Sophie's World By Jostein Gaarder
(November 11, 2011) by Andy
The Big Bang
1. (p. 507) Once upon a time, about 15 billion years ago, all substance in the universe was assembled in a relatively small area. The substance was so dense that gravity made it terrifically hot. Finally it got so hot and so tightly packed that it exploded. We call this explosion the Big Bang.
2. (p. 508) Because even though the universe continues to expand, the force of gravity is working the other way. And one day, in a couple of billion years, gravity will perhaps cause the heavenly bodies to be packed again as the force of the huge explosion begins to weaken. Then we would get a reverse explosion, a so-called implosion.
3. (p. 508) Astronomers think there are two possible scenarios for the future of the universe. Either the universe will go on expanding forever so that the galaxies will draw further and further apart―or the universe will begin to contract again.
4. (p. 508) For a Christian, it would be obvious to see the Big Bang as the actual moment of creation. The Bible tells us that God said "Let there be light!" From Christian's linear view of history, it is better to imagine the universe continuing to expand.
5. (p. 509) In the Orient they have a cyclic view of history. In other words, history repeats itself eternally. In India, for example, there is an ancient theory that the world continually unfolds and folds again, thus alternating between what Indians have called Brahman's Day and Brahman's Night. This idea harmonizes best, of course, with the universe expanding and contracting―in order to expand again―in an eternal cyclic process.
Question: What do you think about the future of the universe if the theory of the Big Bang is true? Do you think the universe will go on expanding forever? Or, do you think it will begin to contract again some day?