Big Bang Big God

This highly accessible book asks if the universe is designed for life, and, if so, whether the theistic hypothesis arguably makes more sense. It begins by giving an excellent overview of the history and development of the big bang theory, moving on to the question of whether a beginning requires God. The debates and characters such as Lemaitre, Eddington and Hoyle are vividly described. Hoyle defended a steady-state theory as more compatible with his atheism. Holder explains the Christian doctrine of creation and includes the ultimate question of why there is something rather than nothing, which science is powerless to explain. He then goes on to cosmic fine-tuning and its various theistic and atheistic explanations, which brings him on to multiverses, a theory more popular with atheists. He lists nine problems for holders of multiverse theories, explaining each in detail and summarising his case at the beginning of the next chapter as well as providing a useful chart of all possible options. His final chapter argues that theism is the most coherent and simple explanation of the existence of the physical universe – reasons why there should be intelligent life and why the universe should be special. Drawing on his training in both astrophysics and theology, Holder makes a powerful case that requires detailed refutation on the part of those who disagree.