Complex Research Reflection

The complex research task was much more difficult to undertake than I had initially thought. The assessment took me alot longer than what I had anticipated as I struggled to make sense of how I was going to approach the task.

It has only been in the last week or two that I have gained clarity and better understanding into the subject, and thus able to put my thoughts down in writing much more easily.


All in all, the research I undertook for this project gave me so much more understanding of a subject I thought I already had a grasp on, and made clear other opinions and perspectives.

Annotated Bibliography

A question of  origins. (2008) [Video]

This video features widely-travelled Creationist speaker, Roger Oakland, who makes the issues surrounding the creation/science debate easy-to-understand. Various scientific experts share evidence and proofs also.

The visually rich video provides overwhelming evidence in favour of creation and that the universe and all life were created by a Supernatural being, and that the God of the Bible is that Creator. the video is useful for anyone who has questions concerning the scientific accuracy of the Bible.

CreationTheory.org (2007) [Internet]. Available at <http://www.creationtheory.org> accessed 27 October 2011.

This website supports the theory of science as fact when discussing the origin of the universe. The site gives detailed summaries arising from the science/creation debate. It attempts to prove in very detailed manner, that the scientific viewpoint is the correct one.

The site is easy to navigate and makes for easy reading as well. It provides very matter-of-fact information, even if it is on an almost argumentative slant.

Behe, Michael J. (1996) Darwin's black box: the biochemical challenge to evolution. Free Press New York.

Darwin's Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution is a book written by Michael J. Behe. The author sets out to argue that the organic world is so complex, particularly at the level of molecular biology and biochemistry, that Darwinian evolution cannot possibly have led to it. His reasoning suggests that as evolution cannot produce irreducibly complex systems they must be the outcome of the activities of an Intelligent Designer.

Behe takes on the main supporters of evolution, and uses clever analogies and useful comparisons. Behe has not written this book in a religious format and denies he is a creationist, but the arguments are totally scientific. The book is pretty complicated for the average reader. Readers without a strong biology background will struggle with it.

Dailymail.co.uk (2010) God did not create the universe, says Stephen Hawking [Internet] Available at <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1308278/Stephen-Hawking-God-did-create-Universe.html>, accessed 17 November, 2011.

This article explains that in a provocative book, Professor Stephen Hawking, Britain's most famous scientist, has declared God redundant said modern physics left no room for a Creator - and that science could explain the origins of the universe. Professor Stephen Hawking believes the laws of physics were behind the creation of the universe, not God, although he argues that it is "perfectly rational" to assume intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe.

The article talks a bit about the reasoning behind Hawking's theory, but doesn't elaborate much on the subject. Further research into Hawking's speculation on the subject will need to be carried out in order to obtain a clearer understanding.

eThoughts (2011) [Internet]. Available at <www.ethoughts.org> accessed 3 November 2011.

eThoughts is a website dedicated to questions about life and belief. The website is clearly categorised by topic and is a useful source for those wanting an introduction to faith and religion. A vast variety of topics is covered and theories given are mostly from a religious viewpoint. The website also boasts reaching over 100,000 people per year.

Institute for Bible and scientific studies. (2011) [Internet]. Available at <www.bibleandscience.com> accessed 3 November 2011.

Extensive website committed to outlining theories on evolution and creation - from a creation scientific view. Its resources are extensive and range from news, archaeology and science and provide depth of answer to each.

There are also numerous links to various research resources on the subject with references to a multitude of articles and publications. The site is easy to navigate and contains a wealth of up-to-date information.

Creation, or what?

Some consider creation science to be a thinly disguised creationism theory, but after extensive research into the topic I have concluded that the origin of the universe is due to it being created in agreement with what is written in the Jewish scriptures and the Christian Bible in a book called Genesis.

Even though science explains how the universe came to be (in its big bang theory) it cannot explain why creation came about or where it all came from. The scriptures explain things the same way as science, but is explains the why and where.

Can Creationism be Scientific?

One of the most famous scientists of all time is Albert Einstein, the physicist whose very name has come to be used as a synonym for "genius." What is not commonly known about Einstein, and many other of the greatest scientists of all time, is that they were absolutely convinced of God's existence.

Scientists who call themselves "creation scientists" are professionals who are generally involved in the same types of work as the average scientist. The difference is that creation scientists have a "model" for their science which is based on the belief that an intelligent designer ("God") exists and created our universe and the natural things in it.

Scientific creation is the theory which proceeds from the claim that it is possible to make use of the results of natural science to demonstrate that the universe and all life was created in fully functioning form, and that the concept of intelligent design can be validated by the results of scientific investigation.

This model states that life on earth originated as the result of one or more creation events. A creation event may be identified as the instantaneous appearance of new matter out of nothing including but not limited to, fully functional, completely developed organisms. Creation events did not transform existing organisms, but produced entirely new creatures. These creation events are no longer occurring. As such, they are not observable or repeatable. Although this is unusual for a scientific model, it has all the weaknesses as evolution.

