Unraveling the Early Universe: an exploration of science and theology

Abstract Cosmology is the scientific study and examination of the origin of the universe and its nature. Current astronomy is dominated by the Big Band theory, the idea that the universe was initially a small, infinitely hot and dense point that stretched out over the course of 13.7 billion years to become the current, still expanding collection of galaxies. Most Christian creationists reject this theory. The foundation of Christian teaching is the doctrine of Creatio ex nihilo, the idea that a divine being brought about all matter from nothing in a single creation event, or series of events. Philosophical cosmology is a branch of philosophy that deals specifically with universal structure and origins. It is the examination of the universe under the lens of deductive and inductive reasoning and arguments. For this project, I aimed to bridge the gaps between these ideologies on a small scale. Throughout the project, I interviewed several experts in theology, science, and philosophy in Bethlehem. I filmed interviews with an astrophysicist, a string theorist, a biochemist who doesn't believe in evolution, a pastor, a metaphysician, and a philosopher with a specialization in mathematics. I asked each participant to explain to me their beliefs about the early universe. I also asked them how they approach opposition, and on their ideas about the intersection between theology and science. I then went through all of the footage and assembled it into a narrative that presented different ideologies voices and how they interact with each other. At the end of this project I had a better understanding of the relationship between science and theology. I also gained a better understanding of what different groups believe and the thinking behind their beliefs.