Changes

==History==

==History==

Tipler has published his Omega Point Theory in a number of peer-reviewed scientific journals and proceedings since 1986.<ref name="Tipler1986">Frank J. Tipler, [http://theophysics.host56.com/pdf/Tipler-Cosmological-Limits-on-Computation.pdf "Cosmological Limits on Computation"], ''International Journal of Theoretical Physics'', Vol. 25, No. 6 (June 1986), pp. 617-661, {{doi|10.1007/BF00670475}}, {{bibcode|1986IJTP...25..617T}}. [http://www.webcitation.org/64KHgOccs Mirror link]. (First paper on the Omega Point Theory.)</ref><ref name="Tipler1986-6">Frank J. Tipler, [http://theophysics.host56.com/pdf/Tipler-Sensorium-of-God.pdf "The Sensorium of God: Newton and Absolute Space"], {{bibcode|1988nnds.conf..215T}}, in G[eorge]. V. Coyne, M[ichał]. Heller and J[ozef]. Źyciński (Eds.), "Message" by Franciszek Macharski, ''Newton and the New Direction in Science: Proceedings of the Cracow Conference, 25 to 28 May 1987'' (Vatican City: Specola Vaticana, 1988), pp. 215-228, {{lccn|88162460}}, {{bibcode|1988nnds.conf.....C}}. [http://www.webcitation.org/69Vb0JF1W Mirror link].</ref><ref name="Tipler1987">Frank J. Tipler, [http://theophysics.host56.com/pdf/Tipler-Achieved-spacetime-infinity.pdf "Achieved spacetime infinity"], ''Nature'', Vol. 325, No. 6101 (January 15, 1987), pp. 201-202, {{doi|10.1038/325201c0}}, {{bibcode|1987Natur.325..201T}}. [http://www.webcitation.org/64Upnqvnw Mirror link].</ref><ref name="Tipler1988a">Frank J. Tipler, [http://theophysics.freevar.com/pdf/Tipler-Omega-Point-Theory.pdf "The Omega Point Theory: A Model of an Evolving God"], in Robert J. Russell, William R. Stoeger and George V. Coyne (Eds.), message by John Paul II, ''Physics, Philosophy, and Theology: A Common Quest for Understanding'' (Vatican City: Vatican Observatory, 2nd ed., 2005; orig. pub. 1988), pp. 313-331, ISBN 0268015775, {{lccn|89203331}}, {{bibcode|1988pptc.book.....R}}. [http://www.webcitation.org/69VaKG2nd Mirror link].</ref><ref name="Tipler1988b">Frank J. Tipler, [http://theophysics.host56.com/pdf/Tipler-Anthropic-Principle.pdf "The Anthropic Principle: A Primer for Philosophers"], in Arthur Fine and Jarrett Leplin (Eds.), ''PSA 1988: Proceedings of the 1988 Biennial Meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association, Volume Two: Symposia and Invited Papers'' (East Lansing, Mich.: Philosophy of Science Association, 1989), pp. 27-48, ISBN 091758628X. [http://www.webcitation.org/69VarCM3I Mirror link]. [http://www.jstor.org/stable/192869 Published by University of Chicago Press on behalf of the Philosophy of Science Association].</ref><ref name="Tipler1989">Frank J. Tipler, [http://theophysics.host56.com/pdf/tipler-omega-point-as-eschaton.pdf "The Omega Point as ''Eschaton'': Answers to Pannenberg's Questions for Scientists"], ''Zygon: Journal of Religion & Science'', Vol. 24, Issue 2 (June 1989), pp. 217-253, {{doi|10.1111/j.1467-9744.1989.tb01112.x}}. [http://www.webcitation.org/5nY0aytpz Mirror link]. Republished as Chapter 7: "The Omega Point as ''Eschaton'': Answers to Pannenberg's Questions to Scientists" in Carol Rausch Albright and Joel Haugen (editors), ''Beginning with the End: God, Science, and Wolfhart Pannenberg'' (Chicago, Ill.: Open Court Publishing Company, 1997), pp. 156-194, ISBN 0812693256, {{lccn|97000114}}.</ref><ref name="Tipler1992">Frank J. Tipler, [http://theophysics.host56.com/pdf/Tipler-Life-in-universes-which-undergo-inflation.pdf "The ultimate fate of life in universes which undergo inflation"], ''Physics Letters B'', Vol. 286, Issues 1-2 (July 23, 1992), pp. 36-43, {{doi|10.1016/0370-2693(92)90155-W}}, {{bibcode|1992PhLB..286...36T}}. [http://www.webcitation.org/64Uskd785 Mirror link].