Posted on 02/15/2017 5:54:41 PM PST by truthfinder9
What scientific argument for the truth of Christianity do you find the most persuasive?
As I contemplated this question, my answer was big bang cosmology. Here’s why.
All big bang models include three essential features: (1) constant laws of physics throughout the universe; (2) a dynamic universe, one either expanding or contracting; and (3) a beginning to the universe. Remarkably, the biblical description matches these essential features.
Constant Laws of Physics
The scientific enterprise depends on a universe governed by constant laws of physics. If measurements today have no bearing on what happened yesterday or will happen tomorrow, no scientific progress can happen. Similarly, if measurements here on Earth are unrelated to what happens in a different galaxy, scientists cannot determine anything about how the universe behaves. The main philosophical motivation for Einstein developing the theory of general relativity was that the laws of physics ought to appear the same everywhere in the universe at all times. Science depends on a universe governed by constant laws of physics, but it provides no basis for this crucial philosophical necessity.
One attribute of God given in the Bible is immutability—God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The specific aspect of God’s immutability relevant to big bang cosmology relates to how the universe behaves. I suspect many people view God’s interaction with the universe similar to how I used to. In that view, God created the universe and largely sits back and watches it unfold, although he will intervene at times to bring about some specific outcome. However, Scripture paints a different picture. If God were to withdraw his hand from upholding the universe, it would tumble into nonexistence. In other words, God’s immutability results in the universe behaving reliably because God sustains it at every place, all the time. Jeremiah 33:25–26 explicitly compares the reliable behavior of the universe to God’s faithfulness in keeping his promises. In fact, God sustains the universe so consistently that we can describe its behavior using terms like the “laws of physics.”
A Dynamic Universe
Numerous biblical authors (Job 9:8, Psalm 104:2, Isaiah 40:22, Jeremiah 10:12, and Zechariah 12:1) note that God is stretching (or has stretched) out the heavens. I doubt that these authors had the expansion of the universe in mind when penning the words, but the terminology they use is provocative.
In the early 1900s when Einstein developed the theory of relativity, the solutions to its equations described a dynamic universe—one that was either expanding or contracting. However, the prevailing scientific thought of the time argued for a static and unchanging universe. So ingrained was the idea of a static universe that Einstein added a constant to his equations to remove the dynamic character that naturally flowed from the equations. When measurements in the 1920s confirmed the expansion of the universe, Einstein called the introduction of the constant “the biggest blunder of his life.”
A Beginning to the Universe
The doctrine of creation ex nihilo pervades the Bible, from Genesis through the Proverbs, into the Gospels and Epistles and ending in Revelation. God created the universe out of nothing. As I understand it, a beginning-less universe would contradict this important doctrine. That’s how important creation ex nihilo is. Einstein’s theory of relativity and the expansion of the universe convincingly point to a beginning of time—a conclusion that many scientists strongly resist. Today that resistance finds some support in the pursuit of a quantum theory of gravity. Yet, the past century repeatedly shows that advances in our understanding ultimately support explanations of the universe that contain a beginning.
I don’t want to imply that big bang cosmology is a “knock-down” argument for the truth of Christianity. Both Christians and non-Christians offer rebuttals to each of the points raised above. Some rebuttals are scientific (the multiverse, quantum gravity, etc.). Some are theological (stretching does not mean expansion, exegesis in light of ancient Near Eastern culture, etc.). However, in my assessment, big bang cosmology represents one of the cleanest and most persuasive arguments that the biblical and scientific descriptions of the universe match. And that fact validates the truth of Christianity.
Try to create or destroy matter;
The complexity of the DNA code
I heard this once, and it really stuck with me.
If you really - REALLY - want to know, the say this prayer:
“God, I don’t know if you exist or not, and I am not sure I even believe in prayer. But if you are real, please revel yourself to me in a way that I can understand.”
Then, let God do the work!
The Big Bang theory is a poor attempt by man to explain the unexplainable...
ping
Claiming to be smarter than Penrose and Hawking? Sadly Hawking worked it out, then rejected the notion because he chooses to not believe in God. So he started working on multiverse diversions.
If there's a clock,there's a "Clock Maker".
Hawking invested himself greatly in superstring theory which is what supersymmetry relies on. That's how he got to multiple universes. Sadly for him, supersymmetry has petered out thanks to the Large Hadron Collider. I feel sorry for those who dedicated their careers to supersymmetry, only to have it melt away.
God exists because the Big Bang brought all about from absolute nothingness. Absolute as in no space, no dimensions, no mathematics, no physics, no time, no anything. There was no "before" because of absolute nothingness. It is an absolute beginning.
