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No, They Are Not Newton's Laws

Posted by Paul Yeenie Harry on February 27, 2005

In the world of science, many geniuses and scientists have either discovered or invented many things that continue to enrich our lives, clear our doubts about matter and energy (their composition, their actions and interactions, and the changes they undergo) and broaden our knowledge about the universe as a whole.

While it is true that science has some harmful effects on human beings and the environment, it has helped us more than it has harmed us, especially in the areas of communication and medicine. I salute all those have contributed, and those who are contributing, to this great effort.

There’s the television, helping us to see and know what is happening in other parts of the world. For instance, I can stay right in my little flat in Poland and see what is going on in Darfur, Ukraine, Iraq, Lebanon, DR Congo, Israel, Palestine, etc. Indeed, I salute Philo Farnsworth for inventing the television.

There is also that invention called phone, including the cellular, helping people to keep in touch with one another. For example, I can stay in any corner of Poland and communicate with my beloved mother who’s in Liberia (more than 5000km away from Poland). All we need to do is to charge our mobile phones, either using batteries or AC electricity. Indeed, I salute Alexander Graham Bell for inventing the telephone. But I also salute Benjamin Franklin for discovering electricity, and I salute Alessandro Volta for inventing the first chemical battery.

In medicine, many inventions have helped (and continue to help) to either cure or prevent a number of diseases, thereby improving our existence and prolonging our lives. Indeed, I salute Edward Jenner for inventing the smallpox vaccine. Also, I salute Wilhelm Konrad von Roentgen for inventing the X-RAY, and I also salute Alexander Fleming for inventing penicillin.

Another genius for whom I have great respect is Sir Isaac Newton. His descriptions of forces and motions are marvellous. He describes many interesting laws in physics. I salute him as well.

However, I am disturbed by one thing. I am really disturbed by his name being used to identify these laws. It’s true that he explains in vivid terms the First Law of Motion (the Law of Inertia), the Second Law of Motion (the Law of Acceleration), the Third Law of Motion (the Law of Interactions), and the Universal Law of Gravitation. But this, in my view, does not warrant his name taking over these laws. This is a fundamental mistake, and I refuse to accept.

My blood boils when I hear people say, for example, “Newton’s First Law of Motion,” “Newton’s Universal Law of Gravitation,” etc. I believe it’s wrong! It is wrong because these are not Newton’s laws. Newton is the “describer” of these laws, and not the “Owner.” The Owner empowers Newton to describe these laws. These laws had long been in existence before Newton was born. These laws are not Newton’s! The distinction must be recognized and shown clearly. In answering the Pharisees’ question about paying taxes to the Roman government, Jesus says, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” See Mathew 22:15-22.

The same response is germane to the topic under discussion. If Newton is just a “describer” of these laws, then who’s the actual owner? The Answer is simple: God, the Creator of the universe! Newton did not know how any of these laws came into existence, neither could he give a 100% clarity on these laws. Only the Owner knows and can! Let’s give to Newton what belongs to Newton, and let’s give to God what belongs to God. Indeed, God is the Creator and Owner of these laws; Newton is the describer. Nothing more!

So, the question is: How should these laws be called? In my view, these are the appropriate ways to call these laws:

A. “Newton’s First Law of Motion” should be Newton’s First Description of God’s Law of Motion.

B. “Newton’s Second Law of Motion” should be Newton’s Second Description of God’s Law of Motion.

C. “Newton’s Third Law of Motion” should be Newton’s Third Description of God’s Law of Motion.

D. “Newton’s Universal Law of Gravitation” should be Newton’s Description of God’s Universal Law of Gravitation.

Once this is clearly delineated and appropriately assigned, we will have given to Caesar what’s Caesar’s, and given to God what’s God’s. Other than this, I refuse to accept or use the traditional nomenclature of these laws. God is the Owner of these laws, because He’s the Creator of everything that exists, not Newton!

We read in Isaiah 42:5: “Thus says God the Lord, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, Who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk on it.”

Let’s stop ascribing God’s glory to mere mortal beings who do not, and cannot, understand God’s creation in full. The phenomena of the universe are created by that single self-existent Being called God. He was, He is and He will continue to be. Amen!

I rest my pen for the next article!