Description
Book SynopsisThis book critically explores answers to the big question, What produced our universe around fifteen billion years ago in a Big Bang? It critiques contemporary atheistic cosmologies, including Steady State, Oscillationism, Big Fizz, Big Divide, and Big Accident, that affirm the eternity and self-sufficiency of the universe without God. This study defends and revises Process Theology and arguments for God's existence from the universe's life-supporting order and contingent existence.
Trade Review"Edwards’ scholarship and erudition are really quite impressive … provides a very helpful overview of the basic alternatives seeking to explain the origination of the big bang, making a reasoned case for creation" - in: International Journal for Philosophy of religion 53 (2003) "This is a book that fills a large lacuna in process studies, namely, an examination of contemporary cosmology’s theories of origins from a perspective knowledgeable about, and sympathetic to, process thought. This is the first book authored by an avowed process thinker that focuses on the Big Bang and other recent theories of the physical universe’s origin. … [Edwards’] whole book is “must” reading for anyone interested in issues pertaining to the cognitive integration of science and religion, and particularly for those with interests in the integration of science and process theism." - in: Process Studies 31.2 (2002)
Table of ContentsEditorial Foreword Kenneth A. BRYSON: Preface Acknowledgments ONE. Scientific Cosmology and the Big Bang 1.The Evolution of the Universe 2. Evidences for the Big Bang 3. Scientific Cosmological Agnosticism TWO. Humanistic Naturalism 1. Family Traits of Humanistic Naturalism 2. How Scientific Is Humanistic Naturalism? THREE. Steady State and Plasma Cosmologies 1. Steady State Cosmology 2. Critique of Steady State Cosmology 3. Plasma Cosmology and Eric Lerner’s Critique of the Big Bang 4. Critique of Plasma Cosmology FOUR. Antecedent Universe Cosmologies 1. Gamow’s Infinite Squeeze/Bang/Rebound Universe 2. Critique of Gamow’s Cosmology 3. Oscillation Cosmology 4. Critique of Oscillation Cosmology FIVE. Big Fizz and Big Divide Quantum Cosmologies 1. Big Fizz Quantum Cosmology 2. Big Divide Many Worlds Cosmology 3. Critique of World-Ensemble Cosmologies SIX. Quantum Observership Cosmology 1. Observers Create the Universe 2. Critique of Quantum Observership SEVEN. Big Accident Quantum Cosmology 1. The Universe as a Big Accident 2. Critique of Big Accident Quantum Cosmology EIGHT. Atheistic Anthropic Cosmology 1. The Anthropic Principle and Cosmic Purpose Without God 2. The Weak and Strong Anthropic Principles 3. Critique of Infinite World-Ensemble Teleology NINE. The Final Anthropic Principle 1.The Omega Point as the Purpose of the Universe 2. Critique of the Final Anthropic Principle TEN. Concepts of God’s Nature and Existence 1.Two Concepts of God’s Nature: Classical and Process Theology 2. Conceiving of God’s Existence 3. Critique of Process Theology ELEVEN. The Biopic Teleological Argument 1. God’s Purpose for the Universe and Cosmic Teleology 2. Critique and Defense of the Biopic Teleological Argument TWELVE. Theism and Cosmic Contingency 1. A Cosmological Argument from Contingency 2. Critique and Defense of the Cosmological Argument from Contingency Notes Bibliography About the Author Index