Amen on the complexity of the DNA code. On the order of 2 ^ 3,000,000. A number so large that it exceeds the estimation of all the atoms in the visible universe.... in one strand of DNA
The problem with the “Big Bang” is that it requires infinities in the created universe.
There are two creation stories in Genesis for a reason. The first describes the creation of the universe out of nothing from the beginning. This includes the creation of all the “types” and their initial instantiations. There is no “which came first, the chicken or the egg?” problem because the Creator of the Universe created a “type of chicken” that reproduces with eggs.
The second describes the creation of Adam and Eve who start the Creator of the Universe’s salvation plan for the creatures that He created. So we can have an “old” universe and a “young” salvation plan at the same time. We will first focus on the creation of the universe out of nothing from the beginning over what we would measure as a long time.
This concept is supported by the Scriptures, and is also supported by the writings of the Hebrew sages:
“According to the master Kabbalists, Rabbi Isaac of Acco, when counting the years of these [7000 year] cycles, one must not use an ordinary physical year, but rather, a divine year. The Midrash says that each divine day is a thousand years, basing this on the verse, “A thousand years in Your sight are as but yesterday” (Psalms 90: 4). Since each year contains 365 1/4 days, a divine year would be 365,250 years long. According to this, each cycle of seven thousand divine years would consist of 2,556,750,000 earthly years. This figure of two-and-a-half billion years is very close to the scientific estimate as to the length of time that life has existed on earth. If we assume that the seventh cycle began with the Biblical account of creation, then this would have occurred when the universe was 15,340,500,000 years old. This is very close to the scientific estimate that the expansion of the universe began some fifteen billion years ago.”
Kaplan, Aryeh (2004-03-15). Sefer Yetzirah: The Book of Creation in Theory and Practice (Kindle Locations 3552-3559). Red Wheel Weiser. Kindle Edition.
‘During the six days of creation described in the first chapter, G-d did not actually create the world, but rather, created the ingredients which would allow the world to develop. It thus refers to the creation of all matter, along with space and time. It was during these six days that G-d brought the universe into being from absolute nothingness. After these six days of creation, G-d allowed the universe to develop by itself, renewing His creation each seven thousand divine years or 2.5 billion earthly years. All the laws of nature and the properties of matter had been fixed for all time, as it is written, “He has established them forever; He has made a decree which shall not be transgressed” (Psalms 148: 6). It is similarly written, “Whatever G-d decrees shall be forever; nothing shall be added to it, and nothing shall be taken away” (Ecclesiastes 3: 14). ‘
Kaplan, Aryeh (2004-03-15). Sefer Yetzirah: The Book of Creation in Theory and Practice (Kindle Locations 3564-3572). Red Wheel Weiser. Kindle Edition.
Rabbi Acco made this calculation, based on the Torah, sometime between 1250 AD and 1340 AD more than 300 years before Sir Isaac Newton was born, and at least 600 years before Edwin Hubble proposed his theory of the expanding universe. The reason aligning the start of the seventh cycle of divine years with the second creation story is based on the rabbinical analysis described in Sefer Yetzirah: The Book of Creation in Theory and Practice. Suffice it to say, but the rabbis could not have been adjusting their analysis to conform the yet to be determined modern scientific value!
So this is our first measurement. More than 600 years ago, the Holy Scriptures, as analyzed by people who really cared about finding the truth in them, reveal the age of the universe we can observe today.
In the twentieth century AD, it became obvious that energy and energy states were quantized and could be emitted or absorbed only in discrete units. However, the theories and equations that were developed regarded space and time as continuous and thus infinitely divisible. As a result of not having a minimum space-time unit all of these theories postulate infinities within the physical universe that have not been observed.
The current “Standard Model” for Quantum Mechanics compensates for this through a process called “renormalization” in which one subtracts a big infinity from a smaller infinity to get a measured answer. The “Big Bang Theory” says the universe started as a singularity, then the laws of physics were suspended for a while as everything expanded at faster than the speed of light. “Here the magic happens” is clearly only a “scientific” theory because it is proposed by “scientists.”
But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. (Daniel 12:4)
Since we are near the time of the end, knowledge has increased! The Unified Field Theory proposed by Burkhard Heim (1925-2001) is a completely discrete theory that is based on the quantization of areas in multiple dimensions. It treats the universe as an accounting system, which is clearly in consonance with the Holy Scriptures, as we shall see. Originally proposed with six dimensions; it was later expanded into 12 dimensions to fully account for Quantum Mechanics. Heim calculated the mass values of the elemental particles using the 6-dimensional formulation and six experimentally measured fundamental constants, such as the speed of light in a vacuum, and arrived at values that were in good (!) agreement with observations.
