The relationship between Christianity and science has certainly been a roller coaster ride. In the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the Church embraced science, viewing it as a way to increase their knowledge about God’s creation and, through it, learn more about God. (Rom 1:19-20) Many scientific advancements and discoveries of that time were made by scientists with a strong religious faith. [1] Over the past century or so that has certainly changed. Today, science is often held up as the antithesis to faith; the more one learns about how our universe works the less he needs to hold on to a belief in a supernatural God. Despite this, there are still many in the scientific field who hold firm Christian beliefs and have actually strengthened their faith through the study of a complex universe that, they believe, could only have been created by an all-knowing, all-powerful God. One such scientist is Hugh Ross.

Astrophysicist Hugh Ross has spent his life studying our universe and applying his findings to the scripture found in the Bible. In fact, his study of the “Big Bang” was significant in leading him to believe in the existence of a master Creator and a faith in Jesus. [2] Ross’ studies provided the groundwork for several books he wrote that demonstrate a unity between science and scripture, including the book featured in this review, Beyond The Cosmos: The Transdimensionality of God.

Like many of the Christian books I read, I first heard about this book from an interview on the Steve Brown, Etc. podcast. In the interview, Ross explained that our universe exists in several dimensions beyond the four we are familiar with (length, width, depth, and time). Furthermore, additional dimensions exist "outside" our universe, dimensions in which God exists, moves, and works. Ross then went on to explain how some difficult biblical concepts can be given a new perspective through an understanding of these various dimensions. Needless to say, I was fascinated by these ideas and enticed to read the book.

Explaining Extradimensionality

I would describe Beyond The Cosmos as a book divided into three parts, though the author makes no such formal division himself. Together, they act as a funnel, starting with broad concepts and narrowing down to specific examples. The first few chapters lay the groundwork for extra dimensions. After a brief geometry lesson, Ross presents the history of dimensional research, starting in the early 1900s, and Albert Einstein's special and general theories of relativity. He then traces the steps taken to confirm these theories and apply them to the study of our universe, which ultimately led to the fields of quantum physics and string theory research. This research helped formulate a creation model that requires nine spatial dimensions and a one-time dimension, as well as a minimum of one dimension that exists outside our universe. Furthermore, these findings aren't being made by "Crazy Christian scientists pushing an agenda," but by mainstream physicists and astronomers such as Stephen Hawking, Russel A. Hulse, Alexander Vilenkin, John Schwarz, and many others you may or may not have heard of. As might be expected, the book's discussion of this history is brief and is limited to mainly the conclusions, leaving the reader to take the author's word as truth. However, Ross does provide an extensive bibliography and source list for anyone who is interested in additional reading about the specific research and discoveries.

Extradimensionality In The Bible

Over the next few chapters, Ross applies this science to the Scriptures. He points to several verses that describe God in terms consistent with a Being that exists in multiple dimensions. In addition, he looks to several events documented in the Bible that demonstrate God's and Jesus' ability to move and work in dimensions beyond those in which mortal humans exist. Next Ross shifts his attention to biblical doctrine and attempts to show how teachings that appear difficult and contradictory can begin to be understood and explained better when the constraints of a four-dimensional universe are removed.

Extradimensionality Applied To Specific Doctrines

The third section of Beyond the Cosmos takes a closer look at specific Biblical doctrines and attempts to apply these multi-dimensional theories to each. Some of the mysteries Ross attempts to unravel are God's vs. Man's will, the existence of suffering and evil, the sufficiency of Jesus' death as atonement for man's sins, the existence of Hell, God's ability to hear all prayers, and life in Heaven and the New Earth. Of course, Ross doesn't give absolute, concrete answers or explanations. He's obviously not God and, as he explains elsewhere in the book, humans cannot examine or exist in dimensions beyond our perceivable three spatial and one-time dimensions. Therefore, he has not gathered any direct evidence. Instead, Ross offers new perspectives on these doctrines using the multi-dimensional model so that we may have a greater assurance that what God has lovingly revealed to us is not some impossible jibberish, but instead an insight into His power and an existence that we can't possibly imagine on our own.

One of my favorite chapters is on the doctrine of the Trinity. Using a fictional race of computer screen people (people who can only perceive things within the two dimensions of a computer screen), Ross not only attempts to help make sense of how a single God can exist as three persons, but why it is impossible for us to fully understand God. If a three-dimensional person living outside the screen pushes three fingers through the screen, the people living in the screen will perceive each finger as an object separate from the other two. (Remember, they can't examine anything outside the screen and have no way of knowing the three fingers connect into one hand.) Furthermore, depending on how the three-dimensional person puts his fingers in the screen, the screen people will perceive him in different ways. If he puts his finger in perpendicular, the screen people will believe he is a small round circle. If he puts his finger in sideways, he will be perceived as an oblong shape. If he sticks his entire fist in, he will seem like an enormous irregular mass. In a moment of lightheartedness, Ross names several different religions that might be formed in Screenland based on these different perceptions. His ultimate point is that, without special revelation, it is easy to come up with an inaccurate concept of God. Therefore, it is important that we rely on scripture when defining God and not just our own ideas, perceptions or experiences.

Reading Beyond the Comos: The Transdimensionality of God can, at times, be both frustrating and enlightening. Frustrating because, despite Ross' excellent use of illustrations and analogies, it's impossible to completely grasp these concepts since they require dimensional experiences we do not have. Enlightening because, once we let accept these doctrines as true even though we can't explain them to satisfaction, we come closer to understanding a God that is beyond our understanding. (Rom. 11:33-34) I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is searching for a connection between science and faith, as well as current believers who either struggle with the more difficult biblical doctrines or just want to be more in awe of God and His creation.

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Sources:

1. “Faith and Reason: History.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, www.pbs.org/faithandreason/intro/histo-frame.html.

2. “Hugh Ross President & Founder.” Reasons to Believe, http://www.reasons.org/about/hugh-ross.

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If you are interested in reading Beyond the Cosmos: The Extradimensionality of God by Hugh Ross, please consider supporting Half Air by using this link to purchase the book from Amazon.