A video about the succession of discoveries relating to the Big Bang Theory and Steady State Theory. Big Bang theory script Science and religion have butted heads since the dawn of time. The Big Bang theory is no exception. Before the 20th century, there was no general consensus on whether the universe had a beginning or not. Some people believed in the claims of the Bible, that God created the Universe. Others looked at the beauty of the night sky and simply believed that it was always there. It was only until the beginning of the 20th century when two scientific theories emerged: the Big Bang theory and the Steady State theory. The Big Bang theory states that the Universe had a beginning and is not eternal. On the other hand, the Steady State theory says that the Universe does not have a beginning and is eternal. In 1916, Albert Einstein published the "Theory of Relativity" which not only gained him international recognition and success, but also suggested that the Universe had a beginning. His equation could predict how fast galaxies were moving apart and therefore prove that the Universe was expanding. However, Einstein did not like the idea that the Universe had a beginning and changed his equation by adding a "cosmological constant" to make his Theory of Relativity support the Steady State theory, that the Universe is eternal. In 1920, Belgian cosmologist and Roman Catholic priest Georges Lemaitre proved that Einstein's cosmological constant was a mistake. He also predicted that if the Big Bang occurred, it would release cosmic microwave radiation that should still be in the Universe today. Cosmic microwave radiation is the oldest electromagnetic radiation in the Universe that the hypothesized Big Bang produced in its early moments. However, many astrophysicists were skeptical and angered by Lemaitre's proposal for two reasons. First, he lacked empirical evidence of the detection of the cosmic background radiation. Secondly, the astrophysicists felt he had a secret agenda. Being a Roman Catholic priest, Lemaitre could be trying to push the Big Bang theory so that it would line up with the biblical creation account that God created the universe from a single point in time. The astrophysicists did not want religion mixing in with science. Though Lemaitre faced much opposition, in 1964, scientists eventually detected the cosmic microwave radiation that he had predicted. To this day, cosmic microwave radiation remains as the strongest evidence to support the Big Bang theory. Whether it may be for science or for supporting his faith, Lemaitre has still left a legacy as one of the founders to a widely accepted theory today. Nevertheless, as history has shown us repeatedly, theories come and go, and over time, they are either disproven or strengthened. So far, the Big Bang theory has been tested very thoroughly, with each test reconfirming its validity, unlike the Steady State theory, which cracked under several observational tests that showed its flaws. As a Christian, what do I think about this? Well I don't necessarily oppose the Big Bang theory; rather I know the one who banged it.

• published: 15 Feb 2014
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