THE SEARCH FOR ALTERNATIVES TO THE BIG BANG THEORY

As clearly seen, the Big Bang theory proved that the universe was ‘created from nothing’, in other words, that it was created by Allah. For this reason, astronomers committed to the materialist philosophy continued to resist the Big Bang and uphold the steady-state theory. The reason for this effort was revealed in the following words of A. S. Eddington, one of the foremost materialist physicists: ‘Philosophically, the notion of an abrupt beginning to the present order of Nature is repugnant to me.’ ²

Sir Fred Hoyle was one of those who were disturbed by the Big Bang theory. In the middle of the century, Hoyle championed a theory called the steady-state which was similar to the ‘constant universe’ approach of the 19th century. The steady-state theory argued that the universe was both infinite in size and eternal in duration. With the sole visible aim of supporting the materialist philosophy, this theory was totally at variance with the ‘Big Bang’ theory, which held that the universe had a beginning.

Those who defended the steady-state theory opposed the Big Bang for a long time. Science, however, was working against them.

Some scientists, on the other hand, looked for ways to develop alternatives.

In 1948, George Gamov came up with another idea concerning the Big Bang. He stated that after the formation of the universe by a big explosion, a radiation surplus should have existed in the universe left over from this explosion. Moreover, this radiation ought to be uniformly diffused across the universe.

This evidence which ‘ought to have existed’ was soon to be found.

Chapter 1: From Non-Being To Being

• THE EXPANSION OF THE UNIVERSE  
• THE SEARCH FOR ALTERNATIVES TO THE BIG BANG THEORY
• MORE EVIDENCE: COSMIC BACKGROUND RADIATION
• DELICATE BALANCES IN SPACE
• THE CREATION OF MATTER
• AFTER THE BIG BANG

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