a. God
Throughout history God has been characterized as a being of light. Though I don't mean to imply that
the light of God is comprised of the same physical substance of the everyday light that we perceive, I think
that the best way to start this discussion on metaphysics is to try to consider the physical Universe from
the perspective of a being comprised of light. A being comprised of light and who has existed from the
beginning of time would have a size at least as large as that of the Universe. Since the Universe seems
to be expanding in size relative to the size of the matter within it, if this being were to look at the Earth,
which is comprised of matter, it would appear to be shrinking. In fact, to look at the Earth, this being would
have to look inside himself, since his existence would extend throughout the space of the Universe,
encompassing the Earth. In contraction physics, time and space within the Universe came into existence
when the structures that comprise space began to contract in size relative to the overall size of the
Universe, this defining space-time. For the being of light just described, this would mean that space
would start shrinking relative to him, since he stays the same size as the Universe. However, since he is
comprised of natural light, he is also changing, since the natural light that he is comprised of is
contracting along with the space of the Universe. As this occurs, he must create more light in order to
maintain his size.
From concepts presented thus far, it is now possible to conceive of a being comprised of a
supernatural light, a light that does not itself shrink in size, though it encompasses all the natural light and
entities that do. To encompass the Universe and all entities within the Universe, including each point in
time, this light would be at least as large as the Universe and include as part of it's reality the summation
of all the physical and mental realities of all time frames. As was pointed out in Book I, with contraction
theory it is possible to give each point in time a unique size which can be mathematically described.
Thus, all time periods within the Universe can be summed together to give a mathematical total
describing the Universe as a whole. Also presented in Book I was the basic equation, c=1/t, which
describes the size of the space that light travels through per second at each point in time relative to the
overall size of the Universe. It was pointed out that to describe space within the Universe, the initial value
of t, this representing the beginning of time in the Universe, should be considered to be a particular
number, equal to approximately 1x(10 exp.-43), this being very close to zero. Hypothetically, it is even
possible to describe an infinite size and infinite velocity for this light, by simply making t equal zero. Thus,
it is conceivable to mathematically describe a supernatural light that is infinite in size and which
encompasses all space and time.
According to contraction logic, God began time within the Universe by contracting units of space
relative to a fixed volume of space, this perceived by us as our Universe. This contraction, which can vary
in rate and relative orientation, gives entities their form and space-time it's four dimensional attributes.
The question may arise, "where did the fixed volume of space relative to which things contract originate?"
One possible answer is that it has always been there. Another, more complex answer, the one that I
believe applies, is that it is created from nothing, through expansion and contraction, and exists in a
non-dimensional reality. The easiest way to imagine this concept of something existing in a
non-dimensional reality is to consider a the possibility of a single dimensional construct which is defined
two opposite and equal motions. From the perspective of a person in the non-dimensional reality, these
two motions would cancel each other out, resulting no construct, thus no space. However, if from another
perspective the opposite natures of the two motions are not perceived as opposite but as identical, or if
one is perceived and the other isn't, then a version of the contruct would appear to exist in space. This
demonstrates how a non-dimensional reality could contain a dimensional one. These types of concepts
are explained in more detail in Book I.
With either view, the original space within which time is deliniated can be considered to originate
from God, and, it can also be considered to exist within the mind of God, which, in my view, is created by a
transcendent God for himself. In the section on the application of contraction logic to the definition of the
human mind it was pointed out that it is the capacity of the human mind to perceive and interact with
multiple levels of time to the degree that it can that defines it as a human mind. This capacity, in fact,
defines it as an entity with it's own unique rate of contraction. More properly, the unique contraction rate
gives the mind the capacity to perceive reality as it does. Extending this concept to the mind of God, His
mind would have the capacity to exist in and perceive all levels of reality at all times. While forms may be
created and altered within this reality, they originate from what was originally there, the mind of God. This
then means that all created reality is simply the mental reality of God. This Universe was created when
God willed that it exist, with his mind, within his mind.