</ref><ref name="Tipler1993">Frank J. Tipler, [http://theophysics.host56.com/pdf/tipler-constant-mean-curvature-foliation.pdf "A New Condition Implying the Existence of a Constant Mean Curvature Foliation"], {{bibcode|1993dgr2.conf..306T}}, in B. L. Hu and T. A. Jacobson (editors), ''Directions in General Relativity: Proceedings of the 1993 International Symposium, Maryland, Volume 2: Papers in Honor of Dieter Brill'' (Cambridge: [[Cambridge University Press]], 1993), pp. 306-315, ISBN 0521452678, {{bibcode|1993dgr2.conf.....H}}. [http://www.webcitation.org/5qbXJZiX5 Mirror link].</ref><ref name="Tipler1998">Frank J. Tipler, [http://theophysics.host56.com/pdf/tipler-ultrarelativistic-rockets.pdf "Ultrarelativistic Rockets and the Ultimate Future of the Universe"], [http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19990023204_1999021520.pdf ''NASA Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Workshop Proceedings''], [[NASA|National Aeronautics and Space Administration]], January 1999, pp. 111-119 ([http://www.webcitation.org/5nY13xRip mirror link]); an invited paper in the proceedings of a conference held at and sponsored by NASA Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio, August 12–14, 1998; {{doi|2060/19990023204}}. [http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?Ntk=DocumentID&Ntt=19990023204 Document ID: 19990023204]. Report Number: E-11429; NAS 1.55:208694; NASA/CP-1999-208694. [http://www.webcitation.org/5nwu4fT31 Mirror link].</ref><ref name="Tipler2001">Frank J. Tipler, [http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0104011 "The Ultimate Future of the Universe, Black Hole Event Horizon Topologies, Holography, and the Value of the Cosmological Constant"], {{arxiv|astro-ph/0104011}}, April 1, 2001. Published in J. Craig Wheeler and Hugo Martel (editors), [http://scitation.aip.org/dbt/dbt.jsp?KEY=APCPCS&Volume=586&Issue=1 ''Relativistic Astrophysics: 20th Texas Symposium, Austin, TX, 10-15 December 2000''] (Melville, N.Y.: American Institute of Physics, 2001), pp. 769-772, ISBN 0735400261, {{lccn|2001094694}}, which is [http://link.aip.org/link/?APCPCS/586/769/1 ''AIP Conference Proceedings'', Vol. 586 (October 15, 2001)], {{doi|10.1063/1.1419654}}, {{bibcode|2001AIPC..586.....W}}.</ref><ref name="Tipler2003"/><ref name="Tipler2005"/><ref name="Tipler2007">Frank J. Tipler, Jessica Graber, Matthew McGinley, Joshua Nichols-Barrer and Christopher Staecker, [http://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/0003082 "Closed Universes With Black Holes But No Event Horizons As a Solution to the Black Hole Information Problem"], {{arxiv|gr-qc/0003082}}, March 20, 2000. Published in ''Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society'', Vol. 379, Issue 2 (August 2007), pp. 629-640, {{doi|10.1111/j.1365-2966.2007.11895.x}}, {{bibcode|2007MNRAS.379..629T}}.</ref> The first book wherein the Omega Point Theory was described was 1986's ''The Anthropic Cosmological Principle'', written by astrophysicist John D. Barrow and Tipler, wherein they concluded the book by writing that<ref name="BarrowTipler1986a">John D. Barrow and Frank J. Tipler, "Foreword" by John A. Wheeler, ''The Anthropic Cosmological Principle'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1986), pp. 676-677, ISBN 0198519494, {{lccn|85004824}}, {{bibcode|1986acp..book.....B}}. [http://www.dhushara.com/book/quantcos/anth/anth.htm Excerpt from Chapter 1].</ref>

