Historical Cosmologies

Big Bang Cosmology and it’s implications for ancient

cosmologies

Babylonian Cosmology• The Earth and heavens are a "spatial

whole, even one of round shape," revolving around the "cult-place of the deity" rather than the Earth,[5] and there is a plurality of heavens and earths

Hindu Cosmology

• The universe sustains for around 311 trillion and 40 billion years that is 100 years of the cosmic creator Brahma

• There is a smaller period of unmanifestation in around 4 billion years that is one day in the life of Brahma

• The universe cycles between expansion and total collapse.

• The universe, as a living entity, is bound to the perpetual cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.

Islamic Cosmology

• The Universe is created

• Personal Creator

• Finite Time in the past

It is a promise of Allah. Allah faileth not His promise, but most of mankind know not.

They know but the outer (things) in the life of this world: but of the End of things they are heedless.

Have they not pondered upon themselves? Allah created not the heavens and the earth, and that which is between them, save with truth and for a destined end. But truly many of mankind are disbelievers in the meeting with their Lord.

Al-Rum 30:6-8

�ا �ن و�إ د� ي� �أ ب �اه�ا ن �ي �ن ب م�اء و�الس�

ع�ون� �م�وس� ل

The Quran’s statement on the Universe:

AND IT IS We who have built the universe with power; and, verily, it is We who are steadily expanding it. 51:47

Muhammad Asad commentary: “the phrase inna la-musi’un

clearly foreshadows the modern notion of the ‘’expanding universe.’’

http://www.astroex.org/english/exercise7/images/ex07_fig03_small.jpg

    

ن� ن�ا م�ي ل� ٱ ن� ن� ن ن ن�ا ن� ن� ن� ن� اا ن� ن�� ن ٱ�  And the Firmament has He raised high, and He has set up the Balance (of Justice), Ar-Rahman [55:7]                

�� ر ن� ن� م� �ه �ـ ن ل� ن! ن" �� ل# ن$ ن�% ه& �'ا ن م)اVerily, all things have We created in proportion and measure.

  Al-Qamar [54:49]

“So our existence tells us that the Universe must have expanded, and be expanding,

neither too fast nor too slow, but at just the “right” rate …”

“… the relevant number, the so-called “density parameter,” was set in the beginning,

with an accuracy of 1 part in 1060 . Changing that parameter, either way, by a

fraction given by a decimal point followed by 60 zeroes and a 1, would have

the Universe unsuitable for life as we know it.”

i.e. +/- 0.000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001Cosmic Coincidences, John Gribbin and Martin Rees, p.18

Not just expanding, but expanding precisely!

Following the expansion backward leads to another startling result of

modern cosmology: The Big Bang!! (This term was coined by Fred Hoyle in the 1950s)

“Roger Penrose and I were able to show that Einstein’s general theory of relativity implied that the Universe and time itself must have had a beginning in a tremendous explosion.”

(The Universe in a Nutshell, Steven Hawking p.76).

Dark matter is critical to our existence – it helps control

the exquisitely balanced expansion rate.

“And yet, without the dark matter– the invisible stuff of the

Universe– the Universe itself would be a very different place,

and we would not exist.

Does the dark stuff exist, in a sense, for our benefit?”

Cosmic Coincidences, John Gribbin and Martin Rees, p. 28

The speed of light (in empty space) is an absolute constant of nature

No material object can move at the speed of light (this would require

an infinite amount of energy).م�او�ات� الس� �ور� ن �ه� الل

رض�� و�األ

God is the Light of the heavens and the earth.(al-Nur, 24:35)

• Note that in the universe, there are 1 billion photons of light for every material particle!(Physics, 6th edition,Douglas Giancoli, p. 938)

�ع�د!ون� ت م#م�ا �ة� ن س� �لف� �أ ك #ك� ب ر� ع�ند� �وم*ا ي �ن� و�إVerily a Day in the sight of thy Lord is like a thousand years of your reckoning. (al-Hajj 22:47)

ه� م�قد�ار� �ان� ك � �وم ي ف�ي ه� �ي �ل إ وح� و�الر! �ة� �ك ئ م�ال� ال ج� �عر� ت�ة� ن س� �لف� أ ين� The angels and the spiritخ�مس�

ascend unto him in a Day the measure whereof is (as) fifty thousand years (al-Ma’arij, 70:4)

Interestingly, in general relativity, time slows

down in the presence of large mass-energy density.

