Heller M, Woodin W.H. (eds.) Infinity. New research frontiers (CUP, 2011)(ISBN 1107003873)(O)(327s)_MAml_

epilogue 213acknowledge the workmaster; but deemed either fire, or wind, or the swift air, or thecircle of the stars, or the violent water, or the lights of heaven, to be the gods whichgovern the world. With whose beauty if they being delighted took them to be gods; letthem know how much better the Lord of them is: for the first author of beauty hathcreated them. But if they were astonished at their power and virtue, let them understandby them, how much mightier he is that made them. For by the greatness and beauty ofthe creatures proportionably the maker of them is seen.” 36In the Psalms, the stability of the heavens is used to signify the infinite faithfulnessand eternity of God. 37 The vastness and beauty of the firmament are a sign of the infinitepower and kindness of the Creator. 38 Yet the universe in its majesty is perceived asnon-absolute reality: cosmic ages are short-lived, 39 no space is hidden to God. 40 Herewe most clearly encounter the unique cosmological contribution introduced by theJewish culture: their unprecedented vision of a contingent universe created by a unique,personal God. Probably no other ancient culture, before modern science, has had sucha clear conception of the universe as a contingent reality. Any natural phenomena,including the firmament, are metaphoric images of God’s infinite power: all creaturesare ephemeral so that nothing, not even the whole universe, is self-standing, absolute,and unchangeable: “The heavens will vanish like smoke, the Earth will wear out like agarment...Butmysalvation will last forever.” 41 It is most impressive to consider thatJesus, suggesting his own divine nature, used an echo of the same humanly impossiblestatement: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” 429.9 EpilogueThe impression of vastness of the night sky is probably our most immediate andfascinating image of infinity. Since ancient times the question of whether physicalspace is infinite or finite has stirred up human intelligence. One of the most ambitiousobjectives of contemporary cosmology is to address this question in terms of measurableproperties of the universe. A first remarkable and conclusive answer supported bystrong empirical and theoretical evidence is that our observable universe is finite andexpanding in time. When we try to say something about the “universe as a whole,”we look at spatial curvature, which is determined by the average energy density in theuniverse. Recent data from the CMB, distant supernovae, and large-scale structuresindicate that the energy density parameter is within ∼1 percent of the critical densitythat characterizes a Euclidean geometry. This is in agreement with the expectations ofinflation theories, to be tested with future CMB experiments, that postulate an earlyrapid expansion that would have stretched any initial curvature of space.36 Wisdom 13:1–3.37 Psalms 136.38 Isaiah 55:9.39 Psalms 90:4.40 Psalms 139:8.41 Isaiah 51:6.42 Mark 13:31.