Tipler has published his Omega Point Theory in a number of peer-reviewed scientific journals and proceedings since 1986.<ref name="Tipler2005"/><ref name="Tipler1986">Frank J. Tipler, [http://theophysics.host56.com/pdf/Tipler-Cosmological-Limits-on-Computation.pdf "Cosmological Limits on Computation"], ''International Journal of Theoretical Physics'', Vol. 25, No. 6 (June 1986), pp. 617-661, {{doi|10.1007/BF00670475}}, {{bibcode|1986IJTP...25..617T}}. [http://www.webcitation.org/64KHgOccs Mirror link]. (First paper on the Omega Point Theory.)</ref><ref name="Tipler1986-6">Frank J. Tipler, [http://theophysics.host56.com/pdf/Tipler-Sensorium-of-God.pdf "The Sensorium of God: Newton and Absolute Space"], {{bibcode|1988nnds.conf..215T}}, in G[eorge]. V. Coyne, M[ichał]. Heller and J[ozef]. Źyciński (Eds.), "Message" by Franciszek Macharski, ''Newton and the New Direction in Science: Proceedings of the Cracow Conference, 25 to 28 May 1987'' (Vatican City: Specola Vaticana, 1988), pp. 215-228, {{lccn|88162460}}, {{bibcode|1988nnds.conf.....C}}. [http://www.webcitation.org/69Vb0JF1W Mirror link].</ref><ref name="Tipler1987">Frank J. Tipler, [http://theophysics.host56.com/pdf/Tipler-Achieved-spacetime-infinity.pdf "Achieved spacetime infinity"], ''Nature'', Vol. 325, No. 6101 (January 15, 1987), pp. 201-202, {{doi|10.1038/325201c0}}, {{bibcode|1987Natur.325..201T}}. [http://www.webcitation.org/64Upnqvnw Mirror link].</ref><ref name="Tipler1988a">Frank J. Tipler, [http://theophysics.freevar.com/pdf/Tipler-Omega-Point-Theory.pdf "The Omega Point Theory: A Model of an Evolving God"], in Robert J. Russell, William R. Stoeger and George V. Coyne (Eds.), message by John Paul II, ''Physics, Philosophy, and Theology: A Common Quest for Understanding'' (Vatican City: Vatican Observatory, 2nd ed., 2005; orig. pub. 1988), pp. 313-331, ISBN 0268015775, {{lccn|89203331}}, {{bibcode|1988pptc.book.....R}}. [http://www.webcitation.org/69VaKG2nd Mirror link].</ref><ref name="Tipler1988b">Frank J. Tipler, [http://theophysics.host56.com/pdf/Tipler-Anthropic-Principle.pdf "The Anthropic Principle: A Primer for Philosophers"], in Arthur Fine and Jarrett Leplin (Eds.), ''PSA 1988: Proceedings of the 1988 Biennial Meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association, Volume Two: Symposia and Invited Papers'' (East Lansing, Mich.: Philosophy of Science Association, 1989), pp. 27-48, ISBN 091758628X. [http://www.webcitation.org/69VarCM3I Mirror link]. [http://www.jstor.org/stable/192869 Published by University of Chicago Press on behalf of the Philosophy of Science Association].</ref><ref name="Tipler1989">Frank J. Tipler, [http://theophysics.host56.com/pdf/tipler-omega-point-as-eschaton.pdf "The Omega Point as ''Eschaton'': Answers to Pannenberg's Questions for Scientists"], ''Zygon: Journal of Religion & Science'', Vol. 24, Issue 2 (June 1989), pp. 217-253, {{doi|10.1111/j.1467-9744.1989.tb01112.x}}. [http://www.webcitation.org/5nY0aytpz Mirror link]. Republished as Chapter 7: "The Omega Point as ''Eschaton'': Answers to Pannenberg's Questions to Scientists" in Carol Rausch Albright and Joel Haugen (editors), ''Beginning with the End: God, Science, and Wolfhart Pannenberg'' (Chicago, Ill.: Open Court Publishing Company, 1997), pp. 156-194, ISBN 0812693256, {{lccn|97000114}}.</ref><ref name="Tipler1992">Frank J. Tipler, [http://theophysics.host56.com/pdf/Tipler-Life-in-universes-which-undergo-inflation.pdf "The ultimate fate of life in universes which undergo inflation"], ''Physics Letters B'', Vol. 286, Issues 1-2 (July 23, 1992), pp. 36-43, {{doi|10.1016/0370-2693(92)90155-W}}, {{bibcode|1992PhLB..286...36T}}. [http://www.webcitation.org/64Uskd785 Mirror link].