Chapter 11: At the End of Science Lies Theology? |
Chen Chen did not know when he had fallen asleep. He only knew that he had been looking up all sorts of information on the internet to better combat challenges that might arise in the future.
The development of the internet had created a scenario of "information explosion". People now could easily acquire boundless knowledge on the internet.
Even so, few could convert this knowledge into actual wealth.
This was not a question of perseverance but the limitations of one's logical thinking and level of judgment.
The information on the internet was as vast as an ocean. This ocean of data was full of various rubbish and fake news. Anyone would need astonishing acumen to distinguish the good from the bad.
However, when a person with extraordinary judgment was bestowed with this knowledge, the internet ceased to become an obstacle.
On the contrary, they would be able to fully utilize the advantages of the internet.
It was in such a state that Chen Chen had browsed through various academic websites and forums.
While doing so, he had even picked up some hacking skills on his own, so that he could circumvent the restrictions and filters placed upon forum guests.
It seemed to be after two in the morning. When the effects of the drug wore off, exhaustion engulfed him like a tide.
Chen Chen did not even have time to turn off the computer before he lay back and conked out.
Nonetheless, Chen Chen's sleep was not a restful one. The residual effects of the drug had excited his brain to an unusual degree and he suffered nightmares throughout the night.
"Oh no, we woke up late. It's Old Wang's class this morning!"
Through the fog of sleep, Wang Wei's anxious voice rang out by his bed. Chen Chen opened his eyes reflexively to find that it was early morning the next day.
Chen Chen sat up but was overcome by a wave of dizziness and a splitting headache.
He could not tell where the source of discomfort was. It was like a severe cold. He felt weak all over and his stomach was churning.
Before he could even speak, Chen Chen's expression shifted. He quickly covered his mouth, hopped off his bed, and rushed to the toilet.
"Barf!"
Retching noises echoed from the toilet. Wang Wei, Li Bo, and Zhou Jie exchanged a look.
"We didn't notice anything yesterday. Why is Lil Chen's reaction worse than Nostril's?"
Wang Wei stared at Zhou Jie who was hungover and asked, mystified.
"Is Lil Chen heartbroken too?" Zhou Jie scratched his disheveled head in a dispirited manner.
"I'll say! No wonder he's so poor he can only afford buns."
Li Bo shook his head, sighing. "He must've spent it all on his goddess. I've said before, lapdogs don't get a happy ending."
Fortunately, Chen Chen was busy puking and did not hear what they had said. Otherwise, he would have blown his top.
After a bout of vomiting, his stomach felt somewhat better.
Chen Chen rose and turned on the tap, splashing his face with no regard for its temperature.
The bone-cutting iciness hit him and he shuddered once. His wilting spirits immediately recovered.
"Thud thud thud."
Outside, Wang Wei knocked on the door. "Lil Chen, can you walk? Do you want to call in sick?"
Chen Chen opened the door, his face still dripping, and said weakly, "I'm fine. I might have the flu."
"So, you took cephalosporins, huh?" Zhou Jie asked.
"…"
'So he still can't get over that comment?'
Chen Chen could not be bothered to chit chat. After washing up, he went out of the toilet and put on his socks and shoes.
Wang Wei urged him on like a nagging mother. After all four of them hurriedly got ready, they went down together and dashed toward the canteen.
"Lil Chen, don't starve yourself if you're broke. I still have money left over this month and can lend you some."
At the canteen, Wang Wei recalled that Chen Chen had been eating buns yesterday. He patted Chen Chen's shoulder as he spoke.
"I still have enough for now. If I run out, I'll tell you."
Chen Chen waved his hand. He swiped his card, buying a cup of soy milk and two buns, which he ate as he walked toward the teaching block.
After downing a cup of hot soy milk, Chen Chen could feel himself coming alive. He exhaled loudly, creating a cloud of mist.
Winter solstice was coming…
Four of them tiptoed into the classroom. At the moment, the front seats had been taken. They could only look for seats in the back row.
"Alright, let's start the class."
Professor Wang Xi saw that the class was nearly full and began his lecture.
"Before we begin, let's talk about the relationship between theology and science."
Professor Wang Xi was different from the other professors. He seldom lectured according to the textbook. It was more likely for him to explore external topics to arouse the students' interest.
For instance, speculating about the origin of life or investigating immortality, and so on.
Currently, the old professor was chuckling as he paced. "First of all, who has heard of the saying, 'At the end of science lies theology'?"
Everyone below the platform was taken aback as they glanced around dubiously. Finally, almost all of them raised their hands hesitantly.
"Well, that's good. This means that everyone is rather concerned with science.
"In that case, let's examine this sentence, 'At the end of science lies theology', who said this, and what its arguments are."
Professor Wang Xi's expression turned solemn as he embarked on this topic.
"First of all, let me say that this line seems rather reasonable at first glance. On the internet, for example, people would often bring up how many scientists had studied theology in their last years.
"The quintessential figures are Newton, 'the father of early modern physics', and Einstein, 'the father of modern physics'.
"As the originator of Newtonian mechanics, Newton could be said to have spurred on the world's scientific progress by himself. As for Einstein, he's known as the greatest scientist of the twentieth century. Even so, why would these two titans of science end up studying theology?"
Professor Wang Xi put on an enigmatic expression and lowered his voice. "Did they discover some other secret that lies behind the science?"
Most people looked at each other in puzzlement after hearing this, unsure of what Professor Wang Xi was driving at.
"In the end, I stayed up all night researching, trying to find the answer to this question."
Professor Wang Xi made a face of mock relief and continued speaking.
"Everyone knows that Newton was born in 1643 AD. In that era, the whole of western society was governed by theocracy. After Newton was born, he received a theological education, which means that from the moment of his birth, he became a Catholic.
"That wasn't all. If you looked through Newton's life, you'll find that he spent most of his time searching for the code God used to create the universe. In his later years, he intensified his research into theology, trying to prove the existence of God.
"Out of Newton's whole life, 80% of his works were theological, numbering over 1.4 million.
"All this cannot be separated from the time and place he was in. In an age where religious influence pervaded the nation and unbelievers were persecuted, it's perhaps understandable that a physicist would be influenced by the idea of God."
There were soft titters around the room.
"Herein lies the crux of the matter. It wasn't that Newton only delved into theology late in his life. Rather, he had always been a theologian first, a scientist second."
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