The Origin of Gravity: Before the Big Bang or Co-Evolving?

The concept of force is inherently linked to the ideas of space and time. One cannot think of any kind of movement or force without invoking these fundamental constructs. Forces such as gravity imply specific interactions between matter and space, necessitating a framework of location, motion, and thus space and time. This interrelation suggests that forces could not exist in the absence of space and time.

Gravity only exists in the presence of matter. However, matter itself can only exist within the context of spacetime. This interdependency brings us to the crux of our discussion: did gravity exist before the universe or was it created alongside it?

Understanding the Big Bang and Gravity

Accompanying the prevailing scientific understanding, particularly the Big Bang theory, the universe as we know it began approximately 13.8 billion years ago. At this moment, space, time, and the fundamental forces, including gravity, simultaneously had their origins. General Relativity, as proposed by Albert Einstein, describes gravity as the curvature of spacetime caused by the presence of mass. In this context, since spacetime itself originated with the Big Bang, gravity would have originated at that moment as well.

Theology and Cosmology

However, questions persist in the realms of both theoretical physics and cosmology. Some theories in quantum gravity and certain cosmological interpretations suggest possible conditions prior to the Big Bang or alternative models of the universe such as the cyclic model. These models could present scenarios where notions of gravity might differ from those we observe in the current universe. For example, in theories of quantum gravity, spacetime itself might possess properties that differ from our current understanding.

One such speculative idea is that time itself might have had different properties in the primordial state. The concept of time could have been vastly different, with the progression of time showing distinct characteristics from what we observe today. Some theories propose that time might have been highly compressed in the initial moments, with each second equating to a much longer stretch of time. This redefines our understanding of time and its relationship with gravity.

Religious and Spiritual Interpretations

From a theological perspective, the idea of reality being created could be understood through the lens of many religious and spiritual traditions. The statement 'reality itself is a created thing, preceding and following this was Gd alone, who is not describable and non-corporeal' can be interpreted as a description of a divine creator who, possessing no physical form, initiated the creation of the universe. This aligns with the idea that the Big Bang and time itself were part of a grand design.

But indeed Gd did create the Big Bang and time was back then a trillion years within one second, with the passing of time causing the universe to evolve and expand. This interpretation suggests that time, as we experience it, is an emergent property of the universe initiated by a divine entity. In this view, the role of gravity and other forces in the universe might have been orchestrated to function in a way that is consistent with the creator's design.

Designed to contract with the passing of time, as proposed in laboratory demonstrations of time's elasticity and shrinkage, aligns with the idea that the very fabric of spacetime, including gravity, might have evolved gradually and dynamically. This dynamic nature of time could imply that gravity, as we know it today, may not have been the same force in the primordial universe.

Conclusion

In conclusion, within the context of the Big Bang theory, gravity was created alongside the universe. However, the question remains open within the broader scope of theoretical physics and cosmology. The ongoing research into quantum gravity and alternative cosmological models suggests that the origin and nature of gravity might be more complex and nuanced than current understanding suggests. As our tools and theories continue to evolve, we may uncover even more profound insights into the nature of gravity and the universe.

Keywords: gravity, Big Bang, quantum gravity