Louisville Process Theology Network

The Atheist and the Talmudist

“(Richard) Feynman, who had already done most of the talking, was unsympathetic to religious belief – since the age of ten. He described the Bible as ‘childish fables.’

“Core of my life,” responds (Herman) Wouk, explaining that they have more similarities than differences, starting with Talmudist grandfathers from Minsk……

‘I don’t believe any of it,’ exclaims the originator of Feynman diagrams, a tool to explain subatomic physics.

Wouk continues with how he values Jewish heritage for its dissemination of reason throughout history. Being so few in numbers, he comments, those who adhere to the traditions, ‘keep the flame.’

‘And how do you handle science and religion?’ asks the Laureate physicist, suggesting that the Pulitzer novelist must be compartmentalizing to shut out the many differences between the two realms.

Wouk then surprises Feynman with his knowledge of scientific history, referring to Darwin and Steven Weinberg……

‘In earlier times,’ Wouk explains, ‘religion was moral philosophy’ and ‘science was natural philosophy.’ Enlightened men and women were at home with both.

Bringing the argument closer to Feynman, Wouk then invokes John Wheeler, coiner of the term, ‘black hole’ and Feynman’s personally revered doctoral mentor, who ‘obliquely hints that the universe may require an Observer to exist at all.’

With Feynman’s interest piqued, the novelist explains his understanding that science and religion are one realm, not two, and that their views are closer than what Feynman may think…….

Wouk then refers to a television program with an often-quoted response to an interview where Feynman admits to his childlike wonderment of nature…..Continuing, Wouk talks of the enduring wonder that powers Feynman’s science…….

Wouk goes in for the match point, “Can I ask you something?”

‘Sure. Anything.’

‘How do you handle sorrow?’

Feynman is stopped cold, stricken, haunted, silent – a man who had had his share of sorrow – he responds, ‘How do you handle it?’

‘I can’t. He helps. Helps to heal.’

The intransigent atheist stares at the Talmudist, then, with a friendly punch in the arm, Feynman smiles and says, ‘Almost, I envy you.’”

See also “The Language God Talks” by Herman Wouk.