The cosmology currently held by most physicists is that the universe began with a 'Big Bang' a finite amount of time in the past. It has not always been so. Einstein, for example, inserted a 'cosmological constant' into his theory of gravitation - the theory of relativity - so that the universe would be stable with no change (at the cosmological scale) over time. Only after Edwin Hubble discovered that the universe was expanding did Einstein decide that the cosmological constant was a mistake (it is currently being considered for revival for other reasons).
Today, some physicists are thinking about what could have happened 'before' the Big Bang, thinking that implies the possibility of a universe extending into the infinite past.
How could such a universe be consistent with the Christian belief that God created the universe?
Well, an infinitely old universe can be consistent with its creation by God. A simple metaphor most easily illustrates. The metaphor is man the creator as a metaphor for God the Creator. After all, we were created in the image of God, so surely our creativity is in the image of God's creativity. What we can do with our creativity God can surely do.
So here it is. I will create a story, whose 'universe' has no beginning in the time dimension of that universe:
What's the point? The point is, whether or not the universe had a beginning in time has no implication for our faith that God created the universe. No need to fret if the physicists change their minds about beginnings.
(I could write story in six days about a species living in a universe that was created 13 billion years ago.)
Today, some physicists are thinking about what could have happened 'before' the Big Bang, thinking that implies the possibility of a universe extending into the infinite past.
How could such a universe be consistent with the Christian belief that God created the universe?
Well, an infinitely old universe can be consistent with its creation by God. A simple metaphor most easily illustrates. The metaphor is man the creator as a metaphor for God the Creator. After all, we were created in the image of God, so surely our creativity is in the image of God's creativity. What we can do with our creativity God can surely do.
So here it is. I will create a story, whose 'universe' has no beginning in the time dimension of that universe:
The Phyligians were a species of beings who lived in a universe that had no beginning in time, just as the phyligians themselves had always existed. They enjoyed philosophical discussion, but they yearned unknowingly for a religious meaning for their lives. They loved their children and each other, which provided them with sufficient solace that they were not miserable. The end.
There. Tom the creator just created a populated 'universe' that has no beginning in 'time'. Just so, God could create a universe that has no beginning in time. We like to say that God exists outside of time (just as I exist outside the time of the phyligian's universe).
What's the point? The point is, whether or not the universe had a beginning in time has no implication for our faith that God created the universe. No need to fret if the physicists change their minds about beginnings.
(I could write story in six days about a species living in a universe that was created 13 billion years ago.)