FACTS & FAITH
1988 Volume 2, No. 2
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Science in the News: Hawking and the History of Time
By Hugh Ross
Imminent British astrophysicist Dr. Stephen Hawking has recently completed a remarkably successful speaking tour in this country coincident with the release of his first popular-level book, A Brief History of Time. Partly due to his brilliance, and partly due to his heroic effort to overcome severe physical disability, Hawking has become almost a cult figure. In the past two months he has been featured in virtually every major news magazine and newspaper in America. He is without doubt one of the leading physicists of our time—a present day Einstein. What has caught the public’s attention, and in particular the excitement of New Age proponents, are Hawking’s research and philosophical pronouncements on time and the origin of the universe.
Nearly 20 years ago Hawking (together with Roger Penrose and George Ellis) proved that if general relativity governs the universe, then space and time must originate at the same instant as matter and energy.1, 2 In Hawking’s own words, "...time has a beginning."3 This theorem effectively eliminates the cosmologies of all religious books except the Bible.
In 1983 Hawking and James Hartle suggested that since we cannot determine conditions in the universe before 10-43 seconds (that is, 0.0000000000000000000000000000000000000000001 seconds after its beginning point), perhaps some unknown phenomenon in that speck of time might have disturbed the governance of general relativity.4 If so, there might not be a true singularity (origin from a single point) of space, time, matter, and energy. They have gone on to propose that just as the behavior of a hydrogen atom can be described by a quantum mechanical wave function, so might the behavior of the universe. If that is the case, they claim, the universe could have just popped into existence out of absolutely nothing at the beginning of time. This fanciful "hypothesis" provides the basis for Hawking’s widely quoted statement, "The universe would not be created, not be destroyed; it would simply be. What place, then, for a Creator?"5 It is the basis, too, for New Agers’ and atheists’ claims that a personal Creator-God need not be the agency for the origin of the universe.
Hawking and Hartle have stepped onto shaky ground, an appeal to ignorance and an arguable abuse of quantum mechanics. These defects notwithstanding, here is the response of American physicist Heinz Pagels:
This unthinkable void converts itself into the plenum of existence—a necessary consequence of physical laws. Where are these laws written into that void? What "tells" the void that it is pregnant with a possible universe? It would seem that even the void is subject to law, a logic that exists prior to space and time.6
Another well known physicist and author, Paul Davies, concurs:
They [the laws of physics] seem themselves to be the product of exceedingly ingenious design. ... The universe must have a purpose. ... If new organizational levels just pop into existence for no reason, why do we see such an orderly progression in the universe from featureless origin to rich diversity? ... [There is] powerful evidence that there is "something going on" behind it all.7, 8, 9
Once again, the Biblical doctrine of creation is deduced.
An article appearing in Christianity Today magazine a few years ago declared quantum mechanics "the greatest contemporary threat to Christianity."10 Nothing could be farther from the truth. Though certain individuals who resist or oppose the Christian world view have been exploiting a general ignorance and fear of quantum mechanics to attack Biblical beliefs, their attempts clearly fall short of the standards of scientific inquiry. (See Materials Spotlight for information on two new papers we have produced in response to these attacks.)
References
- Hawking, Stephen W. and Ellis, George F. R. "The Cosmic Black-Body Radiation and the Existence of Singularities in our Universe," in Astrophysical Journal, 152. (1968), pp. 25-36.
- Hawking, Stephen and Penrose, Roger. "The Singularities of Gravitational Collapse and Cosmology," in Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series A, 314. (1970), pp. 529-548.
- Boslough, John. "Inside the Mind of a Genius," in Reader’s Digest, February 1984., p. 120.
- Hartle, James B. and Hawking, Stephen W. "Wave Function of the Universe," in Physical Review D, 28. (1983), pp. 2960-2975.
- Jaroff, Leon. "Roaming the Cosmos," in Time, February 8, 1988., p.60.
- Pagels, Heinz R. Perfect Symmetry: The Search for the Beginning of Time. (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1985), p. 347.
- Davies, Paul. Superforce: The Search for a Grand Unified Theory of Nature. (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1984), pp. 243.
- Davies, Paul. The Cosmic Blueprint: New Discoveries in Nature’s Creative Ability to Order the Universe. (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1988), p. 141.
- Ibid., p. 203.
- Emerson, Allen. "A Disorienting View of God’s Creation," in Christianity Today, February 1, 1985., p. 19.
Let Us Reason: By Faith or by Sight?
By Hugh and Kathy Ross
We have just heard it again. Perhaps you have encountered it, too, in sharing our materials and message with others. It’s this question, phrased one way or another:
"With all your facts, who needs faith?"
