The God particle" or the Higgs Boson particle relates to the Standard Model (SM) theory of particle physics. The name derives from the name of the Scottish scientist Peter Higgs who helped develop the theory in 1964. A boson is a particular type of subatomic particle that enables other particles to acquire mass. The Standard Model explains the workings of the elementary constituents of the universe and how these constituents interact with one another. Scientists claim to have identified all of the particles associated with the Standard Model except the Higgs Boson…possibly until recently!
In July 2012 scientists in Switzerland announced they had made remarkable progress in the search for the God particle". Two teams of scientists claimed their Large Hadron Collider (LHC) the largest particle accelerator of its kind detected a new subatomic particle a boson which seemed to match the Higgs Boson or God particle." The LHC project began years ago receiving funding from the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) to the tune of about ten billion dollars.
The Standard Model theory is predicated on the idea of an invisible field (the Higgs field) encompassing the entire universe and the involvement of a boson moving through this field and gathering mass or clusters of other particles. Analogies of the method in which a boson accumulates mass may be similar to scenarios such as (a) an individual (a boson) walking across as snow-laden expanse of land and picking up snow on his or her boots and adding weight (mass) to them or (b) a little stream of water (a boson) becoming bigger and bigger and forming a forceful rapid that falls down a waterfall and results in an accumulation of much water (mass) at its base.
Why the Name God Particle"?
Notwithstanding the name God particle" assigned to the Higgs Boson particle many physicists refrain from using the term as they feel the nomenclature is contradictory to the nature of their undertaking. Others think since this particular boson might be the building block of all life" the name is a fitting one. Peter Higgs after whom scientists named the Higgs Boson" dislikes the God particle" terminology for two converse reasons. Firstly Higgs is an avowed atheist. Secondly and surprisingly he evinces a measure of concern for the feelings of religionists by saying that the name God particle" might be offensive to some people.
Nobel Laureate Leon Lederman an Illinois physicist is the individual who actually coined the term God particle" in relation to the Higgs Boson. He originally referred to the boson as the goddam particle" thereby giving vent to the frustration engendered by the iniquitous nature of the LHC project and the enormous amount of money required to fund it. Ledermans persona is not totally bereft of religious contemplation and in his 1993 book The God Particle: If the Universe Is the Answer What Is the Question he ruminates about a possible connection between the Higgs Boson and a supernatural Creator of the universe.
This boson is so central to the state of physics today so crucial to our final understanding of the structure of matter yet so elusive that I have given it a nickname: the God Particle. Why the God Particle? Two reasons. One the publisher would not let us call it the Goddamn Particle though that might be a more appropriate title given its villainous nature and the expense it is causing. And two there is a connection or sorts to another book a much older one…
The much older book to which Lederman alludes is the Holy Bible. He goes on to present a microcosm of Genesis 11:1-9 which speak about the Tower of Babel and Almighty God confusing the languages of wayward humankind. He changes some of the language of the Biblical verses and perplexingly weaves the God particle" concept in the story as a means of revealing to people that there was a supernatural Designer and Creator of the cosmos and such a creation was a unique and wonderful accomplishment.
Does the Existence of the God Particle Disprove the Creation Story?Secular or non-religious physicists in general believe the God particle" holds the answer to the origin of the universe. They take the liberty to presume that the existence of the God particle" disproves the argument for the creation of the universe by a supreme all-knowing entity or God. Big-bang theorists consider the existence of the God particle" crucial to forming the cosmos after a supposed explosion of condensed matter continued to expand until the celestial bodies including planet Earth came into being. Since in theory the Higgs Boson particle would have given mass" to the disparate matter spawned by the Big-bang" it must have helped form the universe.
From the outset Big-bang theorists recognized that without the existence of the Boson particle there could not have been a Big-bang." Without a Big-bang the entire non-creationist concept about the origin of the universe (and of life) would collapse into nothingness. The Boson particle concept was an invention of convenience which enabled secular scientists to justify albeit in a remote unpersuasive manner a happenstance beginning and formation of the universe. It was a misconstrued objective from the start and devious scientific thinkers" made it their duty to impress upon an unwary global audience it was a legitimate hurdle which once overcome would confirm imprudent scientific conjecture as fact.
Notwithstanding the forgoing speculative suppositions by Big-bang theorists creation scientists insist the existence of the God particle" actually complements the story of creation.
Does the existence of the Higgs Boson or God particle" disprove the Creation story? Does it even complement the notion of a Big-bang the type of which could have formed the universe without the involvement of a supreme designer and creator?
