How the Circadian Rhythm Echoes the Ultimate Truth

A recent study at University of Colorado Denver outlined how strong sunlight and the human circadian rhythm help to allay risks and damages associated with heart attacks. "The study suggests that strong light, or even just daylight, might ease the risk of having a heart attack or suffering damage from one", according to Tobias Eckle, MD, PhD, an associate professor of anesthesiology, cardiology.[1]

They say that timing is everything. Maybe this has more significance than just telling a good joke. Apparently, understanding the circadian rhythm helps to inform a variety of health issues. You thought that you just ate too much pizza, but it could have been a seasonal affective disorder. How about your uncomfortable mattress? That may not be the real reason for your persistent sleeping disorder. And there are other issues, those pesky little philosophical questions about time and eternity. Are there signs that we have an internal metaphysical clock, even as we have an internal metabolic clock? And if we do have an internal, metaphysical clock, is it possible it is broken, or in need of serious repair?


As you can see, new discoveries related to the circadian rhythm can help to bring up a lot of interesting questions. Would you consider yourself more gauged towards the fleeting nature of time, or the absolute condition of eternity? One could go on. As you may have guessed, this article is not meant to be a logical argument for God's existence, though it does include one small logical proof. The  main idea is to stimulate some thoughtful observations and questions. So, if you'd like to offer some, please do.

What is the circadian rhythm?

The circadian rhythm is basically a daily rhythmic activity cycle that is based on a 24-hour interval. Many organisms exhibit this cycle. Apparently, the earliest discovery of the circadian rhythm dates back to the 4th century BC, when Androsthenes, a ship captain serving under Alexander the Great, described diurnal leaf movements of the tamarind tree observed on the island of Tylos (now Bahrein).[2]

Research has shown that the circadian rhythm in biological organisms resets itself daily to the 24-hour cycle of the Earth's rotation.[3] Basically, autoregulatory feedback loops in mammals take 24 hours to complete a cycle, and this forms the basis of a biological circadian molecular clock. Researchers Caroline H. Ko and Joseph S.Takahashi of Northwestern University have noted that the timing of the circadian rhythm in mammals is organized into a hierarchical framework, "The mammalian circadian system is organized in a hierarchy of oscillators."[4] Like all hierarchical systems, there is a governing element. The researchers note, "At the top of this hierarchy is the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the anterior hypothalamus. The SCN is responsible for coordinating independent peripheral oscillators so that a coherent rhythm is orchestrated at the organismal level."[5]

A hierarchy of oscillators

In humans, this internal clock is found deep within the brain (the hypothalamus), and the principal circadian pacemakers (SCNs) each contain 10,000 neurons, many of which are individually competent circadian oscillators. The master clock in the SCN coordinates the timing of slave oscillators in other brain areas that control peripheral organs, such as the kidney and liver. The organization of these individual molecular oscillators into a biological clock controlling behavior and physiology "remains to be fully elucidated" according to researchers at Saint Edwards University.[6]

While evolutionists may claim that hierarchical systems arise in biology through natural selection, pre-biotic hierarchy is not logically accounted for according to atheistic materialistic paradigms. As noted in article, The Organizing Principle of the Universe: Hierarchy and the Central Truth, non-biological hierarchical systems are evident throughout the physical universe and point to the logical conclusion of God's existence.[7] The logical argument for God's existence is as follows:

Argument from a created, unique, hierarchical and interdependent universe

P1. Non-living, unique, complex, hierarchical and interdependent systems (A) work together in the universe to allow for life.
P2. Either (A) are the result of intelligent, purposeful creation or they are the result of chance.
P3. All new (A) are created systems made with the purposeful use of intelligence and energy.
P4. No new (A) are systems that have occurred by chance alone.
P5. Therefore, the best explanation is that the (A) of the universe have been created by a powerful and intelligent being.
P6. The only being that could have created the universe is a supremely powerful and intelligent one.
C. Therefore, it is most probable that God exists.


In sync with the rhythm of life

Many doctors are not aware that circadian rhythms even exist and this can create treatment problems, as noted by sleep researcher Yaron Dagan in Israel: "[t]hese disorders can lead to harmful psychological and functional difficulties and are often misdiagnosed and incorrectly treated due to the fact that doctors are unaware of their existence."[8] In a similar manner, many people struggle unnecessarily with foundational problems in life because they are out of sync with the rhythm of life on a deeper level. They are not aware of the ultimate reference point of truth and meaning found in God's existence. The late atheist apologist Christopher Hitchens once proposed that "Arguments that explain everything... explain nothing." However, the circadian rhythm helps to demonstrate why this is not so.

Timing is everything

Because we are accustomed to our world, we tend to take it for granted that the universe generally works together in harmony on multiple levels with muliple hierarchical systems overlapping each other. Some simple examples, however, can demonstrate the need for consistency and an underlying organizing principle. If you are a musician, for example, you might want to imagine a guitarist strumming in 3/4 time while a drummer is playing in 5/8 time. It wouldn't be very pretty, would it? If an agreed upon time signature is necessary for two musicians to play together in harmony, how much more necessary would common reference points and standards be for more complex systems to work together in harmony? When this issue is taken to its logical and philosophical conclusion, there is a recognized need for underlying consistencies and a holistic explanation for the functioning universe. This fact, that an underlying consistency does exist, is demonstrated logically, simply by considering applied mathematics.

