Did the big bang really happen?

First of all, the big bang explains a physical process by which all of 
matter, space and time came into being so there is no giant mass or even a 
nothingness in which it sits to explain. I am not sure there is even a 
"before" at all to think about. Nevertheless, for this event to occur there 
were conditions which we are required to presuppose, leaving us free to ask 
the why and wherefore that such conditions existed. 

On the other hand, the idea of God suffers from the same logical problem, for 
if God is the answer to the questions concerning the conditions we spoke of 
then we can also ask the same why and wherefore questions about God. The 
simple fact of the the matter is that logic can never find a beginning. By 
its very nature it only goes from one truth to another or one supposition to 
another. The starting point is an axiom, postulate or assumption. And these 
we may choose for ourselves with complete freedom, with the rational proviso 
that logic thereafter leads to conclusions which match our experiences. 

A scientific approach adds another rule, Occam's razor, that we choose a 
minimum number of axioms in order to match our experiences in this way. Yet 
it is a mistake to presume that this provides any superiority of science over 
theology. There are efforts in theology which abide by this rule and without 
the need of the precision found in science it is actually easier to start 
with fewer axioms. There is also the matter of, which experiences you seek 
agreement on first, and here is the real root of the conflict between science 
and theology. For in science and particularly physics it is first and 
exclusively the quantitative results of repeatable measurements that is to be 
matched. Whereas in theology, it is the more profound (life changing) and 
very much less precise experiences of human life which are given priority. 
The precision and repeatability of the scientific approach holds such a great 
deal appeal for many, that they are willing to overlook its serious 
limitations. Restricting human experience to repeatable measured quantities 
is quite a limitation indeed. 

Science therefore explains a great deal about the way things happen in the 
world and gives us the opportunity to manipuate and control them. But it does 
not address the questions of why, or of meaning, or what is of value, or the 
way to fulfillment. These are the questions which theology and philosophy are 
aimed at. The mathematical conditions for the big bang may satisfy our 
equations, but are quite empty of meaning, for the vast majority of people. 
The idea of God creating the world for the purpose of making a relationship 
between Him and the living things in this world, does a much better job on 
that score. 

In conclusion, I would say that looking at anything from a single point of 
view produces an image which is flat and sterile. To see the fullness of life 
in all its complexity and dynamism requires multiple points of view.