Big Bang Theory and Evolution

• The Big Bang Theory is one of the most important discoveries within cosmology, the expansion of the universe​.
• Catholic priest George Lemaitre first proposed the universe started from a ‘big bang’, the theory was developed by Hawking and has become the leading explanation for the origin of the universe​
• Hawking proposed all matter in the universe was originally focused in a small single point, 13.7 billion years ago there was a ‘big bang’ and this matter rapidly expanded and then cooled, forming stars and galaxies​
• The Big Bang process occurred over billions of ears, meaning the earth is a lot older than some religious explanations suggest​.
• Scientific evidence supports this theory, scientist have been able to observe galaxies moving away from each other through the Hubble telescope​
• The speed of expansion suggests the age of the universe is around 14 billion years old, scientists have also discovered cosmic microwave background radiation that is present throughout the universe, this supports the theory a huge explosion occurred​
• In his book ‘On the Origins of Species’, Darwin proposed a theory for how animals and humans developed; evolution​
• Evolution

  • based his theory on how beaks varied depending on food sources
  • variants enabled survival
  • natural selection - animals that are better adapted to their environment from mutation are more likely to survive​
  • over millions of years, gradual changes take place and a new species will develop with the traits needed to help it survive​
  • traced evolution of humans back through ape-like species
  • concluded God had no role in creation
  • ‘I cannot persuade myself that an omnipotent God would have designedly created the parasitic wasp with the intention of feeding within live caterpillars’​
• Scientific evidence supports evolution, fossils show how many species have become extinct or evolved into new species​
• DNA technology is also able to show genetic connections between species, suggesting they have evolved from the same point​
• Dawkins’ views on evolution​

  • agrees with Darwin - more logical than God creating the universe​
  • natural selection, ‘has no purpose in mind’ - no creator God guiding the process
  • we have come about by chance and luck and are just survival machines​
  • argues whole organisms do not evolve, but genes within evolve​
  • beneficial genes survive whereas flawed genes become extinct - organisms become better suited
  • natural selection - driven the development of life without the involvement of a creator God​
• Catholic views on the Big Bang​

  • Pope Francis - ‘The Big Bang theory does not contradict the intervention of a divine creator but depends on it’​
  • Big Bang is required for God - how God could have chosen to create the universe​
  • God must have created the matter and caused the conditions to enable the explosion, therefore the universe was still created ex nihilo​
  • science and religion is compatible for Catholics, with God remaining the ultimate omnipotent and omniscient creator
• Catholic views on evolution​

  • Pope John Paul II – ‘There is no conflict between evolution and faith’​
  • accept the theory of evolution but it does not mean humans are not sacred​
  • evolution is how God chose to create humans out of love according to his plan​
  • Catholics believe science can help theologians to better understand scripture, so scientific research should be encouraged​
• Fundamentalist Christian views on evolution​

  • reject evolution - it undermes God’s role as creator of the universe​
  • believe God created the universe and placed all life on earth with the characteristics they have now, so evolution is fundamentally contrary to their beliefs​