Georges Lemaître: The Priest that Proposed the Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang theory, which posits that the universe began as a singular point of infinite density and temperature, has become the prevailing model for explaining the origin and evolution of the cosmos.
This theory, with its profound implications for our understanding of the universe, the nature of reality, and humanity’s role, also raises questions about the relationship between science and religion, particularly in the context of Christian beliefs.
One of the key points of contention between the Big Bang theory and Christian beliefs is the question of the origins of the universe.
It’s important to note that many Christians hold a literal interpretation of the creation story in the book of Genesis, which describes God creating the universe in six days. This view is incompatible with the scientific model of the Big Bang, which posits a gradual process of expansion and evolution over billions of years. As a result, some Christians reject the Big Bang theory as incompatible with their religious beliefs, while others, in their diverse perspectives, find ways to reconcile the two.
However, many Christians have embraced the Big Bang theory and see it as compatible with their faith. They view the Big Bang not as a contradiction to their religious beliefs but as a mechanism through which God created the universe. They see the Big Bang as evidence of the intricacy and beauty of God’s creation and as a sign of God’s power and wisdom. In this view, science and religion are not in conflict but are two different ways of understanding and appreciating the world around us.
Some Christian theologians have even incorporated the Big Bang theory into their theological framework. They see the Big Bang as a moment of creation when God initiated the universe’s coming into being. They also see the Big Bang as a reminder of the limitations of human knowledge and understanding and as a call to humility and reverence in the face of the universe’s mysteries.
Historical Context
The roots of the Big Bang theory can be traced back to the early 20th century when astronomers began to observe the behavior of distant galaxies.
In 1929, Edwin Hubble, of modern Hubble telescope fame, made a groundbreaking discovery that laid the foundation for the Big Bang theory. Hubble observed that galaxies were moving away from each other at high speeds, a phenomenon now known as the expansion of the universe. This observation led to the realization that the universe was not static, as previously believed, but was expanding.
Building on this discovery, Belgian astronomer Georges Lemaître proposed the idea of a “primeval atom” in 1931. Lemaître suggested that the universe began as a single point of infinite density and temperature, which then expanded rapidly in an event that would come to be known as the Big Bang. Lemaître’s theory was initially met with skepticism, but as more evidence accumulated to support an expanding universe, the idea gained acceptance among the scientific community.
Evidence for the Big Bang
One key piece of evidence supporting the Big Bang theory is the cosmic microwave background radiation. In the 1960s, astronomers Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson discovered faint background radiation that seemed to be coming from all directions in the sky. This radiation, now known as the cosmic microwave background, is theorized to be the afterglow of the Big Bang. It is thought to be the residual heat left over from the universe’s early stages when it was hotter and denser than it is today.
Another evidence for the Big Bang theory is the abundance of light elements in the universe, such as hydrogen and helium. The first two elements of the Periodic Table of Elements
According to the theory, these elements were formed in the early moments of the Big Bang, when the universe was still extremely hot and dense. The ratios of these light elements in the universe match the predictions of the Big Bang theory, providing further support for its validity.
Impact of the Big Bang
The Big Bang theory has profoundly impacted our understanding of the cosmos. It has provided a coherent scientific explanation for the origin and evolution of the universe. It has helped to explain many observed phenomena, such as the redshift of distant galaxies and the cosmic microwave background radiation. The theory has also inspired new avenues of research, such as the study of dark matter and dark energy, which make up most of the universe’s mass and energy but remain largely mysterious.
In addition, the Big Bang theory has philosophical implications, raising questions about the nature of time, space, and reality. The idea that the universe began from a singular point of infinite density challenges our intuitions about the nature of existence and has sparked debates about the origins of the universe and our place within it.
Georges Lemaître was born in Belgium. He volunteered for service in the First World War, interrupting his engineering studies, and earned a medal for his service. Afterward, he plunged back into academia, this time in physics and math, and began studies to be a priest at the same time. He earned his Ph.D. in 1920 and was ordained in 1923.
To some in this increasingly polarized age, it might seem odd for a man to be a soldier and a scientist, a religious and scientific devotee in equal measure. But to Lemaître, it seemed to form a coherent whole. He saw his faith and research as separate enterprises that neither conflicted nor aided each other. They were simply parallel cosmos explorations equally worthy of study and contemplation.
After he published his theory of an expanding universe and Hubble published his, Lemaître continued his ideas, building heavily on Einstein’s mathematically dense framework. He followed the idea of an expanding universe backward to a logical conclusion. In 1931, he began discussing his “Primeval Atom Hypothesis,” which stated that the universe began as a single point and has been expanding ever since. He also called it the “Cosmic Egg.”
Modern audiences will recognize this as an early version of the Big Bang Theory, which sometimes finds itself under attack from those who prefer a divine creation story. However, Lemaître faced most criticism from fellow scientists, who primarily objected to his theory because it sounded too religious. The idea of a universe that had a beginning flew in the face of the scientific consensus of the time, which preferred a static, unchanging universe.
