Richard,
***My impression of MP, based on the extent to which god meddles in my life, is that MP for god is very much a 'hands on' task. Events are arranged by coincidence and macro events are controlled by conflict and conflict resolution. And major disaster is used as a last resort.***
I would generally agree with this. Major disaster is necessary when major revisions (course 'corrections') are needed.
***The process of controlling life by these means over eons is how god evolved us beings. I presume that god had intention in doing so, but that is really an assumption.***
I think of it more matter-of-factly. The course of the universe moves with the intention of requiring intelligence since this is what is matter-of-factly required. It isn't like God is planning each second with 'what do I do now?', rather the next event is all matter-of-factly required because of a, b, c, d, etc. The temporal universe (past, present, future) is all organized accordingly. There is no 'now' which controls the future. Rather, our 'now' is simply one slice of space-time events that are part of an overall structure that is ultimately a design of God's will.
***Take the several bones in the jaw of reptiles that evolved to the one jaw bone plus ears of mammals. That brings out the creationist in me. It hardly seems inevitable as it would be if MP were more like a force or minimizing principle.
But it is amazing what can happen over millions of yaers.***
I think that's exactly what one should expect. The MP takes advantage of its resources when meeting expectations (goals) imposed on it. When symmetry breaking events occur (which happen frequently if the wavefunction collapse is such an event), then each such event is a movement toward the higher expectations. There is a tug of war between a natural course and a course toward teleological goals. It is not like God is thinking how to do something by steering evolution, rather evolution moves as it does because of God's presence. Evolution is like water running off the back of a duck. Change occurs according to the requirements (contours) of God's will. The MP simply tries to conform to that will in an opportunistic manner. When an opportunity presents itself (e.g., an asteroid is on a collision course with earth), the MP intercedes to coincide to make the timing of the collision occur when it needs to occur. It is only as perfect as it needs to be. If it doesn't need to be perfect, then it is not. It follows the required path in the most minimum fashion as possible.
The MP is like a 'force'. Unlike a force it doesn't exhibit charge, or spin, or energy, etc, but it does influence macro and micro objects. It isn't a person, rather it is simply a reaction to God's existence.
Anyway, that's my concept on how the MP works and interrelates with God's existence.
Warm regards, Harv |