Creation from Nothing
The phrase “creation from nothing” may mean different things to philosophers, theologians, and physicists. Neither they nor anyone else has ever observed the creation of something from nothing. Some ancient philosophers thought that an entity like the Prime Mover created the universe from pre-existing materials. In that case it would have been clearer to say “made” or “formed” rather than “created.” To theologians “creation from nothing” means that God made all things without recourse to anything except His Own power and wisdom.
Physicists constantly “create” and “annihilate” particles in cyclotrons and linear accelerators. When they talk about particle “creation,” they are talking about the formation of particles from energy, not from nothing. It is more appropriate to say that the particles materialize from energy. When physicists “annihilate” particles, the particles disappear and energy appears in their place. Physicists might better say that the latent energy of certain material particles becomes patent when the particles cause their mutual disappearance.
The proverb in Latin, “ex nihilo nihil fit” means that “from nothing nothing is produced.” Physicists have concluded that the material of the universe is made of energy that materialized soon after the beginning. Closer to the beginning particles and energetic quanta were constantly turning into each other. We have presented arguments suggesting that electromagnetic photons existed before there were material particles, but we can’t say exactly what the conditions were at the beginning.
Physicists constantly “create” and “annihilate” particles in cyclotrons and linear accelerators. When they talk about particle “creation,” they are talking about the formation of particles from energy, not from nothing. It is more appropriate to say that the particles materialize from energy. When physicists “annihilate” particles, the particles disappear and energy appears in their place. Physicists might better say that the latent energy of certain material particles becomes patent when the particles cause their mutual disappearance.
The proverb in Latin, “ex nihilo nihil fit” means that “from nothing nothing is produced.” Physicists have concluded that the material of the universe is made of energy that materialized soon after the beginning. Closer to the beginning particles and energetic quanta were constantly turning into each other. We have presented arguments suggesting that electromagnetic photons existed before there were material particles, but we can’t say exactly what the conditions were at the beginning.
Can We Create Energy?
According to the Bible, God’s first creative act was to make energetic darkness from His Own work. A short time after the beginning God used the darkness to form light. Today scientists regularly form light from darkness. But scientists do not create energetic darkness. The energy of the X-rays in their cyclotrons and accelerators comes from electricity they purchase from electric power companies. The companies generate electricity from energy sources like fossil fuels, atomic fuel, or solar energy. Photocells convert solar energy to electricity directly. Sunlight also evaporates water and causes temperature differences that drive winds. Mountains deflect the water-laden winds upwards where the air expands and cools. The water condenses and falls as rain. Engineers dam up the streams and use the impounded rainwater to generate electricity. In all of this activity existing energy is transformed from one type to another. We have no way of creating energy. Therefore, we cannot create energetic darkness.
The energy of the universe must have come from somewhere. Where did the original energy come from? According to the laws of physics, some very powerful agency had to do the work necessary to generate the energy of the universe.
God Works to Create Energy
The Hebrew Scriptures say that the heavens are the work of God’s fingers (Psalm 8:3). In this verse we can understand the word מַעֲשֶׂה ma`aseh translated work in two ways. Both ways are valid.
The word can mean artistic work. Of course, the heavens and Earth are God’s “opera” or artistic works. God worked with the resource of darkness and gave the heavens and Earth a beautiful form.
But the resource God formed, the energetic darkness, came from God’s labor. The Hebrew Scriptures use the word מַעֲשֶׂה ma`aseh in the sense of labor in Judges 19:16. There the narrative says that an old man came in from his work in the fields at evening. This probably does not mean that the man was creating an artistic work in the fields. Very likely he was doing hard toil. That is the kind of work that provides energy.
Physics teachers often set up hand-cranked generators connected to a single 100-watt light bulb. This helps students feel how much work it takes to provide energy. Even the most athletic students don’t usually keep the bulb bright for long.
The heavens are God’s handiwork, and they are literally made from His work. God did a great amount of work to provide energetic darkness. From that He artistically fashioned the universe.
According to the Bible, God’s first creative act was to make energetic darkness from His Own work. A short time after the beginning God used the darkness to form light. Today scientists regularly form light from darkness. But scientists do not create energetic darkness. The energy of the X-rays in their cyclotrons and accelerators comes from electricity they purchase from electric power companies. The companies generate electricity from energy sources like fossil fuels, atomic fuel, or solar energy. Photocells convert solar energy to electricity directly. Sunlight also evaporates water and causes temperature differences that drive winds. Mountains deflect the water-laden winds upwards where the air expands and cools. The water condenses and falls as rain. Engineers dam up the streams and use the impounded rainwater to generate electricity. In all of this activity existing energy is transformed from one type to another. We have no way of creating energy. Therefore, we cannot create energetic darkness.
The energy of the universe must have come from somewhere. Where did the original energy come from? According to the laws of physics, some very powerful agency had to do the work necessary to generate the energy of the universe.
God Works to Create Energy
The Hebrew Scriptures say that the heavens are the work of God’s fingers (Psalm 8:3). In this verse we can understand the word מַעֲשֶׂה ma`aseh translated work in two ways. Both ways are valid.
The word can mean artistic work. Of course, the heavens and Earth are God’s “opera” or artistic works. God worked with the resource of darkness and gave the heavens and Earth a beautiful form.
But the resource God formed, the energetic darkness, came from God’s labor. The Hebrew Scriptures use the word מַעֲשֶׂה ma`aseh in the sense of labor in Judges 19:16. There the narrative says that an old man came in from his work in the fields at evening. This probably does not mean that the man was creating an artistic work in the fields. Very likely he was doing hard toil. That is the kind of work that provides energy.
Physics teachers often set up hand-cranked generators connected to a single 100-watt light bulb. This helps students feel how much work it takes to provide energy. Even the most athletic students don’t usually keep the bulb bright for long.
The heavens are God’s handiwork, and they are literally made from His work. God did a great amount of work to provide energetic darkness. From that He artistically fashioned the universe.