Explaining the mysteries of science by reading the bible
Part One:
Genesis Versus The Big Bang Theory
Let me get right to the crux of this intense ongoing debate between the scientific community and the religious community with this simple statement. The Big Bang Theory and the Book Of Genesis are one in the same. That's right folks, both beliefs conclude with the same final result. (I will just let that sink in for a moment or two, or three.) (I am not referring to the Star Trek Genesis episode nor the CBS hit comedy, The Big Bang Theory)
Also, let me state that I am a born and raised Roman Catholic, educated in the 1960's at a Catholic school. (With mean nasty Nuns) I understand and agree that evolution and the natural selection of species is correct. I also understand and agree that the Earth is billions of years old, not the 5-7 thousand years old some religious communities believe. Mother nature is more than a woman tasting butter. Things happen for a reason. The sun rises and sets, and the Earth is not the center of the universe. Nor is it flat.
This will not become a science versus religion debate but merely an attempt to offer a new path for both concepts. To perhaps think outside of each beliefs rigid system.
Let us begin:
Creation:
What was the catalyst that created the universe?
Scientific Community Belief:
The scientific community state that in the beginning, before there was a universe, there was a mass of extreme dense energy. Roughly 14 billion years ago, an unknown catalyst caused the mass of extreme energy to detonate and rapidly expand creating matter and the elements of the known universe. From the initial "Big Bang" the universe continued to expand evolving into stars, planets, solar systems, and galaxies. This was billions of years in the making to finally arrive at the present where humankind exists. The universe continues to expand and age as we live and breathe.
Religion Belief:
If you look closely at the holy bible and read Genesis, it expresses the same story of the Big Bang theory. (Now hold on just a minute, don't go yelling and tossing things at the computer screen) Seriously, it does. Genesis begins, In the beginning, there was nothingness, emptiness, only God existed. God then created the heavens and the earth, day and night, the sea, the land, the fish, animals, birds, and finally man and woman. God said onto man, be fruitful and multiply. God did all this in only six days. On the seventh day, He rested. The catalyst was God. God created the universe.
Both stories are eerily similar. (Extreme energy being the catalyst for the scientific community and God being the catalyst for the religious belief) However, there are two nagging variances that separate the scientific community and the religious community. These two variances are: Time, as in, the amount of time it took to create the universe, and second, God versus the extreme energy.
So let us look at time. We, as an educated race of beings believe we understand time in our plane of existence. One day equals 24 hours. Thirty days equals one month. One thousand years equals a millennium. Our science proves the universe is roughly 14 billion years old. Using that logic backed by science, a mere six days Genesis speaks of to create the universe is pure poppycock. Or is it?
The Book of Genesis indeed offers a much shorter timeline. Six days compared to 14 billion years. This is where science gets the better of us. When theologians and scientists attempt to understand the mystery of God, the supreme being, or whatever you may want to call Him, Her, It, our feeble minds cannot comprehend creation concepts.
Genesis states that God was floating in the void and created the universe and the earth on day one. Then the day and night, then the waters, fish, animals, and man. All in six days. To understand Genesis you have to ask yourself a question. How does God measure a day? To a supreme being that always was and always shall be, perhaps one day equals billions of years. So, in God's perspective, 6 days may equal 12 billion years. Add in the two billion years for the one day God rested on day 7 and it equals 14 billion years. The same amount of time for Genesis and the Big Bang.
Point Of Parliamentary Procedure:
Thousands of years ago, humankind could not comprehend an enormous time line such as 14 billion years. It would have to be explained in a manner that would be understood. Humankind would have no concept in a measurement of time consisting of 14 billion years. However, they would certainly understand 6 days.
Another example: In the 1700's, no human could comprehend a trillion dollar debt, or an individual being a billionaire. Today, these terms are not only understandable, but commonplace. Time must be put into perspective just as everything else.
I recall one humorous movie, Austin Powers, where the villain of the movie, Doctor Evil, was awoken from the 1960's and found himself in the modern world. He promptly put the world in peril and ransomed the world for (One Million Dollars.....) The leaders of the world laughed at the minuscule amount.
So in essence, the bible took some liberties to explain how long it took for God to create the universe to allow comprehension.
Now we can agree both stories have correct time lines. Both roughly stating 14 billion years. All we have to do now is figure out the Energy versus God problem.
Energy Versus God:
Scientific Community Belief:
The Big Bang Theory is predicated on the belief that at one time before the universe existed, a mass of unknown energy exploded and formed the universe as we know it. In the beginning, there was nothing, and then, there was something accelerating faster than the speed of light breaking several laws of physics along the way. (I think I saw this sleight of hand trick in Las Vegas at the Penn And Teller show)
No one really knows where that unknown mass came from or how it ignited and exploded. They just believe it did because it is the logical thought process.
Religious Community Belief:
The belief is, in the beginning, there was nothingness, only God. Then God created the universe. The mass of energy was God. God created the mass, and with his power, ignited the creation of the universe as we know it.
No one really knows where God came from or how he became into existence. They just believe he was and always will be because it is their belief.
Conclusion:
In essence, if you believe in the Big Bang Theory, you believe in God. If you believe in God, you also believe in the Big Bang Theory.
I could be wrong. This is after all, the home of the 99 cent news story. Bazinga!
LURKING ON THE GRASSY KNOLL