Dr. Larry Vardiman professor in the Department of Astro-Geophysics at the Institute for Creation Research California USA thinks the Higgs Boson has no specific religious connotations." This notwithstanding he feels the discovery of the boson may shed light on the Biblical account of creation. Vardiman writes:
Its legitimate to try and understand how mass space and time originated but not if the processes we use to explain their origin dont involve the Creator….The Big-bang says that the universe began as an infinitesimal point and expanded outward creating space and mass billions of years ago. Although this idea may seem consistent with the description of creation in Genesis 1:1 it is thought to have happened billions of years ago while the Bible says it happened in one 24-hour day only a few thousand years ago. The theory is also presented as a natural event that did not even require Gods involvement.
Sadly scientists who have the best seat in the house to observe Gods handiwork through a microscope or a telescope often seem to be the first to deny that He is the Creator. Because they deny He is Creator they fail to grasp the ultimate explanation for the world around us. Scripture says it best: For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse. (Romans 1:20)
Dr. Jeff Miller a scientist engineer and apologetics writer with Apologetics Press of Montgomery Alabama USA opines that the discovery of the Higgs Boson or God particle would not prove anything that might substantiate the traditional Big-bang theory foisted upon people by errant scientists.
Notice that without the existence of this theoretical particle Big-bang theorists recognize that the Universe could not even form after the Big-bang theoretically occurred. Its existence would not prove that the Universe did form in the manner suggested by the Big-bang theory. Its existence would not even prove that the Universe could form after a hypothesized Big-bang occurred. Further its existence would not prove that the Big-bang itself could occur at all.
Its existence would not prove that matter could exist forever or pop into existence out of nothing one of which must be true in order for the Big-bang to even get started. And its existence would certainly not prove that the scientific laws governing the Universe could write themselves into existence. However without the existence of the particle theorists know that the Big-bang could not happen. Thus discovery of its existence would not prove anything in the end but could only allow evolutionists to cross one of the many chasms that stand in the way of their theory even being considered a remote possibility. In other words the Big-bang has not even reached square one in the realm of proof. It still lies firmly in the realm of impossibility. Bottom line: the Creation model still stands as the most logical explanation for the origin of the Universe the model that matches the scientific evidence.
The Higgs Boson Particle (God Particle) Claim Another Ambitious Ploy to Complement the Big-bang and Evolution Hoaxes
The existence of the Higgs Boson does not disprove the existence of God nor does it eliminate the requirement of his participation in the creation of the universe. To present an analogy between the issue at hand and one of sciences foremost discoveries in which the discovery itself was not attributed to humankinds design or construction but only to humankind identifying what was set in motion beforehand by something or someone else attention is drawn to Isaac Newtons Laws of Motion.
Sir Isaac Newton arguably the greatest scientist in history discovered three physical laws that form the basis for classical mechanics. The laws describe the relationship between the forces acting on an object and the latters motion resulting from such forces. Newtons second law of motion" states that the acceleration a of a body or object is parallel and directly proportional to the net force F acting on the body or object; is in the direction of the net force and is inversely proportional to the mass m of the body or object i.e. F = ma." In other words an objects weight on the Earth (applied force on the Earth) is equal to its mass times its acceleration. Newton in effect discovered an essential law of gravity.
Two pertinent questions in relation to the forgoing come to the fore. Did Isaac Newton by acquiring knowledge about the Second Law of Motion or the force of gravitational pull actually create such circumstances? Did Newtons discovery of what already had been set in motion disprove the existence of God or dispense with the need for Gods participation in setting such a natural standard in operation? Certainly not - and such ideas were never even suggested! Newton merely found out about a salient characteristic of the created order i.e. one of the ordinances" Almighty God instituted according to Job 38:33 (NIV) which reads:
Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up (Gods) dominion over the earth?"
Jeremiah 31:35 states:
This is what the LORD says he who appoints the sun to shine by day who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar the LORD Almighty is his name…
The Holy Bible cautions humankind about trying to take credit for any aspect of Gods handiwork which includes the tangible and intangible. Such a predilection constitutes a cardinal sin. Gods handiwork does not only take the form of salvation through grace alone but is evident in the natural wonders that are part of his physical inanimate creation i.e. the universe itself. Isaiah 48:2 (NIV) states unequivocally:
I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another….
Higgs Boson enthusiasts and atheistic scientists in identifying a boson that might be the so-called God particle" should not deem themselves originators of what could be a scientific phenomenon i.e. a mass-creating energy particle. They ought not to take credit for a natural wonder that came into being a long long time ago. They also should refrain from removing or proscribing Almighty God from consideration as the creator of such an awesomely complex marvel. After all the First Law of Thermodynamics states nothing in nature can be created or destroyed but can only change form. Only a supernatural entity or force can create something out of nothing. Someone or something had to create the Higgs Boson.
The forgoing notwithstanding the existence of the Higgs Boson or God particle" does not validate the Big-bang theory especially a Big-bang theory that conforms to the much bandied-around supposition about the universe coming into existence 15 billion years ago. Such a concept is in diametric contradiction of Biblical teaching which says God created the universe including planet Earth only about six thousand years ago.