Did the Big Bang happen?

[Brian37]

……..what I’m wondering is… Is it possible that there was no Big Bang and that the universe simply always existed?…….

Anything is possible.   Given the evidence we have, just how possible is it that there was no Big Bang depends entirely on what precisely you mean by Big Bang.     Also, what do you mean by “always” when you say universe always existed?

Theists never can give your question a solid answer. And actually "Big Bang", if I am remembering correctly, simply was popular nomenclature when the cosmic microwave background radiation was discovered. If I am remembering correctly, it is better described as rapid increasing inflation, or rapid expansion. 


The thing about QP/QM theist like to throw at us is "Well, if anything goes, then why can't a God be the cause of it?" That begs the question, if everything has a cause, then what caused God. That causes the problem of infinite regress. The theist has to insert something even more powerful than the "all powerful" they claim exists and is the cause of everything. If that God doesn't need a cause, then why would the universe need a God to cause it?

There is the issue of probability in terms of likelihood too. QP/ QM does postulate some really freaky stuff, but that is not license to plop in a gap answer just because one likes the idea. QP/QM postulates parallel universes, multiverses, bubble universes. Some quantum physicists have postulated up to 12 dimensions.  In terms of relativity, my understanding is we(or the "now") we perceive is a locked in forward arrow we cannot escape from because we are stuck in our dimension. Whereas from a different perspective elsewhere in the universe, we could look like to them, as going backwards or in reverse, and neither perspective would be wrong. 

Just like there perspective of a semi in the opposite lane of traffic way off in the distance in front of you coming towards you, looks small off in the distance, but the closer it gets the bigger it gets. To you your perspective is forward in front of you, to that semi driver, they also perceive you as being small until the distance closes. Then once you pass each other, you get smaller and smaller. In the case of QP/QM this is where "relativity" flies out the window and macro physics cannot accurately suffice in describing the sub atomic level.

But back to the issue of likelihood. Stephen Hawking "A God is not required". He was not leaving the door open as a possibility in saying that. There are things scientists have discarded and left behind as possibilities once better data became the consensus in science. Is it, for example possible that I am dating Angelina Jolie? She exists, I exist, so it must be true we are dating because I claimed it. No sane person would or should buy that claim. 

So as far as possibilities. 

1. An "All Powerful" God does exist?

Or

2. Humans in antiquity anthropomorphized the world around them, and gave their gods human like qualities as a reflection of their own nature and desires. And humanity in that time has passed down the religions of their society/parents, long before the child can formulate adult critical thinking skills. 

QP/QM isn't out to uphold zombie gods or magic babies. It is freaky enough without people trying to plop in old mythology as a gap answer.