</ref><ref name="Tipler1993">Frank J. Tipler, [http://theophysics.host56.com/pdf/tipler-constant-mean-curvature-foliation.pdf "A New Condition Implying the Existence of a Constant Mean Curvature Foliation"], {{bibcode|1993dgr2.conf..306T}}, in B. L. Hu and T. A. Jacobson (editors), ''Directions in General Relativity: Proceedings of the 1993 International Symposium, Maryland, Volume 2: Papers in Honor of Dieter Brill'' (Cambridge: [[Cambridge University Press]], 1993), pp. 306-315, ISBN 0521452678, {{bibcode|1993dgr2.conf.....H}}. [http://www.webcitation.org/5qbXJZiX5 Mirror link].</ref><ref name="Tipler1998">Frank J. Tipler, [http://theophysics.host56.com/pdf/tipler-ultrarelativistic-rockets.pdf "Ultrarelativistic Rockets and the Ultimate Future of the Universe"], [http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19990023204_1999021520.pdf ''NASA Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Workshop Proceedings''], [[NASA|National Aeronautics and Space Administration]], January 1999, pp. 111-119 ([http://www.webcitation.org/5nY13xRip mirror link]); an invited paper in the proceedings of a conference held at and sponsored by NASA Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio, August 12–14, 1998; {{doi|2060/19990023204}}. [http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?Ntk=DocumentID&Ntt=19990023204 Document ID: 19990023204]. Report Number: E-11429; NAS 1.55:208694; NASA/CP-1999-208694. [http://www.webcitation.org/5nwu4fT31 Mirror link].</ref><ref name="Tipler2001">Frank J. Tipler, [http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0104011 "The Ultimate Future of the Universe, Black Hole Event Horizon Topologies, Holography, and the Value of the Cosmological Constant"], {{arxiv|astro-ph/0104011}}, April 1, 2001. Published in J. Craig Wheeler and Hugo Martel (editors), [http://scitation.aip.org/dbt/dbt.jsp?KEY=APCPCS&Volume=586&Issue=1 ''Relativistic Astrophysics: 20th Texas Symposium, Austin, TX, 10-15 December 2000''] (Melville, N.Y.: American Institute of Physics, 2001), pp. 769-772, ISBN 0735400261, {{lccn|2001094694}}, which is [http://link.aip.org/link/?APCPCS/586/769/1 ''AIP Conference Proceedings'', Vol. 586 (October 15, 2001)], {{doi|10.1063/1.1419654}}, {{bibcode|2001AIPC..586.....W}}.</ref><ref name="Tipler2003"/><ref name="Tipler2007">Frank J. Tipler, Jessica Graber, Matthew McGinley, Joshua Nichols-Barrer and Christopher Staecker, [http://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/0003082 "Closed Universes With Black Holes But No Event Horizons As a Solution to the Black Hole Information Problem"], {{arxiv|gr-qc/0003082}}, March 20, 2000. Published in ''Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society'', Vol. 379, Issue 2 (August 2007), pp. 629-640, {{doi|10.1111/j.1365-2966.2007.11895.x}}, {{bibcode|2007MNRAS.379..629T}}.</ref> The first book wherein the Omega Point Theory was described was 1986's ''The Anthropic Cosmological Principle'', written by astrophysicist John D. Barrow and Tipler, wherein they concluded the book by writing that<ref name="BarrowTipler1986a">John D. Barrow and Frank J. Tipler, "Foreword" by John A. Wheeler, ''The Anthropic Cosmological Principle'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1986), pp. 676-677, ISBN 0198519494, {{lccn|85004824}}, {{bibcode|1986acp..book.....B}}. [http://www.dhushara.com/book/quantcos/anth/anth.htm Excerpt from Chapter 1].</ref>

