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The '''Big Bang theory''' is a scientific theory used to account for the acceleration of matter throughout the Universe.

The '''Big Bang theory''' is a scientific theory used to account for 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 the Catholic priest [[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 [[cosmic microwave background|microwave background radiation (or CMBR)]]. This radiation was discovered by Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson at [[Bell Labs]]; it was 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).

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 been revised several times throughout recent history). It was first proposed by the Catholic priest [[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 [[cosmic microwave background|microwave background radiation (or CMBR)]]. This radiation was discovered by Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson at [[Bell Labs]]; it was 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).

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 name "Big Bang Theory", first coined by steady state theorists is often mistakenly thought to imply an explosion of matter into pre-existing space, but the theory actually indicates that time began at that point and space expanded from then on, 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.  

Observations of distant supernovae indicate that the Universe is actually undergoing accelerated expansion<ref>Riess, A. G., et al. The Astronomical Journal, Volume 116, Issue 3, pp. 1009-1038.</ref><ref>Perlmutter, S., et al. The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 517, Issue 2, pp. 565-586.</ref> and galaxy surveys<ref>[http://www.sdss.org/dr5/ Sloan Digital Sky Survey]</ref><ref>Tegmark, M., et al. Physical Review D, vol. 74, Issue 12.</ref> and recent observations of the microwave background<ref>[http://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/ Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe]</ref><ref>See, for example, http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0603449</ref> have allegedly corroborated these claims. Atheists claim that the acceleration is caused by something called '[[dark energy]]', for which there is only observational evidence but no experimental evidence. There is no viable naturalistic explanation of what dark energy is, which even a few atheists admit, yet they insist that dark energy is a naturalistic phenomenon.

Observations of distant supernovae indicate that the Universe is actually undergoing accelerated expansion<ref>Riess, A. G., et al. The Astronomical Journal, Volume 116, Issue 3, pp. 1009-1038.</ref><ref>Perlmutter, S., et al. The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 517, Issue 2, pp. 565-586.</ref> and galaxy surveys<ref>[http://www.sdss.org/dr5/ Sloan Digital Sky Survey]</ref><ref>Tegmark, M., et al. Physical Review D, vol. 74, Issue 12.</ref> and recent observations of the microwave background<ref>[http://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/ Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe]</ref><ref>See, for example, http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0603449</ref> have allegedly corroborated these claims. Atheists claim that the acceleration is caused by something called '[[dark energy]]', for which there is only observational evidence but no experimental evidence. There is no viable naturalistic explanation of what dark energy is, which even a few atheists admit, yet they insist that dark energy is a naturalistic phenomenon.

==Creationist and Theistic Evolutionary Views==

==Creationist and Theistic Evolutionary Views==

The universe appears to be [[Fine tuned universe | fine tuned]] for life, suggesting that God set the laws of physics that allow the universe, complexity, and life to exist. Scientists have been baffled by these "coincidences" as they examine the parameters of the big bang and other physical constants.

The universe appears to be [[Fine tuned universe | fine tuned]] for life to some contrary to more than 99.99...% of the universe having no life, suggesting that God set the laws of physics that allow the universe, complexity, and life to exist. Scientists have been baffled by these "coincidences" as they examine the parameters of the big bang and other physical constants.

Some creationists argue that the '''Big Bang theory''' is part of an effort to deny [[God's]] creation of all of existence.  Christian physicists, such as Dr. John Hartnett,<ref>http://creation.com/starlight-and-time-a-further-breakthrough</ref> have claimed that the Big Bang theory was constructed to account for serious pitfalls to the [[theory of evolution]], particularly the needed timescale of billions of years, amply contradicted by terrestrial and astronomical evidence.  Thus, the big bang is trotted out by [[atheist]] evolutionists to silence [[creationist]] opponents.

Some creationists argue that the '''Big Bang theory''' is part of an effort to deny [[God's]] creation of all of existence.  Christian physicists, such as Dr. John Hartnett,<ref>http://creation.com/starlight-and-time-a-further-breakthrough</ref> have claimed that the Big Bang theory was constructed to account for serious pitfalls to the [[theory of evolution]], particularly the needed timescale of billions of years, amply contradicted by terrestrial and astronomical evidence.  Thus, the big bang is trotted out by [[atheist]] evolutionists to silence [[creationist]] opponents.

== Scientific Criticism ==

== Scientific Criticism ==

It should be noted that the Big Bang theory has received criticism because it ignores the theory of an oscillating universe. Also, no first cause from the Big Bang has ever been successfully identified. Furthermore, critics of the Big Bang point out that not everything in the universe is actually moving apart from everything else as some galaxies have collided with other galaxies in the past, although this could be explained through understanding of classical mechanics.

It should be noted that the Big Bang theory has received criticism because it ignores the theory of an oscillating universe. Also, no first cause from the Big Bang has ever been successfully identified, although none is needed as the universe does not exist within time. Furthermore, critics of the Big Bang point out that not everything in the universe is actually moving apart from everything else as some galaxies have collided with other galaxies in the past, although this could be explained through understanding of classical mechanics.

The big bang theory is entirely unable to explain the matter-antimatter asymmetry.  If the big bang theory did happen as they say, matter and antimatter would have been created in equal quantities.  When antimatter was first discovered in the 1930's, scientists immediately began looking for traces of it in the universe.  No traces have been found except what we produce in particle accelerators and positrons produced by a type of radiation called positron emission.  This asymmetry means that the big bang theory would have had to violate the laws of physics, since matter would have had to be produced without its antimatter partner, which violates the laws of conservation of electric charge and mass.  There was some excitement in the 1970's about electroweak symmetry breaking as a method by which the matter was "preferred" over antimatter, but the infrequency of the weak force made them conclude this was impossible.   

The big bang theory is entirely unable to explain the matter-antimatter asymmetry.  If the big bang theory did happen as they say, matter and antimatter would have been created in equal quantities.  When antimatter was first discovered in the 1930's, scientists immediately began looking for traces of it in the universe.  No traces have been found except what we produce in particle accelerators and positrons produced by a type of radiation called positron emission.  This asymmetry means that the big bang theory would have had to violate the laws of physics, since matter would have had to be produced without its antimatter partner, which violates the laws of conservation of electric charge and mass.  There was some excitement in the 1970's about electroweak symmetry breaking as a method by which the matter was "preferred" over antimatter, but the infrequency of the weak force made them conclude this was impossible.