The Hand of God Nebula, Evolution and Faith


If you go to NASA’s, “Hand of God” Pulsar Wind Nebula (www.nasa.gov/jpl/nustar/B1509) you will see a beautiful photograph of the ejecta from a supernova that looks—well—like the hand of God.  Of course, God is a spirit, without form, but the photo is an example of pareidolia, the psychological phenomenon of seeing familiar objects in random shapes.  Pareidolia is why we see animals in clouds and a face on the moon.  This nebula is also a lesson in the difference between science and faith, a dynamic duo producing rancor and debate where none really exists. 

This amazing X-ray photo shows a star, busily engaged in both death and rebirth.  Deep in space, a star destroyed itself in a supernova.  The remnants of that star formed a Pulsar, a neutron star, with an electromagnetic beam emanating from its magnetic poles.  This small, dense mass rotates at amazing speed.  The, “Hand of God” pulsar (PSR B1509-58) rotates at better than 7 times per second, sending atomic particles from the dead star blowing off into the material previously ejected from the star.   These particles interact with magnetic fields and create light in the form of X-rays.  
            The photo, taken by NASA’s Chandra X observatory shows a new view of a well known supernova.  The sizes involved are immense beyond understanding.   And while the nebula may be formed from a dead star, the material will, in the fullness of time, be recycled into new stars.  Some nebula are formed by stars that explode and others, like the Great Nebula in Orion are star nurseries, where star stuff is being coalesced by time and gravity into new stars (you can actually see them through a good telescope). 

            Stars evolve.  So do planets and the life that develops on a rare few.  These, “Goldilocks” planets are “…not too hot…not too cold…but just right.”  Earth is a lucky winner in the evolutionary lotto.  As a result of time and chance, trial and error, here we are—sentient, intelligent, curious creatures with opposable thumbs.  The world is our oyster!

            No, the NASA photo does not show the real hand of God, it is a grand, magnificent optical illusion which prompts us to create an equally grand metaphor.  Yes, God created the universe, but that doesn’t mean he created it in a way that is not logical or discernable to the same creatures He gave such a fine mind.  I am a baptized, believing, communing, church-going Christian who knows that evolution has and is occurring constantly in this universe.  The Big Bang did occur; we evolved from random collections of atoms first made in the stars—no creationism, no intelligent design—just evolution.  This took amounts of time that are incomprehensible to most people.  But I am not so vain as to think that the fact that I can not understand the mathematics of the Big Bang doesn’t mean it didn’t occur.  Nor am I so vain as to think that if you trace all that evolution back to the instant one microsecond before the Big Bang that you would not find the mind of God.  There is no problem here—if you are strong in your faith.   

            Science describes the natural world through experimentation, observation and repetition.  It is all subject to change based on new and better data.  Science is a self correcting process.  Faith is based on belief.  It is changeless in an ever changing world.  That which strengthens science (observable fact) is exactly the thing which cheapens faith.   And that which strengthens faith (belief without proof) is exactly the thing which cheapens science.  They are mutually exclusive.  One deals with the body and the other the soul. 

            Respect science and keep the faith. 

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