Putting it all together, our universe is “enormously improbable.” We live in an “incredibly difficult to explain, perfectly-designed-for-life universe,” he reiterated.
Physicists’ main God-less explanation at the moment, Spitzer said, is called fractal multiverse theory, which was conceived of in 2006. That theory posits that there are an infinite number of eternal “bubble” universes, not just one universe. Thus, with an infinite number of universes to play with, anything that is possible can and will happen — even the design of our own universe.
But this theory does not explain where these infinite universes came from, Spitzer said. For cosmologists, there is now “no escape. They must confront the problem of a beginning.”
There is really only “one explanation left … that we have a Creator,” Spitzer said. And through Catholicism, mankind can “encounter the God who created that universe,” he concluded.
The inaugural Wonder Conference, taking place at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, is billed as an “opportunity to engage with theologians and other experts on important issues at the intersection of the Catholic faith and secular culture.” The conference features talks from both religious scholars and scientists, as well as from Bishop Robert Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, the founder and face of Word on Fire.
“A perceived incompatibility between faith and science has led to a rise in the number of religiously unaffiliated. This perception runs counter to the experience of the Catholic tradition, which conveys the beautiful harmony between faith and science,” the website for the conference says.
Prospective attendees can join the virtual sessions of the Wonder Conference by signing up to join the Word on Fire Institute here. A monthly $27 membership fee applies.
Jonah McKeown is a staff writer and podcast producer for Catholic News Agency. He holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and has worked as a writer, as a producer for public radio, and as a videographer. He is based in St. Louis.