A former professor at Harvard University has ignited a fascinating debate by proposing that the laws of cosmology could indicate the existence of Heaven, suggesting it lies an astonishing 273 billion trillion miles from Earth. Dr. Michael Guillen, who possesses multiple doctorates in physics, mathematics, and astronomy, argues that principles of modern astronomy align with ancient religious descriptions of a realm beyond our physical universe.
Dr. Guillen’s argument is anchored in the concept of cosmic expansion, derived from the pioneering work of American astronomer Edwin Hubble. His observations demonstrate that galaxies are receding from Earth, with more distant galaxies moving away at increasingly higher speeds. As he explained, “Theoretically, a galaxy that’s 273 billion trillion (273,000,000,000,000,000,000,000) miles away from Earth would move at 186,000 miles per second, which is the speed of light.” This extraordinary distance corresponds to what astronomers refer to as the cosmic horizon, the outer limit of the observable universe.
Beyond this cosmic horizon, galaxies may exist, but their light has not reached Earth due to the universe’s accelerating expansion. As a result, some regions will remain unobservable, regardless of advancements in technology. While most scientists view the cosmic horizon as a practical limit for observation, Dr. Guillen interprets it as a more profound indication of reality’s nature.
In an opinion piece published by Fox News, Guillen posits that the cosmic horizon signifies a fundamental shift in reality itself. He stated, “Our best astronomical observations—and Einstein’s theories of special and general relativity—indicate that time stops at the Cosmic Horizon. At that special distance, way up there in deep, deep, deep space, there is no past, present or future. There’s only timelessness.” He argues that this “timeless state” mirrors descriptions of Heaven found in biblical texts.
According to Dr. Guillen, religious scripture delineates multiple levels of Heaven, each corresponding to different realms of existence. “As a scientist, I understand the importance of definitions,” he said. “According to the Bible, the lowest level of Heaven is Earth’s atmosphere. The mid-level heaven is outer space. The highest-level heaven is what we’re talking about: It’s where God dwells.”
Guillen suggests that anything beyond the cosmic horizon would possess extraordinary properties, existing outside the boundaries of human understanding of space and time. He believes this aligns with ancient depictions of Heaven as a realm inhabited by nonmaterial and timeless beings, often described as departed souls.
In contrast, most astronomers regard the cosmic horizon as devoid of spiritual significance, viewing it merely as the farthest distance from which light has traveled to reach Earth since the universe began approximately 13.8 billion years ago. The oldest light currently observable is the cosmic microwave background, a faint remnant from the Big Bang. This radiation was formed when the early universe cooled sufficiently for light to travel freely, leaving a signal that continues to pervade the cosmos.
The discovery of this radiation in 1965 provided compelling evidence for the Big Bang theory and remains a cornerstone of cosmology. Tiny fluctuations in this radiation eventually led to the formation of galaxies and clusters, reshaping our understanding of the universe.
Dr. Guillen’s intersection of science and theology has opened an intriguing dialogue about the nature of existence, inviting both scientific and philosophical reflection on what lies beyond the observable universe.
