Extra credit: Modern science’s rejection of the cosmological argument

Question 1

Question: What was the steady state theory in physics?

Answer 1

Answer: The steady state theory posited that the universe had always existed and continuously created matter, but it was refuted by the discovery of the microwave background radiation.

Question 2

Question: How did the discovery of the microwave background radiation impact the steady state theory?

Answer 2

Answer: The discovery of the microwave background radiation provided strong evidence against the steady state theory and supported the big bang theory, which posits a finite beginning of the universe.

Question 3

Question: How does the big bang theory relate to the concept of a creator God?

Answer 3

Answer: While the steady state theory negated the need for a creator God by suggesting the universe had always existed, the big bang theory allows for the possibility of a creator God because it implies a finite beginning to the universe.

Question 4

Question: What was the stance of Pope Pius XII regarding the big bang theory?

Answer 4

Answer: Pope Pius XII declared in 1951 that the big bang theory is not in conflict with the Catholic conception of creation, indicating compatibility between scientific discoveries and religious beliefs.

Question 5

Question: What is the oscillating universe theory?

Answer 5

Answer: The oscillating universe theory suggests that the current universe is just one cycle in a series of big bangs and big crunches that have been occurring eternally.

Question 6

Question: What is Alan Guth’s inflation theory?

Answer 6

Answer: Alan Guth’s inflation theory proposes that the universe underwent a rapid expansion (inflation) shortly after the big bang, providing an explanation for the universe’s uniformity and structure.

Question 7

Question: How does Lawrence Krauss explain the origin of the universe in relation to Alan Guth’s theory?

Answer 7

Lawrence Krauss explains that according to Alan Guth’s theory, the universe came from nothing because it actually is nothing, with the total energy of the universe being zero due to the cancellation of positive matter energy and negative gravitational energy.

Question 8

Question: How does Alan Guth’s theory address the question of why there is something rather than nothing?

Answer 8

Answer: Alan Guth’s theory suggests that the universe originated from quantum fluctuations in a state of nothingness, where the total energy of the universe is zero, providing an explanation for its existence.

Question 9

Question: What role does quantum mechanics play in Lawrence Krauss’s explanation of the universe’s origin?

Answer 9

Answer: Quantum mechanics is proposed to have existed eternally and causes quantum fluctuations, which can create a zero-energy universe from nothing according to Lawrence Krauss’s explanation.

Question 10

Question: How does modern science challenge the cosmological argument for the existence of God?

Answer 10

Answer: Modern scientific theories, such as the big bang theory and inflation theory, provide alternative explanations for the origin of the universe that do not necessarily require the intervention of a creator God, thereby challenging the cosmological argument.

Question 11

W. L. Craig’s response to Krauss

Answer 11

W. L. Craig’s response to Krauss is that Krauss’ definition of nothing is faulty since it’s actually something. Nothing really means total absence of anything.

Question 12

Defence of Krauss:

Answer 12

Defence of Krauss: Arguably the definition of nothing philosophers have traditionally used is in fact not what nothing actually is though. Science has proven the philosophical conception of nothing to be inaccurate.