Illustration of the Big Bang
(NASA/WMAP Science Team) more
Although many Christians have traditionally rejected Big Bang cosmology, today many Christian theologians and apologists maintain that when properly understood, the Big Bang actually points to the existence of a transcendent Creator, like the God described in the Bible.
This article explores three questions: 1) Why have so many Christians have traditionally rejected Big Bang cosmology? (skip to>>); 2) What is the Big Bang — a chaotic explosion out of nothing or evidence of transcendent design? (skip to>>) and 3) Why did the Big Bang theory lead many secular scientists to conclude it provided a rational basis for believing in a transcendent cause of the universe, like the transcendent Creator described in the Bible? (skip to>>)
Why Have So Many Christians Traditionally Rejected Big Bang Cosmology?
Christians who reject Big Bang cosmology generally do so for one or both of the following two reasons: 1) They believe the Big Bang theory necessarily eliminates the need for a Creator thereby eliminating the need for God and/or 2) They believe the Big Bang theory contradicts the creation account set forth in Genesis 1:1 – 2:3.
There is no question that vigorous debate exists among Christians over how the creation account in Genesis 1 & 2 is to be interpreted. Although there are several competing views, the proponents of the differing biblical creation views basically fall into one of two major camps: Young Earth Creationists (YECs) or Old Earth Creationists (OECs). Generally, YECs believe a correct interpretation of Genesis requires the view that God created the world in six consecutive 24 hour days about 6,000 – 10,000 years ago. OECs generally believe the biblical creation account permits a creation date that is consistent with the universe coming into existence about 13-14 billion years ago and the Earth forming about 4-5 billion years ago, as proposed by secular scientists.
[Summaries of some of the differing biblical creation views are available here.]
Although the great majority of YECs steadfastly reject Big Bang cosmology, many Christian theologians and apologists contend Big Bang cosmology actually provides evidence of the existence of a transcendent cause of the universe, like the transcendent Creator described in the Bible.
[I]nstead of disproving that God created the world, the big bang theory actually gives scientific evidence for an ultimate beginning to the universe and points toward a transcendent source. — Charles Colson and Nancy Pearcey [How Now Shall We Live, pg. 81 (1999)]
Many OECs also point out that Big Bang cosmology presents significant challenges to the validity of any religion that claims God and the universe are one (i.e., religions with pantheistic elements) or which describe God as being confined to the universe, creating from within the universe or creating within time.
Regardless of a Christian’s particular view of the correct interpretation of Genesis 1 and the age of the Earth, because Big Bang cosmology is taught in every secular High School and College, all Christians should at least have a general understanding of what the theory says/doesn’t say and why at least some Christian apologists maintain Big Bang cosmology actually supports a biblical worldview.
What is the Big Bang — A Chaotic Explosion Out of Nothing or Evidence of Transcendent Design?
As explained by Christian astronomer and astrophysicist Hugh Ross, even secular scientists do not propose the Big Bang was a disordered or chaotic “bang”, as its name may imply. In fact, Ross contends that nothing is further from the truth. Rather, as explained by Ross, the Big Bang was “an immensely powerful yet carefully planned and controlled burst of creation – a sudden release of power from which the universe unfurled in an exquisitely controlled expansion. In an instant, time, space, matter and energy, along with the physical laws governing them all, came into existence from a source beyond the cosmos.” Even the popular atheist, Richard Dawkins, admits he is intrigued as to how the universe came into existence with the laws of nature already written into it. [See, Alister McGrath, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, Foundations of Apologetics, “The Existence of God” (2007), aired on NRB, 2/24/10] There is no dispute among scientists that the Big Bang was not a chaotic explosion. Rather, as explained by Hugh Ross, the expansion of the universe demonstrated exquisite balance, extreme fine-tuning, incredible precision and complex design.
To illustrate the degree of exquisite fine-tuning involved in Big Bang cosmology, Hugh Ross points to the two parameters which govern how fast the universe expands: 1) the mass density of the universe and 2) the space-energy density of the universe. As explained by Ross, both parameters had to be exquisitely fine-tuned in order for life to exist anywhere in the universe. The mass density of the universe had to be finely tuned to better than one part in 1060 (i.e., 1 part out of 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000). The space-energy density of the universe had to be fine-tuned to better than one part in 10120, i.e., a 1 followed by 120 zeros. If the universe did not expand in accordance with both of these precisely finely-tuned characteristics, no physical life would be possible anywhere in the universe (more>>).