With this view it is required for God's mind to exist in order for space and time to exist. These
concepts, space and time, are defined relative to the reality of the mind of God. It is the mind of God that
creates the space and time in which reality exists. Where the mind of God is not, space cannot be
created. It is possible, though, in creation, to define different levels of reality where each is characterized
by a different capacity to interact with other aspects of reality, including the fuller reality of the mind of God.
This is the same concept that is the basis for describing the differences between the perception
capabilities of a human being, which has a mind, and those of an animal, which does not, as described
in the previous section. These concepts can also be applied to physical realities, such as heaven,
paradise, and hell.
b. Heaven and hell
With the contraction approach to describing reality, it is easy enough to describe a variety of different
realities, including the realities of Heaven and Hell. Heaven's reality would have the slowest rate of
contraction, and Hell's the fastest. The contraction rate of Hell could approach infinity. This would reflect
the concept of something becoming nothing. It still exists, but is continually being reduced relative to the
reality of God. The contraction rate of the reality that we presently find ourselves in, a fallen Paradise,
would be somewhere in between that of Heaven and Hell's, and an unfallen Paradise's rate of contraction
would be somewhere between that of here and that of Heaven's.
Theoretically, it's even possible to ascribe numbers to these rates. Here is a hypothetical example.
According to the Bible, the world (Universe) is about six thousand years old. According to scientists, it's
about 14 billion years old. According to the theory of relativity, it is possible to describe two entities with a
velocity relative to each other with a resulting variation in the rate at which time passes for each, so that,
while six thousands years passes for one of the entities, 14 billion years passes for the other. The
velocity that applies for this example would be almost equal to c, the velocity of light. According to
contraction theory, this variation in the rates for the passage of time due to relative orientation can also be
true for two different levels of reality. These relaities might well have a velocity relative to each other, and
would each have a different rate for the passage of time. Applying this concept to the reality of Paradise
relative to the reality which we perceive now, it might be moving at a velocity of almost c relative to this
reality, and only about six thousands years will have passed according to Paradise's time.
In the above example, according to contraction theory the reality of Paradise where only about six
thousand years have past would have a particular size relative to the reality that we presently perceive.
Surprisingly, the size difference isn't as great as one might expect. This because the rate of contraction
for space diminishes at a very rapid rate. In a paradise with the time differential just described, the size
differential would be such that a length of 2 meters there, about equal to the height of the average man, is
equal to about 4,000 kilometers here.
c. Spirit and soul
As with all other entities, the soul can be defined in terms of it's relationship to the mind of God. With
the approach that I've just presented, it is possible to describe a human being with a mind that has a
limited capacity to perceive and interact with the wider reality of the mind of God. A wider perception of
God would lead to a perception of the Spirit of God, which in itself defines a unique reality. The degree of
interaction that a mind has with the Spirit of God can be described in terms of whether or not that mind's
rate and direction of contraction are synchronized with the aspect of the Spirit of God that interacts directly
with the human mind. The condition of the soul, or spirit, of a human being would be defined by this
relationship with the Spirit of God.
A soul that is born into this physical Universe develops the capacity to exert it's own will. Birth is the
means by which God gives an individual free will within the physical reality of this Universe. It is the
interaction of the soul with physical reality that enables the soul to develop it's capacity to exert it's will. A
soul might exist before conception, but would have a limited capacity to exert it's will. The experience of
living in physical reality develops and reveals the will of the soul.
A consequence of living in physical reality is the interaction between individual souls. Souls
influence and are influenced by other souls. Since this is the case, it can be said that each soul is to
some degree responsible for the condition of other souls. The greater a being's ability to exert it's will, the
greater their responsibility in exercising their will. In the context of the contraction approach to describing
reality, this is more than just a moral statement, it is a physical reality. In the contraction approach, souls
physically overlap and interact with other souls on levels beyond what is normally perceived as physically
real, this being part of the supernatural aspects of reality.
God's soul also overlaps and interacts with souls. When a soul exerts their will, they are physically
affecting God. Of course, God can regulate the affect on Him, and does, and can exert His will on a soul.
