In the Beginning

How did it all begin? Did it (the creation of the universe) have a beginning at all? We have looked at some of the background ideas of mathematics and physics that we need in order to produce scientific theories about the universe in its entirety, now we will consider some physical theories of the structure and formation of the universe. Before doing this, however, let us consider the very different accounts of the beginning of the universe provided by Judeo-Christian religious thought.

Genesis

The Genesis account states that God created the cosmos. No attempt nor need to say how this creating act was done any more than by the power of his will (and Word). God's creation is ex nihilo and God is established firmly as the author of this creating act. Aside from dispute over the length of days and the meaning of "kind" a great deal of latitude exists for Christians in exploring the "how" of creation. The "how" aspect is simply not the intent of Genesis and the book of Genesis was written with intent. The book established for the people of Israel the lordship of Jahweh in the face of many "competing" gods and animist spirits. The Judeo-Christian worldview contains a transcendent quality beyond the material universe. The Genesis account establishes a number of key points:

reality of the cosmos
reason of the cosmos
creational status
exclusiveness
integrality

Scientific Accounts of Creation

An account that would be characterized as scientific would differ from the Judeo-Christian account on a number of points.

the extension of ideas through the application of a small number of principles through the operation of rules of mathematics and logical argumentation
the intent is to supply a physical understanding of the processes within creation. Notions of "purpose" or intentionality within the universe are omitted.
ideas are (should be) testable, tentative and changeable. The "facts" must ultimately "drive" the theory

Human Accounts

Simply stated, we carry within us both the religious and the scientific views. No scientist or theologian can claim "objective" status. A theologian must be on guard for a western technological bias in understanding creation just as a scientist must be aware of his or her religious conviction in relation to science. This we could characterize as a human account. One of the first attempts to navigate the at time troubled waters between religious faith and scientific reason appears in Kant's Cosmogony.

Time toTake Quiz #4!

If you are ready, click on "Big Al" to take a 20 question multiple choice quiz. It should take about 10 minutes and provide you
with an evaluation of your comprehension of the past lectures. Don't forget to "register" the quiz so that I have a record that you have completed it.

Seeds: Chp18