The answer is simple: "Everyone."
The question points to a misunderstanding of faith—what it is and what is its basis.
Biblically-defined faith involves firm convictions (specifically about God’s existence and character) and a transfer of dependence to God. Both elements are essential, and both are crucially tied to facts, to reality. How firm can (or should) our convictions be if supported only by warm feelings or hearsay or intuitive hunches. We’re not saying that these are bad or worthless, but if these are the sole basis for our convictions, how steadfast and secure are we likely to be in turning over our complete trust for the past, the present, and the future to God, the focus of those convictions?
Consider the analogy we see in human relationships. Would we commend—or recommend—the marriage of two people who have only just met but feel strongly attracted to each other, or whose knowledge of each other comes solely from the reports of others? Wisdom and experience say, "No."
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None other than the Word of our God stands up under honest, objective, humble-hearted investigation and shows itself to be perfect, pure, true. |
Consider, also, the examples of faith we are given in Hebrews 11. If God intends our faith to be subjective, or "blind," Abraham and many other key figures who encountered God (or His "Angel") tangibly would have been omitted from the roster. And what could we say of the "faith" of those who saw and heard and touched and walked side by side with our Lord Jesus Christ during his years here on earth? We are not denying, however, that even with all their firsthand experience, it was by the work of the Holy Spirit that these men and women received their salvation. Obviously, a paradox concerning our part in believing and God’s part lies at the very core of this issue.
Perhaps the simplest and most direct statement from God about our part in the connection between facts and faith appears in I Thessalonians 5:21, which says, "Test everything." No other "holy book," no other "God," dares to say anything like that. None other than the Word of our God stands up under honest, objective, humble-hearted investigation and shows itself to be perfect, pure, true.
We can begin to empathize, however, with some people’s (including some pastors’) difficulty in appreciating an evidence-based approach when we take into account 1) the many abuses of "scientific evidence" in promotional campaigns of all sorts, 2) the lack of scientific training to understand, analyze, and evaluate the various evidences and arguments presented, and 3) the teaching of some Bible colleges and seminaries that to test the reliability of God’s Word is somehow to set ourselves above God and thus to express rebellion against Him.
Please pray that God will give us gentleness, meekness, and clarity of communication as we present our reasons for believing. May our words and attitudes and actions be such as to calm people’s fears, invite thoughtful questions, and allow God to do His work in building people’s faith.
From the President's Desk
Dear friends,
Recently, as Kathy and I have been learning (often by trial and error) how to discipline our almost-three-year-old son, Joel, we have discovered that he receives correction more easily and says "I'm sorry" more readily if he first admits, "I was wrong. I was wrong when I ... (here he lists his specific offense)."
We know, however, that this training is only as good as the example we set for him in admitting our wrongs to one another and to him, as well as to God and to others. Our mistakes and misdeeds, though they we still hate making them, are beginning to take on new significance. They give us opportunities to show our willingness to accept correction.
Such an opportunity presents itself right now. Earlier this year we received a valuable correction from a respected friend, Dr. Earl Radmacher, President of Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in Portland, Oregon. He writes:
In "Dueling Revelations" in your first issue, I noted the need for a refinement of statement that might be significant. I agree wholeheartedly with you that the general and special revelation must not be put in conflict with each other; however, your statement said: "The facts of science and nature must match the message of the Bible." Inasmuch as science presents man’s deductions from nature, it must not be treated on a par with nature. In like fashion, theology must not be treated on a par with special revelation. General and special revelation will never contradict one another. But both science and theology fall short of the inerrancy of Scripture. I believe your statement would better read: "The facts of nature must match the message of the Bible."
We agree with you, Dr. Radmacher, and we appreciate your vigilance on our behalf. Accuracy in stating our message is, indeed, important to us.
Sincerely,
Hugh Ross
As I See It: Marketing the Good News
[graphic excluded]
American corporate strategy has become highly refined. In the organizations that are going somewhere, the word of the day is "market-driven." Building a better mousetrap no longer guarantees success. Today, you have to be in tune with your market before product development even begins. The shelves of design labs are littered with devices that work perfectly but never caught the market. You need both a winning product and a carefully strategized link-up with the people who need it.
Some people feel uneasy talking about the Gospel within the context of marketing, but their concern is groundless. Throughout the New Testament narratives we see Jesus and His followers employing effective marketing to reach divergent audiences. Different mindsets needed the same facts portrayed in different ways.
Jesus drew memorable illustrations from farming, fishing, construction, housekeeping, financial management, etc., to make His point with some people, while with others He probed the meaning of the Law, the history, the poetry, and the prophets. He spoke encouragingly to the lowly and incisively to the arrogant.
