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The Ultimate One Way Ticket

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Gas from a companion star is drawn by gravity into the black hole in a swirling pattern.  As the gas nears the event horizon, a strong gravitational redshift makes it appear redder and dimmer.  When the gas finally crosses the event horizon, it disappears from view.  Because of this, the region within the event horizon appears black.

Popular science writers have made us familiar with a lot of strange objects in the universe.  One of the objects thought to be out there is called a "black hole."  By definition it can’t be seen.

Stars are born and die, and a black hole is the final stage of the gravitational collapse of a very massive star, which becomes as compressed as anything possibly can be.  As a black hole attracts more material into itself it simply grows to become larger. In the end it becomes a massive gravitational force.  The force of gravity is so strong near a black hole that when it attracts something, it’s a one-way ticket.  Nothing, not even light, can make it out again.

Usually astronomers observe celestial objects by the light they emit or reflect.  But since no light can leave a black hole, we have to use other methods to detect it.  The normal criteria of "I’ll believe it when I see it" doesn’t really apply in the case of black holes.  We infer the presence of black holes by observing their gravitational effect on things like light, which it can bend.  Astronomers also infer their presence by identifying pairs of stars called binary stars, where one of them has collapsed to form a black hole.  The black hole draws material from its companion star, which then swirls around in an identifiable way.

So next time you buy a round-trip ticket, keep away from black holes if you want to use the return half!

MOVING BEYOND MATTER
 by Ron Hughes

It is not unusual for scientists to formulate hypotheses to help them make sense of their observations.  Black holes are a good example given the lack of hard evidence for them.  

Once we move beyond matter, we find many examples of things we are only aware of by looking at their effect on other things.  While tiny complex structures of the human brain are investigated by scientists, intelligence, emotion, and creativity elude the scalpel, probe and microscope.  Yet no one doubts the existence and power of these invisible phenomena because every day we see evidence of them in our world.  

Another thing that deserves our attention is that all the tools of our complex technology were all conceived in a human mind.  Someone had the skill to take that idea and build prototypes.  Someone else had the drive to mass-produce and market them.  The non-material moulds the material in a profound way.

Let’s take the discussion into the realm of the spirit.  In the same way that a scientist infers the existence of black holes from the behaviour of material and light in their vicinity, we might argue for the existence of God from the design evidence we see in nature.

We recognize human creativity when we experience a powerful work of art with our senses.  We recognize divine creativity when we begin to apprehend the complex design of so many details in the universe.

We cannot see God any more than we can see the force of magnetism.  Yet as surely as we accept the reality of magnetism we accept the reality of God.  The force of magnetism can be observed by watching its effect on a few iron filings.  The work of God can be observed by watching His effect on the lives of individuals who recognize their need of Him and open themselves to Him.

There is a lot of good evidence for God, looking at His effect on the natural creation and in the lives of His creatures are just a couple of aspects.