For episode five, I speak with physicist Aaron Adair about the Big Bang, the origins of the universe, and the relationship of modern cosmology with religion. Adair is Assistant Professor of Physics at Merrimack College in Massachusetts, earned his Ph.D and Masters from Ohio State University, his Bachelor’s from Michigan State University, and is the author of a 2013 book, The Star of Bethlehem: A Skeptical View.

Armchair Atheism is the official podcast of GodlessHaven.com, exploring subjects related to religion and non-belief through interview discussions with a variety of scholarly and thoughtful voices.

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Dr. Adair’s blog: Fleeing Nergal, Seeking Stars

Follow Aaron on Twitter: https://twitter.com/adair_aaron

Related links to this episode:

Wiki entry for the Lambda-CDM model.

NASA page for the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe.

The BBC Universe page on the discovery of cosmic microwave background radiation.

Stephen Hawking’s The Grand Design.

The 2001 paper by Borde, Guth, and Vilenkin.

Physicist Sean Carroll on Craig’s use of the BGV theorem.

Wiki entry on inflationary theory.

Discovery article on gravitational waves and BICEP2.