A major goal of creation science is to point out the weakness of evolutionary theory, because basically there are only two alternatives for how we got here. Creation scientists are developing alternative models and theories in many areas to help our understanding of how the universe works.



Creation science FAQ (2011) [Internet]. Available at <http://www.creationfaq.net/>

Creation science (2011) [Internet]. Available at <http://conservapedia.com/Creation_science>

Creationism vs. science (2007) [Internet]. Available at <http://conservapedia.com/Creation_science>

Viewpoints, Theories and Beliefs

There are literally hundreds of theories and beliefs regarding the origin of the universe, its species and plant and animal life. These theories fall mostly into three general categories: 

CREATION SCIENCE:

This consists of about a dozen different belief systems based on different interpretations of the creation stories in the biblical book of Genesis. These beliefs are frequently found in Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

God created the universe during 6 consecutive days less than 10,000 years ago. All of the various "kinds" of plants and animals that currently exist (and that once existed but are now extinct) on earth are descendants of the original life forms that God created during the single week of creation. However, within these original kinds of animals, microevolution has resulted in similar species developing.

THEISTIC EVOLUTION:

The theory of evolution is accurate, just as scientists believe. The universe is about 14 billion years old. The earth's crust developed about 4.5 billion years ago.

Some believers suggest that God created the first cell; others suggest that the first cell happened as a result of natural processes through biogenesis. Subsequently, God used evolution as a tool to guide the development of each new species. By steering evolution over time, God eventually produced human beings.

SCIENTIFIC VIEW:

The origin of the universe occurred about 13 billion years ago. The earth coalesced about 4.5 billion years ago. Evolution was driven by blind, unguided natural forces without a goal. Darwin's belief that naturally occurring differences among offspring lead to evolution of the species through natural selection is the main, or perhaps the only, driving principle behind evolution.

If God exists, he played no part in the processes and they were driven by purely natural forces, and without any overall plan. 

Amans, Ross and Ragland, Dan (2001) Origin of the universe theories [Electronic book].  Available at http://web.cecs.pdx.edu/~danr/ph367u/report.pdf accessed 2 November 2011.

Creation v. evolution - a feasibility study (2011) [Internet] Available at <http://www.allaboutphilosophy.org/creation-vs-evolution.htm>

The evolution controversy (2006) [Internet] Available at <http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/evolution.htm>

Origins and development of life (1995) [Internet] Available at <http://www.religioustolerance.org/ev_over0.htm>

Evolution vs. Creation Debate

Throughout history mankind has struggled to explain how the universe came into existence. Over time many ideas and assumptions have been conceived in an attempt to explain just how the universe was formed. Throughout the ages many of these ideas have been disproved yet many are continuing to undergo scientific investigation. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The creation vs. evolution debate is a question of origins. It concerns the question of how man, as well as animals and plants came to exist in their present form, whether they were created as they currently are by the intelligent design of a Creator, or they evolved through natural selection from primitive life forms. Obviously these two models are overly simplified, and there are several theories behind either of them.

How did we get here? Were we created or did we evolve randomly? Are we the product of purposeful intelligence or are we merely the end result of countless cosmic accidents? Does it even matter?

Research Question

"The universe is a cosmic accident and does not display intelligent design"



REVISED RESEARCH QUESTION:

"Creationists and Scientists can agree about the origin of the universe"

Proposed Search/Research Strategy

SEARCH TOOLS

The search strategy that I will use to answer the hypothesis question will be to use a number of keywords to search in encyclopedias, library catalogues and online databases as well as informative and authoritative websites.

I will access various encyclopedias and online databases using the eResources available through the State Library of NSW.



SOURCES

• Encyclopedia Britannica
• World Book
• Proquest - Science and Technology
• Science Reference Centre
• Subject specific books
• Relevant authoritative websites

SEARCH TERMS

The keywords that I will use in my searches are "universe", "cosmology", "big bang" and "creation". I will take many different approaches in searching for these words and try to search for every angle of the subject matter.

Library of Congress subject heading searches will include:

• Universe
• Big Bang
• Creation
• Astronomy -- research
• Cosmology -- research
• Life -- origin

I am mindful that there may also be synonyms and related terms of these keywords too and will research these also so that my search will be insightful.


I will make certain that the resources I use to investigate the subject will be in plain language and easy to read and avoid articles use overly scientific or difficult to understand terms and language. With consideration to all the above I hope to with some supportive and interesting information on the origin of the universe.

Concept Map

I have created the following concept map as a visual introduction to my research topic. I anticipate that it will assist me in researching my topic more thoroughly.

The Origin of the Universe

The universe is the whole cosmic system of matter and energy of which earth is part. The universe includes earth, everything on earth and within it, and everything in the solar system. The solar system contains the sun and the planets that orbit it along with millions of smaller bodies, such as comets, asteroids, and meteoroids.

