The Copenhagen interpretation of quantum physics: An assessment of its fitness for use in Christian theology and apologetics

Paolo Di Sia

Ramakrishna Puligandla

Mark Harris

Theological engagement with quantum physics has, to this day, been dominated by the Copenhagen interpretation. However, philosophers and physicists working in the “quantum foundations” field have largely abandoned the Copenhagen view on account of what is widely seen as its troublesome antirealism. Other metaphysical approaches have come to the fore instead, which often take a strongly realist flavor, such as de Broglie‐Bohm, or Everett's “Many‐Worlds” interpretation. In the spirit of recent quantum foundations work, this article introduces a collection of studies aimed at taking quantum theology “beyond Copenhagen.” The present article advocates a commitment to “quantum fundamentalism,” which could resolve some of the enduring ontological problems faced by existing theological work with quantum mechanics, especially in discussions of quantum special divine action. Taking quantum fundamentalism literally would mean a departure from the Copenhagen interpretation, and the article suggests the need for a new research program to lay the groundwork in the natural theology of quantum foundations.

Yiftach Fehige

Hakan Turan, Hakan Turan

It is widely accepted that quantum theory predicts an indeterminism for the micro-processes of the physical realm, i.e. a future uncertainty that transcends mechanical necessity. What this indeterminism means ontologically has been debated for nearly a century. According to one of the theses put forward during this time, the uncertainties that are assumed to be present in every phenomenon and the microscopic coincidences that statistically coincide with them are not the ultimate reality, but rather quantum uncertainty has a metaphysical behind-the-scenes, namely the existence of a God who actively ordains and creates the concrete outcome of every micro phenomenon. It is from this indeterminacy that the “quantum divine action” models, especially those put forward by Christian scientists and philosophers with the intention of reconciling modern science with the concept of a creator God, start. This article analyses the natural philosophy of the Muslim theoretical physicist and scholar of Islamic Kalām theology Basil Altaie, which can be interpreted as a quantum divine action model based on Islamic theology. Altaie’s approach is here discussed from different philosophical and theological perspectives and compared with Christian approaches.

Robert John Russell

This chapter explores about action and quantum whose roots trace back four decades in the field of theology and science. It first discusses methodological issues, including the warrant for a bottom-up approach to action and the problems of the multiple interpretability of quantum and historical relativism. Next it turns to two philosophical issues: the phenomenological domain of the measurement problem and its relation to the indeterministic form of the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum physics. The chapter proposes that a trinitarian doctrine of God is the most suitable context for locating the divine action and quantum mechanics thesis. It finally lays out directions for future research on the philosophical implications of quantum and their relevance for action, including a proposed architecture of philosophical issues, an exploration of implications of Bell's theorem, and a comparison of nonlocality and (in)determinism in Bohm's formulation and the Copenhagen interpretation. Keywords: Copenhagen interpretation; action; quantum