However, Lemaître’s idea was based on a purely physical argument. Eventually, the scientific community came around and discovered strong evidence for what came to be called the Big Bang. That evidence even includes “fossil radiation,” which Lemaître posited might appear as cosmic rays, but which astronomers eventually discovered as the cosmic microwave background radiation.
Notably, the pope in Lemaître’s time, Pius XII, was delighted that a Catholic priest conceived a scientifically valid “creation” story for the universe. Reading between the lines, it’s also possible that the Church was feeling guilty about the Galileo debacle and looking to clear its conscience.
More than 350 years after the Roman Catholic Church condemned Galileo, Pope John Paul II, in a moment of profound historical significance, formally rectified one of the Church’s most infamous wrongs; the persecution of the Italian astronomer and physicist for proving the Earth moves around the Sun.
With a formal statement at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Vatican officials said the Pope would formally close a 13-year investigation into the Church’s condemnation of Galileo in 1633. The condemnation, which forced the astronomer and physicist to recant his discoveries, led to Galileo’s house arrest for eight years before he died in 1642 at the age of 77.
The dispute between the Church and Galileo has long stood as one of history’s great emblems of conflict between reason and dogma, science and faith. The Vatican’s formal acknowledgment of an error, a rare occurrence in an institution built over centuries on the belief that the Church is the final arbiter in matters of faith, is a unique and important event in history.
At the time of his condemnation, Galileo won fame and patronage from leading Italian powers like the Medicis and Barberinis for his discoveries with the astronomical telescope he had built. But when his observations led him to prove the Copernican theory of the solar system, which posited that the Earth and other planets revolve around the Sun, in contrast to the Church’s belief that the Earth was the center of the universe, Galileo was summoned to Rome by the Inquisition.
By the end of his trial, Galileo, in a moment of personal anguish, was forced to recant his scientific findings as “abjured, cursed and detested,” a renunciation that caused him great personal anguish but saved him from being burned alive at the stake.
Lemaître was less than pleased by the pope butting in, as he viewed his scientific pursuits as entirely separate from his religious views and didn’t appreciate the pope muddying the waters. His Holiness was persuaded to simmer down. The Catholic Church officially agrees with the Big Bang Theory. Lemaître retained his good standing in the Church until his death.
The scientific law has been known as Hubble’s Law for decades now. And if we change this, doesn’t that open the door to changing the names of all sorts of things? And what does it matter if the underlying science remains unchanged?
All valid points. But if science is about anything, it’s about revealing the truth. And the truth is that Lemaître arrived at the discovery first. So therefore, he deserves the credit.
Then again, Lemaître himself never contested Hubble’s acclaim. He seemed content to let science speak for itself, whatever it was called.
The relationship between Christian beliefs and the Big Bang theory is complex and multifaceted. While some Christians see the Big Bang as incompatible with their religious beliefs, others embrace it as a way of understanding and appreciating the beauty and intricacy of God’s creation. The Big Bang theory, with its important questions about the origins of the universe and the nature of reality, challenges Christians to think critically about the intersection of science and faith, stimulating intellectual engagement. Ultimately, the Big Bang theory can be seen as an inspiring opportunity for Christians to deepen their understanding of God’s creation and to engage with questions of meaning and purpose in a scientific age.
“Should a priest reject relativity because it contains no authoritative exposition on the doctrine of the Trinity? Once you realize that the Bible does not purport to be a textbook of science, the old controversy between religion and science vanishes . . . The doctrine of the Trinity is much more abstruse than anything in relativity or quantum mechanics; but, being necessary for salvation, the doctrine is stated in the Bible. If the theory of relativity had also been necessary for salvation, it would have been revealed to Saint Paul or to Moses.” – Georges Lemaître
George Lemaître is now a member of the ECG Hall of Fame
Reference:
- The Jesuit astronomer who conceived of the Big Bang | Astronomy.com. By Korey Haynes | Published: October 12, 2018, Last updated on May 18, 2023.https://www.astronomy.com/science/the-jesuit-astronomer-who-conceived-of-the-big-bang/
- McGrath, Alister E. “A Fine-Tuned Universe: Science, Theology, and the Quest for Meaning.” Westminster John Knox Press, 2011.
- Polkinghorne, John. “The Faith of a Physicist: Reflections of a Bottom-Up Thinker.” Fortress Press, 1994.
- Davies, Paul. “The Mind of God: The Scientific Basis for a Rational.” Simon & Schuster, 1992.
- After 350 Years, Vatican Says Galileo Was Right: It Moves – Nakkeran. http://nakkeran.com/index.php/2022/11/08/after-350-years-vatican-says-galileo-was-right-it-moves/