Ancient Wisdom, Modern Science: Understanding Faith as a Creative Force
From Mysticism to Quantum Physics: Understanding Faith as Reality
Personal Note: I have an idea for another book. Maybe my friend Dr. Anthony Phan will co-write it with me - he will be the medical and scientific voice. You’ll see why that’s important in a second.
For most of my adult spiritual life, I have wrestled with the concept of faith, often feeling that my understanding was incomplete. Two verses in the Bible, in particular, have continually given me both spiritual and intellectual consternation. The first is Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” The second is a saying of Yeshua in Mark 5:34, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering,” spoken after a woman reached out to touch his tzitzit—knowing, deep within her heart, that even the slightest touch of the Master's garment would bring her healing.
The upcoming book will explore faith through Yeshua's eyes (remember Jesus is Jewish), seeking to understand what he saw, felt, and knew about faith that made it such a powerful force. The book aims to bridge the gap between my limited understanding and the profound faith Yeshua demonstrated and encouraged in others.
To understand his perspective, in recent years, science has started to catch up with the wisdom of the Bible and the teachings of Yeshua. Concepts like the power of belief, the role of intention, and the ability of consciousness to shape our physical reality—ideas that Yeshua spoke about and embodied—are now being explored and validated through quantum physics, neuroplasticity, and studies on the placebo effect. This convergence of ancient wisdom and modern science offers an exciting opportunity to understand faith not just as a spiritual principle but as a tangible force that profoundly influences our lives. I aim to explore this in the book: a unified perspective where science illuminates the timeless truths that Yeshua taught, inviting us all to deepen our understanding of faith as a real and transformative power.
Introduction: A Bridge Between Worlds
The human capacity for transformation has intrigued philosophers, theologians, and scientists alike for millennia. Whether through divine inspiration or scientific inquiry, the question remains: What allows some individuals to reshape their lives, heal their bodies, or manifest extraordinary outcomes from seemingly ordinary beginnings? This book invites you to uncover the mechanisms behind this power—the creative force that drives transformation—through the combined lenses of spirituality and science.
We begin with a profound assertion found in the biblical book of Hebrews: "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). This verse is not merely poetic; it is a claim about the tangible, active power of faith—a force that can shape reality. Throughout history, spiritual traditions, particularly those rooted in Kabbalistic teachings, have affirmed that thought is far from a passive activity; it is, instead, a powerful tool of creation. Kabbalistic wisdom teaches that the power of machshavah—intentional thought—is intricately tied to the divine creative process, making each individual a co-creator in manifesting the divine will on earth. Today advances in neuroscience offer new insights that can help illuminate the biological processes that support this ancient wisdom.
Modern science is shedding light on how deeply held beliefs have the potential to shape not only our mindset but also our physiological state. Neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life, suggests that our thoughts, repeated over time, create physical changes in the brain. This means that the same faith Yeshua spoke of—faith that heals, that moves mountains—is an abstract quality and an active, formative process that transforms us at the neural level. The more we engage in intentional, faith-driven thought, the more we literally reshape our brains to align with that intention.
Similarly, the field of epigenetics provides us with another layer of understanding. It is not only the brain's structure that changes; our environment, thoughts, and beliefs influence the very expression of our genes. The ancient teachings on the power of prayer, visualization, and meditation align strikingly well with the modern understanding that our internal state can influence our physical health at the genetic level. Yeshua’s encouragement to "believe and it shall be done" now finds a parallel in the scientific explanation of how belief activates biological processes that foster healing and transformation.
This journey starts with the spiritual foundations of thought and intention, exploring how deeply held beliefs are considered the seeds of creation. We will examine the teachings of Kabbalah, the sayings and actions of Yeshua, and parallel teachings from other religious traditions that all speak to the same power. From the practices of Tibetan monks who use meditation to regulate their body temperature to the teachings of Sufism on the transformative power of devotion, the universal message is clear: intention directs energy, and energy creates transformation. We will then pivot to contemporary neuroscience—specifically exploring neuroplasticity, epigenetics, and the fascinating phenomenon of quantum entanglement—to understand how these discoveries provide a biological lens through which we can see the workings of faith and intention in our brains and bodies.
This convergence between spirituality and science is not merely coincidental but reflective of a deeper, universal truth about human potential. Quantum physics has introduced concepts like the observer effect, suggesting that consciousness shapes reality. When Yeshua spoke about having faith "as small as a mustard seed" that could move mountains, he was not merely using a metaphor—he was pointing towards a profound truth about human consciousness and its capacity to influence the world. The idea that the observer impacts what is observed parallels how faith, as a form of focused intention, collapses possibilities into tangible realities.
We will build this understanding step-by-step by examining ancient doctrines and modern discoveries, culminating in an integrated perspective that reveals faith as something more than a concept—faith as a force that can transform our lived reality empirically. This is not just about philosophy or belief; it is about how our bodies respond, how our brains change, and how our environments transform when faith is actively engaged.
This journey, therefore, is about bridging worlds: connecting ancient spiritual insights with the latest scientific research. Through this bridge, we aim to demonstrate that the power of faith, far from being a mere metaphor, has concrete, measurable effects that can fundamentally change personal reality. We will explore historical examples, contemporary case studies, and scientific experiments showing how faith, intention, and consciousness actively shape our world. Together, we will explore how we can harness this force to understand the universe better and co-create a life that aligns with divine intention and our highest potential.
Faith is not passive; it is participatory. It requires us to engage with our inner and outer worlds consciously and deliberately. This book aims to offer a pathway—a bridge between the wisdom of the ancients and the discoveries of modern science—so that we may all come to know faith as Yeshua knew it: as the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, and a force capable of bringing about profound, lasting transformation.
Have a great day! Stay sharp. Pray. Be ready.
Ty
Poignant Perspective is a reader-supported publication. Subscribe now to continue exploring profound connections between ancient wisdom and our modern world. Stay informed, inspired, and connected to the divine path. To receive new posts and support this work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
'Jesus is Jewish,' a guiding light for those seeking to understand the Galilean who truly transformed the world. This book is not just a historical exploration; it is an invitation to rediscover Jesus' identity through the lens of his rich Jewish heritage. Let this be a time of profound and enlightening discovery. Begin your transformative exploration by clicking the image below.
