100 years ago, Albert Einstein published three papers that rocked the world. These papers proved the existence of the atom, introduced the theory of relativity, and described quantum mechanics. Pretty good debut for a 26 year old scientist, huh?
His equations for relativity indicated that the universe was expanding. This bothered him, because if it was expanding, it must have had a beginning and a beginner. Since neither of these appealed to him, Einstein introduced
a ‘fudge factor’ that ensured a ‘steady state’ universe, one that had no beginning or end.
But in 1929, Edwin Hubble showed that the furthest galaxies were fleeing away from each other, just as the Big Bang model predicted. So in 1931, Einstein embraced what would later be known as the Big Bang theory, saying,
“This is the most beautiful and satisfactory explanation of creation to which I have ever listened.” He referred to the ‘fudge factor’ to achieve a steady-state universe as the biggest blunder of his career.
As I’ll explain during the next couple of days, Einstein’s theories have been thoroughly proved and
verified by experiments and measurements. But there’s an even more important implication of Einstein’s discovery.
Not only does the universe have a beginning, but time itself, our own dimension of cause and effect, began
with the Big Bang.
That’s right — time itself does not exist before then. The very line of time begins with that creation event. Matter, energy, time and space were created in an instant by an intelligence outside of space and time.
About this intelligence, Albert Einstein wrote in his book “The World As I See It” that the harmony of natural law “Reveals an intelligence of such superiority that, compared with it, all the systematic thinking and acting
of human beings is an utterly insignificant reflection.”*
He went on to write, “Everyone who is seriously involved in the pursuit of science becomes convinced
that a spirit is manifest in the laws of the Universe–a spirit vastly superior to that of man, and one in the face of which we with our modest powers must feel humble.”*
Pretty significant statement, wouldn’t you say?
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s installment: “Bird Droppings on my Telescope.”
Respectfully Submitted,
Perry Marshall
*Einstein quotes are from “Einstein and Religion: Physics and
Theology” by Max Jammer
http://www.cosmicfingerprints.com
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The Most Concise Definition of God (Allah in Arabic)“Say: He is Allah,
The One and Only.
“Allah, the Eternal, Absolute.
“He begets not, nor is He begotten.
And there is none like unto Him.”
[Al-Qur’an 112:1-4]
The word ‘Assamad’ is difficult to translate. It means ‘absolute existence’, which can be attributed only to Allah (swt), all other existence being temporal or conditional. It also means that Allah (swt) is not dependent on any person or thing, but all persons and things are dependent on Him.
Surah Ikhlas – the touchstone of theology:Surah Ikhlas (Chapter 112) of the Glorious Qur’an, is the touchstone of theology. ‘Theo’ in Greek means God and ‘logy’ means study. Thus Theology means study of God and to Muslims this four line definition of Almighty God serves as the touchstone of the study of God. Any candidate to divinity must be subjected to this ‘acid test’. Since the attributes of Allah given in this chapter are unique, false gods and pretenders to divinity can be easily dismissed using these verses.
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gLiMpSes 
Good to see a great post.
Just to add a little to the topic.
(Despite being a Muslim and being a bit shy to comment about the scientific basis and understanding of the universe, as we always tend to leave all the pros and cons of the study of different models of the Universe to “them” (The West), still I would dare to write a few lines.)
1. The Big-Bang model of the Universe and Second Law of Thermodynamics are very well established and time tested concepts and augment each other. In fact they are the two faces of the same coin, joined together by the concept of the arrow of time. They both point towards one fact…that the Universe is not there from eternity but from a finite time and had a definite beginning. The Second Law is in fact so profound that Sir Arthur Eddington had to say:
“The law that entropy always increases holds, I think, the supreme position among the laws of Nature. If someone points out to you that your pet theory of the universe is in disagreement with Maxwell’s equations — then so much the worse for Maxwell’s equations. If it is found to be contradicted by observation — well, these experimentalists do bungle things sometimes. But if your theory is found to be against the second law of thermodynamics I can give you no hope; there is nothing for it but to collapse in deepest humiliation.”
2. There are many who find it difficult to gulp the concept of absolute nothingness before Universe…nothing…not even space and time, as they are also the essential components of the created Universe along with matter and energy. These people make desperate attempts to take refuge under extremely fancy theories of the Universe like String Theory, Multi-Verse, Brane Cosmology, and similar others. Despite the fact that Big Bang Model of the Universe and the Second Law of Thermodynamics have been very well established and repeatedly verifiable, this is extreme arrogance and ignorance of the “enlightened scientific community” to talk of alternate concepts of the creation of the Universe…all this…to avoid one thing…the acceptance of the fact that the Universe with all its infinitely complex yet ultimately perfect laws were actually created and did not exist from eternity.
What more can be the scientific and reasonable proof of the existence of a creator than the Big Bang theory coupled with the Second Law?