�اه�م�ا �قن ف�ف�ت ق*ا ت ر� �ا �ت �ان ك رض�� و�األ م�او�ات� الس� �ن� أ وا �ف�ر� ك �ذ�ين� ال �ر� ي �م و�ل

� أ

Are then, they who are bent on denying the truth not aware that the heavens and the earth were [once] one single entity, which We then parted asunder? – Al-Anbiya (The Prophets) 21:30

Fataqnahuma implies a violent tearing apart

ف�ي وا �ر� �ف�ك �ت ي �م و�ل� أ

�ه� الل ل�ق� خ� م�ا ه�م �نف�س� أض� ر

� و�األ م�او�ات� الس��ه�م�ا ن �ي ب ح�ق# و�م�ا �ال ب �ال� إ

�ن� و�إ مBى م!س� ج�ل�� و�أ

�ق�اء �ل ب �اس� الن م#ن� ا �ير* �ث كون� �اف�ر� �ك ل #ه�م ب ر�

Do they not reflect in their own minds? Not but with truth and for a term appointed, did Allah create the heavens and the earth, and all between them: yet are there truly many among men who deny the meeting with their Lord (at the Resurrection)! Al_Rum 30:8

Classical interpretations of

wa ma binahuma???

Most recent estimates of the contents of the Universe

http://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/media/080998/index.html

�ا �ن و�إ د� ي� �أ ب �اه�ا ن �ي �ن ب م�اء و�الس�

ع�ون� �م�وس� لAND IT IS We who have built the universe with power; and, verily, it is We who are steadily expanding it. Az-Azariyat 51:47

Three types of expansion:

1. The massive expansion of the period of inflation, just after the Big Bang

2. The steady expansion of the Universe thereafter

3. The “new” acceleration of the expansion secondary to dark energy

??? Bi aydinhttp://www.redorbit.com/modules/reflib/article_images/6_5daa7ca55793bcf9bd03dd45c1a97f4f.jpg

�ب� �ت ك �ل ل ج�ل# الس# �ط�ي# ك م�اء الس� �طو�ي ن �وم� ي�ا �ن إ �ا ن �ي ع�ل و�عد*ا !ع�يد�ه� ن لق� خ� و�ل�

� أ �ا ن �د�أ ب �م�ا ك�ين� ل ف�اع� �ا �ن ك

On that Day We shall roll up the skies as written scrolls are rolled up; [and] as We brought into being the first creation, so We shall bring it forth anew a promise which We have willed upon Our selves: for, behold, We are able to do [all things]!

Al-Anbiya 21:104

A Journey into Gravity and Spacetime

John Archibald Wheeler, p. 36

(Physics, 6th edition,Douglas Giancoli, p. 938)

�ه�م�ا ن �ي ب و�م�ا رض�� و�األ م�او�ات� الس� خ�ل�ق� �ذ�ي ال

ع�رش� ال ع�ل�ى �و�ى ت اس �م� ث � �ام ي� أ �ة� ت س� ف�ي

ا �ير* ب خ� �ه� ب ل� أ ف�اس حم�ن� الر�

He Who created the heavens and the earth and all that is between, in six days (periods), and is firmly established on the Throne (of Authority): Allah Most Gracious: ask thou, then, about Him of any acquainted (with such things). Al-Furqan 25:59

Conclusions:�ق� ل خ� م�ا ه�م �نف�س� أ ف�ي وا �ر� �ف�ك �ت ي �م و�ل

� أو�م�ا رض�

� و�األ م�او�ات� الس� �ه� �ه�م�ا الل ن �ي با �ير* �ث ك �ن� و�إ مBى م!س� ج�ل�

� و�أ ح�ق# �ال ب �ال� إون� �اف�ر� �ك ل #ه�م ب ر� �ق�اء �ل ب �اس� الن م#ن�

Do they not reflect in their own minds? Not but with truth and for a term appointed, did Allah create the heavens and the earth, and all between them: yet are there truly many among men who deny the meeting with their Lord (at the Resurrection)! Al_Rum 30:8

“There is no better evidence to support the argument that the Universe has been designed for our benefit -- tailor-made for man….

If we modify the value of one of the fundamental constants, something invariably goes wrong, leading to a Universe that is inhospitable to life as we know it… The conditions in our Universe really do seem to be uniquely suitable for life forms like ourselves.”

Cosmic Coincidences, John Gribbin and Martin Rees

190 Behold! in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of night and day there are indeed Signs for men of understanding.

191 Men who celebrate the praises of Allah standing sitting and lying down on their sides and contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heavens and the earth (with the thought): "Our Lord! not for naught hast thou created (all) this! Glory to thee! give us salvation from the penalty of the fire.

Al-Imran 3:190-191

Biblical Cosmology

• The universe is created.• Its Creator is a person.• The Creator will one day call us to

account for our every thought and action.

• The Creator has embedded evidence in the cosmos that it is created.

A Young “Created Light” Universe

• Most common young-earth view• Universe very large, but only some

10,000 years old• Since most objects visible in large

telescopes are more than 10,000 light-years away, the light coming from them must have been created on the way.

Problems with a Young “Created Light” Universe

• Stars & galaxies are sending us a stream of information about their history.

• For objects > 10,000 light-years away, this history (on this view) is fictitious, telling us what the object would have been doing had it existed.