Burkhard Heim arrived at a description of “the beginning” from the currently observed universe using logic and mathematics. He described the process he used in a presentation to the scientists at Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) in Ottoburnn, Germany on November 25, 1976. An annotated transcript of the presentation and an English translation was produced by Olar Posdzech, Jim Graham, John Reed and Wilfried Kugel between 2000 and 2009. In this presentation, Heim derived the fundamental quantum of area which he called a “metron”.
In 1992, Tamar Auerbach explained the cosmology of Heim’s Theory as follows:
“In Heim’s theory both the metronic size, t, and the largest diameter D depend on the age of the universe. The dependence is such that D is expanding and t is contracting, so that D was smaller in the past and t was larger. It stands to reason that at one time in the distant past the surface area of a sphere of diameter D in our 3-dimensional world was equal to the size of t. This instant marks the origin of the universe and of time.
The mathematical relation between D and t is not simple, so that 3 different values of D are found to satisfy the criterion that the area of a sphere of diameter D be equal to t at the beginning of time. Evidently, the universe started as a trinity of spheres, whose diameters turn out to be (in meters):
D1 = 0.90992 m, D2 = 1.06426 m, D3 = 3.70121 m.
This trinity of spheres has important bearings on the structure of elementary particles.
From the first moment the universe began to expand, though at a slower rate than is presently predicted on the basis of the red shift of distant galaxies. Heim’s theory results in a present age of the universe approximately equal to 5.45 x 10^107 years, and a diameter D of about 6.37 x 10^109 light years. During most of its existence the universe consisted of an empty metronic lattice, whose metrons kept getting smaller as the universe grew larger.
Eventually, metrons became small enough for matter to come into existence. This may have occurred some 15-40 billion (10^9) years ago, at which time matter was created throughout the volume of the universe. Hence, according to Heim matter did not originate very soon after a “big bang” explosion but more uniformly in scattered “fire-cracker” like bursts, perhaps of galactic proportions. Spontaneous uniform creation of matter, coupled with the partly attractive and partly repulsive force of gravity mentioned in Section 3 resulted in the observed large-scale galactic structure of the universe. Creation of matter continues to this day, though on a very much reduced scale.”
Heim’s Theory of Elementary Particle Structures, T. Auerbach and Illobrand von Ludwiger published by the Journal of Scientific Exploration, Vol. 6, No. 3, pp. 217-231, 1992
Heim’s Theory then starts in an analogous way to the way the Hebrew Sages explain it:
And He created His universe with three books (Sepharim), with text (Sepher) with number (Sephar) and with communication (Sippur).
Kaplan, Aryeh (2004-03-15). Sefer Yetzirah: The Book of Creation in Theory and Practice (Kindle Locations 445-449). Red Wheel Weiser. Kindle Edition.
Now the Sefer Yetzirah is said to be part of the oral Torah, but we don’t know for sure, so it should be treated as commentary. So we must look for a pattern in the Torah that matches Heim’s Theory in order to consider Heim’s theory a match for the first creation story. The amazing thing is that the Torah’s description of the creation of the Nation of Israel fits the pattern of these three spheres (books) and the organization of the dimensions used in Extended Heim Theory.
If we simply number the 12 sons of Jacob in the order they were born, we get the following:
x1 Gen 29:32 So Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, “The LORD has surely seen my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me.”
x2 Gen 29:33 Then she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon.
x3 Gen 29:34 She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi.
x4 Gen 29:35 And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now I will praise Yahweh.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she stopped bearing.
x5 Gen 30:6 Then Rachel said, “God has judged my case; and He has also heard my voice and given me a son.” Therefore she called his name Dan.
x6 Gen 30:8 Rachel said, “With great wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and indeed I have prevailed.” So she called him Naphtali.
x7 Gen 30:11 Then Leah said, “A troop comes!” So she called his name Gad.
x8 Gen 30:13 Then Leah said, “I am happy, for the daughters will call me blessed.” So she called his name Asher.
x9 Gen 30:18 Leah said, “God has given me my hire [wages] because I have given my maid to my husband.” So she called his name Issachar.
x10 Gen 30:20b Leah said, “...now my husband will dwell with me, because I have borne him six sons.” So she called his name Zebulun.
x11 Gen 30:24 So she [Rebecca] called his name Joseph, and said, “The LORD shall add to me another son.”
x12 Gen 35:18 As her soul was departing (for she died), she [Rebecca] called his name Ben-Oni [son of my sorrow]; but his father called him Ben-Jamin.
There probably is some significance to the names themselves, but at this point I have only looked at the birth order and grouping related to the dimensions used in Extended Heim Theory.
