Dark Matter

LearningToLetGo said:
I have heard about it. Supposedly it comprises the "vacuum" of space. I'm not really sure what that means.
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I'm just beginning my study, but so far, my thoughts are that should it exist, there no such thing as "nothing" in the universe, that even the vacuum of space has atomic structure. Also, it might explain some of the puzzles of quantum physics. Like I said, I'm just starting, so at this point my ignorance is abysmal.
 
BibleLover said:
I'm beginning an investigation of dark matter and how it affects our Christian cosmology. It's a fascinating subject.

Has anyone else heard of or investigated dark matter? If so, have you considered its cosmological considerations upon creation?
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For galaxies to form gravity is need, and there does not appear to be enough visible matter in the universe for galaxies to form. In other words, more matter means more gravity.

Clearly there are galaxies. Therefore there is some kind of matter in and around them which caused them to form. The problem is no one can see it. Dark matter does not emit or reflect light.
 
Origen said:
For galaxies to form gravity is need, and there does not appear to be enough visible matter in the universe for galaxies to form. In other words, more matter means more gravity.

Clearly there are galaxies. Therefore there is some kind of matter in and around them which caused them to form. The problem is no one can see it. Dark matter does not emit or reflect light.
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That's exactly what has piqued my curiosity. I look forward to learning much during this study. I can tentatively conclude that should dark matter exist, it was the very first thing God created.
 
BibleLover said:
That's exactly what has piqued my curiosity. I look forward to learning much during this study. I can tentatively conclude that should dark matter exist, it was the very first thing God created.
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The thing that cinched it for me was gravitational lensing. It is an effect where massive objects warp spacetime and bend light. Astronomers can see light being bend in space, but there is nothing visible to explain it. Nevertheless there must be matter there in order to warp spacetime and bend light.
 
At various times I have investigated such things as dark matter as well as other things coming out of the study of physics (e.g. quantum entanglement) and the relationship between the physics of the very small (& brief) [sub atomic forces]and the very large and involving extended time frames [relativity].


As to dark matter. It is such a new concept that the best physicists have not had a chance to really get a good grip on it, even on a descriptive level let alone on an explanation level.


I note that information that was first described in pre-world War 1 & 2 was not well reflected in my textbooks in the late 1960s. I remember clearly my high school physics teacher presenting both the Big Bang and Steady State theories as competing cosmologies, even though cosmologists in the early 20th century had come to a strong consensus.


Now, on the other hand, information is distributed much quicker and it is not unusual to obtain advanced papers from more current sources. The problem here is that alternate explanations/models are still being worked out and are likely to come up in a search of current thoughts.
 
I just picked up a book on dark matter and dark energy. It's kind of a "Cliff Notes" on the subject. Its author, Dr. Brian Clegg, is a well known, prize winning British science writer.

For anyone interested its Dark Matter & Dark Energy: the Hidden 95% of the Universe by Brian Clegg.
 
BibleLover said:
I'm beginning an investigation of dark matter and how it affects our Christian cosmology. It's a fascinating subject.

Has anyone else heard of or investigated dark matter? If so, have you considered its cosmological considerations upon creation?
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Yes.

I think that you will discover that In Christian cosmology, the main theological takeaway regarding dark matter is not the newness of the phenomenon but the reminder of God’s incomprehensible design. We both know that the Bible, though an ancient text, coherently attests to the order and intentionality of the universe. Archaeological findings and manuscript evidence have repeatedly affirmed that Scripture remains faithfully transmitted. This is reflected in the enormous number of Greek New Testament manuscripts, early translations, and quotations from Church Fathers, all suggesting that the Bible we hold today is consistent, accurate, and trustworthy.

Hebrews 11:3...........
“By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”

Isn't this a biblical principle that acknowledges unseen elements in the cosmos.

Colossians 1:16-17..........
“For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible… all things were created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”

It is well understood that this text primarily points to Christ’s supremacy, it seems to me that it also allows for the existence of realities beyond direct human observation.

Do you think that from the viewpoint that the universe is not an accident but bears the hallmark of design, that dark matter can be seen as another layer of intricacy in God’s creation.

However, this will eventually open the door to Young Earth verses Old Earth.

Just as "you" have said in the past, God stands outside of and above His creation, He likewise stands above human constructs of time.
Time to God means nothing. The question of how the universe’s expansion, light travel, and matter distribution operate within a shorter timeline remains an area of ongoing discovery and study among those who hold to a young-earth view.
 