• Given that God cannot lie, it seems this view has more problems than an old universe view.

Changing Speed of Light

• Barry Setterfield, to avoid this problem, suggested speed of light was infinite at creation, has recently settled down to current value.

• Thus Adam & Eve could see distant stars right away.

• No need to accuse God of giving us fictitious history.

Problems with Changing Speed of Light

• Einstein’s equation E = mc2 measures energy produced by nuclear reactions.

• If humans existed when c was 100x larger, then c2 was 10,000x larger, and sun would fry the earth!

• If m is adjusted downward to keep E constant, then masses too small to keep air or people on earth.

The Steady-State Cosmology

• Bondi, Gold and Hoyle• Takes account of redshifts & finite lifespan of

stars• Seeks to preserve an infinite, eternal universe

(no Creator); seen as more satisfying philosophically

• Universe is constantly expanding, but new matter pops into existence to keep density constant.

Problems for the Steady-State Cosmology

• Violates virtually all known conservation laws!

• Doesn’t have a natural explanation for:– Isotropic radio radiation– Quasar density being higher earlier in

history of universe

The Big-Bang Cosmology

• Fits observations of expanding universe and stars of finite age.

• Predicts isotropic radio radiation, giving its frequency dependence exactly and its temperature approximately.

• Fits observation that quasars more common early in history of universe.

Varieties of the Big-Bang Cosmology

• No-bounce version – universe began at the big bang.

• One-bounce version – eternal universe, bounced once at the big bang.

• Oscillating version – eternal universe, bouncing every 100 billion years; bounced at last big-bang event.

No-Bounce Big-Bang

• George Lemaitre• Universe has not always existed.• It came into existence at the big-bang

event.• Future:

– It might expand forever.– It might collapse into a black hole.

One-Bounce Big-Bang

• George Gamow• Universe has always existed.• Far back in past – just a thin soup of H gas• Gradually pulled together by gravity.• Bounced at big-bang event.• Since then – formed galaxies, stars, planets,

life• Future – all will end with a whimper.

Oscillating Big-Bang

• Sagan, Asimov have popularized• Eternal, like Gamow’s One-Bounce• But have bounce every 100 billion years• Perhaps each bounce changes the

basic physical constants, giving a different type of universe each time round.

• For each cycle, universe ends with a bang.

Problems for anOscillating Big-Bang

• Universe doesn’t appear to have enough matter to collapse; in fact, expansion appears to be speeding up.

• A contracting universe would collapse into a black hole instead of bouncing.

• Even if both were not problems, would a universe be able to expand & contract forever without irreversible changes?

Problems for anOne-Bounce Big-Bang

• Shares problems of bounce with oscillating big-bang.

• Problem of infinitesimal rate of contraction producing a single universe-wide big-bounce

No-Bounce Big-Bang Favored

• Most cosmologists are working with varieties of this today, at least to the extent that our universe is finite in size and began with the big bang.

• Many are apparently hoping that our universe is just a subset of an infinite, eternal universe, of which ours is just a transient bubble, but it is hard to see how to test this.

Summary of Scientific Data

• Still cannot specify a single model, but:– The universe is very

large.– The universe is very

old, but of finite age.– The universe

appears to be created.

– Some variety of the no-bounce big-bang best fits the current data.

Biblical Data• The Bible pictures the

universe as immeasurably large but finite.

• It says the cosmos was created at a finite time in the past by the infinite, personal God of the Bible, and it evidences his craft.

• It pictures the universe as running down.

• Many see the Bible as picturing a young universe.

Universe as Immeasurably Large

I will make the descendants of David… as countless as the stars of the sky and as measureless as the sand of the seashore – Jeremiah 33:22

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him? – Psalm 8:3-4

Universe as Finite

He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name – Psalm 147:4

Universe as Created

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth – Genesis 1:1

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what is visible – Hebrews 11:3

Universe as Designed

The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of his hands – Psalm 19:1

Since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse – Romans 1:20

Universe Running Down

In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded – Psalm 102:25-27

Universe Young?

• The traditional understanding of the Bible• Main reason for the influence of the young-

earth creation movement among Bible-believers.

• Bible does not teach the earth is young.• Bible does not say the days of Genesis 1 are

literal or consecutive.• Bible does not say the genealogies of

Genesis 5 and 11 should be added up to get a chronology.

Universe Old?• A universe billions of

years old is not taught in the Bible either, but it does not disagree with a fair and reasonable interpretation of the biblical creation account.

• See my arguments in Genesis One & the Origin of the Earth and in Three Views on Creation & Evolution, plus those of Hugh Ross in Creation and Time.

The Cosmos & the Bible

• Scientific Data relevant to Cosmology• Various Cosmological Models

– Some proposed by secular scientists– Some proposed by Bible believers

• Propose a Best Model, using both Scientific & Biblical Data– An old, created universe like we actually

see!