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[[Image:Universe expansion.png|right|thumb|250px|According to the Big Bang theory, the universe emerged from an extremely dense and hot state called the ''original singularity''.]]  

[[Image:Universe expansion.png|right|thumb|250px|According to the Big Bang theory, the universe emerged from an extremely dense and hot state called the ''original singularity''.]]  

[[Image:End of universe.jpg|right|thumb|250px|According to the Big Bang theory, the 3 possible geometry of the universe depends on value of the ''[[cosmological constant]]''.]]

[[Image:End of universe.jpg|right|thumb|250px|According to the Big Bang theory, the 3 possible geometry of the universe depends on value of the ''[[cosmological constant]]''.]]

The '''Big Bang Theory''' is the current dominant scientific theory explaining the acceleration of matter throughout the Universe.  Big bang theories are actually a ''class'' of scientific models that describe the Universe as expanding from a very hot, dense state approximately 13.7 billion years ago<ref>[http://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/m_uni/uni_101age.html WMAP Cosmology 101: Age of the Universe]</ref> (although this number has changed several times throughout recent history). It was first proposed by [[Georges-Henri Lemaitre]] and evidence for the expansion was observed by [[Edwin Hubble]]<ref>Hubble, E. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Volume 15, Issue 3, pp. 168-173.</ref>. Later [[George Gamow]] predicted that the Big Bang would leave an observable microwave background radiation (or CMBR). This radiation was subsequently discovered by Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson at [[Bell Labs]] and found to be close to that predicted by Gamow (Gamow predicted a background radiation level equivalent to a roughly 3&nbsp;K black body object, and the observed level is that of a 2.725&nbsp;K body). Pensiaz and Wilson were awarded a Nobel Prize in 1978 for their work.

The '''Big Bang Theory''' is the current dominant scientific theory explaining the acceleration of matter throughout the Universe.  Big bang theories are actually a ''class'' of scientific models that describe the Universe as expanding from a very hot, dense state approximately 13.7 billion years ago<ref>[http://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/m_uni/uni_101age.html WMAP Cosmology 101: Age of the Universe]</ref> (although this number has changed several times throughout recent history). It was first proposed by [[Georges-Henri Lemaitre]] and evidence for the expansion was observed by [[Edwin Hubble]]<ref>Hubble, E. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Volume 15, Issue 3, pp. 168-173.</ref>. Later [[George Gamow]] predicted that the Big Bang would leave an observable microwave background radiation (or CMBR). This radiation was subsequently discovered by Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson at [[Bell Labs]] and found to be close to that predicted by Gamow (Gamow predicted a background radiation level equivalent to a roughly 3&nbsp;K black body object, and the observed level is that of a 2.725&nbsp;K body). Pensiaz and Wilson were awarded a [[Nobel Prize]] in 1978 for their work.

The term "Big Bang" implies an explosion of matter into pre-existing space, but the theory actually indicates that space is dynamic and more space is constantly created in the interstices between particles as the density of the universe falls.  In other words, the Big Bang describes the expansion of space and time.  Big Bang theorists state that the Hubble [[redshift]] is a consequence of this stretching of the fabric of space.

The term "Big Bang" implies an explosion of matter into pre-existing space, but the theory actually indicates that space is dynamic and more space is constantly created in the interstices between particles as the density of the universe falls.  In other words, the Big Bang describes the expansion of space and time.  Big Bang theorists state that the Hubble [[redshift]] is a consequence of this stretching of the fabric of space.

{{cquote|The problem is this: even assuming the big bang timescale, there has not been enough time for light to travel between widely separated regions of space. So, how can the different regions of the current [cosmic microwave background] CMB have such precisely uniform temperatures if they have never communicated with each other? This is a light-travel–time problem.<ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v25/i4/lighttravel.asp</ref>}}

{{cquote|The problem is this: even assuming the big bang timescale, there has not been enough time for light to travel between widely separated regions of space. So, how can the different regions of the current [cosmic microwave background] CMB have such precisely uniform temperatures if they have never communicated with each other? This is a light-travel–time problem.<ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v25/i4/lighttravel.asp</ref>}}

However, a theory first put forward by [[Alan Guth]], of [[MIT]], named [[cosmic inflation]] offers an alternative explanation: during the universe's first 10^-35 of a second, a period of rapid, exponential inflation occured, expanding the universe by a factor of at least 10²⁶. This allows for the uniformity of the [[CMBR]] - the vast distances were in thermodynamical contact before the rapid inflation. <ref>http://www.symmetrymagazine.org/cms/?pid=1000045</ref> <ref>http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/print/24768</ref>

Recognizing this difficulty, physicist [[Alan Guth]] put forth a possible solution he named [[cosmic inflation]].  According to this theory, during the universe's first 10^-35 of a second, a period of extremely rapid, exponential inflation occured, expanding the universe by a factor of at least 10²⁶. It would be the equivalent of taking a pea and expanding it to the size of our solar system in a time less than a millionth of a blink of an eye.  If this occurred, it would mathematically allow for the uniformity of the [[CMBR]] - the vast distances were in thermodynamical contact before the rapid inflation. <ref>http://www.symmetrymagazine.org/cms/?pid=1000045</ref> <ref>http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/print/24768</ref> The mechanism that would cause this sudden expansion is not known.

==Creationist and Theistic Evolutionary Views==

==Creationist and Theistic Evolutionary Views==