Why Humans Matter More Than the Universe Itself

Racheli asks: "Hi there. I've always pondered this question: as we know, there are billions of stars in the universe, some larger than our entire solar system. This makes us seem really small. But what does that actually mean for us? Why did Hashem create such a confusingly vast universe?"

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Hi Racheli, and thanks for your question.

In short, while size and quantity might impress us as humans, they lose their significance when seen through a scientific lens.

A single grain of sand contains about 20 trillion atoms, an inconceivable number of particles. If all these atoms suddenly expanded, they would resemble massive galaxies filled with trillions of stars.

If a tiny cell in our body were to expand to the size of a mountain, it would look like a gigantic, complex city bustling with mechanical beings working in coordination. The quantity of things loses meaning when we understand that even the smallest things can be composed of trillions of particles.

The awe-inspiring concept of an immense universe is merely an illusion created by the movement of particles within it. In every atom, particles move at immense speeds, creating an illusion of volume and solidity (for example, like the rapidly spinning blades of a fan, which give the illusion of no space between them). This means the largest stars could fit in a pocket-wallet if the particles comprising them ceased moving momentarily.

Science teaches us that the vast reality we know is nothing compared to Hashem, who creates every shape, size, and quantity. If, heaven forbid, He were to loosen His grasp on the universe even momentarily, everything would revert to chaos and emptiness.

What's impressive isn't the quantity but the quality, which determines the importance of creations. The small clock hands may be tiny compared to the gears and battery, but they are the main part and purpose of the clock.

Maimonides wrote (Part Three, Chapter 14):

"Consider these physical entities; how great are their dimensions and how many their numbers are... It would be absurd that the superior should be a tool for the inferior." But he tied this to a condition: "If the difference between celestial bodies and terrestrial and elemental bodies was only that of greatness and smallness, one could say this."

Maimonides explained that size and quantity do not determine importance, but rather complexity and the nature of the object. Many ancient philosophers believed that stars are more complex and superior in their essence than humans, made of special and higher celestial material - thus they considered humans inferior to them.

If they had known that stars are less naturally complex than humans, they would have concluded that stars are inferior to humans, even if there are billions of them.

This scientific question wasn't resolved for thousands of years until advancements in astronomy (observing stars with advanced telescopes), physics, and chemistry (which provide us with understanding of material structure and behavior) were made. Today, modern science leads to the conclusion that stars are inferior to humans. How so?

Physics explains the composition of materials and thus discovered that stars are merely relatively simple material bodies with chemical processes that also occur within our world. The mighty sun is a ball of burning gas emitting radiation and light, with surface temperatures reaching 5500 degrees. However, the process causing this radiation is "nuclear fusion"—an endless series of explosions, similar to those created in a hydrogen bomb.

Even the natural forces powering all stars aren't as complex as the human body. We now know that all stars move according to one law (gravity), and billions of stars of different sizes move exactly in the same path and manner according to Newton's laws.

It turns out that the difference among celestial bodies is only one of size; there's no fundamental difference between a 'small' sun and a massive star. Both humans and stars are subject to the same gravitational force; however, only humans possess such extensive physiological complexity and a contemplative, thinking soul.

In terms of complexity, all the stars in the entire universe do not match the complexity of a single human brain (even numerically, a human brain contains about 100 billion nerve cells functioning in coordination - more than the number of stars in the galaxy).

Human beings are the most complex creatures in the universe; they are also the only beings endowed with the ability to think and choose, to comprehend the surrounding reality and recognize their Creator. All the grand galaxies and their trillions of stars are inferior to the physical and spiritual complexity of just one human.

Our sages said: "Each person must say, for my sake the world was created" (Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5).

Moreover, this crucial scientific progress has once and for all disproven ancient beliefs in idols and pagan deities.

One reason idolatry faded from the modern world is due to astronomical discoveries of the universe's immense size. Nowadays, no sane person could imagine gods wandering the skies, statues with powers, or any other entity with form and body managing the universe. Why? Because it became clear that the universe is too vast! It's beyond imagination and human thought, meaning only an infinite, formless Creator beyond space and time could be responsible for its creation and management.

As King David, peace be upon him, said: "He counts the stars' number, calls them all by names. Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite!" (Psalms 147:4). And as the prophet said: "Lift up your eyes on high and see who created these, who brings their host in number, He calls them all by name" (Isaiah 40:26).

No physical creature with a body, or semblance of body, can possibly be responsible for such a large universe, for so many stars, capable of creating them all and overseeing their operation at every moment. Only an infinite Creator not bound by space and time can have created and manage all this.

Today, monotheism—the belief in an infinite and eternal one G-d—has become the sole legitimate religious perspective; all other perspectives and religions are ridiculed and mocked by science. All the Egyptian, Greek, Babylonian, Indian, or American idols are small and insignificant compared to the vastness of the universe. Clearly, they cannot be the cause of a universe greater than themselves, nor can they control such a vast universe.

It can be said that all idolatrous religions have "gone bankrupt." Science eradicated the possibility of a corporeal deity, thus disproving idolatry, worship of statues, and stars. As a result, belief in one G-d conquers the world. Indians, Chinese, Africans—all are becoming acquainted with monotheism and advancing toward it.

We find that science leads to belief in one eternal and infinite G-d, who stands behind the entire reality.

Our sages described Hashem as distant from all human likeness: "He is the place of the world, and the world is not His place" (Genesis Rabbah 68). That is, Hashem is not an entity existing within the world, like some unseen form wandering the clouds or the earth, but rather "He is the place of the world"—He Himself is the space within which the entire world is found.

Hashem is the real reality behind all other realities; only He alone is not bound by material, place, and time.

Thus Maimonides elucidates in the Laws of the Foundations of the Torah (Chapter 1, 1): "The foundation of foundations and the pillar of wisdom is to know that there is a First Existence. He brings all into existence... This is what the prophet says, "And the Lord God is true" (Jeremiah 10:10)—He alone is the truth, and there is no other truth like His truth. And the Torah says, "There is none else besides Him" (Deuteronomy 4:35), meaning there is no true existence much like His."

Thus, we learn that science testifies both to the complexity of man and his importance compared to all stars, and to the greatness of the eternal and infinite Creator who stands behind the entire reality.