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The Scientific
community has embraced the idea of the "Big Bang" theory as an explanation
for the creation of the universe. The theory is that a infinitely dense
particle or "singularity" exploded with such magnitude that it flung
billions of planets and stars into space and thus began the universe.
Current data from astronomical exploration indicates that the universe is
still expanding from a central point in the universe. The question that
has been debated by the astronomical community for years is: Will the
universe continue to expand forever, eventually coming apart into
individual pieces? Or will gravity eventually cause the universe to start
contracting back toward the center point of the universe?
In an article
from the Omaha World-Herald, dated February 28, 1998, it was reported that
scientific data suggest that the universe is expanding at an increasing
rate. The findings were reported in Friday's issue of the journal,
Science, by a team lead by Brian Schmidt of the Mount Stromlo and
Siding Spring Observatory in Australia. Similar results have been obtained
by other researchers using similar methods.
Scientist reacted
to the findings with shock and amazement. Brian Schmidt said "My own
reaction is somewhere between amazement and horror, amazement because I
just did not expect this result, and horror in knowing that (it) will
likely be disbelieved by a majority of astronomers who, like myself,
are extremely skeptical of the unexpected."
What was Mr
Schmidt expecting to see and what led to these expectations?
Let's take a
simple example of scientific data collection. If data is collected to
describe an electromagnetic waveform, that data can describe many possible
waveforms. For example, the data points below could represent either of
the waveforms shown. One individual might say he believes that waveform
A occurred and the other might believe that waveform B is
represented by the data. Both individuals would be correct that the data
describes the waveform in which he has put his faith in. However, which is
the truth? The truth can't be determined from the data points shown.
In this simple
example it may be easy to see that not enough data is available. In fact,
the Nyquist rule for sampling tells us that the sampling rate must be
greater than twice the frequency of the waveform to be sampled. But, in
the case of determining the origin and future of our universe, how can it
be determined if enough data is available. Many theories could "fit the
data" but which is the correct one? Could it be that the correct theories
haven't been proposed by science? How would we know if there was another
theory to explain our existence if we're not expecting to see it?
Students in
schools and colleges today are taught the latest scientific theories which
is the progressive thing to do. These teachings provide a springboard for
further investigation into the sciences. Without such teachings, each
student would have to relearn things that have already been learned. But
doesn't this affect what a scientist expects to see from his data? If the
data were being misinterpreted, how would we know? Inconsistencies do
exist with modern theories of the earth's origin and future and yet these
are taught as fact in school, creating expectations among future
scientists that might not fit the data that is collected.
Are we to believe
that with what science knows now that it can tell us where we came from,
who God is or isn't and how we should live? Many scientists today begin
with the expectation that God is not real and would disbelieve findings
that state otherwise. With this bias as the basis of many scientific
theories, and when unexpected results are met with skepticism, could it
ever be expected that God would be found in the data of a scientist?
There are
scientists that have found evidence of the accuracy of the Bible. These
are people that view the world from a different perspective than
mainstream science. They use the same data but arrive at a different
interpretation of the data. One group of such scientists are working from
the
Institute for Creation Research.
When dealing with
matters of importance such as eternal life and supreme beings, I am not
ready to abandon my beliefs because of some incomplete evidence that might
support part of some theory. Especially when much evidence exists that
supports the accuracy of the Bible
and when I can feel Him in my soul. Faith in God is the first step to
knowing Him. Reading the Word of God will bring you to the next step. In
the end, there will be no doubt that God exists and that He cares very
much when you feel Him inside of you. | 
