Twentieth century physical cosmology made “the universe” into a precise theoretical object, governed by the laws of the general theory of relativity. But one result of this theoretical consolidation is that “the universe” becomes autonomous: it is neither brought in existence by some supernatural being, nor does its continued existence require any external intervention. Indeed, physical cosmology has no need for the hypothesis of a Creator or Sustainer of the universe.
Shouldn’t we then conclude that the universe has no need for God? On the contrary, I argue that the absence of God from physical cosmology provides no evidence against the existence of a divine Creator. In fact, if the universe and its laws are the result of a free, creative act of God, then God is not constrained by natural laws, and God should not occur as the explanans in any scientific account of the universe.