Peter knew his audience at Pentecost—mostly a Jewish religious crowd. Eloquently he exposited familiar texts and established the case for the Messiahship of Jesus of Nazareth, whom they had crucified. Thousands were struck to the heart and repented in response to Peter’s inspired presentation (i.e. marketing) of truth.
Paul, too, demonstrated a mind for marketing. In Acts 17 we see him "reasoning from the Scriptures" with a Jewish assembly in a Greek commercial center. Then a few days later, in the citadel of Greek philosophy, Athens, he took a completely different approach. To this dichotomous group of Epicurian and Stoic thinkers he made a case for the preeminent Creator-God, whom they had dubbed "the Unknown God." Without watering down the Gospel, Paul delivered the unalterable essentials in a manner that was culturally attuned.
American Christianity must in the same way adjust its message to the current cultural context. On the heels of World War II, the evangelistic mission was one of harvesting, and a straightforward Biblical appeal brought results. Thousands of people carrying a basic indoctrination in Christianity from youth needed only a call for decision.
Soon the harvesting operation became a gleaning exercise, but still there was ample work to occupy the reapers. Today, however, we stand in the midst of a nearly stripped field. The market has changed.
Does the Gospel change? Never. It is and always will be the one and only answer to the deepest need of mankind. What has changed is the perspective and response of our culture. The now barren fields must be recultivated, seeds planted and watered. Historic methods no longer produce dramatic results. Unique approaches are called for in the face of new conditions.
In a social order increasingly dominated by an educated, wary majority, a fresh case for personal faith in a loving Creator must be prepared. If we are to lay the groundwork for another great harvest, the marketing commitment and creativity shown by the first-century founders must again drive our strategic planning. In a word, we must again become sensitive, and to me that means giving people a reason to believe.
As a businessman, sharing Christ with business people, I thank God for the tools provided by a ministry such as Reasons To Believe. Translating (marketing) the Good News for the scientific thinker does indeed yield results, helping men and women hurdle some of their biggest barriers to faith. May we see more and more effective marketing as we anticipate—and hasten—Christ’s coming Kingdom!
Bob Shank, a member of the RTB Board of Directors, is founder and president of Priority Living, a ministry addressing the spiritual needs of business professionals and their families. Bob and his wife Cheri and their two daughters live in Orange County, CA.
Puzzles and Paradoxes
The puzzle presented in our last issue was this: Under what conditions is it true that Δ = Ο ?
At least a few of you figured out that the answer lies in moving from two dimensions to three. When the triangle spins, becoming a three-dimensional object—namely a cone—then it may be seen as a circle from either above or below or at any place you slice through it (parallel to its base, perpendicular to its axis). See what a difference an added dimension can make? Just begin to imagine the possibilities that exist in God’s extra dimensions beyond the four (length, width, height, and time) with which we are familiar!
Once again we present a paradox submitted by one of our correspondents, N.W. of Santa Ana, CA. She asks: "How do you explain what appears to be a contradiction between Jesus’ statement that John the Baptist was ‘the Elijah who was to come’ (Matt. 11:14) and John’s statement to the priests and Levites that he was not Elijah?"
Here, once again, are the steps to paradox resolution. In which one(s) do you find the solution to this problem? We hope you will tackle the challenge on your own before reading our reply in the fall edition. Watch for our next puzzle at that time, too.
- Establish the correct frame of reference, or point of view, for the passage(s) under consideration.
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Correctly define the system(s) in question.
[Some examples of systems would be a family unity, a church, the heavens, the universe, Israel, etc.] - Make observations over a greater or lesser range of magnitudes, e.g. over a longer or shorter span of time, a smaller or larger geographical region, etc.
- Make observations over more dimensions or different dimensions, e.g. over three dimension rather than two, five instead of three, or over time and space rather than space alone, etc.
- Gather more detailed / more complete information.
Field Report
The response to our message that up-to-the-minute scientific findings and Biblical revelation agree has been more enthusiastic than ever in this past quarter. Hugh and the ministry team enjoyed speaking with
- Businessmen and their guests in Denver and Greeley, CO, and in Fresno, CA. Some stood (without being asked) to announce publicly their decision to follow Christ. A group of new Christians told Hugh that they had been shaken by questions and doubts in the few weeks since giving their lives to Christ, questions that were answered and doubts that were swept away as he spoke. Praise God!
- Church Families (all ages) in both southern and northern California. Many people have phoned or written to tell us stories of changed lives from those meetings.
- Pastors in the San Fernando Valley. A breakfast meeting in Northridge drew a standing-room-only crowd, and our materials table was swamped.
