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UNIVERSE OR
UNIVERSES: If the moon revolves around the earth and the earth revolves around
the sun and that in turn revolves around the centre of the Galaxy, then it
seems feasible to contend that the centre of the Galaxy revolves around the
centre of the Universe and that maybe even the centre of the Universe revolves around
something greater than itself, and so on, in a process without end. The concept of multiple universes could then
present itself to our comprehension as a continuous manifestation of greater
and greater degrees of revolution around a central something which is always
one step ahead, so to speak, of that which revolves around it.
However, the logic of this does entail a
serious flaw. Why, you may wonder, doesn't something smaller than
the moon revolve around the moon, and something smaller than the something
which should therefore revolve around the moon revolve around it, and so
on? Clearly, if there is a downwards
limit as to what revolves around what, the moon having nothing revolving around
it in the manner of planetary revolution around the sun, then it seems highly
probable that there must also be an upwards limit which is established if not
at that point where suns revolve around the centre of their particular galaxy,
then almost certainly at that point where the centres of galaxies revolve around
the centre of the Universe. If the
Universe is still understood to imply the totality of existing galaxies, then
the concept of multiple universes is still beyond our comprehension and
possibly no more than a figment of the imagination.
But if multiple universes do exist,
then the Western concept of a unitary universe is smashed to pieces, the
totality of galaxies becoming merely a phenomenon appertaining to a tiny area
of total space in which other universes - or immense galactic clusters - exist
as logical entities at virtually incalculable distances from one another, and
revolve in toto around a body
or bodies greater than themselves.
Probably the concept of multiple universes
derives, in any case, from a more evolved point-of-view which can accommodate
the notion of alternative atomicities and thereby
avoid being limited to just one monadic absolute such as would correspond, in
theological terms, to the Father at the expense not only of the Son but of the
Holy Spirit as well, and which would accordingly limit us to a force/mass
autocracy in traditional subservience to a unitary cosmos.