Big Bang
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
That’s how the Bible, the first chapter of Genesis (and today’s first reading), starts. With the account of Creation.
For many people, this is a reason to doubt or discard the Faith right out of the gate. Because of science. Specifically, the Big Bang Theory.
Which, as Catholic clergy, I find hilarious.
Because that whole line of thinking is based on the assumption that the Biblical account of Creation is a literal account of how it all happened.
It’s not.
The signals telling us that it’s not a literal account? They’re right there in the book of Genesis.
One clue? The sweeping, poetic language of the first account of Creation. It’s radically different from the parts of Genesis (and the rest of the Bible) that clearly are literal accounts.
The more obvious clue? The appearance of a second, very different account of Creation in the very next chapter.
Which means? Understanding it as a literal account of Creation requires a very badly informed reading of the Bible.
But what about the Big Bang Theory?
The Big Bang Theory was developed in 1931 by Georges Lemaitre, a theoretical physicist (PhD from MIT). An astronomer. And a Catholic priest.
Fr. Lemaitre posited the Big Bang Theory as an explanation of the observable mechanics of the universe. And nothing more.
When Pope Pius XII wanted to call it “scientific validation of the Catholic faith” because it pointed to a moment of Creation, Fr. Lemaitre said (in physicist language) please don’t, the Big Bang Theory doesn’t speak to first causes.
Before the Big Bang Theory was misrepresented by the Internet it was misrepresented by a Pope.
Inserting first causes of any kind (pro-God or anti-God) into the Big Bang Theory requires a very badly informed reading of the Theory.
Why is arguing the Big Bang Theory against the Faith is hilarious? Because you’re telling people that you don’t read things for yourself without saying that you don’t read things for yourself.
Well, if it isn’t a literal account of Creation, then what’s the point? Why is it the very first thing in the Bible?
The accounts of Creation (both of them) are meant to be read together. That’s why both of them are there. To give us a clear picture of who God is. And who we are.
The “why” of the cosmic sweep of the first account of Creation is answered in the intimacy of God walking in the Garden with the first people in the second account.
Revealing the heart of God. And this central truth.
Our lives find their ground – and their fullest expression – in our relationship with God.
Today’s Readings
