Universe Origin Theories

1. How did we get here? Universe Origin Theories

2. Big Bang Theory

3. Big Bang Theory • Who- Georges Lemaître (proposed in 1927) • What- “Hypothesis of the Primeval Atom” • When- 13.7 billion years ago • Where- in the middle of nowhere • How- an extremely dense and hot state that blew up and continues to expand today

4. Big Bang Theory • Strength- in 1929 Edwin Hubble discovered that the distances to far away galaxies were generally proportional to their redshifts

5. Big Bang Theory • Weakness- without any evidence associated with the earliest instant of the expansion, the Big Bang theory cannot and does not provide any explanation for such an initial condition; rather, it describes and explains the general evolution of the universe since that instant.

6. Steady State Theory

7. Steady State Theory • Who- Fred Hoyle (developed in 1948) • What- “Infinite Universe” • When- no beginning or end • Where- everywhere • How- new matter is continuously created as the universe expands

8. Steady State Theory • Strength- since the universe is unchanging, there is no need for a convoluted explanation for its beginning. What is, always was, and will continue to be.

9. Steady State Theory • Weakness- discovery of the cosmic microwave background radiation in 1965, which was predicted by the Big Bang theory.

10. Steady State Theory • Stephen Hawking said that the fact that microwave radiation had been found, and that it was thought to be left over from the Big Bang, was "the final nail in the coffin of the steady-state theory."

11. Oscillating Theory

12. Oscillating Theory • Who- Albert Einstein (developed in 1930) • What- “Cyclic Model” • When- 13.7 billion years ago • Where- here and there • How- universe following an eternal series of oscillations, each beginning with a big bang and ending with a big crunch; in the interim, the universe would expand for a period of time before the gravitational attraction of matter causes it to collapse back in and undergo a bounce

13. Oscillating Theory • Strength- accepts that the universe is expanding (Big Bang theory)

14. Oscillating Theory • Weakness- discovery of the cosmic microwave background radiation in 1965, which was predicted by the Big Bang theory.

15. Oscillating Theory • Most recent measurements on CMB radiation show the Universe will continue on expanding and will most likely result in the “Big Freeze” (heat death) of the universe.

16. Creation Theory

17. Creation Theory • Who- a Creator or an Unmoved Mover • What- belief system, aka “faith” • When- before time was created • Where- wherever God was • How- In the beginning “God” created the heavens and the earth.

18. Creation Theory • Strength- The law of cause-and-effect shows that the First Cause of all things must be an infinite, eternal, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, spiritual, volitional, truthful, loving, living Being!

19. Creation Theory • Weakness- • Any effort to determine the cause of the universe is purely hypothetical.

20. Creation Theory • Weakness- • No human was there to observe the processes, so any attempt to understand events of pre-history (especially original events) must, therefore, be based on "belief systems," or presuppositions.

21. Creation Theory • Weakness- • While the theories and ideas may be many, the presuppositions can only be of two sorts: • 1) There is an infinite series of causes, going back into infinite time, with no ultimate Cause; or • 2) There exists an uncaused First Cause that was "outside" or transcendent to the universe.

22. You Decide What’s Your Worldview? What’s Your Worldview? Regardless of your beliefs, you will be tested on the assumption that the Big Bang Theory is correct. ?