<blockquote>if life evolves in all of the many universes in a quantum cosmology, and if life continues to exist in all of these universes, then ''all'' of these universes, which include ''all'' possible histories among them, will approach the Omega Point. At the instant the Omega Point is reached, life will have gained control of ''all'' matter and forces not only in a single universe, but in all universes whose existence is logically possible; life will have spread into ''all'' spatial regions in all universes which could logically exist, and will have stored an infinite amount of information, including ''all'' bits of knowledge which it is logically possible to know. And this is the end.</blockquote>

<blockquote>if life evolves in all of the many universes in a quantum cosmology, and if life continues to exist in all of these universes, then ''all'' of these universes, which include ''all'' possible histories among them, will approach the Omega Point. At the instant the Omega Point is reached, life will have gained control of ''all'' matter and forces not only in a single universe, but in all universes whose existence is logically possible; life will have spread into ''all'' spatial regions in all universes which could logically exist, and will have stored an infinite amount of information, including ''all'' bits of knowledge which it is logically possible to know. And this is the end.</blockquote>

<blockquote>To emphasize the scientific nature of the Omega Point Theory, let me state here that I am at present forced to consider myself an atheist, in the literal sense that I am not a theist. (''A-theist'' means "not theist.") I do not yet even believe in the Omega Point. The Omega Point Theory is a viable scientific theory of the future of the physical universe, but the only evidence in its favor at the moment is theoretical beauty, for there is as yet no confirming experimental evidence for it. Thus scientifically one is not compelled to accept it at the time of my writing these words. So I do not. [[Antony Flew|Flew]], among others, has in my opinion made a convincing case for the presumption of atheism. If the Omega Point Theory and all possible variations of it are disconfirmed, then I think atheism in the sense of Flew, [[David Hume|Hume]], [[Bertrand Russell|Russell]], and the other self-described atheists is the only rational alternative. But of course I also think the Omega Point Theory has a very good chance of being right, otherwise I would never have troubled to write this book. If the Omega Point Theory is confirmed, I shall then consider myself a theist.</blockquote>

<blockquote>To emphasize the scientific nature of the Omega Point Theory, let me state here that I am at present forced to consider myself an atheist, in the literal sense that I am not a theist. (''A-theist'' means "not theist.") I do not yet even believe in the Omega Point. The Omega Point Theory is a viable scientific theory of the future of the physical universe, but the only evidence in its favor at the moment is theoretical beauty, for there is as yet no confirming experimental evidence for it. Thus scientifically one is not compelled to accept it at the time of my writing these words. So I do not. [[Antony Flew|Flew]], among others, has in my opinion made a convincing case for the presumption of atheism. If the Omega Point Theory and all possible variations of it are disconfirmed, then I think atheism in the sense of Flew, [[David Hume|Hume]], [[Bertrand Russell|Russell]], and the other self-described atheists is the only rational alternative. But of course I also think the Omega Point Theory has a very good chance of being right, otherwise I would never have troubled to write this book. If the Omega Point Theory is confirmed, I shall then consider myself a theist.</blockquote>

Tipler now regards himself as a theist due to what he states have been advancements in his Omega Point Theory which occurred after the publication of ''The Physics of Immortality''.<ref name="Meddis1998">Sam Vincent Meddis, "Computers of the distant future", ''[[USA Today]]'', four parts, August 3–31, 1998. [http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/ccb0803.htm Part 1: "Machines evolve"] (August 3), [http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/ccb0810.htm Part 2: "A quantum leap"] (August 10), [http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/ccb0817.htm Part 3: "Universal truths"] (August 17), and [http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/ccb0831.htm Part 4: "Web of thought"] (August 31). See Part 1 concerning Tipler no longer being an atheist.</ref><ref name="Tipler2007b2">Frank J. Tipler, ''The Physics of Christianity'' (New York: Doubleday, 2007), ISBN 0385514247, {{lccn|2006039028}}, Chapter III: "Life and the Ultimate Future of the Universe", p. 62.</ref> Namely, Tipler now says the known laws of physics—specifically, [[quantum mechanics]], [[general relativity]], the [[second law of thermodynamics]], and the [[Standard Model]] of particle physics—require the existence of the Omega Point [[gravitational singularity|singularity]] in order to avoid their violation;<ref name="Tipler1998"/><ref name="Tipler2001"/><ref name="Tipler2003"/><ref name="Tipler2005"/> whereas in ''The Physics of Immortality'' Tipler investigated what would be necessary from the postulate that life continues forever while still keeping the analysis confined to the known laws of physics. Tipler states that these physical laws have been repeatedly confirmed by every experiment to date. According to Tipler, this constitutes a massive body of empirical evidence for the Omega Point Theory's correctness. And as indicated above, Tipler also now considers himself a Christian due to his identification of the Omega Point with the [[God]] of [[Christianity|Christian theological tradition]].

