Exploring Theories of a Godless Universe (Part Three)

In Part One and Two, we examined different theories on the origins of the universe. Part One covered theories proposing that the universe has always existed. Part Two focused on the Big Bang theory in its current form, known as inflation theory, which suggests a multiverse. We explored a range of hypotheses, many of which cannot be verified. In the final part of this series, we will look at prominent scientific theories based on quantum mechanics that question the nature of reality itself.

Scientists, philosophers, and other thinkers continue to confront one of the most fundamental questions: why does anything exist at all? A logical conclusion is that since something exists, there must be something that has always existed without a beginning. This could be a personal Creator God, the universe itself, or whatever brought the universe into being. Some thinkers ascribe divine attributes to the universe, as seen in panpsychism. Others simply accept that existence is a given, that the Big Bang occurred, and that no further explanation is required.

Quantum mechanics, or more precisely its various interpretations, further shapes this perspective, often questioning the very nature of reality. Some thinkers argue that the universe is not truly real, a view even shared by certain public figures. What are the theories behind this idea?

Simulation theory

Films such as The Matrix and The Thirteenth Floor have brought the idea into popular culture that the reality we perceive may not be what it seems. Some argue that it could be a computer simulation created by another intelligence. Even public figures like Elon Musk have entertained this possibility, reportedly stating, ‘There’s one chance in billions that this is base reality’.¹ He considers it far more likely that we are living in a simulation. Neil deGrasse Tyson, by contrast, has suggested that the probability is fifty-fifty.²

Nick Bostrom, an English philosopher of Swedish origin, first proposed this idea and is also known for his work on transhumanism. Simulation theory is, in some respects, an interpretation of quantum mechanics. It suggests that our universe was created by a programmer who also designed the intelligent beings within it. One argument for this is the existence of cosmological constants that make life possible. Another is that DNA resembles a programmed carrier, using a code.³

Does this not remind us of something? First, it must be acknowledged that any simulation must originate from an actual reality.⁴ Yet this brings us back to the same question: where does that reality come from? Second, it is not difficult to see that the theory resembles a secular version of the Intelligent Design hypothesis, which argues for God as the Creator. Is it possible that some atheists are, however indirectly, admitting that God exists?

The problem of Boltzmann brains

The concept of an eternal universe faces a significant problem. Over time, the universe progresses from a state of lower entropy to higher entropy.⁵ If it were truly eternal, it would have already reached a state of maximum entropy, leading to eternal thermal equilibrium—effectively, heat death. Austrian physicist Ludwig Boltzmann (1844–1906) proposed two possible explanations: either the universe had a definite beginning, as described by the classical Big Bang theory, or we exist within an eternal, high-entropy universe, known as the Boltzmann universe.⁶

If this were true, it would have a set of specific consequences. In an eternal universe, disordered matter could randomly organise itself into various forms an infinite number of times, only to quickly vanish. The problem is that modern calculations indicate it is far more likely for a small fragment of the universe, such as a planet, to form than for an entire vast universe to appear.⁷

This idea also applies to self-aware observers, known as Boltzmann brains.⁸ Calculations suggest that the spontaneous appearance of a vast number of Boltzmann brains is far more probable than the existence of an entire universe with naturally evolved brains. These brains would supposedly form and then quickly vanish. In theory, each of us could be a Boltzmann brain, with false memories of childhood and past experiences. Some probability calculations indicate that such randomly generated Boltzmann brains could vastly outnumber evolved brains.

The universe… does not exist?

No scientist takes the idea of Boltzmann brains seriously. However, for those who accept the notion of an eternal universe in any of the forms previously discussed, this presents a significant problem. They attempt to reject this scenario entirely but cannot. If the universe is eternal, the existence of Boltzmann brains appears unavoidable. If the universe had a definite beginning, the issue of Boltzmann brains does not arise, but the question of what caused its creation remains.

