Question

In Dan Brown's book Angels and Demons he that states man can make an "ex nihilo" creation and demonstrates the same within his book. Doesn't God seem kind of small and ordinary in this respect?

Answer

"Ex nihilo" is Latin for "from nothing" or "out of nothing." The term "creation ex nihilo" refers to God creating everything from nothing. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth "from nothing." He spoke the world into existence and used nothing - not energy or anti-matter, etc. - to create it.

Brown reduces the miraculous to a mere scientific experiment "using something." Brown through his heretical characters says:

He proved not only that matter can be created from nothing, but that the Big Bang and Genesis can be explained simply by accepting the presence of an enormous source of energy. "You mean God? "Kohler demanded. "God, Buddha, The Force, Yahweh, the secularity, the unicity point - call it whatever you like - the result is the same. Science and religion support the same truth - pure energy is the father of creation." When Kohler finally spoke, his voice was somber. "Vittoria, you have me at a loss. It sounds like you're telling me your father created matter out of nothing?" "Yes." (p. 72).
"From energy" is not at all like "from nothing." As previously explained, God's creation was "ex nihlo" creation - "from nothing." God did not begin with pure energy, anti-matter, or a particle accelerator. God spoke and matter (as well as anti-matter, space, and time, etc.) came into existence! Before matter was, God is.

Far from God's ex nihlo creation, Brown's assessment of creation was that it took place in time that already was/is. In addition, space - the space where his experiment took place - already existed. Moreover, he used existing matter, a tunnel 27 kilometers in circumference (p. 54-57), a reversed polarity vacuum (p. 75), magnetic field (p.75), canisters (p. 75), et al. to create his so-called universe. Brown's physics never comes close to confirming, much less joining the truth. His fictional science serves to prove that there must be an intelligent Designer - more intelligent than he is. Brown's creation lacks a created space and time for matter and anti-matter to even have been in existence!

Dan Brown's god seems rather small, if you ask me. He can't even create time and space for his experiments (from something) to exist. In my opinion, the Christian reader should "ex" Angels and Demons, for its arguments are "nilho!"

Answer by Dr. Joseph R. Nally, Jr.

Dr. Joseph R. Nally, Jr., D.D., M.Div. is the Theological Editor at Third Millennium Ministries (Thirdmill).