The Big Bang

[bookofjohn]

Was wondering what is the Catholic Church's position on the theory of the BIG BANG? Is this theory heretical? Or does it supplement the Church's teachings?

Peace,

Celestine <><

[Circle_Master]

As a loyal protestant heretic I think it is a possibility

There is much scientific evidence to support it as well

Since the Catholic Church officially doesn't say there must be a 6 day literal creation (someone said that here before, correct me if I'm wrong), I'd say it is possible under the Catholic Church.

[Lil Red]

i've thought that there is no reason that the Big Bang and God cannot co-exist. I think it's a definite possibility. After all, the Big Bang might've created everything, but who made the Big Bang happen? just my 2 measly cents

[Livin_the_MASS]

[Iacobus]

"And God said there be light" Sounds like it could be a Big Bang to me. The Bible doesn't tell us how God made the universe. It just say He made it and He made us (by evolution or whatever) in His image and fulled Humans with a soul.

[ilovechrist]

hey Iacobus--you're over 2000 posts! congrats...

anyway, it depends what you mean by the Big Bang.. yes it could've happened.. but who "started the engine"? SOMEBODY has to make things happen... and that would be Him.

[Circle_Master]

A thought provoking article to read would be the following:

Walter C. Kaiser, [i]The Literary Form of Genesis 1-11[/i]. ed. J. Barton Payne in [i]New Perspectives on the Old Testament[/i] (Waco, TX. Word, 1970)

Here Kaiser takes a philological look drawing on research from Akkadian, Sumerian, Babylonian, Egyptian, Ugaritic, Syrian, and other myths/researchs and compares the times they were written with Scriptures dating. Many of the commonly thought pictures the Hebrews were trying to draw were actually metaphors of what was present in their age. Kaiser takes a bold stance pushing the reader to consider the first 11 chapters of Genesis having much imagery of things that did happen.

Basically he argues that the purpose is not historical but to emphasize and show the sovereignty of God. I agreed with him before reading the article, but it was still challenging.

Edited May 3, 2004 by Circle_Master

[Livin_the_MASS]

You know what the CCC has to have something on this stuff. I'm going to research.

[Aloysius]

the theory was theorized by a priest and a scientist working together. it quite beautifully prooves that there was in fact a creation of the universe. i don't think the Big Bang can exist logically WITHOUT God!

[Circle_Master]

[quote name='Aloysius' date='May 3 2004, 02:45 PM'] i don't think the Big Bang can exist logically WITHOUT God! [/quote]
That's very true.

An uncaused cause makes no sense except if it is an eternal God.

[Livin_the_MASS]

[b]The CCC on creation[/b]

Paragraph 4. THE CREATOR

279 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."116 Holy Scripture begins with these solemn words. the profession of faith takes them up when it confesses that God the Father almighty is "Creator of heaven and earth" (Apostles' Creed), "of all that is, seen and unseen" (Nicene Creed). We shall speak first of the Creator, then of creation and finally of the fall into sin from which Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to raise us up again.

280 Creation is the foundation of "all God's saving plans," the "beginning of the history of salvation"117 that culminates in Christ. Conversely, the mystery of Christ casts conclusive light on the mystery of creation and reveals the end for which "in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth": from the beginning, God envisaged the glory of the new creation in Christ.118

281 And so the readings of the Easter Vigil, the celebration of the new creation in Christ, begin with the creation account; likewise in the Byzantine liturgy, the account of creation always constitutes the first reading at the vigils of the great feasts of the Lord. According to ancient witnesses the instruction of catechumens for Baptism followed the same itinerary.119

I. CATECHESIS ON CREATION

282 Catechesis on creation is of major importance. It concerns the very foundations of human and Christian life: for it makes explicit the response of the Christian faith to the basic question that men of all times have asked themselves:120 "Where do we come from?" "Where are we going?" "What is our origin?" "What is our end?" "Where does everything that exists come from and where is it going?" the two questions, the first about the origin and the second about the end, are inseparable. They are decisive for the meaning and orientation of our life and actions.