Considering quantum mechanics and the issues discussed above, some thinkers propose a surprising solution: the universe may not exist at all, or at least not when it is not being observed.⁹ In this context, Schrödinger’s cat serves as a relevant example. Until we open the box, we cannot determine whether the cat inside is alive or dead. Until that moment, it remains in a state of superposition, meaning it exists in both states simultaneously.

Applied to matter, this means that a particle remains in superposition until it is observed, at which point it takes on a definite position. Some scientists argue that if something is not being observed, it is too diffused to exist in a concrete form. Another interpretation suggests that the universe itself is nothing more than an illusion or, at best, a hologram.¹⁰ This does not significantly differ from the simulation theory.

Quantum mechanics confirms the existence of God

Meanwhile, we know with certainty that the universe and matter exist. After all, one can walk backwards while looking ahead and still bump into a wall. It also seems that quantum mechanics itself may provide evidence for the existence of God. How? The Bible says, ‘The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good’.¹¹ If quantum mechanics suggests that an observer is necessary for something to exist, and everything around us does indeed appear to exist, then this biblical verse offers an explanation. Our existence, as well as that of the entire universe, is dependent on God, whose gaze reaches every part of creation.

The secular theories examined in this series of articles arise from a refusal to recognize God as the Creator of all that exists. Yet they create a range of problems, including the question of eternity, the cause of the universe’s existence, and the very nature of reality. Without acknowledging God, these issues remain unresolved, which implies that only through Him could everything have come into existence.

By the way, we recommend reading the articles:

• Can Scientists Prove That the Universe Cannot Be Eternal?
• Saturn’s Rings as Evidence of a Young Solar System
• Blue Eyes – Mutation or Common Genetic Variant?
• King Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream: How History Validates the Bible
• Eugenics and Its Consequences

Footnotes

1. Koebler, J., 2016. Elon Musk Says There’s a ‘One in Billions’ Chance Reality Is Not a Simulation. Vice. Available at: https://www.vice.com/amp/en/article/8q854v/elon-musk-simulated-universe-hypothesis.
2. Ananthaswamy, A., 2020. Do We Live in a Simulation? Chances Are About 50-50. Scientific American. Available at: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/do-we-live-in-a-simulation-chances-are-about-50-50/.
3. Stieb, M., 2019. 15 Irrefutable Reasons Why We Might Be Living in a Simulation. Vulture. Available at: https://www.vulture.com/2019/02/15-irrefutable-reasons-we-might-be-living-in-a-simulation.html.
4. Is the Universe a Simulation?, 2017. Creation Ministries International. Available at: https://creation.com/is-the-universe-a-simulator.
5. Entropy is a measure of disorder in a system and the dispersion of energy. In other words, the greater the entropy, the less ordered the matter and the more dispersed the energy (uniform temperature). We live in a universe with low entropy, where matter is concentrated, e.g., in stars and planets, and energy is distributed unevenly, e.g., the Sun has a different temperature than interstellar space. When we say that the universe tends toward increasing entropy, it means that matter slowly disintegrates, and energy disperses through exchange with cooler surroundings (temperature becomes uniform).
6. Overbye, D., 2008. Big Brain Theory: Have Cosmologists Lost Theirs? The New York Times. Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/15/science/15brain.html?ex=1358053200&en=75ecd83396958544&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss.
7. Ibid.
8. These do not have to be literal brains but any matter arrangement that would theoretically form self-awareness.
9. Lockett, W., 2021. Does the Universe Exist When We Aren’t Looking? Medium. Available at: https://medium.com/predict/does-the-universe-exist-when-we-arent-looking-f242d80bcd60.
10. Beall, A., 2017. Theory Claims to Offer the First ‘Evidence’ Our Universe Is a Hologram. Wired. Available at: https://www.wired.co.uk/article/our-universe-is-a-hologram.
11. The Bible, New King James Version, 1982, Proverbs 15:3.

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Evolution of Thinking - Sebastian S.

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