Comment by Nelson on March 28, 2011 at 9:56pm

first of all, welcome to the community. :)

to answer your question, yes, i accept the evidence pointing to the big bang as the most likely theory we have. it's backed up by numerous lines of evidence.

the earth itself formed out of the accretion disk that formed from the leftover material that gave rise to the Sun. all the evidence suggests the earth is about 4.55 billion years old.

Comment by Jacob LeMaster on March 28, 2011 at 10:23pm

Welcome again!

I as well support the collection of Theories and Hypotheses known as the "Big Bang Theory" My biggest question is why theists do not.. The Hypothesis of the Primeval Atom was created by Monsignor Georges Henri Joseph Édouard Lemaître a Catholic Priest, astronomer and professor of physics and was never a proposition against a deity only a explanation of the scientific process behind the origin of the universe as we know it.

Comment by Paul Carrollton on March 28, 2011 at 11:04pm

I studied astronomy in college and heard all about the big bang theory.  The problem is that it is only a theory! As man continues to learn, the theory continues to change, as well it should.  It may be partially correct, but we really don't know, as we are stranded on the beautiful Big Blue Marble.

 

I definitely don't believe in the biblical story of creation.  And I do like the "Big Bang Theory" television show!

Comment by Nelson on March 28, 2011 at 11:32pm

Paul, maybe i'm misunderstanding you but i think it's important that Dara have a clear picture so:

it's not appropriate to say "it's only a theory" when talking about scientific theories. that comment belies a lack of understanding of what a scientific theory is.

A scientific theory comprises a collection of concepts, including abstractions of observable phenomena expressed as quantifiable properties, together with rules (called scientific laws) that express relationships between observations of such concepts. A scientific theory is constructed to conform to available empirical data about such observations, and is put forth as a principle or body of principles for explaining a class of phenomena.

as Isaac Asimov said (paraphrasing) when talking about how creationists say the same thing, "it's only a theory!":

"[You] make it sound like a 'theory' is something [scientists] dreamt up after being drunk all night."

and yes, the theory has changed and likely will change still. but as it changes it gets moves toward being more and more an accurate description of objective reality. the nature of science as being open to revision is its greatest strength, not a weakness that can be sited against it.

point is, the hot inflationary big bang model is the best model we have and it has loads of evidence backing it up.

Comment by Paul Carrollton on March 28, 2011 at 11:46pm

Hi Nelson,

 

It really does seem correct to say that it is only a theory.  There are many scientific theories that are proposed and constantly tweaked.  That's all I'm saying.  As an example, the theory of evolution continues to be perfected as more knowledge is acquired.

 

A present-day example of a theory gone wrong is the nuclear plant problems in Japan.  They did the best they could with the knowledge they had.  In theory, they felt the reactors were designed to be safe.  In hindsight, maybe not.

 

The big bang theory is just that - a theory.  It isn't even very old.  The scientists will continue to collect data and adjust it as necessary.  They may even watch the TV show!

 

Have a great night!

Comment by Dara on March 29, 2011 at 1:19am

I to went to college and there i studied geoscience,physics, anthropology. I thought what a trip all the materials the earth needs for us to be surviving on it. Look at its axis, its angle, its motion, and the position of our planet so we get night and day or our weathers. All life supporting which other planets don't. Maybe aliens somewhere out there who knows what aliens are or where they're at ? Somebody had to have had place the earth with quite perfection made for us humans.

Comment by Nelson on March 29, 2011 at 1:27am

you think the Earth is perfection Dara? either you haven't thought for very long about it or you have an odd notion of perfection.

ask yourself something, if there was a dinosaur alive 100 million years ago and she thought to herself, "boy, the earth is just perfection. it surely was designed just for me!" why would it have been wrong of the dinosaur to say that but it's now right for you to say it? and while you're thinking of that, let's say that in 100 years when sentient robots are commonplace, one of those robots thinks to itself, "boy, the humans sure had it wrong! they're silly for thinking the earth was designed for them. because i'm even more advanced than they are! if things had to be just so for them to be here then things had to be even more "just so" for me to be here! clearly the earth was designed for me!" why would the robot be wrong to think that while you're right to think the same thing right now with respect to the dinosaurs?

Comment by Nelson on March 29, 2011 at 1:29am

@Paul: all you did was repeat yourself when i already addressed what you said.

Comment by Jacob LeMaster on March 29, 2011 at 1:29am

It's is far from perfect for us.. More like tolerant of us sometimes.. The universe is writhe with chaos.. The world with disease death and destruction.. That we live at all is out of luck and all of our lives are short lived in comparison to the the planet that we inhabit and the universe it is in.. Life is a wonderful thing to have and can not be taken for granted a beautiful accident by the secular mindset..

Comment by Alejandro M on March 29, 2011 at 2:46am

Am I wrong in sensing that Dara is really a theist who is trying to come in the discussion from the other side?

And to Paul, gravity is also a "theory", and it's also not very old... does that mean that it's false? The Black Hole Theory is the closest we have to explaining how the Universe started...

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