Q&A: Creation Ex Nihilo in Science
Creation Ex Nihilo in Science
Question
Hello Rabbi,
Is the Big Bang theory essentially talking about creation ex nihilo? That is, that matter emerged from absolute nothingness? Of course, one cannot speak about “before” the Big Bang, but is the conclusion that follows that matter is in fact not eternal? And from here, that the strongest claim (for a believer, of course) is that God is separate and non-material, etc.? And from here as well, that one does not need philosophical arguments of one kind or another, such as those of Rabbi Saadia Gaon and Maimonides, regarding God’s immateriality?
I would also be glad if you could explain whether, in your opinion, God’s lack of physicality is an empirical proof, and what philosophical arguments support it.
Thank you very much.
Answer
The Big Bang theory does not prove that matter is not eternal. At most, it shows that the matter in our universe has existed for a finite amount of time. But perhaps eternal matter could exist in another universe.
God’s lack of physicality has no empirical proof whatsoever, just as His existence has no such proof. This is a tradition we have received. And indeed, there is a reasonable assumption that matter cannot be primordial but was created at some stage, although no proof can be brought from the Big Bang, as stated above.
Discussion on Answer
I wrote a book about this: The First Existent. It presents philosophical arguments that are better than those old arguments.
So why, in your opinion, is there a God? After all, the argument from tradition has many weaknesses—Christians also received their doctrine through tradition, and so did Islam. Beyond that, it is hard to learn anything decisive from history. And if the classical arguments for God’s existence are, in your view, nothing more than probability, as is also the case with His lack of physicality, then isn’t this a faith based on probability? Why do you think He is not physical, for example? Tradition or arguments? Because from the Torah one could also make the mistake of thinking that this is a physical God… Or was it the scientific findings that led you to believe? Not that I mean to belittle anything, heaven forbid; it’s just that if the classical philosophical arguments collapse, then a large part of my spiritual world is left with a question mark…