Is the universe eternal? Has it always been here? Or did it have a start at some point in time? For thousands of years philosophers, theologians and scientists have debated the question of the origin of the universe. Many have avoided it as an impenetrable mystery. Others have tried to define it away. This debate has revolved around two basic questions. First, is the universe eternal and therefore "uncaused," or did the universe have a beginning in time and space?

If nothing happens without a cause, then something must have caused the universe to appear. But then the inevitable question of what caused that something. One evasive tactic is to claim that the universe didn't have a beginning, that it has existed for all eternity. However, there are many scientific reasons why this obvious idea is unsound.

The universe had an absolute beginning. It came from something. This something, however, cannot be a something like the things around us with their fragile hold on existence. It must be conceived as the source or foundation of Existence.

When faced with the question of the origins of the universe there are two possible options. We can say it came from nothing, or we can say that it came from something, a something when posed leads to all sorts of philosophical and religious questions.

There are only two legitimate options for the origin of the universe:

1) The universe made itself (Random Chance)

2) Someone made the universe (Intelligent Design)

Before the 1920s, most people believed that the universe did not have a beginning. People thought the universe was eternal. In the 1920s however, new facts from science made people question the standard view of the universe.

By 1929, the picture was changing. Edwin Hubble was discovering other galaxies, and found that the farther away they were, the more the light from them was shifted towards the red end of the spectrum, an effect known as the Doppler Effect, indicating that they were moving away and the universe was therefore expanding. Physicists like Alexander Friedmann and George Lemaître and others had uncovered Einstein’s apparent mistake with regard his theory of general relativity.

In cosmology, it was the big bang versus steady state. The "big bang" theory was thought to be false by people who accepted the "steady state" theory of the universe. A new finding in 1965 gave the big bang theory a new boost. At the very least, the big bang theory may explain how and when the universe began. Today it is by far the most popular theory in science today and has moved to the forefront of cosmology.

Science ultimately cannot explain the universe's beginnings because it cannot go that far back. Science can only explain what is here now and even that is speculative.

Theories such as these are often based on the assumption that the universe cannot have "come out of nothing". Theories stating that earth and its life forms were created by a God are referred to as creationism. One of the oldest theories about where it all began suggests that a God exists and that it was this God who created the universe.

In religion, it was the Judeo-Christian creation of the world versus the Hindu-Eastern repetitions of endless cycles. Some in the Judeo-Christian tradition put more stock in God as sustainer, Thus, the affirmative creative act of the Judeo-Christian God may bring the universe into being by a creation from nothing (creatio ex nihilo) or it may be a continuing creative sustaining of the universe (creation continua), or both.

There are many areas that the statement "what is the origin of the universe" has difficulty explaining and providing answers for, and even though I am a way off ascertaining a theory which explains the origin of the universe, I will attempt to discern through much research, the most truthful and accurate theory of the origin of the universe.

The Big Bang .. Not a Theory?

After some initial research into the theory of the big bang I discovered that the big bang was no longer referred to as a "theory" and was referred to as "fact" in the numerous authorative resources, including encyclopedias. It has now been accepted as the dominant physical cosmological paradigm.

As the "theory" was developed over the period between the early 1900's to late 1990's, there is no real contraversy or different speculation as to how the big bang occured.

As such, I have decided to in fact research the topic "origin of the universe", and hope to come to some sort of conclusion as to how the universe became.

Overview Notes

The big bang theory is science's best explanation of how the universe was created. The theory is a general theory held by many astronomers that the universe may have occurred about 12 to 15 billion years ago. This theory ranks as the most widely held scientific theory of the universe's origin.

The Big Bang is a theory that explains how the universe expanded from a single point. All the matter, energy, and light; were all compacted into an infinitely dense point. The universe then expanded tremendously.

Big bang theories are actually a class of scientific models that describe the Universe as expanding from a very hot. It was first proposed by the Catholic priest Georges-Henri Lemaitre and evidence for the expansion was observed by Edwin Hubble. Later George Gamow predicted that the Big Bang would leave an observable microwave background radiation (or CMBR). This radiation was discovered by Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson at Bell Labs; it was found to be close to that predicted by Gamow.

Not everyone looks at the beginning of the world from a strictly scientific point of view. Then again, those who oppose the Big Bang theory (mainly those who believe in creationism) do not all agree either.

Some astronomers, who are religious, argue that the big bang theory even confirms the existence of God and the basic elements of the creation story as told in the Bible. First came light, then the heavens, then the Earth ... However, many other scientists do not. Scientists, like people in most any profession, have a vast diversity of religious beliefs.

The Big Bang Theory

The purpose of this blog is to research the big bang theory, while exploring the various points of view of the topic. These different theories will be critically analysed and then presented to class members to also critically analyse.

The blog will then be reviewed and submitted for final evaluation.