"There is no incompatibility between science and religion... Science shows that God exists." - Prof. D. Barton, Nobel Prize Chemistry 1969
Science and faith are usually viewed as incompatible. For centuries science has been
on the ascendancy, seemingly faith has been on the retreat. As the
boundaries of man's knowledge have extended, the less God has been
relied upon to explain the unknown.
Surprisingly recent
scientific discoveries point to the existence of a Creator.
As Professor Wolfgang Smith says "the physics of today is inviting
at last the more thoughtful... to reexamine 'the question of God'."
Twentieth century
developments have banished forever the idea of an unchanging, ever
existing universe. Einstein's theory implied that the universe is
not static, but dynamic and must have had a beginning. Hubble's
1969 observations of various stars revealed that the universe is
in fact expanding. The "Big Bang" theory was born.
This view was greatly
strengthened when Penzias and Wilson of Bell Labs discovered extraterrestrial
micro-wave radio signals in 1965. This radiation is now universally
accepted as the cosmic record of the fireball
which gave birth to the universe.
Dr. Arno Penzias,
who received the 1978 Nobel Prize for his co-discovery of cosmic
background radiation comments:
"Astronomy
leads us to a unique event, a universe which is created out of nothing..."
Moreover, "the creation of the universe is supported by all
the observable data astronomy has produced so far."
Big
Bang - "Like Looking at God"
Early in 1992 astrophysicist
George Smoot reported finding slight, but persistent, fluctuations
in the cosmic background radiation -- like ripples in a pond after
a stone has been thrown in. "If you're religious," said
Professor Smoot, "this is like looking at God" (Time,
Dec. 28/92).
It is not merely
the realization that the universe had a beginning which leads scientists
to contemplate a Creator-God. Science has discovered that many fundamental
parameters are just right for the generation of life. For example,
if the mass of the proton were significantly different, no stars
would ever have been produced, the universe would never have come
into existence.
"The
existence of the universe requires me to conclude that God exists."
- Robert A. Naumann, Prof. of Chemistry & Physics, Princeton
As Nobel-prize winner,
Penzias expresses it:
"Astronomy
leads us to... a universe... with the very delicate balance needed
to provide exactly the conditions required to permit life, and one
which as an underlying (one might say 'supernatural') plan."
These findings raise
the question "... whether the universe is the product of intelligent
design, whether the human experience is part of some unfolding purpose?"
(Robert Wright, Time 28 Dec. 92) As Physicist, Paul Davies
states it:
"The
impression of design is overwhelming."
Present
Day Einstein Ponders —Is the Universe an Act of God?
Stephen Hawking expresses
the view:
"It
would be very difficult to explain why the universe should have
begun in just this way; except as the act of a God who intended
to create beings like us."
Hawking's contemporaries
see the 'finger of God' in the origin and development of the cosmos.
One expresses it this way:
"There
is so much in... the universe we inhabit, the exact balances needed
to support life... every one of which is vitally necessary for...
life. These physical properties of the universe lead me to favour
a Designer or Creator... I believe in a creator." - Jay Roth,
Emeritus Professor, Univ. of Connecticut
Today, it is no longer
superstitious and old-fashioned to be a scientist who believes in
God. Rather, research leads many scientists to such a conclusion.
Zoologist Thomas
Emmel states:
"To
me, the concept of God is a logical outcome of the study of the
immense universe that lies around us..." and "To me, God
exists as the Supreme Being who started this creation... and he
was responsible... for the development of life on earth. The evidence
is all-too-pervasive..."
Chemist, Steven Bernasek
says:
"I
believe in... God. His existence is apparent to me in everything
around me, especially in my work as a scientist."
Scientists
Propelled Toward a Personal God
"Why
does the universe go to all the bother of existing? ... does it
need a creator, and, if so, does he have any other effect on the
universe?" —Stephen Hawking
Many scientists have
been compelled by their unfolding knowledge of the universe towards
the belief in a Creator-God. Some have stopped with the thought
of an unknown and unknowable God, who began everything and now passively
observes the results of His work. However, other scientists have
taken a step beyond, to seek a personal God who can be known and
experienced.
Former MIT and UCLA
Prof. Wolfgang Smith, says:
"To
me personally nothing is more evident, more certain, than the existence
or reality of God... to believe in God is to 'participate' in Him."
Edward Nelson, Math
professor at Princeton says:
"I
believe that the origin of the universe is the... free act of its
Creator... I believe in, pray to and worship God."
Finally, John Polkinghorne
of Cambridge writes:
"I
accept... God the Creator, the One who holds the world in being...
I am a Christian believer... I believe that God exists and has made
himself known in human terms in Jesus Christ."
Perhaps these are
the 'modern magi', the present-day equivalent of the three wise
men. In the Bible, these astronomers realized that the long-promised
Messiah, the king of the Jews, was being born in Israel and they
came to worship Him. Shouldn't we follow them?
by
Dr. Nigel Tomes
To communciate
with Dr. Tomes or for information concerning this publication or to
obtain a copy send your request to: Request
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