Mathematics and absolute truth

P1. It is true that laws and principles of mathematics are timeless, universal and unchanging.
P2. A truth that is timeless, universal and unchanging may be considered an absolute truth.
C. Therefore, absolute truth exists.

All things considered, the absolute truth that exists in a logical format is best explained by the ultimate truth of God's existence. The circadian rhythm mainly relates to the dimension of time and temporal harmony. However, from a philosophical perspective, there are logical reasons to conclude that the organizing principle of the universe is much more than just a cold, hard fact. The singer Sting alluded to this idea in his song, Invisible Sun.

There has to be an invisible sun
It gives its heat to everyone
There has to be an invisible sun
That gives us hope when the whole day's done[9]

The reference point of truth and passion

Through their various forms of art, poetry and music, people have reminded us of that "ineffable otherness" that we long for that lies beyond the physical world. These arts remind us that we have been created with this internal "intense otherness meter" that registers with the eternal. We yearn to touch and experience the essence of the eternal in all its various aspects. Ecclesiastes 3.11 describes this ineffable otherness and beauty we long for:

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end."(NIV)

Deep inside, we tend to long for things such as eternal security, timeless love and the penultimate pleasure. Sometimes people wonder, "Why do people take drugs they know can damage them?" Because the need to feel intense pleasure is greater than the fear of self destruction. People are willing to risk taking drugs that could permanently damage them just so they can experience a counterfeit of the kind of intense pleasure that may ultimately be experienced in the close presence of God. When we realize that the ultimate reference point of life is the person of God, it's understood that this instinct we have towards beauty and passion is ultimately to be directed towards worshiping the beauty and passion of God in holiness.

In the case of the circadian rhythm, we are talking mainly about a time reference as a reference point for life. But when we allow for the possibility that God is the ultimate reference point, then we allow for the possibility that the system itself is more than just mechanical clockwork. And more than just cold, logical facts or an abstract force. Even as the sun acts as both a gravitational reference point and a source of life-giving light, when we consider God as the ultimate reference point, then all His characteristics would be included. Absolute truth, perfect love, holiness, justice are just a few attributes.

Even as researchers demonstrate that we have an internal governing molecular clock, there are many reasons to conclude that we also have an internal governing metaphysical clock. There is something inside all of us that yearns to be in sync with and fathom the passion and purpose that can only be found in knowing God. The University of Colorado study showed that "strong light" is especially helpful for our hearts physically. In a similar manner, the powerful experience of God's presence in worship is shown to produce health benefits. According to various surveys, people who lead religious and spiritual lives are happier and healthier.[10] A key point is to realize that this taste of eternity is to be experienced in the here and now, not just in some future heavenly experience. But as we are healed and filled with the passion of Christ, we are also to go out into the world in our freedom to be a positive influence in our renewed strength. Malachi 4.2 offers a picture of this type of joyful passion:

"But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall."(NIV)

To know the beautiful savior, Jesus Christ, is something glorious. Sting described a somewhat ambiguous "invisible sun" as a reference point of hope. But one of the reasons God is worthy of our passionate worship is because God is Himself intense and passionate. If you or I were to experience the full intensity of the glorified Christ right now in person, we would literally be floored, even as the Apostle John was. The Apostle John described such an experience of being in the presence of the glorified Christ in Revelation 1.12-18:

"Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death."(NKJV)

References

[1] Breaking Christian News, Thank God for Sunshine: Study Shows Daylight is Good for the Heart, http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=10082

[2] The Plant Cell, American Society of Plant Biologists, Plant Circadian Rhythms, http://www.plantcell.org/content/18/4/792.full

[3] Harvard University Gazette, Human Biological Clock Set Back an Hour, http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/1999/07.15/bioclock24.html

[4] Oxford Journals, Molecular components of the mammalian circadian clock, (Abstract), http://hmg.oxfordjournals.org/content/15/suppl_2/R271.full

[5] Ibid.
[6] Saint Edward's University, circadian oscillators, http://www.cs.stedwards.edu/chem/Chemistry/CHEM43/CHEM43/CircadianOsci/circadianoscillator.html
[7] Templestream, The Organizing Principle of the Universe: Hierarchy and the Central Truth, http://templestream.blogspot.com/2012/03/organizing-principle-of-universe.html

[8] SMRV Journal, Circadian rhythm sleep disorders (CRSD), (Abstract), http://www.smrv-journal.com/article/S1087-0792%2801%2990190-X/abstract

[9] Loglar, Invisible Sun lyrics, Sting, http://www.loglar.com/song.php?id=16214

[10] Templestream, Gallup Polls Highlight Happiness, Health and Logic in Spirituality, http://templestream.blogspot.com/2010/12/gallup-polls-highlight-happiness-health.html


(article revised 05/08/12)

Image by YassineMrabet, non-copyrighted and used by general permission.

Tags: What is the circadian rhythm? hierarchy - circadian rhythm, internal clock,metabolic clock, circadian rhythm - heart disease, circadian rhythm - sleep disorders, circadian rhythm and God, the best sleep medicine, the best heart medicine, it's a beautiful life, it's a wonderful life, beautiful Savior, something glorious, holistic truth - the best holistic medicine, the ineffable other, why people take drugs

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