Episode 66: Physics to God "God vs. The Multiverse"
Rabbi Dr. Elie Feder and Rabbi Aaron Zimmer, both passionate about the blend of religion and intellect, initially delved into the fine-tuning argument for the existence of God through literature from Smolin and Rees. Unlike the Intelligent Design argument, their focus lay in fundamental physics, not biology. They took their argument public on their former blog, devoted to teaching Talmudic analysis. The argument was refined over around 20 posts, highlighting the conflict between the multiverse concept and evolution. Contrary to popular belief, these Rabbis perceive fine-tuning not as a problem, but a clue towards unraveling the unified theory of everything, a fundamental question in physics. Their fine-tuning stance avoids the "God of the gaps" trap, and instead uses fine-tuning as an integral piece of knowledge in their argument. Following their blog, they spent a decade writing a comprehensive book, but ultimately realized it was too dense for the lay audience. So, they turned to podcasting as a more engaging, accessible medium, aiming to entertain and educate both religious and secular audiences. The podcast builds on their blog's arguments, using simple analogies and featuring animated YouTube videos. For religious people, their work undermines the prestige of multiverse-advocating scientists attacking religion, and promotes the appreciation of divine wisdom in creation. It has received positive feedback for its simplicity, entertainment value, and explaining complex subjects clearly without diluting them. They also present Rambam's scientific view applied to a modern context, reinforcing the importance of understanding and serving God as a Simple Unity. The podcast can be found biweekly on Spotify, Apple, Google, Stitcher, and their website, physicstogod.com. They also encourage active discussions on their Facebook group. (With guest co-host Zev Gotkin) --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/judaismdemystified/support