Neeper, Carolyn Almond.  “Built-in Meaning Inspired by Complexity Principles.” (unpubl.)

Abstract

The scientific observations of complexity studies include generalities that inspire faith in built-in meaning for life on Earth. A source of hope for people of all religious persuasions or none is in the sciences' conclusion that everything we do is potentially consequential. The price we pay is the unpredictable nature of long-term outcomes in complex processes. Meaning is suggested by the extreme sensitivity to initial condition in chaotic processes embedded in complex systems, by sensitivity at critical points, by the irreducible randomness at bifurcation points in complex pathways, and by the occasional amplification of small events into large effects due complex processes.

 To provide a framework for consideration, generalizations from chaos theory and complexity studies are summarized following a suggestion that scientific observations be distinguished from statements of belief inspired by those observations. A search of the literature found little emphasis on the perception that nothing we do as caring human beings is inconsequential. A brief overview of current theological ideas related to complexity science from the work of John Polkinghorne, Arthur Peacocke, and Niels Gregersen illustrates the emphasis given divine action and suggests other areas for consideration, such as theodicy. The discussion is focused on three sets of observations in complexity studies: 1) Self-organization and emergence throughout nature, 2) power law distribution and the regularity of catastrophes, and 3) ubiquitous chaotic phenomena exhibiting sensitivity to initial conditions and its resulting unpredictability embedded in complex systems, along with randomness at bifurcation points, sensitivity at critical points, and unpredictable amplification of small events into large effects.

 Built-in meaning for life found in this science provides a source of hope for people of all religious persuasions--if we can forgive the creative process its unpredictable nature.