In the past few years, we have been getting new data from the James Webb telescope and other instruments. There have been several news reports saying that some results strike at the foundations of the modern consensus on cosmology. In this workshop, we will discuss what is still agreed on, what are open questions, and the theological “stakes” for Christians. How should modern cosmology affect how we think about apologetics and the origin of the universe?
To register for this event, scroll to the registration form at the bottom of this page.
Schedule and speakers:
All talks will be in the Business Building of Biola University, Room 109. Free parking will be available.
8:00 PM, Friday, February 21:
Jeff Zweerink, “What Does JWST Tell Us About the Universe?”
In July 2022, The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) started provided stunning images of the universe. Those images challenged our understanding of galaxy formation, illuminated the atmospheres of distant planets, and added new data to discussions about the universe’s development. Additionally, the smooth deployment and spectacular functioning of JWST also demonstrated the remarkable ingenuity of humanity. While some claim that JWST is overthrowing our standard model of cosmology, aka the Big Bang, the observations from this amazing telescope actually provide strong evidence in support of our best models of the universe as well as giving good insight in how to make those models even better.
Bio: Astrophysicist Jeff Zweerink is a senior research scholar at Reasons to Believe (RTB). He earned a PhD in astrophysics from Iowa State University. His writings and speaking engagements encourage people to consider the connection between scientific evidence and Scripture’s truth. He is the author of Escaping the Beginning?, Is There Life Out There?, and Who’s Afraid of the Multiverse?, and coauthor of Building Bridges and the Impact Events student devotional series. Jeff is also a project scientist at UCLA.
This talk is open to the public; no registration is required.
8:30 AM, Saturday, February 22:
Arrival and Registration with Coffee and Bagels
9:00 AM, Saturday, February 22:
Robert Mann, “A Small Voice in a Big Bang?”
The Big Bang has in 75 years gone from being a hypothetical idea about the nature of the early universe to a model that is now tested with high precision. New observations are simultaneously resolving old mysteries and raising new puzzles. I will provide an overview of the basic big bang model, highlighting its triumphs, its challenges, and its implications for Christian theology and faith.
Bio: Robert Mann is a Professor of Physics at the University of Waterloo who specializes in black holes, particle physics, and quantum information. He has authored over 600 journal papers and 2 books, and has over 34,000 citations. Formerly President of the Canadian Scientific & Christian Affiliation (1996-2006), and of the Canadian Association of Physicists (2010), he has received several awards, including a Fulbright Fellowship, Outstanding Referee Awards from the American and European Physical Societies, and several awards for Teaching Excellence including a Distinguished Teacher award from the University of Waterloo and the 2019 Medal of Excellence from the Canadian Association of Physicists. In 2022 he was awarded the distinction of University Professor, the highest recognition of excellence offered at the University of Waterloo. In 2024 he was recognized as a Fellow of the Canadian Association of Physicists. He is Executive Editor in Chief of Canadian Science Publishing and Senior Editor of an upcoming Comprehensive Quantum Physics volume.
10:00 AM, Saturday, February 22:
Chuck Horst, “Do the “big” early galaxies as seen by JWST break cosmology?”
Early results from the James Web Space Telescope (JWST) helped to clarify and illuminate numerous predictions and theories of cosmology in regard to the early universe. The unique instrumentation and observational characteristics of the JWST make it the most powerful tool to investigate many aspects of the early universe. With these new capabilities and the data obtained from the JWST, some observations appear to be in conflict or as a minimum challenge our current theories of the early universe. The abundance of massive and luminous galaxies appears to come on the scene “too early” as predicted from our current models. Does the data generated by the JWST challenge our current held theories? Do our cosmological models need major revision or tossed aside? Or can the data be reinterpreted such that our theories remain valid or only require slight adjustments to accommodate these new results? These and other topics shall be presented.
Bio: Chuck Horst is an Adjunct Professor of Astronomy at San Diego State University specializing in observational astronomy and software development. Having participated with numerous teams, Chuck has assisted in the discovery of some of the most distant stars and galaxies as seen prior to the JWST. His additional research efforts included developing software and astronomical observing techniques to aid in the discovery of Lyman Break Galaxies (LBGs) and Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs).
11:00 AM, February 22:
Arnold Sikkema, “Big Bang Cosmology: Origin or History?”
The big bang is typically presented as a scientific theory of the origin of the universe, both within and outside of Christian circles. Christian apologists often emphasize a finite past as supporting evidence for a creation moment and as a proof for the existence of God, further strengthening their case via a fine-tuning argument. This talk will argue for the importance of a distinction between origin and history, explaining how the theory addresses the history of the cosmos but not its origin. Furthermore, a finite past is neither conclusively supported by science nor theologically necessary for a robust doctrine of creation. This distinction also turns out to be helpful in nuancing other issues in science and faith, including in biology and anthropology.
Bio: Arnold E. Sikkema is professor of physics at Trinity Western University and executive director of the Canadian Scientific & Christian Affiliation. After his BSc in physics & mathematics from the University of Waterloo, a PhD in superconductivity and magnetism from the University of British Columbia, and post-doctoral research at the University of Florida, he is in his 28th year in Christian higher education, the first eight of which were at Dordt University. His main research interests are in science & Christian faith, particularly exploring biophysics from a Reformational philosophical perspective. Arnold’s first publications were in general relativity and cosmology, and though switching to condensed matter theory for his graduate work, his interest in that field was rekindled when having to teach introductory astronomy.
12:00 noon, February 22:
Lunch Break
1:30 PM, February 22:
David Snoke, “Good and Bad Versions of the Kalaam Argument”
The Kalaam argument is often used in apologetics; it is sometimes presented as saying that the universe must be finite in age, but something cannot come from nothing, so the universe must have a creator. I argue that this simple version is not a good argument, but a better argument in the spirit of the Kalaam argument can be made which is reasonably compelling.
Bio: David Snoke is Distinguished Professor of Physics at the University of Pittsburgh and Co-director of the Pittsburgh Quantum Institute. His research includes experiments on laser interactions with matter, theory of nonequilibrium quantum mechanics, and theory of measurements in quantum mechanics. He has published five scientific books with Cambridge University Press, a textbook on electronics with Pearson, the theological book A Biblical Case for an Old Earth with Baker Books, and over 160 publications in journals, including Nature, Science, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and Physical Review Letters. He is a Fellow the American Physical Society, and president of the Christian Scientific Society.
2:15 PM, February 22:
John Bloom, “What Does the Universe Tell Us about God?”
Over the past century, astronomers have made stunning discoveries that have reshaped our view of the universe and of ourselves on a level approaching that of the Copernican revolution. In this reflective lecture, we will consider what these findings show us about the Creator.
Bio: John Bloom is emeritus professor of physics at Biola University and former director of the MA Science and Religion program, in which he continues to teach half-time. He holds a PhD in physics from Cornell University, an M. Div. from Biblical Theological Seminary, and a PhD from the Annenberg Research Institute (formerly Dropsie College and now the Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies, which is part of the University of Pennsylvania). In addition to articles on Christianity and science, he authored The Natural Sciences: A Student’s Guide with Crossway.
3:00 PM, February 22: Panel Discussion including non-physics responders Jason Rampelt and Jim Painter.