The Human Person: A Microcosm Unto Itself.

I had some personal prolife muzings which you might find of interest to read. As a physicist, and an inventor, I have not let the great findings of modern empirical science blind me to the great transcendent dignity of all human persons.  

We as human persons are often to tempted to think of our selves as GODs or as a part of GOD, an aspect of GOD and the like. In reality, we human persons, although being able to partake in the super natural life of grace are not part of GOD, nor are we an aspect of GOD. Assuming that GOD and the universe, or more broadly, the cosmos are one and the same is in error according to the teaching of the Catholic Faith.

Well then, how are we to view are selves as having any real significance in the midst of our daily crosses and toils when there seems to be so much disrespect for the sanctity of human life and persons as made in the image and likeness of GOD?

An answer to such a question that should give all of us humans, and presumably any of  the bodily extraterrestrial persons as our brothers and sisters that may exist on other planets cause for joy, is such that we created bodily human persons (and presumably by corollary, any such ETI brothers and sisters of we humans) are according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, each like a universe or a cosmos unto our selves since we possess all of the basic elements of creation in our constitution.

First, we have a physical body that is comprised of atoms and molecules which in turn is composed of quarks that form the protons and neutrons in the atomic nuclei and the electrons in the electronic atomic shell structures of the atoms that make up our bodies. From these considerations alone, we know that the force of electromagnetism as embodied in atomic and molecular magnetic moments, electric field via electrical charge, and the electromagnetic radiations emitted and absorbed by atoms and molecules, is definitely represented within our  body’s composition.

The strong nuclear force is an essential component  of the protons and neutrons that comprise the atomic nuclei of the atoms the compose our bodies thus the gluons as strong force carriers that bind the quarks together in the subject nuclei are representative of the presence of quantum-chromo-dynamics level of physics that is ubiquitous through out the atomic nuclei in our bodies.

The weak force is also present, not only by virtue of the presence of certain radio-isotopes in trace amounts that comprise our bodies, some of which decay by the weak interaction which is mediated by the W+, W-, and Zo weak force bosons, but also by virtue of the  weak force’s association with the electromagnetic force via the electroweak unification or unified field theory for which the formulation of and its discovery was the subject of a Nobel Prize in Physics in the later half of the 20^th Century.

Since all known matter has in effect a gravitational charge, and reacts to gravitation, the fundamental force of gravity is inherent in the constitution of our bodies.

Throw in the still theoretical Higgs Fields also since the Higgs field is the Standard Model Field that supposedly results in massive bodies having inertia and mass instead of the material incorporated into massive particles existing as the pure light speed energy equivalence of the inertial mass. Since theoretical super symmetric particles and fields would be related to the known fermions and bosons, throw in super-symmetric mattergy as well, which is a good bet if such mattergy exists since nature seems to be a unity in terms of its operative principles.

Second, we share the vegetative life principles operative in plants, bacteria, viruses, and the like as a result of the basic physical and thermodynamic life metabolic activities that operate within our bodies.

Third, we share the sensitive, instinctual, visceral perceptive abilities, and abilities for associative learning present in the many fine animal species that populate the Earth. One aspect of our sensitive life that is highly esteemed in modern culture is the instinctual and pleasurable nature of human sexuality, which in its most raw and primitive form is similar to the sexual urges of animals. Yet this same fundamental characteristic of humanity has advanced emotional, affective, intellectual, and even spiritual characteristics that perhaps model the non-sexual intimate discourse that must assuredly marks the lives of the pure spirits called angels. We must not assume that angels cannot have emotions, or emotional and social affection, in ways that are more advanced then we humans experience it. In fact, since angels are pure spirits, perhaps their emotions although of a purely spiritual and/or intellectual type of nature, are far richer, more intense, and vibrant then human emotions here on Earth because angels are not limited in their psychodynamic processes by a brain or a body, which they do not possess.

Fourth; we humans have an advanced brain and advanced cognitive capacities which we most assuradly would share with any existent advanced extra-terrestrial persons and their civilizations, if such beings exist. We have the ability of informed reason, memory, executive level cognitive functions, perceptual filtering, planning, symbolic and abstract thinking, mathematical, verbal, artistic, creative, and advanced intuitional skills.

Fifth, we humans possess a spiritual and immortal soul that is free, directly and immediately created, and rational that is gifted with the immaterial aspects of intellect, will, heart, and memory. By virtue of our spiritual and immortal souls, we share the nature of the angels which are pure spirits. We also have powerful faculties within our souls such as the non-corporeal reality based intellect, free will, heart, and memory.