To demonstrate just how exquisitely fine-tuned these parameters are, Hugh Ross provides the following explanation:
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One part out of 1060 would be like having to randomly pick out a single penny buried in a pile of dimes that covered the entire United States and extended up to the moon and back 250,000 million times. One part out of 1060 is such a huge number that the chance of randomly picking a single penny out of such a immensely large pile of dimes is statistically zero. [Keep in mind that the total estimated number of grains of sand on the beaches of planet earth is only about one part out of 1025.] 10120 is a much larger number and, in fact, greatly exceeds the estimated total number of atoms in the entire universe (1080). [Keep in mind that atoms are so small that millions of atoms can literally fit on the head of a single pin.] |
There simply is no dispute, even among secular scientists, that the universe appears to be exquisitely fine-tuned and designed to support life (more>>).
Accordingly, all creationists (YECs and OECs) can safely put to rest any concern that Big Bang cosmology eliminates the necessity of a Creator by proposing the universe came into existence by some kind of chaotic “bang” as it’s name implies.
Implications of Big Bang Cosmology Which Led Many Secular Scientist to Conclude it Provides Rational Support for a Transcendent Cause of the Universe
Certain implications associated with Big Bang cosmology give rise to theological and philosophical implications which Christian apologists as well as many secular scientists recognize support a rational belief in a transcendent cause of the universe, such as the transcendent Creator described in the Bible. [See testimony of Hugh Ross here]
Because Big Bang cosmology establishes the universe had a beginning, Big Bang cosmology logically implies the necessity of a “Beginner” because anything that comes into existence requires a sufficient cause for doing so. This is the basis of the Kalam Cosmological Argument for the existence of God (more>>). Big Bang cosmology also raises some very interesting questions:
- If it is proposed that the Big Bang singularity (the compaction of all matter and energy that presently exists) existed in a state of organization which suddenly “exploded” and is now moving to a state of disorganization or equilibrium, then one must ask how the singularity got organized in the first place. [See, R.C. Sproul, “Defending Your Faith”, CD No. 3] This is a significant question because the Second Law of Thermodynamics establishes that the universe, and everything in the universe, is moving from order to disorder (not disorder to order) So, if everything is moving to disorder, how did everything that now exists get ordered to begin with? No compelling explanation has been offered as to how the singularity could have gotten into such a highly organized state from a naturalistic point of view.
- Since the law of inertia states things at rest will remain at rest unless acted upon by an outside force, one must ask what acted upon the singularity to set the Big Bang in motion. [See, R.C. Sproul, “Defending Your Faith”, CD No. 3]
Both of these lines of inquiry imply the existence of a transcendent cause (like the transcendent God described in the Bible (more>>) that had the ability to put things in a state of order and the ability to set the universe in motion. As argued by Christian philosopher and apologist, R.C. Sproul, if it is postulated that there is some self-existent, eternal something from which everything else ultimately was generated then that is the same as saying there is something that transcends everything else. In that case, the argument simply comes down to the name of that something — X or YHWH (the Hebrew name for the transcendent God described in the Bible). [See, R.C. Sproul, “Defending Your Faith”, CD No. 3]
Because of the philosophical and theological implications associated with Big Bang cosmology, it is no surprise that when it was first proposed, the scientific community rejected it and opted to cling to the Steady State Theory (or Static Universe Theory) which postulated the universe never came into existence – it simply always existed. The Steady State Theory was more palatable to secular scientists because it did not require scientists to explain how the universe came into existence. [NOTE: For the same reason an eternally self-existing God like the God of the Bible does not rationally require an explanation for His coming into existence (more>>)]. However, as postulated in the Kalam Cosmological Argument for the existence of God, since everything that comes into existence requires a cause for doing so, the universe must also have a cause for its coming into existence (more>>)
As documented by Christian apologist and astrophysicist, Hugh Ross, it was because of the philosophical and theological implications of Big Bang cosmology that many in the scientific community initially rejected the idea of a beginning of the universe as maintained in Big Bang cosmology:
Albert Einstein
When Albert Einstein proposed his theory of general relativity, he immediately noted it predicted the universe was expanding from a beginning, from an infinitesimal volume. In order to save the static universe model, which proposed the universe never came into existence but had just always existed, Einstein added a cosmological constant into his general relativity equations to perfectly cancel off the effects of gravity in the universe. This allowed the steady state theory (in which the universe was not expanding from a beginning point) to remain viable. However, after astronomers were able to demonstrate through telescopic evidence that the universe was expanding, Einstein withdrew the cosmological constant from his equations calling it ‘the blunder of his scientific career.’” [Hugh Ross, Creator and the Cosmos, 3rd Ed., pgs. 32-67 (2001) citing to Douglas, “Forty Minutes with Einstein,” Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, 50, pg., 100 (1956)]
Sir Arthur Eddington
Sir Arthur Eddington (a famous 20th century cosmologist) openly stated: “philosophically, the notion of a beginning is repugnant to me.” In 1930, to counter the Big Bang theory Eddington proposed a model of the universe that eliminated a beginning and allowed “evolution an infinite time to get started.” That model was subsequently disproved. [Hugh Ross, A Matter of Days, pg. 141 (2004) citing to Eddington, “On the Instability of Einstein’s Spherical World,” Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 90, pg. 672 (1930) and “The End of the World from the Standpoint of Mathematical Physics,” Nature, 127, pg. 450 (1931)]
Geoffrey Burbidge
Geoffrey Burbidge (an atheist astronomer from the University of California at San Diego) was so philosophically opposed to a Big Bang model of the universe that when his fellow astronomers began adopting the model, he accused them of “rushing off join ‘the First Church of Christ of the Big Bang.’” [Hugh Ross, Creator and the Cosmos, 3rd Ed., pg. 32 (2001)] As noted by Christian astrophysicist and apologist, Hugh Ross, Burbidge’s response to the adoption of Big Bang cosmology demonstrates that even atheist scientists recognize that not only does Big Bang cosmology imply the existence of God, but it specifically implies the existence of a transcendent Creator like the Creator described in the Bible. It also challenges the veracity of all pantheistic views as well as religions which describes God as being confined to the universe, creating from within the universe or creating within time.
