God and Nature 2025 #1
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By Ranjit A. Thuraisingham
In this communication, I reflect on the question of identity after death. Does science provide any insight for what is expressed in the Bible? With more and more people suffering from dementia, a neurodegenerative disease that results in the loss of one’s memory, loss of identity is a topic that is of interest even before death.
In a previous article (1), I explored the dual nature of humans and the behavior of quantum particles. This exploration is continued here to determine whether insights from quantum behavior could enhance the Christian belief in identity after death. Finally, the importance of both body and spirit is discussed in relation to dementia.
In this communication, I reflect on the question of identity after death. Does science provide any insight for what is expressed in the Bible? With more and more people suffering from dementia, a neurodegenerative disease that results in the loss of one’s memory, loss of identity is a topic that is of interest even before death.
In a previous article (1), I explored the dual nature of humans and the behavior of quantum particles. This exploration is continued here to determine whether insights from quantum behavior could enhance the Christian belief in identity after death. Finally, the importance of both body and spirit is discussed in relation to dementia.
...the human spirit becomes entangled with the Holy Spirit. |
Human duality and behavior of quantum particles
The theory of wave-particle duality of de Broglie (2), along with experimental results from diffraction and photoelectric effects, indicate dual behavior of quantum particles as both a wave and material objects. Similarly, Christian theology views humans as a unity of body and spirit, where the body is the material component and the spirit is the immaterial component. The material component is mortal, subject to aging and death, while the spirit is believed to be immortal and created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). However, these two components are not entirely separate entities. One way to understand this is by considering them as distinct yet interdependent dimensions, a view often expressed in anthropological monism (3-5). Although body and spirit are united in a person, the presence of these two dimensions would mean that one is capable of dual behavior (see Galatians 5: 16-26, where Paul distinguishes the behavior of the flesh from that of the spirit). Evidence for such an understanding can be found in examining the behavior of quantum particles.
Quantum entanglement and preservation of identity
As Christians, we believe that the spirit, which is the immaterial component, survives death if the person accepts Jesus as his Savior. Thus, a redeemed spirit of a Christian survives bodily death. This means that not all information about the person is lost when death occurs. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, speaks about the spirit being clothed with an earthly tent in this world and being clothed with a heavenly tent beyond death (2 Corinthians 5: 1-10), which indicates the spirit has survived death. It must be noted that the spirit does not exist alone but instead is clothed with a new, different body. Our ability to recognize people in the afterlife is also suggested in several biblical texts. Abraham, Lazarus, and the rich man are all recognized after death (Luke 16: 19-31). In the transfiguration of Jesus, Moses and Elijah were recognized and had not lost their identity (Matthew 17:3-4). When David’s young son died, David declared, “I will go to him, but he will not return to me” (2 Samuel 12: 23), which implies that David would recognize his son in heaven.
Quantum particles exhibit a strange behavior called entanglement (a phenomenon I explored previously to provide insight into Christian prayer (6)). If two quantum objects have interacted with each other at one time but are now separated by large distances from each other, they cannot be described in the same way they were characterized before the interaction because they have become correlated—that is, entangled—due to the interaction. In other words, if it is possible to link together two quantum particles, such as photons or atoms, in a special way that makes them effectively two parts of the same entity, then, even after they’re separated and moved far from each other, a change in one will be instantly reflected in the other. It is as if the two particles act together. Though they are two separate objects, they behave like one.
This phenomenon of quantum entanglement therefore confers nonlocality to quantum particles. Quantum particles, if they are entangled, can “know” the states of other quantum particles even at great distances and correlate their behavior with each other instantaneously. Thus, entanglement allows information in one object to be instantly reflected in the other. The information will not be lost.
The Spirit of a Christian is redeemed from the time the Holy Spirit begins to indwell in that person. Another way of saying this is that the human spirit becomes entangled with the Holy Spirit. Since the Holy Spirit is eternal, one would therefore expect the human spirit to survive death with no loss of identity. Thus, the Christian belief in the eternal preservation of identity of the redeemed spirit can find support in the entanglement of quantum particles.
The importance of body and spirit in identity
A dementia patient who has lost all his memory is alive but has no recollections of his identity. Since loss of identity can occur even during life, it might seem odd to believe that identity could survive death.
Christian theology generally holds that the image of God is imprinted in our spirit, and it is through the spirit that our identity is carried. For a person to recognize his or her identity, both spirit and body are required to function together. They are interdependent and not separate entities. Assuming the identity of the person resides in the spirit, recognition of this occurs via his particular memory. A non-functional memory will result in nonrecognition of the identity. It does not mean the information regarding his identity is lost. But until the faulty memory is renewed, this information cannot be utilized. The Christian belief is that after death, a new body is given to the redeemed spirit, enabling one to recognize his identity and relate to others known to him. This aspect is emphasized, as mentioned before, in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, which not only indicates the transcendence of the spirit, but at the same time informs us of a new tent for the spirit, a replacement for the old material body.
References
1. Thuraisingham, Ranjit A. “On the Duality of Human Nature and the Behavior of Quantum Particles.” God and Nature. 2020, Fall issue.
2. de Broglie, Louis. “Recherches sur la théorie des quanta.” (Researches on the quantum theory), Thesis: L. de Broglie, Ann. Phys. 3, p. 22, Paris, 1925. Reprinted in Ann. Found. Louis de Broglie 17, 1992, p. 22.
3. Brown, W.S., Murphy, N,. and Maloney, N. H. Whatever happened to the Soul? Scientific and Theological Portraits of Human Nature. Fortress Press, Minneapolis, 1998.
4. Edgar, Brian. “Paul and the Person”, Science and Christian Belief, Vol. 12, No 2, 2000, pp. 151-164.
5. Green, J.B. “Scripture and the Human Person: Further Reflections”, Science and Christian Belief, Vol. 11, no 1, 1999, p. 62.