Tipler now regards himself as a theist due to what he states have been advancements in his Omega Point Theory which occurred after the publication of ''The Physics of Immortality''.<ref name="Meddis1998">Sam Vincent Meddis, "Computers of the distant future", ''[[USA Today]]'', four parts, August 3–31, 1998. [http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/ccb0803.htm Part 1: "Machines evolve"] (August 3), [http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/ccb0810.htm Part 2: "A quantum leap"] (August 10), [http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/ccb0817.htm Part 3: "Universal truths"] (August 17), and [http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/ccb0831.htm Part 4: "Web of thought"] (August 31). See Part 1 concerning Tipler no longer being an atheist.</ref><ref name="Tipler2007b2">Frank J. Tipler, ''The Physics of Christianity'' (New York: Doubleday, 2007), ISBN 0385514247, {{lccn|2006039028}}, Chapter III: "Life and the Ultimate Future of the Universe", p. 62.</ref> Namely, Tipler now says the known laws of physics—specifically, [[quantum mechanics]], [[general relativity]], the [[second law of thermodynamics]], and the [[Standard Model]] of particle physics—require the existence of the Omega Point [[gravitational singularity|singularity]] in order to avoid their violation;<ref name="Tipler2005"/><ref name="Tipler1998"/><ref name="Tipler2001"/><ref name="Tipler2003"/> whereas in ''The Physics of Immortality'' Tipler investigated what would be necessary from the postulate that life continues forever while still keeping the analysis confined to the known laws of physics. Tipler states that these physical laws have been repeatedly confirmed by every experiment to date. According to Tipler, this constitutes a massive body of empirical evidence for the Omega Point Theory's correctness. And as indicated above, Tipler also now considers himself a Christian due to his identification of the Omega Point with the [[God]] of [[Christianity|Christian theological tradition]].

==Physics==

==Physics==

Some have pointed out that the current acceleration of the universe's expansion due to the positive cosmological constant would appear to obviate the Omega Point. Although physicists Lawrence M. Krauss and Michael S. Turner state that "there is no set of cosmological observations we can perform that will unambiguously allow us to determine what the ultimate destiny of the Universe will be."<ref name="Krauss1999">Lawrence M. Krauss and Michael S. Turner, [http://www.springerlink.com/content/h925275822n54121/ "Geometry and Destiny"], ''General Relativity and Gravitation'', Vol. 31, No. 10 (October 1999), pp. 1453-1459, {{doi|10.1023/A:1026757718530}}, {{bibcode|1999GReGr..31.1453K}}. Also at {{arxiv|astro-ph/9904020}}, April 1, 1999.</ref> On this matter Tipler maintains<ref name="Tipler2003b">Frank Tipler, [http://theophysics.host56.com/tipler-omega-point-and-christianity.html "The Omega Point and Christianity"], ''Gamma'', Vol. 10, No. 2 (April 2003), pp. 14-23 ([http://www.webcitation.org/5nx1sZDVR mirror link]); note that the foregoing version corrects character formatting errors of the versions available [http://web.archive.org/web/20031113125255/http://home.worldonline.nl/~sttdc/tipler.htm here], [http://web.archive.org/web/20030609141230/http://home.tiscali.nl/~sttdc/tipler.htm here] and [http://www.teilharddechardin.nl/tipler.htm here]. (Note: citation formatting in the above-quoted passage has been modified for clarity.) For the version in Dutch, see [http://web.archive.org/web/20050312194029/http://home.worldonline.nl/~sttdc/jrg10_nr2_p1423.htm "Het Punt Omega en het christendom"], ''Gamma'', Jrg. 10, Nr. 2 (April 2003), pp. 14-23; also available [http://web.archive.org/web/20031217154256/http://home.tiscali.nl/~sttdc/jrg10_nr2_p1423.htm here] and [http://www.teilharddechardin.nl/jrg10_nr2_p1423.htm here].</ref> (see also references <ref name="Tipler2005"/> and <ref name="Tipler2003">Frank J. Tipler, [http://theophysics.host56.com/pdf/tipler-intelligent-life-in-cosmology.pdf "Intelligent life in cosmology"], ''International Journal of Astrobiology'', Vol. 2, Issue 2 (April 2003), pp. 141-148, {{doi|10.1017/S1473550403001526}}, {{bibcode|2003IJAsB...2..141T}}. Mirror links [http://www.webcitation.org/5o9QHKGuW here] and [http://theophysics.freevar.com/pdf/tipler-intelligent-life-in-cosmology.pdf here]; also available [http://math.tulane.edu/~tipler/intelligentlife.pdf here]. Also at {{arxiv|0704.0058}}, March 31, 2007.</ref>) that [[baryon]] annihilation—which he says would be the ideal form of energy resource and rocket propulsion during the colonization of the universe—will force the Higgs field to its absolute vacuum state, resulting in the universe's collapse:

