The "Big Bang" was a derisive term first used by astronomer Fred Hoyle to poke fun at the concept of a super hot, sudden expansion event bringing the universe into existence from an infinitesimally small point, and expanding ever since. Hoyle, the scientist whose Steady State universe (no beginning, no end) was replaced by a radically different concept, made fun of the new evidence by making it sound like a destructive explosion such as a dynamite blast.
In reality the Big Bang was not destructive, not chaos-producing at all. Rather, it was an event demanding "engineering" billions of times more precise than the most exacting engineering feats ever produced by man. Dozens of cosmic characteristics such as the strength of nuclear, gravitational, and electromagnetic forces, masses, and numbers of atomic particles, must have been exquisitely fine-tuned in order for life to be possible anywhere in the universe at some future time. In addition, many other fine tuning requirements are needed in our galaxy, our solar system, and on our planet earth in order to support life. The chance that such favorable conditions exist anywhere else in our universe is remote beyond comprehension. A universe exhibiting the characteristics necessary to support life is said to operate with the "anthropic principle." This term became popular several decades ago and is still in use.
Scientists had theorized that the Big Bang, if it occurred, should have produced detectable left-over radiation, like glowing embers from a died down campfire. Arno Penzias, with Robert Wilson, using equipment at Bell Labs in Holmdel, New Jersey, discovered this radiation in 1965. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1978 based on the significance of his discovery in establishing Big Bang cosmology. Many other discoveries since then have established the certainty of the Big Bang event beyond any reasonable doubt. Over the years Penzias has made many theological statements relating to the fine tuning of the universe and the Big Bang creation event. In 1992 he said "Astronomy leads us to a unique event, a universe which was created out of nothing, one with the very delicate balance needed to provide exactly the conditions required to permit life, and one which has an underlying (one might say 'supernatural') plan." Dr. Penzias is still alive. He has made many statements affirming Genesis 1:1: "In the beginning GOD CREATED....."
