The Case for a Creator - Lee Strobel [58]
“So if the universe were just a mechanical consequence that would occur whenever sufficient conditions were met, and the sufficient conditions were met eternally, then it would exist from eternity past. The effect would be co-eternal with the cause.
“How do you explain, then, the origin of a finite universe from a timeless cause? I can only think of one explanation: that the cause of the universe is a personal agent who has freedom of will. He can create a new effect without any antecedent determining conditions. He could decide to say, ‘Let there be light,’ and the universe would spring into existence. I’ve never seen a good response to this argument on the part of any atheist.”
Putting the issue a bit simpler, British physicist Edmund Whittaker made a similar observation in his book The Beginning and End of the World. He said, “There is no ground for supposing that matter and energy existed before and was suddenly galvanized into action. For what could distinguish that moment from all other moments in eternity? It is simpler to postulate creation ex nihilo—Divine will constituting Nature from nothingness.”30
Craig had made a good case for the cause of the universe being personal, and yet he offered no evidence concerning whether the Creator is still living today. Perhaps the Creator put the universe into motion and then ceased to exist. Smith also makes this challenge, saying that an argument like Craig’s is “capable only of demonstrating the existence of a mysterious first cause in the distant past. It does not establish the present existence of the first cause.” 31
This objection, though, didn’t faze Craig. “It’s certainly plausible that this being would still exist,” he said, “because he transcends the universe and is therefore above the laws of nature, which he created. It therefore seems unlikely that anything in the laws of nature could extinguish him. And, of course, Christians believe this Creator has not remained silent but has revealed himself decisively in the person, ministry, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, which shows that he’s still around and still working in history.
“Again, the kalam argument can’t prove everything, and that’s fine. We’re free to look around for other evidence that the Creator still exists. Let’s see if he answers prayers, if he raised Jesus from the dead, if he revealed himself in the fulfillment of prophecy, and so forth. It seems that the burden of proof should be on the person claiming he did once exist, but he no longer does.”
Even though that seemed to make sense, something inside of me was saying, “Not so fast!” The kalam argument was a little too cut-and-dried; Craig’s evidence seemed a bit too airtight. Was his conclusion that a personal Creator was behind the Big Bang really warranted, or might there be a way to get around it?
There was too much at stake not to probe every reasonable possibility, including whether there’s an explanation that would negate the need for an absolute beginning of the universe—and thus eliminate the Creator that the Big Bang implies.
ALTERNATIVES TO THE BIG BANG
Efforts to come up with alternatives to the standard Big Bang model have intensified in recent years. Many scientists are troubled by the fact that the beginning of the universe necessitates a Creator. Others are perturbed because the laws of physics can’t account for the creation event.
Einstein admitted the idea of the expanding universe “irritates me” 32 (presumably, said one prominent scientist, “because of its theological implications”). 33 British astronomer Arthur Eddington called it “repugnant.” MIT’s Phillip Morrison said, “I would like to reject it.” 34