Some have pointed out that the current acceleration of the universe's expansion due to the positive cosmological constant would appear to obviate the Omega Point. Although physicists Lawrence M. Krauss and Michael S. Turner state that "there is no set of cosmological observations we can perform that will unambiguously allow us to determine what the ultimate destiny of the Universe will be."<ref name="Krauss1999">Lawrence M. Krauss and Michael S. Turner, [http://www.springerlink.com/content/h925275822n54121/ "Geometry and Destiny"], ''General Relativity and Gravitation'', Vol. 31, No. 10 (October 1999), pp. 1453-1459, {{doi|10.1023/A:1026757718530}}, {{bibcode|1999GReGr..31.1453K}}. Also at {{arxiv|astro-ph/9904020}}, April 1, 1999.</ref> On this matter Tipler maintains<ref name="Tipler2003b">Frank Tipler, [http://theophysics.host56.com/tipler-omega-point-and-christianity.html "The Omega Point and Christianity"], ''Gamma'', Vol. 10, No. 2 (April 2003), pp. 14-23 ([http://www.webcitation.org/5nx1sZDVR mirror link]); note that the foregoing version corrects character formatting errors of the versions available [http://web.archive.org/web/20031113125255/http://home.worldonline.nl/~sttdc/tipler.htm here], [http://web.archive.org/web/20030609141230/http://home.tiscali.nl/~sttdc/tipler.htm here] and [http://www.teilharddechardin.nl/tipler.htm here]. (Note: citation formatting in the above-quoted passage has been modified for clarity.) For the version in Dutch, see [http://web.archive.org/web/20050312194029/http://home.worldonline.nl/~sttdc/jrg10_nr2_p1423.htm "Het Punt Omega en het christendom"], ''Gamma'', Jrg. 10, Nr. 2 (April 2003), pp. 14-23; also available [http://web.archive.org/web/20031217154256/http://home.tiscali.nl/~sttdc/jrg10_nr2_p1423.htm here] and [http://www.teilharddechardin.nl/jrg10_nr2_p1423.htm here].</ref> (see also references <ref name="Tipler2005"/> and <ref name="Tipler2003">Frank J. Tipler, [http://theophysics.host56.com/pdf/tipler-intelligent-life-in-cosmology.pdf "Intelligent life in cosmology"], ''International Journal of Astrobiology'', Vol. 2, Issue 2 (April 2003), pp. 141-148, {{doi|10.1017/S1473550403001526}}, {{bibcode|2003IJAsB...2..141T}}. Mirror links [http://www.webcitation.org/5o9QHKGuW here] and [http://theophysics.freevar.com/pdf/tipler-intelligent-life-in-cosmology.pdf here]; also available [http://math.tulane.edu/~tipler/intelligentlife.pdf here]. Also at {{arxiv|0704.0058}}, March 31, 2007.</ref>) that [[baryon]] annihilation—which he says would be the ideal form of energy resource and rocket propulsion during the colonization of the universe—will force the Higgs field to its absolute vacuum state, resulting in the universe's collapse:

<blockquote>The [[Standard Model|SM]] provides such a mechanism, which I actually discussed in the last section of the Appendix for Scientists in (<ref name="Tipler1994b" group="q">Frank J. Tipler, ''The Physics of Immortality: Modern Cosmology, God and the Resurrection of the Dead'' (New York: Doubleday, 1994), ISBN 0385467982, {{lccn|93045046}}, {{bibcode|1994pimc.book.....T}}.</ref>, p. 515). This mechanism is the creation/destruction of baryon number by electroweak quantum tunneling. (Baryons are the heavy particles made up of quarks. Examples are neutrons and protons.) In my book, I pointed out that this mechanism would be ideal for propelling interstellar spacecraft, but I did not discuss its implications for the Higgs vacuum, a serious oversight on my part. (An oversight which invalidates the second part of my Fifth Prediction on page 149 of <ref name="Tipler1994b" group="q"/>.) If the SM is true—ALL experiments conducted to date indicate that it is (e.g.<ref name="Wilczek2002" group="q">Frank Wilczek, [http://xserver2.lns.mit.edu/~csuggs/physics_today/phystoday/SMPIII.pdf "Scaling Mount Planck III: Is That All There Is?"], ''Physics Today'', Vol. 55, Issue 8 (August 2002), pp. 10-11, {{doi|10.1063/1.1510264}}, {{bibcode|2002PhT....55h..10W}}. [http://www.webcitation.org/5o9RAgfxB Mirror link]; also available [http://web.archive.org/web/20020901123632/http://www.if.ufrgs.br/~jgallas/wilczek.html here].</ref> and <ref name="Quinn2003" group="q">Helen R. Quinn, [http://www.slac.stanford.edu/cgi-wrap/getdoc/slac-pub-9258.pdf "The Asymmetry Between Matter and Antimatter"], ''Physics Today'', Vol. 56, Issue 2 (February 2003), pp. 30-35, {{doi|10.1063/1.1564346}}, {{bibcode|2003PhT....56b..30Q}}. [http://www.webcitation.org/5o9RlbRcl Mirror link]; also available [http://www.slac.stanford.edu/cgi-wrap/getdoc/slac-pub-9258.ps.gz here].</ref>, last full paragraph on p. 35)—then the net baryon number observed in the universe must have been created in the early universe by this mechanism of electroweak quantum tunneling. If the baryons were so created, then this process necessarily forces the Higgs field to be in a vacuum state that is not its absolute vacuum. But if the baryons in the universe were to be annihilated by this process, say by the action of intelligent life, then this would force the Higgs field toward its absolute vacuum, canceling the positive cosmological constant, stopping the acceleration, and allowing the universe to collapse into the Omega Point. Conversely, if enough baryons are not annihilated by this process, the positive cosmological constant will never be canceled, the universe will expand forever, unitarity will be violated, and the Omega Point will never come into existence. Only if life makes use of this process to annihilate baryons will the Omega Point come into existence.</blockquote>

