Introduction:
We know for sure that the universe exists. This knowledge alone is not able to satisfy the insatiable curiosity in humans. Since the existence of mankind, the quest for further understanding of the origin of the universe has been imprinted into the human genetic code. This curiosity has led to more questions than answers. It has led to us to question the significance and purpose of humans in the universe. This curiosity has also led us to question the role of man in this universe. These questions have exited through time: How was the universe created? Where did it come from? How long ago did it come to be? These are not questions with simple spelt out answers. Up to today, all we know about the universe is still a speculation. Can something as complex as the universe have come from nothing? The answers to this question can neither be described as right nor wrong. This is because all the answer depend on different beliefs associated with each individual. However, scientist believe that it is possible for something can come from nothing. On the other hand, Christians strongly dispute this claim. They believe that the world was created in order by a supernatural being. All these beliefs are just theories that come from different perspectives.
The belief that something can come from nothing has stemmed from various theories. These theories include the: steady state theory, pulsating theory and big bang theory. The most accepted theory in the scientific world is the big bang theory. This theory was created by Edwin Hubble. The theory is of the idea that a collision of mammoth proportions led to the expansion of the universe as we know it today. It states that, before this explosion, all the matter and energy of space was concentrated at one point. What existed before this event is utterly unknown. Just speculation. This was not a normal explosion but one that was felt throughout space. All of the particles dispensed became embryonic universes rushing away from each other. It is considered as an explosion of space within itself. The galaxies are not considered as having been clumped together before the explosion, but rather the explosion laid the foundations for the formation of the universe.
Christians refute all the theories that have been mentioned above. They strongly and only believe in the theory of creation. This theory is found in the first chapter of the first book of the bible, Genesis. It gives a step by step description of how the earth was created. According to the creation theory, it took God only six days to create the world, He rested on the seventh. On the first day, God created the heavens and the earth. On the second day, he created light and separated it from darkness. On the third day, he separated the expanse in the midst water and separated the water from the expanse. The expanse he called heaven. On the fourth day, he separated the dry land from the sea. On the fifth day, he created the vegetation. On the sixth day, he created the sun to govern the day and the moon and the stars to govern the night. He created all the living creatures. The birds’ fly, fish to swim and beasts to roam the earth. He gave them the ability to multiply and to be fruitful. He then created man in his own his own image. According to the bible, God created the world by word of mouth orders; only man is molded by God. God made man in his own image and let him rule the world. God According to the bible God is in three forms, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Up to date, Christians hold a very strong belief that this is how the universe was created and how it came to be. Their faith and belief in a supernatural being is what cements this belief.
On the other hand, scientists spin theories regarding why and how the universe is as it is currently. The evolution theory explains how human beings have evolved. Physics theories explain the existence of matter. Other scientists claim that the earth is experiencing temperature changes due global warming. While even science oriented communities like the Mayans calculated and approximated that the world would end in 2012 December. Other scientists claim that the earth self- destructs after many years to rejuvenate and create balance.
Christians believe that everything happens for a reason. They pray for their wishes to come true to God and believe they can get three answers from God. This being a yes, later or a no. The most strongly belief about current affairs is that nobody knows when the world will end. According to revelations, only descriptions concerning the situation of the world before the second coming of Jesus Christ is described. Most major conflicts and natural disasters are usually classified as an indication of the end being near. Christians do not call what happens magic but the power of their faith. A common belief being that faith can move mountains.
According to the above theories and beliefs, the question whether something can come from nothing cannot be confidently answered with a definite yes or no. Both answers have serious implications. If “yes” it means cancelling out the existence of God. It means that the big bang theory is fully accepted as the true and factual way through which the universe was created. It will have severe implication on the religious beliefs of millions around the planet. It will mean that the basis of religion is all preposterous. It will erase the religious values that have stemmed from the belief in the existence of God. If “no”, it means the acceptance of the creation theory as the true and factual account by which the universe was created. This will also have significant implications in the scientific community. It will disregard all the scientific studies and laws based on this theory. The belief that the universe has been continuously expanding since the explosion will be disregarded.
But thinking further, when a theist states that that God created the universe then it is clear that the Universe did not come from nothing. However, this does not solve the question in a satisfactory manner. There are a lot of questions that Christians choose to leave to faith. These questions have to do with God’s origin. Christians state and believe that God is eternal, always existed and was never created. When observed closely, this statement violates the assumption they make regarding the origin of ‘something’. God is “something” and they are purporting he came from “nothing.” Scientist do not the answer to this question, they are still studying, searching, finding and testing the universe for evidence of the source of matter.
References
Barrow, John D. The Origin of the Universe. New York: BasicBooks, 1994. Print.
