CreationStudies Institute
[Originally published as Great Ideas Change Perspective]
Great ideas change the world! Men with carefully planned ideas and visions have achieved monumental feats. They have sent men to the moon, built a space station, and launched satellites to probe the depths of space. With the goal of understanding the mysteries of the heavens, we discovered how small and insignificant we were in comparison to the magnificent expanse of space.
It is still expanding with its billion-trillion giant bundles of gases and stars, all moving at breath-taking speeds of millions of miles per hour and all miraculously governed by the cosmic laws of gravity.
Sir Isaac Newton
Most would agree that we owe much to the genius of Sir Isaac Newton (1643–1727). In 1687, he first introduced the idea of the laws of motion and universal gravitation in his Principia or more formally titled Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica (Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy). Newton opened the doors that revealed the universe and its heavenly bodies were a masterpiece of order. It is considered one of the most important works of science, because the ideas presented drastically changed the way we looked at the world.
Newton gave us insight into the workings of certain observable laws so that we could document and utilize them. He proved these laws that were operating here on earth were also at work in heavenly places throughout the universe. These laws that are universal and foundational to man never change. He demonstrated that man was embedded as part of a universal creative order.
For the first time, without any question, these laws gave man an empirical way to measure the universe. It was so exciting that all moving objects, regardless of whether or not they were found here on earth or in the far reaches of the universe, are bound by finely-tuned constants that can be mathematically confirmed. It was no longer a universe of chaos and randomness, but a work of the divine Watchmaker Who designed the cosmos with precise mathematical detail for all to admire. Newton emphasized that this high degree of organization was a masterful design that came only from the hand of an intelligent Creator. He stated in Principia,
This most beautiful system of sun, planets, and comets could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful being.
Of course, it is predicted in the Word of God that His invisible divine attributes will be made evident by what He has made so that everyone, without exception, can witness them (Romans 1:20). There can be no other logical conclusion, but still there are many today that substitute the irrational evolutionary Big Bang scenario for the rational Word of God.
Newton’s ideas gave us understanding and confidence that the world was so predictable that it was intrinsically linked with mathematical precision. Before Newton, Tyco Brahe, Johannes Kepler, and other astronomers used mathematical relationships to observe and predict the movement of heavenly bodies. It was from Kepler’s work on planetary motion that Newton developed an advanced form of math: calculus. Great ideas are contagious and give birth to new ones. Newton used the work of astronomers like Kepler to forge a new physics that produced a mechanical universe written with universal mathematical language of formulas and equations.
James Clerk Maxwell
In the same spirit as his predecessor Newton, James Clerk Maxwell (1831-1879) developed the classical theory of Electromagnetic Radiation (1865). His theory unified the three basic concepts of the speed of light, electricity, and magnetism. This colossal discovery resulted in a set of mathematical relationships termed Maxwell’s Equations. For the first time, it would be used to understand and quantify three forms of energy. These equations received much attention and a number of noted physicists today agree with this statement,
Maxwell achieved the second great unification in physics. The first great unification in physics was Newton’s unification of terrestrial and celestial mechanics.
As an evangelical Christian, Maxwell, like Newton before him, believed in a Creator who produced an orderly universe. Although he died of cancer at age 48, he was gifted with a brilliant mind that has left a legacy of scientific contributions to benefit generations to come. He was committed to His Savior.
He obeyed the great mandate to have dominion over the earth. His passion for discovery and need to find the truth caused Maxwell to be blessed in discovering His Creator’s majesty. He humbled himself as his Savior’s servant. His dedication to this quest was reflected in Maxwell’s prayer,
Teach us to study the works of Thy hands that we may subdue the earth to our use and strengthen our reason for Thy service.
Albert Einstein
Einstein himself was a great admirer of Maxwell’s work. He was on a throne of honor equal to the genius of Newton as expressed in Einstein’s words:
Since Maxwell’s time, physical reality has been thought of as represented by continuous fields, and not capable of any mechanical interpretation. This change in the conception of reality is the most profound and the most fruitful that physics has experienced since the time of Newton.
