God Behind the Movie Screen

This eBook uses popular movies to show how to bring science and religion together. It uses the gratuitous ignorance in several motion pictures to demonstrate how little the public knows or cares about science. Note that gratuitous ignorance in the movies is very different from dramatic license. In the case of dramatic license, the filmmakers use an inaccurate or impossible scene that asks the audience to suspend disbelief in order to be entertained. But gratuitous ignorance serves no dramatic purpose. It simply reflects the fact that the filmmakers don’t know any better and it doesn’t matter because neither does the public. You’ll find several examples in the book.

As a result of this disinterest in science, Christians often give literal interpretations to biblical parables. This can make it appear as if a person has to be ignorant in order to be a Christian. Consider, for example, water and wine. Each fluid is made up of different kinds of atoms and the difference between those atoms is a tremendous amount of energy. This is where the atomic energy that powers the sun and stars comes from. As a result, to turn water into wine (something many Christians take literally) is the same as exploding a large hydrogen bomb. But few Christians take the Bible literally when it says that unruly children should be stoned to death. So, the problem is scientific ignorance, not religion. Indeed, if the universe were not as random as quantum mechanics proves, then there would be no free will and no sin or redemption, hence no need for religion. Did you know it’s become downright dangerous to deny that new species of bacteria are evolving that are resistance to antibiotic drugs? This is because of natural selection as Darwin described it. Does anyone really think God wants us to go extinct because of untreatable infections? Or is that the ancient Jews couldn’t have known about germs when Genesis was written? Moreover, the scientific truth can actually bring joy and comfort to observant Christians and Jews. The big bang theory, for instance, tells us that you can use your television set to see creation’s first light even today.

For a different perspective, the author uses the rule against card counting in casinos to show scientists how random events can serve a purpose, a purpose that reflects someone's will. Counting cards when you’re playing blackjack makes it a game of skill and the casinos need it to be a game of chance. Games of chance provide the randomness that guarantees large profits for the casinos. Randomness also guarantees sentient life in the universe provided the fundamental constants have exactly the right value, as explained in the book. This means that scientists need not be atheists. Indeed, the obedience studies of Milgram, et al show that it’s better for society to have a religion based on a loving God. These scientific studies of obedience have shown time and time again that most people will commit evil acts, such as harming or even killing innocent people, if it pleases a human authority figure. It’s better to have a belief in a higher power that forbids such behavior.    

If you’ve ever pondered the big questions, such as, “Where did we come from?” and “What does it all mean?” you’ll enjoy reading this book. Likewise, if you’re religious or just interested in science, this book is for you.