Sixth, we humans can share the supernatural life of GOD while in the state of grace and some theological thinkers hold that perhaps all human persons share the supernatural life somehow wrought by Christ’s Incarnation, Life, Sufferings, Passion, Death on the Cross, Resurrection, and Ascension into the Glory of Heaving. In the event that the immortality of the human soul is only such by gratuitous effects such as is the speculation of some modern and post modern theological perspectives, then even the condemned souls in Hell would in some fundamental sense share in this ubiquitous grace since the Catholic Church has proclaimed the Eternity of Hell. If the human soul is gratuitously immortal, then since all human souls are immortal, all human souls in the next life must possess some measure of supernatural grace.

Personally, I believe as did Saint Thomas Aquinas, the Angelic Doctor of the Church, that the human soul is naturally immortal, that is, it does not require the grace of GOD for its immortality.

I will not speculate too much on the notion of gratuitous immortality of the human soul since the concept as such is still very controversial.

Seventh, for we Catholics, and other Christian denominations for which the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders are still valid, we are aware that each of these three Sacraments instills a sacramental seal or character in the souls of the recipients of these sacraments which is no mere garment, but which actually imbues the subject souls with a certain supernatural character. Even the souls of those who have received only the Sacrament of Baptism have such a sacramental seal or supernatural characteristic.

Note however, that those who are called to the married life and for which the sacrament of Holy Orders in not a possibility, should not despair at not being able to receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders since the vocation of Holy Matrimony according to the Catholic Teaching should not be considered and must not be considered as inferior or less worthy then the Sacrament of Holy Orders, because each of these two vocations has its unique focus and graces associated with it. In fact, the highest creature, the Queen of Heaven, The Queen of the Universe, the Mother of GOD, is non other than the Blessed Virgin Mary who was in fact married to Saint Joseph under the customs of Jewish Law. Heck, she even became pregnant by the power of GOD as she conceived the Child Jesus in Her womb. Mary far exceeds in grace and supernatural life that of any Catholic Priest, Bishop, Archbishop, Cardinal, or Pope, and some theologians would say that she is holier than the entirety of the rest of creation combined. She is truly most full of grace And so even though I have chosen not to enter the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, for all of those who feel called to do such, or who have already done such, have not fear or regrets, for your calling is truly a magnificent one.

Since we so broadly possess the above basic elements of creation, the Catechism of the Catholic Church reassures us that each of we humans is like a universe or a cosmos all unto itself, possessing in some measure the full array of created aspects in the unity we refer to as the human person.

We are not GOD nor parts of GOD, but we are unique and in some profound respects free and autonomous individuals that are who we are and not anyone else. I say this especially for all of you rugged individualists who long for a sense of ontological identity in a world that has used empirical science as an excuse to remain blinded to the above realities. No doubt, we humans as well as all other creatures depend on GOD for our existence and salvation, however, we possess a unique and unrepeatable individuality and identity commensurate in glory to being in a sense, a whole microsm to it self.

Our very souls, whether naturally immortal or immortal by grace, are the simple, spiritual, rational, free, directly and immediately created vital or life principles of identity and individuality that constitute each one of us as a human person, so much so that it is primarily our souls that constitute each one of we humans as a unique, free, an unrepeatable person.

In closing, the point I am trying to make, is that given the above realities of the constitution of the human person, should we not do all the more to respect and promote the dignity of all human life until natural death. Yes, we should even love terrorists, and convicts as assuredly as Christ has called us to love our neighbors and to love our enemies. If we do not visit the imprisoned, comfort the afflicted, clothe the naked, feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, our Lord will tell us at the End of Time, that so long as we refused to do such for these least of our brethren, we refused to do so for Him. This is a tough message in a modern civilization that measures a  persons worth strictly in terms of occupational, psychological, and conventional academic intellectual prowess. Modern existentialism has blinded us the reality that all human persons share a fundamental moral equality before GOD. Don’t believe me? Then read the Catechism where such a statement in clearly made.

Clearly, we must respect the great dignity and sacredness of all human persons from the moment of conception until natural death. I will even go as far to say that it can be a grave sin against human nature and against natural law to call down anger from GOD on the souls in Hell especially in such a manner that the annhilation of these unfortunate souls or their sadistic torture is prayed for. When such invocations are performed with the full brunt of human free will, and are done so out of hatred and a strong desire for revenge, I cannot honestly see how such invocations and related behavior are not mortally sinfull. The truth is, we humans need to stop the hating, disrespect, and mockery of our fellow human beings especially the weak and the vulnerable, or those for whom we would tend to apply labels such as bums, jailbirds, low lifes, retards, psychos, sluts, homos, bottom feeders, and the like. I think many of these wrongly so-called low lifes are getting into Heaven much quicker and more easily than openly pro-choice Catholic politicians who support abortions rights and vote for such, yet who see no problem in receiving Holy Communion thus desecrating the Sacred Species 

GOD BLESS!

Jim