Hostility may follow, but I doubt to the extreme of the Intelligent Design issue.
There is a difference.
Evolution biology is a historical science much like anthropology, archeology and Egyptology. They do not have a complete record to view - i.e. not every thing that ever lived left a fossil and an artifact. So in these disciplines, the theory is the paradigm to explain the quantization of the historical continuum and is "the" test for any evidence which accumulates thereafter. Intelligent Design questions the paradigm per se claiming that "certain" features are best explained by an intelligent cause.
One could argue that physical cosmology is a historical science as well. But physical cosmology proposes many blueprints (theories) which fit the physical evidence. However, unlike evolution biology, there is no single paradigm theory for physical cosmology. Theories include imaginary time, multi-verse, multi-world, ekpyrotic, cyclic and many more. The "paradigm" in that field consists of this universe's physical laws, physical causation and physical constants themselves.
However, if a scientist questioned that paradigm, e.g. denied the second law of thermodynamics, he might expect not only extreme skepticism but hostility as well.
In his fascinating essay, Refereed Journals: Do they ensure quality or enforce orthodoxy?, Tipler questions whether revolutionary theories (e.g. relativity) would have ever made it through the peer review process.
That is an interesting question because truly whenever a scientist assails a paradigm as opposed to a theory, he effectively attacks the entire discipline and therefore should expect the defense to include self-righteous indignation.
Conversely, as cosmologist Delaporte once noted (paraphrased): science has grown so large and become so specialized that there are precious few big thinkers these days. Or to put it another way, there are precious few scientists who are truly qualified to peer review a revolutionary theory.
I do understand the value of peer review however I strongly aver that every scientist should have an outlet for his theories, no matter how revolutionary they might be - and that he should never be punished for thinking outside the box, i.e. the paradigm.
The Founders should have specified "Freedom of Thought" instead of letting it be inferred from "Freedom of Speech." However, in their defense, they probably did not anticipate the pervasive "political correctness" of today's world.
A final point: the big bang theory itself is the most theological statement ever to come out of modern science (Jastrow.) Genesis 1 and John 1 both declare "In the beginning."
All physical cosmologies require space and time for physical causation. In the absence of time, events cannot occur. In the absence of space, things cannot exist. None can obviate the need for God the Creator, the First Cause of "all that there is" who is neither time bound nor space bound, uncreated.
No matter how far back they theoretical push the historical record (e.g. multi-verse theories) - they are always relying on space and time for physical causation. Without speaking of God, they can never say how much less why there is something instead of nothing at all.
When my brothers and sisters in Christ theologically question the big bang, they are discounting this important argument. Nevertheless, we must all declare the Truth as we have received it.
I agree with Jewish physicist Gerald Schroeder - God's revelation in Scripture and in Creation agree when one considers relativity and the big bang/inflationary model. From the inception of this universe to now, six days have elapsed relative to the inception - though from our space/time coordinates, billions of years have elapsed. The two are not mutually exclusive, they are relative. Or to put it another way, Genesis 1 is written from the Creator's perspective - not the perspective of a creature. In my view, the perspective of Scripture does not change to man's until Adam is banished to mortality.
Excellent reply. But I am a bit confused by what you mean by “So in these disciplines, the theory is the paradigm to explain the quantization of the historical continuum...” Could you elaborate?
Something can’t be created from nothing; which leads us to either conclude that something always existed or the whole thing is a collective illusion, or something like that. :)
2 Peter 3:8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.
Time dilation addressed in Scripture thousands you years before science got there....... again.
Needs to be repeated often and to the evos, although you'll no doubt be accused of stretching things, twisting Scripture, not being literal, being too literal, whatever, to invalidate your comment.
ABG-Anything But God.
I find it by far the best explanation to reconcile the difference between what God tells us and what we observe.
Thanks for putting it so concisely.
I hadn't read your comments, before I posted mine, and I've never heard of Gerald Schroeder, but it seems I was thinking the same thing as he!
Excellent observation, dearest sister in Christ! Thank you so very much for your insightful essay-post!