Why is the Speed of Light fundamental?

Casini test general relativity* Einstein's theories are based on three assumptions of invariance. (1) The laws of physics are the same everywhere (for non accelerating observers). (2) The speed of light in a vacuum is always the same, regardless of the speeds (non accelerating) of source and observer. (3) The properties of matter are fixed, not changing relationally as matter ages. (This is science's fundamental assumption that originated with the Greek philosopher Aristotle).

Scientists are convinced by many tests of Einstein's Special and General Relativity. However, they never test science's basic assumption (that the properties of matter are not emerging) without circular measuring. (Circular arguments use a single premise to support a conclusion that contains the premise at its base.) Scientists use Aristotle's assumption to define a 'fixed length second' as 9,192,631,770 microwave pulses from cesium 133. By definition, the length of a meter is the distance light travels in a vacuum in 1299,792,458th of a second. Therefore, by definition the speed of light is 299,792,452 meters in a second. By definition, the speed of light is circularly defined with perpetual motion seconds, which scientists use to calibrate their distance scale and velocity measurements. It is impossible to build an empirical science without assuming that something immutable dithers with perpetual motion. Anyone can test whether atoms are perpetual motion machines by visibly comparing the rate of ancient atomic clocks with modern ones. No perpetual motion atoms shine from billions of galaxies at many ranges (eras). Yet tens of thousands of scientific measuring units and mathematical constants depend on Aristotle's assumption that the properties of matter are fixed, not changing relationally.

Biblical physics is simply what the Bible says about the material world. Biblical physics has no mathematics or assumption-laden ways of measuring. This is because the Bible states that the creation is in bondage to phthora, fundamental change (Romans 8:21 - 22). Paul illustrated this with two Greek together-verbs. Relational changes are together changes. They cannot be measured or modeled mathematically because there are no independent variables - the properties of matter shift simultaneously, in parallel, together. The fact that the properties of matter are always changing is visible. We see that the atomic clocks and galactic orbits accelerate together because we see the history of the universe. Galaxies grew from tiny naked globs packed with stars into huge growth spirals. This could only happen if the properties of matter are emerging.

The Bible mentions another principle of physics in Ephesians 5:13. "But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light." Light exposes error (elegchomena) and makes evident (phanero) the truth because all things (panta) are light (phôs estin). All substance is light. On the first day, Elohim finished creating (bara) all of (et) the heavens and earth. At first, it was dark in the primordial abyss (tehom). Everything (et) in the universe was formless and empty (tohu wa bohu). Then Elohim moved across the face (paniym) of the transitory thing (mayim) and commanded light (owr) to be. Elohim continually perceives that the light is excellent (owr kiy towb). Light actualizes all matter, continually giving it form. The oldest physical things in the universe are atoms, which God calls 'house of light'. A house of light has a border where darkness dwells because light moves within its house in mysterious ways (Job 38:19 - 21). In biblical physics, matter and its properties are relationally connected to light. Light is always active - so matter is not static substance. Biblical physics can provide simple, non mathematical explanations because it denies science's basic assumption that matter is not relationally changing.

The speed of light is a fundamental speed limit:
1. Matter is a relation with light, so light is fundamentally associated with matter's properties.
2. Matter takes up space, although this space is mostly empty. It takes up space because light never stops jittering around inside atoms. An electron's dithering motions involve interactions with light that continually give matter its shape and chemical properties.
3. Light always moves at light speed. Therefore, all speeds and all motions are fundamentally light speed. When a macro object moves, the motion is dependent of (and is therefore limited by) the light motions that are continuously jittering around within atoms.
4. Light traveling through air or water is slower than in a vacuum. This is because the overall throughput is slowed down by billions of atomic interaction delays.
5. The basic matter-light relationship is the fundamental reality. It is impossible for matter or light to move faster than itself. Therefore, the speed of light is the fundamental speed.
6. Nothing in the physical world exists apart from the matter / light relationship. Humanistic ideas, such as time, have no existence in the world of nature. The ideas always conform to the assumption used in inventing the idea. This is why scientists are able to contrive symbolical properties such as mass, energy and time. They are invisible properties because they only exist in human minds.
7. To precisely measure light speed, one must assume that the properties of matter are fixed. It is impossible to invent precise measuring units or methods without assuming that something is immutable and moves with perpetual motion.

Please notice the simplicity of biblical physics. It is supported by simple reasoning based on the simple, literal words of God. In the next essay I will deal with the simple evidence against Einstein's theories.

* The graphic is from NASA, whose images are in the public domain. It depicts the alleged warping of space by matter which is part of Einstein's predictions in General Relativity.

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Last modified on July 1, 2009