283 The question about the origins of the world and of man has been the object of many scientific studies which have splendidly enriched our knowledge of the age and dimensions of the cosmos, the development of life-forms and the appearance of man. These discoveries invite us to even greater admiration for the greatness of the Creator, prompting us to give him thanks for all his works and for the understanding and wisdom he gives to scholars and researchers. With Solomon they can say: "It is he who gave me unerring knowledge of what exists, to know the structure of the world and the activity of the elements. . . for wisdom, the fashioner of all things, taught me."121

284 The great interest accorded to these studies is strongly stimulated by a question of another order, which goes beyond the proper domain of the natural sciences. It is not only a question of knowing when and how the universe arose physically, or when man appeared, but rather of discovering the meaning of such an origin: is the universe governed by chance, blind fate, anonymous necessity, or by a transcendent, intelligent and good Being called "God"? and if the world does come from God's wisdom and goodness, why is there evil? Where does it come from? Who is responsible for it? Is there any liberation from it?

285 Since the beginning the Christian faith has been challenged by responses to the question of origins that differ from its own. Ancient religions and cultures produced many myths concerning origins. Some philosophers have said that everything is God, that the world is God, or that the development of the world is the development of God (Pantheism). Others have said that the world is a necessary emanation arising from God and returning to him. Still others have affirmed the existence of two eternal principles, Good and Evil, Light and Darkness, locked, in permanent conflict (Dualism, Manichaeism). According to some of these conceptions, the world (at least the physical world) is evil, the product of a fall, and is thus to be rejected or left behind (Gnosticism). Some admit that the world was made by God, but as by a watch-maker who, once he has made a watch, abandons it to itself (Deism). Finally, others reject any transcendent origin for the world, but see it as merely the interplay of matter that has always existed (Materialism). All these attempts bear witness to the permanence and universality of the question of origins. This inquiry is distinctively human.

286 Human intelligence is surely already capable of finding a response to the question of origins. the existence of God the Creator can be known with certainty through his works, by the light of human reason,122 even if this knowledge is often obscured and disfigured by error. This is why faith comes to confirm and enlighten reason in the correct understanding of this truth: "By faith we understand that the world was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made out of things which do not appear."123

287 The truth about creation is so important for all of human life that God in his tenderness wanted to reveal to his People everything that is salutary to know on the subject. Beyond the natural knowledge that every man can have of the Creator,124 God progressively revealed to Israel the mystery of creation. He who chose the patriarchs, who brought Israel out of Egypt, and who by choosing Israel created and formed it, this same God reveals himself as the One to whom belong all the peoples of the earth, and the whole earth itself; he is the One who alone "made heaven and earth".125

288 Thus the revelation of creation is inseparable from the revelation and forging of the covenant of the one God with his People. Creation is revealed as the first step towards this covenant, the first and universal witness to God's all-powerful love.126 and so, the truth of creation is also expressed with growing vigour in the message of the prophets, the prayer of the psalms and the liturgy, and in the wisdom sayings of the Chosen People.127

289 Among all the Scriptural texts about creation, the first three chapters of Genesis occupy a unique place. From a literary standpoint these texts may have had diverse sources. the inspired authors have placed them at the beginning of Scripture to express in their solemn language the truths of creation - its origin and its end in God, its order and goodness, the vocation of man, and finally the drama of sin and the hope of salvation.[b] Read in the light of Christ, within the unity of Sacred Scripture and in the living Tradition of the Church, these texts remain the principal source for catechesis on the mysteries of the "beginning": creation, fall, and promise of salvation.[/b]

Bold added by me

[Livin_the_MASS]

[b]Another one from CCC[/b]

341 The beauty of the universe: The order and harmony of the created world results from the diversity of beings and from the relationships which exist among them. Man discovers them progressively as the laws of nature. [b]They call forth the admiration of scholars. The beauty of creation reflects the infinite beauty of the Creator and ought to inspire the respect and submission of man's intellect and will.[/b]

Bold added by me

[Aloysius]

which side are you trying to say those quotes are on? i see absolutely no mention of the Big Bang theory...

[MrsFrozen]

I thought the Big Bang theory had been disproven...?

[Crusader_4]

The Big bang theory is neither condemed nor nesscairly said for sure by the Church. It is up to the individuals choice as long as the theory does not contradict teaching which the general big bang theory does not. Further to that the big bang was in fact first really brought up by a Catholic priest and investiaged by him. So the big bang against church teaching no. The Church tends not to rule on science unless its in contradiction to the Church teaches i.e. Contraception. But the Big Bang is definatly not as long as it does not replace the creator.