Within Reason #125 Emily Qureshi-Hurst - Does God Know What Time It Is?
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Oct 12, 2025 Emily Qureshi-Hurst, a Philosopher of Religion and Science at the University of Cambridge, delves into the intriguing intersection of physics and theology. She discusses whether the Bible predicts the Big Bang and the origins of biblical literalism. Emily explores how an atemporal God perceives time and the implications for free will. She challenges the coherence of biblical literalism and critiques the evolution versus design debate, all while sharing her personal journey as an atheist questioning deep theological issues.
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'Now' Feels Special But May Be Illusion
- The B-theory struggles to explain the felt privilege of 'now,' but Emily argues our evolved experience isn't reliable about deep ontology.
- She favors B-theory because relativity undermines universal simultaneity.
Relativity Undermines A‑Theory's Universal Now
- Special and general relativity deny a universal simultaneity, undermining the A-theory's objective global now.
- Time dilation effects (e.g., Interstellar) show rates of passage vary by speed and gravity.
Neo‑Lorentzian Moves To Save A‑Theory
- William Lane Craig's Neo-Lorentzian response tries to preserve an absolute now for theological reasons but lacks scientific uptake.
- Neo-Lorentzianism reintroduces a background frame to reconcile A-theory with relativity.
