi recommend I use when I researched for this video.

[BornInTzyon]

@jewinthecity I'll add it to my Amazon wish list. Thanks!

[asvpapi]

Jewinthecity, you are the best. Thanks for explaining this topic.



[rosetyler420]

Wonderful video. The ending sentiment reminds me of one of my all-time favorite South Park lines: "Isn't science the answer to 'how' and religion the answer to 'why'?"

Really well done. I am Catholic myself but am very interested in the other faiths, particularly Judaism. I'll definitely be watching more in this series!

[VictorLepanto]

By the way, I loved your little dinosaur. I am sure he is a tyrannosaurus rex

[thewonderingjew]

My students love your videos. When they saw Dr. Bialik from BBT they got really excited. You illustrated a very complex topic in a fun and entertaining way.

[Gundamator]

But yom (day) is used with a number and the phrase "evening and morning." Every other instance in the Torah where yom is used in this way refers to an ordinary day. Why, besides trying to agree with science, do we have any reason to believe the use of yom in creation isn't referring to an ordinary day?

[jewinthecity]

@Gundamator Because what is a morning without a sun? What is a day without a sun? The sun wasn't there for the first three days of creation. For more info on the subject, please see Gerold Schoeder's "The Science of God" or Natan Slifkin's "The Science of Torah"

[pbrskater26]

@jewinthecity

I deal with the same in "christian" theology. I grew up in a christian family yet as I got older and to my first biology class I relised the biblical account of creation dose not ad up scientificly, I asked alot of questians at my church ( when I went) and they could not answer intellectualy, that I should not questian traditinal theology. I felt like a black sheep and I lost my faith after that. Thats the thing with christianty if you questian your a heritic!

[Magicienne2005]

@jewinthecity There was still the light that God created and divided on Day One. The Sun was not created to hold that light until Day 4.

[jewinthecity]

@Magicienne2005 the light on day 1 was a spiritual light. day 4 explicitly says "the sun."

[VictorLepanto]

@Gundamator: If you review the 1st chapt. of Genesis closely you'll note that the 1st day of creation is actually refered to differently then the other days. It is called "one day" (echad). The others are called the "2nd day," "3rd day," etc. Perhaps this hinting at how this is all meant to be understood as one event. We also use days metaphorically. Every dog doesn't actually & literally have its day. Most dogs don't even celebrate their own birthday.

[selkie305]

I like it! It gave me a way to present what my own views are in a concise and entertaining way.

[BrishenAlston]

A few days ago I ended up with a kids meal with it's toy dinosaur. I just sat it down looked at it and felt confused...dinosaurs had always seemed as valid as aliens but this gave me something to think about.

[cymruisrael]

Chicken and egg isn't a question; the description of the creation specifically states that G-d created the birds.

[jewinthecity]

@cymruisrael a) it was a joke as i was looking for a visual that depicted a "beginning" and b) as I stated in the video - there are traditional sources which say the creation account is not meant to be taken literally, so creation could have been a slow, developing process...

[deepmind]

I'm trying to figure out who you see as your audience. Your style seems overly cutesy, especially for a topic which deserves much more consideration than the little surface-scratch you gave.

We certainly appreciate the attempt though.

Hatslachah.

[jewinthecity]

@deepmind Wow, tough crowd! JITC's mission is: Breaking down stereotypes about religious Jews and offering a humorous, meaningful look into Orthodox Judaism. Target audience-those w/misconceptions.The "overly cutesy" style which I like to refer to as "appropriately cutesy" :) is done b/c no one has an attention span these days & pple want constant entertainment. The topic is much deeper than a 4 min video, but the point is to give pple a taste so that if they're interested they can delve deeper.

[tinydancer1965]

@jewinthecity You did this really well! I love the topic. I see this as an introduction to the topic, which is entertaining, fun, intelligent, and well presented by an attractive woman with a fine mind. I read "The 5,000 Year Leap" and I loved it. I could explore this topic much more.

[Gruntig2008]

Regarding "God's hand. "

A deeper explanation: God's "hand" is in fact the real hand. Meaning, the word "hand" or in Hebrew "Yad" refers to the energy of taking, receiving etc. In our physical world that potential is accomplished through a physical hand. But God has a much purer version of the hand, one that is not limited to flesh and bone.

Hence it is not we who have the literal "Yad" and God's being a borrowed term but in fact it is the opposite. God has the true and ultimate "Hand."

[jewinthecity]

@Gruntig2008 nice! but i couldn't have fit all that in as the giant hand was poking me! :)

[AbuAvital]

@Gruntig2008 Good point, when we ask some one to give us a hand we actually mean help

[VictorLepanto]

@Gruntig2008: The hand is the apendage of the body where by we execute our will. We take money, or hammers, or cell phones in our hands & use them. In this respect, the hand of G-d is the same as the word of G-d. The things of our lives might indeed be a pale imiation of the cosmic perfection, but still God has no hands.

[nycmom424]

Great video!!

[loadstone007]

BTW, I think you missed some parts about the big bang theory...

[jewinthecity]

@loadstone007 there's only so much we could fit into a 4 minute video!!

[loadstone007]

@jewinthecity Very true

[loadstone007]

That video was just AWESOME! And I love her as an actress - she's superb.

BTW, I'm subscribed to your channel but this is the first video I got in a VERY long time. Please post more :)

Best regards from Israel!

[shebirths]

LOVE this one! Great job!

[starjsr]

WOW! beautiful job and explanation, truly impressive

[fashionishaa]

Amazing! This is the first of your videos that I've seen. I'm truly impressed. You speak so well! I hope we can speak in the next few days!

xo

Sharon

Fashion-isha

[bleemma]

Oh! Thanks. I had learnt before that days could have been different before the creation of the sun and moon, but I'd assumed that that was only UNTIL they were created. Thanks for clarifying! On that, note, though, when do the sages say the 24 hour day did start? Thanks again :)

[jewinthecity]

@bleemma you're welcome! I believe that it's once the creation account is over.

[bleemma]

Cool effects and I love the day/night Earth/moon/sun switch thing. But I have a question- I understand that "days" may not have come about until Day 4, but animals and humans were created Day 5 and 6, so how does that work with the evolution argument- if they were created AFTER the 24 hour day was established?

[jewinthecity]

@bleemma thanks! But I think you misunderstood the point I was trying to make about the sun not being created until day 4. It's not that starting on day 5 the days turned into 24 hours days, it's that we assume that what the Torah is calling a "day" is not a day like we know it, but rather a different (much longer) period of time.

[dmwdevil]

@bleemma Consider also that it is man's perception of time that defines what is an "hour" to begin with. So it may not have been until the end of day 6 - when man was created - that a "day" became defined as what we know it nowadays. Read up on some Gerald Schroeder if you want a REALLY detailed discussion :^)

[etinkhamJ]

Yasher koach to you and Dr. Bialik!

[mudblood43]

Get's better and better every time. Great job, must have been hard work.

[FeinMentschFilms]

I loved this! We all just watched this crowded around the mac.

[thewonderingjew]

Absolutely stunning job! I am constantly impressed by your videos. They address some of the most pressing theological and spiritual confusions that all religions need to address for today's society. You are a true asset to our People who clarifies many of the misconceptions that people have about Torah Judaism. May you be blessed!

Sincerely,

The Wondering Jew

[cisforcat]

Tremendously well done! The topics you discuss are so relevant to today's society. The way you address the contemporary issues in an intelligent and entertaining manner is truly inspiring. The Jewish people is blessed to have such a talent as yourself. Keep up the great work!