<blockquote>The [[Standard Model|SM]] provides such a mechanism, which I actually discussed in the last section of the Appendix for Scientists in (,<ref name="Tipler1994b" group="q">Frank J. Tipler, ''The Physics of Immortality: Modern Cosmology, God and the Resurrection of the Dead'' (New York: Doubleday, 1994), ISBN 0385467982, {{lccn|93045046}}, {{bibcode|1994pimc.book.....T}}.</ref> p. 515). This mechanism is the creation/destruction of baryon number by electroweak quantum tunneling. (Baryons are the heavy particles made up of quarks. Examples are neutrons and protons.) In my book, I pointed out that this mechanism would be ideal for propelling interstellar spacecraft, but I did not discuss its implications for the Higgs vacuum, a serious oversight on my part. (An oversight which invalidates the second part of my Fifth Prediction on page 149 of.<ref name="Tipler1994b" group="q"/>) If the SM is true—ALL experiments conducted to date indicate that it is (e.g.<ref name="Wilczek2002" group="q">Frank Wilczek, [http://xserver2.lns.mit.edu/~csuggs/physics_today/phystoday/SMPIII.pdf "Scaling Mount Planck III: Is That All There Is?"], ''Physics Today'', Vol. 55, Issue 8 (August 2002), pp. 10-11, {{doi|10.1063/1.1510264}}, {{bibcode|2002PhT....55h..10W}}. [http://www.webcitation.org/5o9RAgfxB Mirror link]; also available [http://web.archive.org/web/20020901123632/http://www.if.ufrgs.br/~jgallas/wilczek.html here].</ref> and,<ref name="Quinn2003" group="q">Helen R. Quinn, [http://www.slac.stanford.edu/cgi-wrap/getdoc/slac-pub-9258.pdf "The Asymmetry Between Matter and Antimatter"], ''Physics Today'', Vol. 56, Issue 2 (February 2003), pp. 30-35, {{doi|10.1063/1.1564346}}, {{bibcode|2003PhT....56b..30Q}}. [http://www.webcitation.org/5o9RlbRcl Mirror link]; also available [http://www.slac.stanford.edu/cgi-wrap/getdoc/slac-pub-9258.ps.gz here].</ref> last full paragraph on p. 35)—then the net baryon number observed in the universe must have been created in the early universe by this mechanism of electroweak quantum tunneling. If the baryons were so created, then this process necessarily forces the Higgs field to be in a vacuum state that is not its absolute vacuum. But if the baryons in the universe were to be annihilated by this process, say by the action of intelligent life, then this would force the Higgs field toward its absolute vacuum, canceling the positive cosmological constant, stopping the acceleration, and allowing the universe to collapse into the Omega Point. Conversely, if enough baryons are not annihilated by this process, the positive cosmological constant will never be canceled, the universe will expand forever, unitarity will be violated, and the Omega Point will never come into existence. Only if life makes use of this process to annihilate baryons will the Omega Point come into existence.</blockquote>

===The Omega Point and the quantum gravity Theory of Everything===

===The Omega Point and the quantum gravity Theory of Everything===