The Big Bang Theory is the current dominant scientific hypothesis explaining the creation of 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. It was first proposed by Georges-Henri Lemaitre and evidence for the expansion was observed by Edwin Hubble[1]. 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 3K black body object, and the observed level is that of a 2.725K 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. 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[2][3] and galaxy surveys[4][5] and recent observations of the microwave background[6][7] have corroborated these claims. Conventional wisdom is that the acceleration is caused by some sort of dark energy, which has not yet been directly observed.
Big Bang Theory Dissent Letter
The Big Bang Theory has had many dissenters including the British astronomer Sir Fred Hoyle, the Nobel Prize winner Hannes Alfven, and astronomers Geoffrey Burbidge and Halton Arp. [8] In 2004, a ‘Open Letter to the Scientific Community’ disputing the big bang theory was signed by 33 scientists and has been published on the internet and in the science journal New Scientist. [9] The dissent letter has subsequently been signed by hundreds of individuals around the world. [10] Professional cosmologists are actively creating models (some of which contradict the Bing Bang scenario) and collecting data that probe the specific nature of the earliest observable aspects of the Universe.
Creationist and Theistic Evolutionary Views
Most Atheists believe in the Big Bang theory. This is paradoxical since they could not explain who set off the Big Bang.
Many scientists who belive in the Big Bang Theory are Evolutionists, though not all are. One can believe that God both created the Universe AND laid out the plan for all life in the Big Bang, as opposed to the idea that life evolved randomly after the Big Bang.
Young earth creationist scientists contest the Big Bang Theory stating that it is scientifically unsound [11] [12][13][14][15], though few creationist criticisms are found in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Some Old Earth Creationists and Theistic Evolutionists argue that the Big Bang is in fact mentioned in the Bible. [16] Some Christian apologists who believe in an old earth, such as William Craig use the Big Bang as an apologetic, arguing that it proves that the universe had a beginning. [17]
References
- ↑ Hubble, E. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Volume 15, Issue 3, pp. 168-173.
- ↑ Riess, A. G., et al. The Astronomical Journal, Volume 116, Issue 3, pp. 1009-1038.
- ↑ Perlmutter, S., et al. The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 517, Issue 2, pp. 565-586.
- ↑ Sloan Digital Sky Survey
- ↑ Tegmark, M., et al. Physical Review D, vol. 74, Issue 12.
- ↑ Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe
- ↑ See, for example, http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0603449
- ↑ http://www.icr.org/article/343/
- ↑ http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2004/0601skepticism.asp
- ↑ http://www.cosmologystatement.org/
- ↑ Thompson, Bert, Harrub, Brad, and May, Branyon The Big Bang Theory—A Scientific Critique Apologetics Press, May 2003 - 23[5]:32-34,36-47.
- ↑ Brown, Walt, 2001, Big Bang?
- ↑ http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/309
- ↑ http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/2047
- ↑ http://www.icr.org/article/343/
- ↑ http://www.reasons.org/resources/fff/2000issue03/index.shtml#big_bang_the_bible_taught_it_first
- ↑ Strobel, Lee. The Case for a Creator. Zondervan, 2004.