Transcription of A Christian Physicist Examines the Big Bang Theory
1 A Christian Physicist Examines the Big Bang Theory by Steven Ball, September 2003 1 Dedication I dedicate this work to my physics professor, William Graziano, who first showed me that the universe is orderly and comprehensible, and stirred a passion in me to pursue the very limits of it. Cover picture of the Egg Nebula, taken by Hubble Space Telescope, courtesy NASA, copyright free 2 Introduction This booklet is a follow-up to the similar previous booklet, A Christian Physicist Examines the Age of the Earth. In that booklet I discussed reasons for the controversy over this issue and how these can be resolved. I also drew from a number of fields of science, ranging from the earth s geology to cosmology, to show that the scientific evidence clearly favors an age of billion years for the Earth and about 14 billion years for the universe.
2 I know that the Big Bang Theory of cosmology is not so readily accepted in some Christian groups, precisely because it points to an older universe. But I appealed to reason and the apparent agreement with the scriptures [1] when considering the evidence. However, in an attempt to preserve a continuity of discussion, that booklet only briefly covers some of the scientific evidence supporting the Big Bang Theory , and the following discussion of scriptural references did not emphasize any relevance to the Big Bang. There was much more to write on these, but it did not seem to fit well with the discussion on the age of the Earth. However, since I asked the reader to reason with me, it didn t seem quite fair on my part to cut short the explanations.
3 Thus I now offer a bit more for the reader interested in this issue. Lately, there has been a widespread popular interest in finding out what modern science can tell us about origins, from the birth of our universe to the origin of life on planet Earth. Correspondingly, there are quite a number of popular books discussing the Big Bang Theory of cosmology and implications for religious faith, some claiming support for the Bible [2,3], others by renowned scientists with varying personal philosophies of a non- Christian perspective [4,5,6]. In one of the most well known of the latter, Nobel Laureate Stephen Hawking conjectures an unknown physics phenomenon, admittedly in an attempt to remove the need for a Creator [6].
4 Indeed, it remains difficult to avoid the implications of the Big Bang Theory , namely that there was a beginning to this universe having a cause beyond the universe itself. I would like to address readers struggling to make sense of both the Big Bang Theory and its relevance to biblical faith. Here you will find a summary of the evidence from the perspective of a Christian whose training is in the field of experimental high energy physics. As such, I fully expect the Christian faith to stand up to the toughest questions I can ask of it, including how it relates to modern science. If you ask tough questions too, I trust you ll enjoy this account. If people tell me that you don t need all of the science to be a good Christian with a strong faith, I fully agree.
5 But science serves to enrich our lives and our faith. God has revealed truth to us through His Holy Word, the Bible, and through the physical laws and principles governing our universe. I would not have chosen a vocation pursuing physics knowledge if I truly felt it had nothing to offer of lasting value. I had a deep conviction that my physics training could serve a good purpose, as long as I was committed to following and serving God with all my heart. In fact, it is my hope and prayer that this booklet serves His purposes. Perhaps you can be a better judge of that than I can. It is my hope and prayer that the remarkable scientific account our generation has been privileged to see and comprehend will stretch your mind and will enrich your faith as it has mine.
6 3 Chapter 1 The Big Bang Controversy Not long ago, a popular bumper sticker had the following catchy phrase, I believe in the Big Bang Theory - God said it, and Bang! it happened. Although one may differ concerning the intent of this message, it seems clear that the original intent was not in support of the The Big Bang Theory of cosmology, a commonly accepted Theory among scientists concerning the origin and development of the universe. The bumper sticker was merely expressing a widely held skepticism on the part of believers who hold that the Bible gives us the correct account of how it all began, regardless of what the scientific community believes. This skepticism towards science in general appears rather widespread in the Christian churches of America today.
7 There is even a more common practice, which reveals a deep-seated distrust of science. It began with the Christian fish symbol, frequently seen on the back of cars owned by Christians. This symbol goes all the way back to first century Christians, who used it to identify themselves with a codeword, since the Greek letters in the word fish , pronounced ichthus, also were the first letters of the words Jesus Christ, God s Son, Savior. Outspoken supporters of Darwinian evolution recently began placing a symbol on their cars showing a bigger fish sprouting legs, outlined with the word Darwin , eating the smaller fish symbol. This certainly conveyed the meaning that Darwin s Theory is replacing the need for Christian beliefs.
8 In response to this, yet another bumper sticker shows a larger fish, outlined with the word Truth , eating a smaller Darwin fish. All of this punching and counter-punching is revealing the hostility between those who hold to traditional Christian beliefs and those who believe that modern science has rendered the Christian faith merely empty mythology. The Scriptures Let us momentarily put aside modern science and look at what the scriptures say about the origins of the universe. The Bible explains that God was intimately involved in the entire process of creation. His purpose and plan are shown to be the driving forces behind the formation of this remarkable universe. However, many details concerning how are not given.
9 The Bible is clearly not intended to be a science textbook. So how should one view the input of modern science? Do most Christians see modern science as contributing something of importance to their understanding of origins? No! The hostility revealed by the bumper stickers does accurately reflect a deep-seated skepticism of the scientific community and of science in general. Consequently, most Christians accept a view of origins without any input from science, particularly since this is seen as sacred ground reserved for the Bible alone to address. Scientific theories which appear to conflict with Biblical teachings are rejected. And tragically, those outside the Christian faith who recognize the value of science, but see the Christian community rejecting it, see no need to consider the claims of Christian beliefs.
10 Ironically, more than ever before science is confirming the validity of the Bible. While many in the Christian community feel no need for scientific confirmation of their beliefs, it is important for Christians to recognize that science is a strong ally of the faith. The testimony of the heavens is bearing witness to the design of a Creator as stated in Psalm 19:1, The heavens are declaring the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands [1]. Scientists are recognizing that the universe has a very remarkable design built into it. We shall discuss some 4of this design in the next chapter. But where does one look for answers to the questions concerning the ultimate cause and purpose behind it all? People who feel an aversion to religion still have these questions.