Major said:
Yes.

I think that you will discover that In Christian cosmology, the main theological takeaway regarding dark matter is not the newness of the phenomenon but the reminder of God’s incomprehensible design. We both know that the Bible, though an ancient text, coherently attests to the order and intentionality of the universe. Archaeological findings and manuscript evidence have repeatedly affirmed that Scripture remains faithfully transmitted. This is reflected in the enormous number of Greek New Testament manuscripts, early translations, and quotations from Church Fathers, all suggesting that the Bible we hold today is consistent, accurate, and trustworthy.

Hebrews 11:3...........
“By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”

Isn't this a biblical principle that acknowledges unseen elements in the cosmos.

Colossians 1:16-17..........
“For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible… all things were created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”

It is well understood that this text primarily points to Christ’s supremacy, it seems to me that it also allows for the existence of realities beyond direct human observation.

Do you think that from the viewpoint that the universe is not an accident but bears the hallmark of design, that dark matter can be seen as another layer of intricacy in God’s creation.

However, this will eventually open the door to Young Earth verses Old Earth.

Just as "you" have said in the past, God stands outside of and above His creation, He likewise stands above human constructs of time.
Time to God means nothing. The question of how the universe’s expansion, light travel, and matter distribution operate within a shorter timeline remains an area of ongoing discovery and study among those who hold to a young-earth view.
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My interest is that if dark matter exists, it would have been the very first thing God created before he created light and visible matter.

As for the age of the earth, it never has been the intention of Genesis chapter 1 to make any definitive statement on the issue. The entire point of the chapter is to make the point that God created everything.

The issue of the earth's specific age is a side issue tied to proving biblical inerrancy. However, biblical inerrancy doesn’t need to be proven; it's an established fact. Scripture is self authenticating to God's elect. The skeptics and scoffers who challenge the Bible's truth do so for two reasons: to either reassure themselves that they're not going to hell or to try to destroy the faith of believers. Such people are not worthy of engaging, and trying to prove the truth and inerrancy of Scripture is a waste of time and distracts believers from doing what they should be doing: evangelizing to seek out their fellow elects and discipling them as well as themselves growing in grace to maturity.

When I study the facets of God's creation, it stirs in me a sense of wonder and worship. I really don't care about the age of the earth. We know that the earth exists as God's creative jewel and should be appreciated as such.
 
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BibleLover said:
My interest is that if dark matter exists, it would have been the very first thing God created before he created light and visible matter.

As for the age of the earth, it never has been the intention of Genesis chapter 1 to make any definitive statement on the issue. The entire point of the chapter is to make the point that God created everything.

The issue of the earth's specific age is a side issue tied to proving biblical inerrancy. However, biblical inerrancy doesn’t need to be proven; it's an established fact. Scripture is self authenticating to God's elect. The skeptics and scoffers who challenge the Bible's truth do so for two reasons: to either reassure themselves that they're not going to hell or to try to destroy the faith of believers. Such people are not worthy of engaging, and trying to prove the truth and inerrancy of Scripture is a waste of time and distracts believers from doing what they should be doing: evangelizing to seek out their fellow elects and discipling them as well as themselves growing in grace to maturity.

When I study the facets of God's creation, it stirs in me a sense of wonder and worship. I really don't care about the age of the earth. We know that the earth exists as God's creative jewel and should be appreciated as such.
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Agreed.

There is NO age of the earth mentioned in the Bible. Genesis was never given to us to prove the age of the earth at all.

The only contention comes from genealogy going backwards which show humanity as 6 thousand years.
 
Major said:
Agreed.

There is NO age of the earth mentioned in the Bible. Genesis was never given to us to prove the age of the earth at all.

The only contention comes from genealogy going backwards which show humanity as 6 thousand years.
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The genealogies in Genesis are not complete. There are many omissions, and the term begat could indicate a direct descendant such as a grandson or even a great-grandson. That is true of all biblical genealogies.
 
BibleLover said:
The genealogies in Genesis are not complete. There are many omissions, and the term begat could indicate a direct descendant such as a grandson or even a great-grandson. That is true of all biblical genealogies.
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That is also correct my brother.

That is why the attempt to date creation from those genealogies is probably not a good idea.
 
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