Nebular Hypothesis, an exercise in futility
By Clint Bishard
Jesus Created Ministries
Currently, most astronomers reject
the Bible as an authority. Therefore, they reject the supernatural creation of
the planets on day four of the creation week (Gen 1:14-19). Instead, most
astronomers attempt to explain the formation of the solar system by naturalistic
processes. As a result, most hold to the nebular hypothesis view for the
formation of the solar system. This view teaches that almost five billion years
ago our solar system began to collapse from a nebula of dust and gas
molecules. The collapsing core lit up and became our sun, and the dust and
gases around this core became our planets, through the process of accretion.
This supposed accretion was initially from micron-sized dust particles that
collected together as planetesimals, and these eventually collected into our
planets.
However, as a Christian, I by
definition accept the supernatural. For example, the belief that a man (Jesus)
was actually God in the flesh, that He died for our sins, and that He rose
again according to His plan from the foundation of the world clearly demands a
belief in the supernatural. Additionally, just as I accept His revelation (the
Bible) concerning my salvation, I also accept His revelation concerning the
supernatural creation of the solar system. For only after the creation
of the earth was it stated:
“14Then God said,
"Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day
from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years;
15and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to
give light on the earth"; and it was so. 16Then God made
two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to
rule the night. He made the stars also. 17God set them in the
firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18and to
rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the
darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19So the evening and
the morning were the fourth day.” (Gen 1:14-15, NKJV).
Therefore, naturalistic
explanations for the formation of the solar system, like the nebular
hypothesis, are an exercise in futility. Instead, Biblical Christians who
accept a supernatural creation of the solar system can take great comfort in
the many evidences for design contained within these heavenly bodies. For
example, the amazing sun-earth-moon system fits the Biblical description given
above completely. Additionally, Venus stands as a beautiful testimony to
design for those who want to see it. Also, it seems well beyond coincidence
that an exponential mathematical formula can predict the orbital distances for
most of the planets in our solar system. Furthermore, the asteroid belt being
left over debris as predicted by the secular nebular hypothesis just does not
fit the scientific evidence. Instead, a catastrophic explosion of a past planet better explains Ceres and the asteroid belt. In short, the nebular hypothesis is
nothing more than a faith position based not in scientific fact, but
naturalistic assumptions.
The truth is, God created our solar
system with order and a purpose. The Biblical creationist should find comfort
in that what we find in our solar system is consistent with what God has revealed
to us in His Word concerning a supernatural creation of the solar system
followed by a possible catastrophe(s). Our solar system bodies do not
represent the accretion of dust and gas out of chaos over a process of
millions/billions of years as taught by the secular nebular hypothesis. Our
solar system was created supernaturally by an infinite Creator.
“For the word of the LORD is
right, And all His work is done in truth…By the word of the LORD the heavens
were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth…For He spoke,
and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.” (Ps 33:4, 6, & 9,
NKJV)
