>>The priest most definitely a new-ager who during the homily starting talking about our universe was created by the big-bang theory. <<
Read "A Brief History of Time" by Steven Hawking. He describes how he presented the Pope with the scientific support for the Big Bang. The Pope asked many questions which, in Hawking's mind, confirmed that the Pope understood the issues with phenominal clarity. The Pope asked to think about it overnight. He returned the next day and answered Hawking, "See, I told you so." (Paraphrased... the Pope doesn't often quote Rush Limbaugh book titles in public.)
Immediately, Hawking understood that the theory he was pushing so hard in fact confirmed the existence of a singular "first thing" (i.e., creator-God) from which all else depended. Ever since then, Hawking has been creating theories to undermine The Big Bang. At just about every turn, however, his theory's predictions turned out 180 degrees from reality, and they grotesquely violate Occam's razor. All this has been done, I believe, out of Hawking's need to invalidate religion. I routinely chortle as I see each one of Hawking's prediction die a fiery death: the greatest mind in physics is now blinded into dysnfunction by an obsessive drive to disprove God.
"I believe, out of Hawking's need to invalidate religion. I routinely chortle as I see each one of Hawking's prediction die a fiery death: the greatest mind in physics is now blinded into dysnfunction by an obsessive drive to disprove God."
I agree with your assessment. In addition, the new complex ideas he has come up with still cannot do away with the possibility that God created it!!