- Collegians (both undergrad and grad students) from several colleges and universities in the southern California area, including UC Irvine and Caltech. Many came with good questions, tough questions, which they have been asked or asking. Many expressed appreciation for their increased confidence to share and defend their faith.
A Word from the Editor
By Kathy Ross
"Testing, testing, 1-2-3 testing." Is it really appropriate to "test" the Word of God? Is that not the same as "testing, or tempting, God?" My answer to both questions is "yes" and "no." (You who read my column regularly guessed that answer, I’m sure.)
If you have studied even a few chapters or books of the Bible, you must have noticed that its writers made no bones about speaking the very words of God. You must have noticed, too, that it includes so much historical narrative, as well as scientific statement, as to invite testing at every turn. Further, it records its own criteria for determining whose message was inspired by God and whose was not, and these criteria focus on objective testing.
According to Deuteronomy 18:21, God anticipated that people would ask, "‘How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?’" Without hesitation He replies, "If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken." Even those prophets whose forecasts reached across the centuries into our time gave sufficient short-range predictions to establish their credibility as God’s spokesmen.
This matter of the rightness or wrongness, propriety or impropriety, of testing really hinges upon attitude. Anyone who has examined the scriptural examples of testing—or who works with small children—will know immediately what I mean. There is the testing that seeks to discover and/or demonstrate the qualities (or, as Hugh would say, the "parameters") of something. Then there is the testing that expresses defiance, that dares, that seeks to manipulate by drawing a reaction. The first time Joel blew through a straw into a thick milkshake he was conducting an experiment—the good kind of testing. Of course, he was delighted with the results, and, of course, he continued blowing, even after I suppressed my laughter and ordered him to stop. Here he shifted to the wrong kind of testing.
We see from both Old and New Testament examples—Moses, Abraham, David, the Disciples, the father of the demon-possessed boy (Mark 9:24), and dozens more—that God accepts and understands and answers our questions and our doubts when our attitude is one of humility and respect. The kind of testing that is forbidden (Deuteronomy 6:16) is that which shakes a fist against God or sneers at Him or attempts to manipulate Him. The Israelites and the Pharisees provide an abundance of illustrations.
May God give us wisdom to discern the attitudes behind our tests, our inquiries, and also behind those of others. One kind will be accepted and, in due time, answered, the other deserves a warning, at best.
Meet Our Staff
By Penny Karipides
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Imagine our delight in finding a man whose education, professional experience, spiritual maturity, and availability for volunteer service perfectly fit the needs of Reasons To Believe. Actually, we did not find Mal Scharer, he found us—or, more accurately, God brought us together.
A few years ago, Mal began attending Sierra Madre Congregational Church and the "Paradoxes" Sunday School Class, led by Hugh. There he learned of the newly forming apologetics ministry.
"What a joy," says Mal, "to sense the Lord’s timing in leading me to a place where I can use my training and background as I serve and grow in the ministry of evangelism and defense of the gospel."
Mal has an M.S. in physics from Caltech and has worked for many years as an engineer with the State of California Naval Systems Department. Recently he decided to exchange the rigors of fulltime employment for the greater rigors of part-time consulting and almost-fulltime volunteer work for RTB. He assists in many capacities, accompanying Hugh to outreaches, manning the book table, and answering some of the more technical questions that arise after Hugh’s presentation.
With the increase in our mail, especially in the number of questions we receive on various points of science and apologetics, Mal has been asked to serve as our Apologetics Correspondence Editor. How glad we are that he has said, "Yes." And what an added blessing for us that Mal’s newest toy is a Macintosh, so that even in his "leisure" time he is mastering skills that make him more efficient and effective in ministry.
Pray-ers' Closet
We are pleased to report that the Mighty Five mentioned in our last issue of Facts & Faith are no longer just five. Some new recruits have recently joined this local squad of pray-ers. As you can see in the Field Report and Readers Write columns, their efforts have been wonderfully successful. Clearly, these men and women serve as our "advance guard," going ahead of the front line team with the most powerful weapons in the world: praise and prayer. (See II Chronicles 20:1-30.)
The time has come again for our quarterly "Prayerfest" for the Reasons To Believe ministry. The purpose is to engage in concerted, concentrated prayer and fasting for our staff and volunteers and activities, and for those whose lives we seek to touch. Participants will begin individually at home on Friday evening, July 15, with personal reflection, confession, and prayer. Then we will gather together at 154 West Sierra Madre Boulevard, in Sierra Madre (our regular monthly meeting place), beginning at 10:30 A.M., on Saturday, July 16, for a day of group intercession, praise, and communion. We will break the fast gently and joyfully with supper together Saturday evening.
