Jon Gary Williams
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Article 0104 - Atheism's Inflationary Universe
The Atheist's Inflationary Universe
Jon Gary Williams
Over the years atheists have
wrestled with the problem of explaining how the universe came into
existence. While different theories have been offered, none of them have
solved their fundamental dilemma.
The philosophical fact of eternal
existence (that there never could have been a point at which nothing
existed) proves to be a barrier for the atheistic mind. Since they
believe that physical matter is all that exists, atheists are forced
contend that physical matter is, of itself, eternal -- an idea they must
admit to be an illogical alternative. To where does the atheist turn?
For years the "Big Bang" theory--the idea that the universe exploded into existence--was offered as the answer. The theory solves nothing for it means there had to be a preexisting "something" to "bang," and the atheist is taken back to square one.
In attempt to sidestep the problem of the eternal existence of physical matter, atheists concluded that at some point the material universe had to have a beginning--and, as preposterous as it sounds, a beginning which included literally nothing. In 1984 the famed atheists Alan H. Guth and Paul J. Steinhardt proposed their "Inflationary Universe" model. In the Scientific American publication they wrote:
"From a historical point of view, probably the most revolutionary model is the notion that all the matter and energy in the observable universe may have emerged from almost nothing. The inflationary model of the universe provides a possible mechanism by which the observed universe could have evolved from an infinitesimal region. It is then tempting to go one step further and speculate that the entire universe evolved from literally nothing." (Scientific American, May, 1984, p.128)
Notice the ambiguous language within this "scientific" explanation for the origin of the universe:
"...probably..."
"...the notion that..."
"...may have emerged..."
"...a possible mechanism..."
"...could have evolved..."
"...tempting to go one step further..."
"...speculate..."
With this flawed and inadequate summary, the atheist's dilemma concerning the universe's beginning is anything but solved. The Inflationary model is only a revision of the "Big Bang" theory and amounts to empty speculation of a spontaneously self-generating universe from nothing at all. Such foolishness is all that atheism has to offer.
Update
In the February 2017 issue of Scientific American early promoters of the Inflationary Universe theory now admit their theory is scientifically invalid. In the article Cosmic Inflation Theory Faces Challenges the heading reads, "The latest astrophysical measurements, combined with theoretical problems, cast doubt on the long-cherished inflationary theory of the early cosmos and suggest we need new ideas."
So, atheists are still found groping for alternative ideas for their materialistic origin of the universe and, sadly, under no circumstance will they open their minds to consider the obvious existence of a self-existent, eternal Creator.
How true, indeed, the statement twice made by the Psalmist, "The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God" (Psalm 14:1; 53:1).