George Smoot
“George Smoot (University of California at Berkeley astronomer and project leader for the COBE satellite) declared, ‘What we have found is evidence for the birth of the universe.’ He added, ‘It’s like looking at God.’” [Hugh Ross, Creator and the Cosmos, 3rd Ed., pg. 31 (2001) citing to The Associated Press, “U.S. Scientists Find a ‘Holy Grail’: Ripples at Edge of the Universe,” International Herald Tribune (London), 24 April 1992, pg. 1 and Thomas H. Maugh II, “Relics of ‘Big Bang’ Seen for First Time,” Los Angeles Times, 24 April 1992, pages A1, A30]
Specifically, because Big Bang cosmology logically implies the existence of a transcendent cause for the universe coming into existence, when scientists finally adopted the theory, Frederic B. Burnham (a science historian) reported that scientists were “‘prepared to consider the idea that God created the universe ‘a more respectable hypothesis today than at any time in the last hundred years.’” [Hugh Ross, Creator and the Cosmos, 3rd Ed., pg. 31 (2001) citing to Briggs, “Science, Religion, Are Discovering Commonality in Big Bang Theory,” Los Angeles Times, 2 May 1992, pgs. B6-B7]
Conclusion
Regardless of a Christian’s particular view on the correct interpretation of Genesis creation account and the age of the Earth, it seems prudent for all Christians to be aware of the philosophical and theological implications of Big Bang cosmology which point to the existence of a transcendent cause of the universe, like the transcendent Creator described in the Bible.
© 2012 by Andrina G. Hanson
Published: Oct. 24, 2012 / Last Updated: January 21, 2014
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QUICK LINKS TO SOURCES REFERENCED OR RELIED ON IN THIS ARTICLE
Kenneth D. Boa and Robert M. Bowman, 20 Compelling Evidences That God Exists: Discover Why Believing In God Makes so Much Sense(River Oak Publishing, 2002)
Charles Colson and Nancy Pearcy, How Now Shall We Live? (Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.; Wheaton, Ill; 1999)
William Lane Craig, On Guard: Defending Your Faith with Reason and Precision(Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook; New Edition, 2010)
William Lane Craig, Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics(Crossway; 3rd Edition, 2008)
Peter J. Kreeft and Ronald K. Tacelli, Handbook of Christian Apologetics(IVP Academic; 1St Edition, 1994)
Alister McGrath, Foundations of Apologetics, “The Existence of God” (RZIM, 2007) DVDs available at http://rzim.christianbook.com/foundations-of-apologetics-all-digital-version/9781612562124/pd/1314BD
J.P. Moreland and William Lane Craig, Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview(IVP Academic, 2003)
Hugh Ross, Beyond the Cosmos: What Recent Discoveries in Astrophysics Reveal about the Glory and Love of God(Signalman Publishing, 3rd Ed., 2010)
Hugh Ross, The Creator and the Cosmos: How the Greatest Scientific Discoveries of the Century Reveal God(Navpress; 2 edition, 1995)
Hugh Ross, Why the Universe Is the Way It Is(Baker Books, 2008)
R.C. Sproul “Defending Your Faith” (2001) available at http://www.ligonier.org/store/defending-your-faith-dvd
Lee Strobel, The Case For A Creator: A Journalist Investigates Scientific Evidence That Points Toward God (Strobel, Lee) (Zondervan, 2005)
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Tags: age of the earth, Albert Einstein, apologist, beginning, Bible, Big Bang, Christian, cosmology, Creator, density, Fine-tuned, finely tuned design, Hugh Ross, intelligent design, just right, mass density, motion, OEC, Old Earth, pantheism, pantheistic, R.C. Sproul, second law of thermodynamics, singularity, space-energy density, static universe, steady state theory, the Big Bang theory, transcendent, YEC, young earth, Young Earth Creationists
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