Einstein used Maxwell’s Equations to develop his Special Relativity Theory. It was the foundation that became the basis of Einstein’s genius which gave us a brand new vision of the universe. Einstein launched mankind’s introduction to the atomic age using the famous equation of E = mc2. It would give new meaning to the world of science, because it revealed that the basic building blocks of matter and energy were not fixed but interchangeable.
Using Einstein’s equation, we were able to discover that tiny morsels of matter can be converted into huge amounts of energy. These reservoirs of power were found inside the atom, the tiny particle that composes you, me, and everything in the cosmos. The energy inside the atom is tremendous and it is called binding energy – the force that keeps everything together.
Man has never seen so much energy stored in one place. We have seen this energy released in the form of nuclear explosions that are generated when atoms divide. When men found a way to divide a group of atoms with special radioactive materials, they produced energy so powerful that they would replicate conditions found in the sun’s inner furnace.
Beginning in the early 1900’s, we would see the effects of Einstein’s discovery in the nuclear age. This gargantuan amount of energy can be harnessed into two categories – good and evil. One brings an extremely efficient method of producing energy with its nuclear reactors and the accompanying challenge of safely disposing its dangerous waste. The other could be used as a weapon of mass destruction. The United States of America dropped two atomic bombs on Japan in 1945, thereby destroying hundreds of thousands of lives. It was done in order to avoid the large number of allied casualties that would result from an invasion of the Japanese mainland. While the cost of human life was large, it did bring a swift end to World War II.
The Foolish Ideas of Man
Nuclear forces are the strongest of all forces known to man. It is the glue our Creator uses to keep everything together as stated, “And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Col. 1:17 ESV)
Where did these massive nuclear forces originate? Where did the forces of Maxwell’s electromagnetism and Newton’s universal gravitation begin? These are fundamental questions that need to be answered. Most scientists can only resort to the Big Bang theory where all matter and energy has been inexplicably reduced to a tiny pin point in space. For some unknown reason, this pin point exploded and took 13.8 billion years to cool off into an orderly state that resulted in the incredible complexity of life.
Is this a Fairy Tale?
Yes. Is the Big Bang theory accepted as a scientific fact and proselytized to the public and its educational institutions on all levels? Unfortunately, a resounding – Yes!
The Big Bang Theory was a one-time event with serious inherent flaws. Where did the matter/energy come from in the first place?
This a direct violation of the First Law of Thermodynamics which a foundational decree in science that states that matter/energy is constant in the universe.
Along with this major violation of the foundational law of physics, there is a preposterous assumption that the universe was ordered through the random movement of highly-energized gaseous elements that would coalesce together at tremendous speeds, cooling off to eventually form the most complex living systems.
This is a direct violation of another a major law of science, the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics. This law states that “in all energy exchanges, if no energy enters or leaves the system (a closed system), the potential energy of the state will always be less than that of the initial state.” This is also commonly referred to as entropy. This law prevents what evolutionary scientists say took place in the Big Bang beginning of our universe. After all, how can an explosion cause the orderly universe we observe today?
Christ is the Central Idea
This alleged one-time event is evolution’s story of the beginning of our universe. This is taught in our schools, from kindergarten to university, and it is really just the foolishness of man. There are ideas that move man forward, and others that become hindrances. All they do is waste resources and cause more confusion. This foolishness results in more darkness, chaos, and self-destruction.
All great ideas point us to our Savior because God designed things to work that way. Romans chapter one warns us about those who continually deny their Savior. It warns them that the wrath of God is being revealed on us and His Creation. The reason is clear.
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (Romans 1:21 NKJV)
As you reflect on God’s Word, know that the cosmos is held together by the power of Christ’s mighty Word. We also know that it is destined for the day of judgment, as stated in 2 Peter 3:7 (NKJV), “But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” The “heavens and earth,” which includes everything in the cosmos, will be ultimately destroyed by fire.
Through various discoveries over time, man has been led to ascertain the tremendous force of binding energy that is locked up in every atom. It is only through Him that the earth and universe are held together, and only He can release that immense energy from every atom resulting in a display of unbelievable heat and fire. The Scripture speaks of this horrific event stating,
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. (2 Peter 3:10 NKJV)
