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This is an exceedingly strange development,
unexpected by all but the theologians. They have always accepted the
word of the Bible: In the beginning God created heaven and earth. ...It
is unexpected because science has had such extraordinary success in
tracing the chain of cause and effect backward in time.
<!g>Robert Jastrow |
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For the scientist who has lived by his faith in the
power of reason, the story ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the
mountains of ignorance; he is about to conquer the highest peak; as he
pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of
theologians who have been sitting there for centuries.
Robert Jastrow |
| A rather naïve reaction is to posit a God who
performs a creation of the universe.
Christopher <!g>Isham |
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Naïve Because...
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The theological doctrine of creation does not require a
temporal beginning.
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Natural laws or physical theories may ultimately explain
(or at least describe) the origin of the universe or may eliminate the
<!g>singularity.
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Not Necessary, But Sufficient
A temporal beginning may not be necessary to support theistic
belief or a doctrine of creation - but if there was a temporal
beginning, it would nevertheless support theistic belief.
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I. Confirmation of Hypothesis |
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Hypothetical-Deductive Model
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A Fallacy
| If it rains, then the streets will get wet |
| The streets are wet |
| Therefore it rained |
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Affirming the Consequent
| If R, then W |
| W |
| Therefore R |
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An Important Qualification
| If it rains, we would expect the streets to get wet |
| The streets are wet |
| Therefore perhaps it rained |
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So What’s the Big Deal?
The best data we have (concerning the <!g>Big Bang) are exactly what I
would have predicted, had I nothing to go on but the five books of
Moses, the Psalms, and the Bible as a whole.
Arno A. Penzias, Nobel Laureate |
|
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens, and the earth.
Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of
the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. |
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Titus 1:2
...a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which
God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time...
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2 Timothy 1:9
...who has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of
anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This
grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time... |
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Confirmation of a Theistic Hypothesis
If theism and the Judeo-Christian view of creation are true,
then we have reason to expect evidence of a finite universe.
We have evidence of a finite universe.
Therefore, we have a reason to think that theism and the
Judeo-Christian view of creation may be true. |
|
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Confirmation of a Theistic Hypothesis
|
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II. Inference to the
Best Explanation |
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The Instant of Creation Remains Unexplained
<!g>Alan Guth, physicist. |
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A Causal Theory?
The actual point of creation lies outside the scope of presently
known laws of physics.
<!g>Stephen Hawking |
| In my view the question of origin seems always left
unanswered if we explore from a scientific point of view alone. Thus, I
believe there is a need for some religious or <!g>metaphysical explanation.
I believe in the concept of God and in His existence.
Charles Townes, Nobel Laureate |
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III. A Revised Kalam Cosmological Argument |
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The Cosmological Argument
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Everything that begins to exist must have a cause.
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The universe began to exist.
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The universe must have a cause (separate from itself).
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