To obtain a set of notes and guidelines on "Fasting," or to let us know of your plan to participate, please call Roberta at our office, (626) 355-6058.
Please note this correction of information given last time: our local prayer group meets on the fourth Thursday, not Monday, of each month, 7:30 P.M., at the address given above. We hope you will join us, if not here, then wherever you live.
Readers Write
"...Although I did not grasp most of the technical areas discussed at your seminar, I did grasp one very important truth—that our GOD is BOUNDLESS...
"I am hopeful that with God's strength, the teachings from my church, my quiet times with the Lord, and the information and knowledge that your ministry has to offer, I will become a better apologist of the Word of God."
--M.G., El Segundo, CA
"Just a brief note to let you know that I really appreciate receiving your materials. Since virtually every false belief system stems from evolution, yours is a most important work that God has given you. May God continue opening up doors for your ministry."
--K.M., Denver, CO
"...I will be praying for the continued success of your ministry. There are millions of people in southern California who believe that the Bible is not worth reading because it is inconsistent with science as we understand it. I was one of them...
--J.S., Chatsworth, CA
"...Thank God you're doing something about the awful mess and confusion people are in about what to believe. I believe if people knew that God created them, they would accept Christ in their lives."
--B.G., Toledo, OH
"Dr. Hugh Ross was recently a guest speaker at our church... We missed the Sunday he was there, but ordered the tapes from our church. We have enjoyed them immensely, especially our 18-year-old son, who has listened to them dozens of times and seems to have had his eyes opened to the reality of God..."
--The S. family, Manteca, CA
Calendar of Events
June 24-26: 1988 Conference of the Ad Hoc Origins Group, sponsored by two private foundations, to be held at the Sheraton Tacoma Hotel. This year’s subject: "Source of Information Content in DNA." Hugh will be presenting a paper. For information call William Ellis in Seattle at (206) 682-0565.
July 3, 10, 17, and 31: Sunday morning series on "Questions Non-Christians Ask," sponsored by the Pioneers Class of Sierra Madre Congregational Church, 170 West Sierra Madre Boulevard, Sierra Madre. Hugh will present the questions, suggest some answers, then discuss the questions behind the questions. Class meets at 11:15 A.M. in the Park House across the street from the church.
July 9: Dinner meeting of the Bible-Science Society at Carrow’s Restaurant, Seaward Avenue (just west of the 134 Freeway) in Ventura, 6 P.M. Hugh will lead a Bible study on the age of the universe and the earth. Contact person is Dale King at (805) 649-3665.
July 12: Breakfast outreach, 7 A.M., at the Saddleback Inn, sponsored by the Santa Ana chapter of CBMC (Christian Businessmen’s Committee). Hugh will give his personal story of coming to faith in Christ.
July 15-16: Reasons To Believe "Prayerfest." For details see the Pray-ers’ Closet column, p.__.
July 16: "Straight Talk" radio broadcast, 6-7 P.M., on KLFE, 1240 AM, in San Bernardino. Hugh will answer callers’ questions about dinosaurs, cavemen, and other science-and-scripture issues. Sponsor is Teen Concepts ministry.
July 17: Sunday evening outreach, 6 P.M., at University United Methodist Church, 18422 Culver Drive, Irvine. Hugh will speak on Science and Genesis, leaving lots of time for questions.
July 21-23: North American Conference of the Mar Thoma Church, to be held at Del Lago Resort and Conference Center, near Houston. Hugh will address the young people on "Creation v. Evolution" and on the "Challenges of Being a Christian in a Secularized Society."
July 24: Sunday evening outreach, 6 P.M., at Ventura Missionary Church, 500 High Point Drive (corner of High Point and Foothill), in Ventura. Hugh will again give his testimony.
August 6: Barbeque and swim party for Reasons To Believe volunteer workers. Details to be announced.
August 24: Ross baby’s due date.
August 21 and 28: Sunday morning outreach, 10:45-11:45 A.M., at La Crescenta Baptist Church, 4441 La Cresenta Avenue, in La Crescenta. Hugh will speak to combined adult classes on "New Proofs for God’s Existence."
September 9-11: Northern California Regional Conference of the CBMC, at Mt. Hermon Christian Conference Center. Hugh will give a workshop on apologetics and address the Sunday morning Bible Hour. For details call John Moseley in Fresno at (209) 225-5095.
September 23-24: Student outreaches at the University of Iowa. Hugh will present "New Proofs for God’s Existence" to a group of internationals and to the students and faculty at large.
Southern California residents, you will soon be receiving details of Hugh’s fall semester course on "Origins."
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