Leah’s first three sons, Reuben, Simion, and Levi, represent the R3 (x,y,z) Spatial Dimensions. Her fourth son, Judah, represents T! (t) Time. Note that this associates the genealogy of Jesus with time!
Rachel’s maid, Bihah, two sons, Dan and Naphtali, represent S2 (x5, x6) the Structure dimensions. These are the dimensions that provide the electromagnetic force. Heim’s initial theory used only these six dimensions.
Leah’s maid, Zilpha, responds with two sons, Gad and Asher, who represent I2 (x7,x8) the Information dimensions.
The next four dimensions are called the God Dimensions because these dimensions contains structures that steer the events of the other dimensions. They are associated with Jacob’s two wives. Leah’s last two sons, Issachar and Zebulun, and Rachel’s two sons, Joseph and Benjamin represent G4 (x9,x10,x11,x12).
Once I recognized this pattern, it was apparent that the Three Spheres (Books) were symbolized by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
What are the chances of this happening if the Holy Scriptures are not the Word of YHWH, the True and Living God, Creator of the Universe?
Without Time, events do not occur
Without Space a thing does not exist
In Daniel chapter five we read of a hand appearing to write upon the wall in Palace Party Central. The folks in that room saw only the hand as it wrote, because the rest of the being to whom the hand was attached was in a time and space reality insensible to them. But the being existed/exists in space and time. So, our understanding of dimension time AND dimension spaced must not be completed yet. Jesus walked from a sealed tomb, without rolling away the stone. He appeared in a locked and shuttered room without opening a [passageway. He disappeared from view of the two disciples He joined on the road and went to supper with.
We do not yet grasp time or space as those dimensional limits are applied to realms beyond what we are presently fashioned to sense.
--Sir Isaac Newton
Which certainly helps explain the first 4 words of the bible: "In the beginning God..."
” . . So he started working on multiverse diversions.”
yeah, the galactic equivalent of a ‘get out of jail free’ card,
Makes for good sci-fi stories though,
The question is a conundrum.
Christians are not seeking scientific evidence to support Christian beliefs.
Christians do not become a Christian because they discovered scientific evidence to support their belief.
Christians are Christians because they accepted Jesus as their savior. They accept Jesus based on faith and faith comes from hearing the word.
Faith is:
New International Version
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
New Living Translation
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
English Standard Version
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Berean Study Bible
Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.
Berean Literal Bible
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not being seen.
New American Standard Bible
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
King James Bible
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.
International Standard Version
Now faith is the assurance that what we hope for will come about and the certainty that what we cannot see exists.
NET Bible
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see.
New Heart English Bible
Now faith is being confident of what we hope for, convinced about things we do not see.
Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Now faith is the conviction concerning those things that are in hope, as if it were these things in action, and the revelation of those things that are unseen;
GOD'S WORD® Translation
Faith assures us of things we expect and convinces us of the existence of things we cannot see.
New American Standard 1977
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Jubilee Bible 2000
Faith, therefore, is the substance of things waited for, the evidence of things not seen.
King James 2000 Bible
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
American King James Version
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
American Standard Version
Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now faith is the substance of things to be hoped for, the evidence of things that appear not.
Darby Bible Translation
Now faith is [the] substantiating of things hoped for, [the] conviction of things not seen.
English Revised Version
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the proving of things not seen.
Webster's Bible Translation
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Weymouth New Testament
Now faith is a well-grounded assurance of that for which we hope, and a conviction of the reality of things which we do not see.
World English Bible
Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.
Young's Literal Translation
And faith is of things hoped for a confidence, of matters not seen a conviction,
All that the Big Bang Theory requires is a Being outside of time and space that created time and space. What the nature of that Being might be we can discuss, but ordinary logic, which we use every day, suggests that a Beginning had to have Something to begin it. We can make it harder if we like, but sometimes the simplest explanations are the right ones.
As a Christian, I am familiar with scenes described in The Bible which verify there are realms of spacetime we are not fashioned to sense, but realms from which real beings in those realms can reach and step to come into our spacetime. [see Daniel chapter five, Old Testament, for but one astonishing example]
” . . we are not fashioned to sense”
Agree 100% at least not while in the flesh, our Spirit may interact as permitted etc., or we may witness it mathematically. Our flesh perceives only as height, width, length and time,
For multiverses or alternate ones, I’m talking about the idea that there are an untold number of almost identical universes playing out with only a slight variance, where for example you and I may exist as we are here and the only difference being that we believe George Soros and his evil minions are something to be admired :-)
The number of dimensions may be unlimited,
There are many examples of this,
When Jesus appeared to Thomas and the others in John Chapter 20 he entered the room without coming through the door, he made an extra-dimensional entrance from outside of our reality,
“then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.”
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