6. Thuraisingham, Ranjit A. “Prayer and Entangled Quantum States.” ISCAST, Feb. 2020.
Ranjit A. Thuraisingham is a theoretical chemist who holds a PhD in molecular quantum mechanics from the University of Cambridge, UK. His scientific publications are in areas related to molecular physics, acoustic scattering, molecular neuroscience, and biomedical signal analysis. Now retired, he is engaged in trying to complement his understanding of Christianity with quantum physics.
The theory of wave-particle duality of de Broglie (2), along with experimental results from diffraction and photoelectric effects, indicate dual behavior of quantum particles as both a wave and material objects. Similarly, Christian theology views humans as a unity of body and spirit, where the body is the material component and the spirit is the immaterial component. The material component is mortal, subject to aging and death, while the spirit is believed to be immortal and created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). However, these two components are not entirely separate entities. One way to understand this is by considering them as distinct yet interdependent dimensions, a view often expressed in anthropological monism (3-5). Although body and spirit are united in a person, the presence of these two dimensions would mean that one is capable of dual behavior (see Galatians 5: 16-26, where Paul distinguishes the behavior of the flesh from that of the spirit). Evidence for such an understanding can be found in examining the behavior of quantum particles.
Quantum entanglement and preservation of identity
As Christians, we believe that the spirit, which is the immaterial component, survives death if the person accepts Jesus as his Savior. Thus, a redeemed spirit of a Christian survives bodily death. This means that not all information about the person is lost when death occurs. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, speaks about the spirit being clothed with an earthly tent in this world and being clothed with a heavenly tent beyond death (2 Corinthians 5: 1-10), which indicates the spirit has survived death. It must be noted that the spirit does not exist alone but instead is clothed with a new, different body. Our ability to recognize people in the afterlife is also suggested in several biblical texts. Abraham, Lazarus, and the rich man are all recognized after death (Luke 16: 19-31). In the transfiguration of Jesus, Moses and Elijah were recognized and had not lost their identity (Matthew 17:3-4). When David’s young son died, David declared, “I will go to him, but he will not return to me” (2 Samuel 12: 23), which implies that David would recognize his son in heaven.
Quantum particles exhibit a strange behavior called entanglement (a phenomenon I explored previously to provide insight into Christian prayer (6)). If two quantum objects have interacted with each other at one time but are now separated by large distances from each other, they cannot be described in the same way they were characterized before the interaction because they have become correlated—that is, entangled—due to the interaction. In other words, if it is possible to link together two quantum particles, such as photons or atoms, in a special way that makes them effectively two parts of the same entity, then, even after they’re separated and moved far from each other, a change in one will be instantly reflected in the other. It is as if the two particles act together. Though they are two separate objects, they behave like one.
This phenomenon of quantum entanglement therefore confers nonlocality to quantum particles. Quantum particles, if they are entangled, can “know” the states of other quantum particles even at great distances and correlate their behavior with each other instantaneously. Thus, entanglement allows information in one object to be instantly reflected in the other. The information will not be lost.
The Spirit of a Christian is redeemed from the time the Holy Spirit begins to indwell in that person. Another way of saying this is that the human spirit becomes entangled with the Holy Spirit. Since the Holy Spirit is eternal, one would therefore expect the human spirit to survive death with no loss of identity. Thus, the Christian belief in the eternal preservation of identity of the redeemed spirit can find support in the entanglement of quantum particles.
The importance of body and spirit in identity
A dementia patient who has lost all his memory is alive but has no recollections of his identity. Since loss of identity can occur even during life, it might seem odd to believe that identity could survive death.
Christian theology generally holds that the image of God is imprinted in our spirit, and it is through the spirit that our identity is carried. For a person to recognize his or her identity, both spirit and body are required to function together. They are interdependent and not separate entities. Assuming the identity of the person resides in the spirit, recognition of this occurs via his particular memory. A non-functional memory will result in nonrecognition of the identity. It does not mean the information regarding his identity is lost. But until the faulty memory is renewed, this information cannot be utilized. The Christian belief is that after death, a new body is given to the redeemed spirit, enabling one to recognize his identity and relate to others known to him. This aspect is emphasized, as mentioned before, in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, which not only indicates the transcendence of the spirit, but at the same time informs us of a new tent for the spirit, a replacement for the old material body.
References
1. Thuraisingham, Ranjit A. “On the Duality of Human Nature and the Behavior of Quantum Particles.” God and Nature. 2020, Fall issue.
2. de Broglie, Louis. “Recherches sur la théorie des quanta.” (Researches on the quantum theory), Thesis: L. de Broglie, Ann. Phys. 3, p. 22, Paris, 1925. Reprinted in Ann. Found. Louis de Broglie 17, 1992, p. 22.
3. Brown, W.S., Murphy, N,. and Maloney, N. H. Whatever happened to the Soul? Scientific and Theological Portraits of Human Nature. Fortress Press, Minneapolis, 1998.
4. Edgar, Brian. “Paul and the Person”, Science and Christian Belief, Vol. 12, No 2, 2000, pp. 151-164.
5. Green, J.B. “Scripture and the Human Person: Further Reflections”, Science and Christian Belief, Vol. 11, no 1, 1999, p. 62.
6. Thuraisingham, Ranjit A. “Prayer and Entangled Quantum States.” ISCAST, Feb. 2020.
Ranjit A. Thuraisingham is a theoretical chemist who holds a PhD in molecular quantum mechanics from the University of Cambridge, UK. His scientific publications are in areas related to molecular physics, acoustic scattering, molecular neuroscience, and biomedical signal analysis. Now retired, he is engaged in trying to complement his understanding of Christianity with quantum physics.