The Big Bang

OVERVIEW

Before we begin, there are three things to keep in mind when discussing scientific, apologetic topics:

Remember that apologetics comes from the Greek word, apologia. It means, "defense" or "answer." In other words, it is to DEFEND the faith, not to OFFEND others. That we are always to discuss the topics of scientific apologetics in a Christian, Christ-like atmosphere. To defend the faith with preparation, wisdom, and most importantly, Christian love; to show the love of Christ before, during, and after any discussion to everyone that you come across. To not prove a point, but to discuss the topics rationally and gently in Christian fellowship. "Even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled." But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear" (1 Peter 3:14-15).
When discussing any controversial, scientific topic, we are not proving whether it coincides or contradicts our faith. Scripture and science come from the same Author, God Himself Scripture is the Word of God and science is the process in how God created all things during the creation account in Genesis. Therefore, Scripture and science have always gone hand in hand. However, the false appearance that they can't coexist has come about from two main reasons. The misinterpretation of the Bible (Galileo Affair; Galileo & the Catholic Church) and bad science (Spontaneous Generation; life comes from nonlife).
Remember that God's intent of Scripture is primarily for our salvation, not science "Thus, taking terms too literally may convey more than, or even the opposite of, what the author intended" (John A. Bloom).

OBJECTIVE

This unit will focus on the Big Bang, being the origin of the Universe, did it happen by "itself" or were there entities before that led to its occurrence. Can these entities come into existence from nothing? If not, then who brought these entities into existence. These entities are two important laws of physics that have to exist before the event of the Big Bang.

INTRODUCTION

The Big Bang theory claims that it is the "origin," of the universe. There is no problem with the claim that is the "origin;" the problem is with the idea that this origin of the Universe occurred "by itself," meaning that no one caused it to happen. In scientific terms, the Universe is "self-nucleated." Since it is the "origin" of the Universe then the Universe came out of nothing. Therefore this theory supposes that there is no God.

As we explained in the Apologetics introduction module (see 9th grade module), science makes a "conclusion" based on Observation, Then Hypothesis, then Experimentation, then a Conclusion. The conclusion is that the Big Bang occurred and it is the "origin" of the Universe. And that it occurred by "itself" -- no one caused it to happen. This second conclusion that it occurred by "itself" is actually a claim that "therefore there is no God."

This is a "metaphysical" (above physical) conclusion, so it is considered as a philosophical conclusion. But the answer is not from faith, it will be from science.

ANSWERING FROM SCIENCE Not From the BIBLE

How to make a scientific answer or response:

Understand the data (Observational data)
Understand the Hypothesis made from these data.
Understand the experimentation and the Conclusions drawn from such experimentation.
See if the drawn conclusions are correct, or there could be another hypothesis and conclusions.
If there are other Conclusion(s), do they support or contradict the first Conclusion(s).

Application to the Big Bang Theory

The Observation is the Telescope of Edwin Hubble. (There are other Observations but they are a bit more difficult to explain - The main one is the Cosmic Microwave Background).
The Hypothesis: if going forward in time means it is shown that galaxies are moving "apart" from one another, therefore going "to the past" the galaxies were closer to one another. Then going to the very past we shall reach a point that these galaxies were at one point very very close together.
The Scientific Conclusion is that the Universe started by an explosion from one point, and this explosion is called the Big Bang.

EXPANDING UNIVERSE

It is observed that the Universe is in continuous "expansion." An "Expanding Universe" means that the galaxies are moving further and further from one another. Think of it as if someone is blowing in a balloon. If you have dots drawn on the surface of that balloon then these dots will move further and further from one another as you blow into the balloon. (The servant can demonstrate this: get a balloon, put dots on its surface with a marker, and blow air in it gradually, showing that the dots are moving further from one another on the surface of the balloon as it is blown up.)

The fact that our Universe is expanding, implies that in the past the Universe must have started with the galaxies being closer and closer to one another. Therefore, there should be an instance where all these galaxies were together in one small space, and this is called the Big Bang event: A strong force that pushed these galaxies all out.

Experimentally proving the Big Bang - Edwin Hubble

Hubble established that our galaxy is one of billions of galaxies, and he observed that these galaxies have what is called "Red Shift". What is a Red Shift?
Explaining Red Shift: When you have an object that is lit moving closer and closer to a person, the light coming from it will appear more and more blue. When it is moving further it will appear more and more Red. What Hubble observed is that far galaxies appear more and more red as he observed them from time to time. He concluded that they are moving away from us.
This Experimentation of Hubble led to the conclusion that the Universe is Expanding.
He came up with what he called as the Hubble Constant:
- Velocity = Hubble Constant x Distance
- This means that if you can measure the velocity of a galaxy as it moves away from our galaxy, that you can compute "how far" (Distance) of that galaxy from us.

ESTIMATING THE AGE OF THE UNIVERSE - USING HUBBLE CONSTANT

The Hubble constant can tell us how to calculate how long ago in the past the Big Bang happened. That would be an estimate of the age of the Universe. Distance in the universe is measured in "light years". Once we know how "fast" (Velocity) a million light years galaxy (Distance) is moving away from us, Simple physics would tell us how long ago we were "together" (Distance is small). Remember that right after the Big Bang galaxies were very close to one another (as shown by Hubble). That time would be very close to how long ago the Big Bang.

Conclusions

Main question: Where do the laws needed for the Big Bang to happen come from?

Note: this was not explained using the Bible or even mentioning God in our explanation
But we left the proponents of The Big Bang by itself with a BIG Question, that they must answer: Where did the Laws come from? Laws are discovered not created by humans. We just discover them, they pre-exist on their own.
The Only answer to this dilemma is that someone put the Laws - that is whom we call God because He is beyond these Laws if He is the one putting them.
Other factors show that the Universe is designed to compare the planet earth with all its attributes to all the planets in our Galaxy. How Earth is finely tuned for humans to live on. For example: The Oxygen content in the air to be 20%, the temperature, the water temperature, the protection from harmful rays from the sun, the magnetic field of the earth that thwarts away Sun harmful emissions from the earth, ... and on and on....
I did cover this here but here we took the harder approach which is the defensive approach. Which is basically to discuss the Big Bang.
The Fine Tuning of our Planet is a huge factor to show that it has been designed to suit human and other species living conditions.
The Bible does not oppose the Big Bang Theory - Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." "Beginning" means that very initial point where "time" was created. And that is the instance of the Big Bang. God caused the Big Bang. God created the Laws needed for it to happen.

Concluding Quotes

Expanding Universe from Isaiah: (Hubble's Law of Cosmic Expansion)

"Thus says God the Lord, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, Who gives breath to the people on it, And spirit to those who walk on it" (42:5).
"Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, And He who formed you from the womb: I am the Lord, who makes all things, Who stretches out the heavens all alone, Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself" (44:24).
"I have made the earth and created man on it. I---My hands---stretched out the heavens, And all their hosts I have commanded" (45:12).

References

Lecture by Fr. Gregory Bishay
Lecture by Henry Awad

Additional scientific information attached for servants. (Note: this information is beyond high school level, but may provide additional information for servants who wish to read further into this topic.)