This interaction between a soul and God is the subject of speculation by many people, as is the question
of what is a right or wrong action as judged by God, and this I won't address here. The point that I am
making is that the contraction approach to describing reality provides a basis for describing physical
structures for the supernatural effects that a soul has on others, and on God. For example, a wrong
action, or sin, can be understood as an action that creates a physical barrier between a soul and God. It
diminishes the capacity of the soul to interact with the Spirit of God. This is because it increases a souls
rate of contraction away from the fuller reality of God. If a soul's contraction rate increases enough, it will
no longer have much capacity to interact with either the reality of God or the physical reality of this world.
This is death.
With the contraction approach, death is defined in terms of rates of contraction of the soul relative to
the Spirit of God. A dead soul contracts away from the Spirit at a faster rate than does a living soul. While
a living soul's rate of contraction is coordinated with the contraction rate of the physical reality of this world,
a dead soul's is not.
The rate at which a soul contracts relative to the reality of God is influenced by that soul's ability to
perceive the true reality of God. The closer one's perception of truth, the closer one is to the truth of the
reality of God, because one's rate of contraction is more closely coordinated with the contraction rate of
the aspect of the Spirit of God that enables the soul to perceive and interact with the fuller reality of God.
I'd like to point out here that one should not assume that an awareness of God is necessarily measured
in terms of an awareness of obvious physical reality. As was explained in the previous section, in the
context of contraction, the emotion of love can be considered to be a physically real force. Ultimately, as
many people believe, I believe that it is the love of God that is the determining factor which defines our
perception of the truth of God.
A souls capacity to perceive the truth of God is influenced by their actions. Any action by a soul that
reduces that soul's ability to perceive and interact with the reality of God increases that soul's contraction
rate away from the Spirit of God. In theological terms these actions are referred to as sinful. A soul that
commits sinful actions uses the force of their will to construct barriers between itself and the Spirit of
God. These barriers interfere with the soul's ability to sense and interact with the Spirit. They are
comprised of energy that is exerted by the soul in an effort to distort their perceptions of reality. This effort
by the soul to distort the reality that they perceive is similar to the self-deception methods of a disturbed
mind which were described in the psychological section of this work. As in that case, where a mind uses
energy to avoid unpleasant perceptions, the soul that has sinned uses some of it's energy to avoid facing
the unpleasant perception of guilt. They construct a mental reality in which self-guilt is rationalized or
avoided. It is here where the cause of death lay. A soul that constructs a mental reality that is not
consistent with the true reality of God has constructed barriers between their mental reality and the truth of
God. This puts them into a situation where upon the separation of their spirit from their physical body,
their spirit contracts away from, or falls away from, the fuller reality of God.
This concept of contracting, or falling, away from God can also be applied to different realities. When
Adam and Eve sinned, they caused a change in the reality that they existed in. Thus, what was their
paradise, and their perception of it, was physically changed by their actions. In the context of contraction
logic, when Adam and Eve fell from Paradise, in actuality, they shrunk from it.
It would also be possible for a soul at death to expand into the fuller, perfect truth of God. This would
require that the soul have the capacity to overcome it's sins and be drawn out of it's increased contraction
relative to the reality of God. Most religious traditions believe that by pursuing an understanding of truth
and acting according to this understanding a being can overcome sin and experience the greater reality of
God. It is the Christian belief that it is Jesus Christ who enables a being to do this. It is not the purpose of
this work to argue for one view or the other, or to discuss the specific actions required to overcome sin.
The point here is that sin influences the reality that one experiences, as does good action. In order to
experience the reality of God, one must learn to not sin.
d. Conclusion
On the previous pages I have tried to show that by using the contraction approach to describing
reality it is hypothetically possible to construct a mathematical description of some aspects of the
structures of metaphysical reality. This does not constitute a proof that metaphysical reality exists and
has this form. However, if it cannot be proven that the contraction approach to describing reality is not
possible, meaning that it is possible, then I suggest that further study and development of the contraction
approach is warranted. After all, if metaphysical reality does exist and does have this form, understanding
it's mechanics could be useful.