The Big Bang, Creationism and Evolution
Since the dawn of man, humans have striven to explain the many mysteries of the universe, and to explain how it began. Throughout this journey, numerous standpoints on existence have evolved and merged into a complex, abstract manifestation called religion. However, as the human race has grown and advanced itself, many ideas expressed by religion seem less and less plausible. Advances in science and technology have yielded a new breed of human thought that has disturbed and shaken the foundations of religious ideology. Our new, scientifically grounded understanding of the universe has unfolded a plethora of answers to age-old questions, which oppose the explanations offered by religion. As strong scientific evidence has surfaced which is contrary to the prevailing religious view, open-minded believers have adapted their beliefs accordingly, but many fundamentalists refuse to accept scientific evidence. This is the root of the dilemma between science and religion. Many scientists and theists have offered their views concerning the ongoing battle between the scientific ‘big bang’ theory and the religious creation stories.
The Big Bang theory is the major scientific theory about the origin of the universe. According to this theory, the universe was created between 10 billion and 20 billion years ago from a cosmic explosion that sent matter flying in all directions, consequently creating the universe. Before the Big Bang, every part of the universe was tightly compacted together during a very dense phase. When the explosion occurred, every particle of all that our universe consists of shot out in every direction in that one instant. It is believed that the universe expanded rapidly in its first microseconds, but then slowed, a process called inflation. This process explains how the universe appears similar to a type of flat space. However, we see only a tiny region of the original universe, so we don 't notice the curvature. The inflationary universe also shows why
The Big Bang theory is the major scientific theory about the origin of the universe. According to this theory, the universe was created between 10 billion and 20 billion years ago from a cosmic explosion that sent matter flying in all directions, consequently creating the universe. Before the Big Bang, every part of the universe was tightly compacted together during a very dense phase. When the explosion occurred, every particle of all that our universe consists of shot out in every direction in that one instant. It is believed that the universe expanded rapidly in its first microseconds, but then slowed, a process called inflation. This process explains how the universe appears similar to a type of flat space. However, we see only a tiny region of the original universe, so we don 't notice the curvature. The inflationary universe also shows why
Cited: Drees, Willem. "Beyond the Limitations of Big Bang Theory : Cosmology and Theological Reflection." CTNS Bulletin 8(1998): 1-15. Fox, Karen C. The Big Bang theory. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2002. Gould, Stephen. "Darwin and Paley Meet the Invisible Hand." Natural History 99. p 8-13. Kaku, Michio. Parallel Worlds. New York: Random House, Inc., 2004. MacArthur, John. The Battle for the Beginning: Creation, Evolution, and the Bible. Nelson Books, 1999. Philippidis, Alex. "Cosmic Controversy : The Big Bang and Genesis 1." Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith 47(1995): 190-194.