A Lot Can Happen in a Trillionth of a Trillionth of a Second
The latest results of the Wilkinson Microwave Anistropy Probe (WMAP) are in. This space borne instrument adds further evidence to support the inflationary Big Bang model.
It confirms that the following took place. The universe grew from the size of a marble to a volume larger than all of observable space in less than a trillion-trillionth of a second.
Try to wrap your mind around that scientific fact.
The WMAP is just the latest and most accurate confirmation of the inflationary Big Bang model. We had the Cosmic Background Explorer which verified the cosmic background radiation (CBR) followed by more precise measurements taken by the Boomerang, DASI and MAXIMA experiments. The WMAP offers even greater precision. They all show the same thing. The data is converging. The inflationary Big Bang model flexes its muscles once again.
Astronomer and evangelist Hugh Ross states the following,
"The theological significance of the WMAP measures is huge. Here’s why: The most spectacular evidence for supernatural design of the cosmos resides in its density characteristics. For physical life to be possible—anywhere, anytime—the mass density of the universe can differ by no more than one part in 10**60 (1 with 60 zeroes behind it), and the space energy density by no more than one part in 10**120 (1 with 120 zeroes behind it). Thus, achieving confirmation of these density parameters strengthens the observational case for a Creator, one who is orders of magnitude more intelligent, more knowledgeable, more creative, and more powerful than humans can even imagine.It is the evidence for design that blows the mind. The space energy density, that Ross talks about and the WMAP findings confirm, is known as dark energy. It is a property of our universe that acts like anti-gravity. In fact, it is the dominant characteristic in our universe. A whopping 73 percent of our universe is dark energy. Dark energy is one finely tuned entity. The amount of dark energy in our universe cannot vary by more than one part in one to the ten raised to the 120th power -- OR NO LIFE IS POSSIBLE AT ANY TIME, ANY WHERE IN THE UNIVERSE.
When big bang predictions can be refined to the degree of accuracy manifested in the WMAP results, the argument for a transcendent creation event grows tighter than ever. Not only can we point to potent evidence that the Creator must transcend matter, energy, space, and time, but we can also demonstrate the reliability of Scripture. The Bible accurately predicted three fundamental features of all current big bang models (initial singularity, continuous expansion, continuous cooling) thousands of years before any scientist had discovered these cosmic features."
It is the most finely tuned of all of the properties of the universe. Thank God it is just right.
The more we learn about our universe, the more reasons we have to praise God.
Comments
> of a marble to a volume larger
> than all of observable space in
> less than a trillion-trillionth
> of a second.
> Try to wrap your mind around
> that scientific fact.
Wrap your mind around this fact: Scientists don't have the slightest idea where the center of the universe is, nor where its edge-boundaries are. WMAP's 3-year data represents a single measurement in a hypothetical timespan of billions of years. Astronomers don't have the slightest idea what dark matter & dark energy are; how could they possibly know how it acts over a truly-astronomical period of billions of years? When reading reports such as this, it's important to keep in mind what we don't know (I suppose its scientific name would be "dark knowledge"). A meaningful scientific measurement for something estimated at 14 billion years would require data points billions of years apart--not 3 years apart! It's like looking at the sunlight & temperature change at 8:00:01 & 8:00:03 on a July morning in California, then assuming the sunlight & temperature had progressed the same on a December evening of 2006 BC in Sweden! WMAP's mission is projected to continue till 2009. I'll check back with you 7 billion years from now.
However, am I correct in thinking this doesn't really tell us much about "god" at all? For instance, it doesn't tell us whether the universe itself is "god" or not. After all, it is just as likely that the universe itself could be god and cause its properties to support life since itself is the essence of life.
And what your post tells us is that man is the primary greatness after which all things in the cosmos are aligned. Despite the argument for a theocentric universe ordered by a divine, we are now left with a universal humanism in which man is the center of all things and the pattern after which even the universe itself is aligned.
I am not certain we can make that kind of all-encompassing cosmological statement from scripture--let alone draw the conclusions about scripture predicting initial singularity, continous expansion, and continous cooling as Hugh claims.
I understand your skepticism toward science and knowledge. There is indeed much we don't know. However, there are things we do know. We know that the heavens declare the glory of God. The more we seem to discover about God's handiwork in the cosmos, the more we can praise Him for his beautiful creation. When I see discoveries like this which clearly point to a transcendent Creator, it leads me into worship of this Creator. The power and intelligence required to create a universe such as this -- with finely tuned constants such as the space energy density term -- is awe inspiring.
1 The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
4 Their measuring line goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun,
5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them,
and there is nothing hidden from its heat.
Amen!
I think the more we learn about the universe, the more we learn about God's omnipotence, His intelligence, His transcendence, His creativity and His love. Does it give us the complete picture of God? No, of course it does not. Special revelation combined with general revelation give us a fuller picture of God, but even then, God has incommunicable attributes that you and I simply cannot grasp.
The "universe itself could be god" would require that the universe created itself -- which is nonsensical, because it would have to both exist and not exist at the same time in order to do that.
The problem with the other possibility -- the eternal universe theory -- is that design implies intentionality -- and intentionality implies a personal designer. The universe is infused with design -- hence the marks of a designer.
What my post tells us, is that God is powerful and his works are mighty to behold. Even materialists are faced with the fact that the universe expanded miraculously -- unless you consider a marble to the size of the known universe in a trillonth of a trillonth of a second to be a trivial thing ;)
Like I told G.M., the heavens truly do declare the glory of God. Studying his creation should lead us into greater worship of the Creator -- not a greater worship of man.
Re: Ross' claim that the Bible describes intial conditions and properties of the universe -- feel free to visit www.reasons.org and do some searches and check out his proof texting and engage in some criticism if you'd like. They (at RTB) are open to receive constructive criticism from Biblical scholars and cosmologists alike.