# Creationists and "The Big Bang Theory"
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationists-and-the-big-bang-theory/606399
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [December 16, 2011, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationists-and-the-big-bang-theory/606399 "2011-12-16T09:53:17Z")
**Posts on this page:** 17
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2011, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationists-and-the-big-bang-theory/606399/1 "2011-12-16T09:53:17Z")
Do Creationists watch \*The Big Bang Theory, \*or are they put off by the title? Is there anything in the show that would actually challenge their beliefs? Have they done things like boycotting the sponsors, etc.?
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### Author:  [@BeaMyra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeaMyra)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2011, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationists-and-the-big-bang-theory/606399/2 "2011-12-16T10:54:58Z")
I don’t see where it could offend anyone. In the last few seasons they got away from physics a lot. The funniest physics was with Leslie Winkle (Quantum Loop) versus Sheldon (String Theory)
I do think they present religion OK with Sheldon’s mother over the top, but Sheldon, while scoffing at religion certainly gives him mother respect for her belief.
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### Author:  [@PandaBear77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PandaBear77)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2011, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationists-and-the-big-bang-theory/606399/3 "2011-12-16T12:07:12Z")
This creationist LOOOOOOOOOOOVES BBT!
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### Author:  [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2011, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationists-and-the-big-bang-theory/606399/4 "2011-12-16T12:16:52Z")
> [@panache45](#):
>
> Do Creationists watch \*The Big Bang Theory, \*or are they put off by the title?
I’ve never seen the show, but I just wanted to point out that the actual Big Bang Theory, when it won out over the competing Steady State Theory, was welcomed by some Creationists (and resisted by some anti-creationists) because it indicates that the Universe had a beginning, instead of always existing.
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### Author:  [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2011, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationists-and-the-big-bang-theory/606399/5 "2011-12-16T14:50:54Z")
I doubt that creationists would be any more offended by “The Big Bang Theory” than evolutionists would be by “The Flintstones”.
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### Author:  [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2011, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationists-and-the-big-bang-theory/606399/6 "2011-12-16T15:00:05Z")
A great many creationists do not deny that the Big Bang happened. Young Earth creationists do, but that’s hardly the consensus.
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### Author:  [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2011, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationists-and-the-big-bang-theory/606399/7 "2011-12-16T15:00:25Z")
Think about it… in every episode the moral of the story is that the Brainiacs get taught a lesson in life by Penny, Zach, or Sheldon’s mother.
So, what’s not to like about the show if you are a bible-thumping creationist from Texas?
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### Author:  [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2011, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationists-and-the-big-bang-theory/606399/8 "2011-12-16T15:00:56Z")
One of these days Alice. One of these days. POW! Your escape velocity will equal the square root of two times the gravitational acceleration multiplied by the radius of the Earth.
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### Author:  [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2011, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationists-and-the-big-bang-theory/606399/9 "2011-12-16T15:24:44Z")
Why should they? They’re saying it’s only a theory. It’s not called **The Big Bang Fact** 🙂
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### Author:  [@johnspartan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnspartan)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2011, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationists-and-the-big-bang-theory/606399/10 "2011-12-16T15:25:28Z")
Yeah… Sheldon talks crap about his mother, but actually the show’s portrayal of her is fairly sympathetic (or at least harmless). Further, part of the underlying joke theme is that there’s more to life than what scientific theorems can explain (the episode about Sheldon having a formula for “friends” was a good one).
The title’s a bit of a disconnect, as I see it, as I don’t see what the show has to do with The Big Bang Theory… literally or figuratively or metaphorically or on any other level. It seems to just be assigning the name of something scientific because of the vague connection. Maybe it’s because “Quantum Leap” was already taken. It might just as well be called Pythagorean Theorem. Or, to be a bit snarky, it could be called “Frasier, Jr. With Science Snobs Instead of Culture Snobs”.
But to the original question… no, I’d say there’s (almost) no practice of Creationists boycotting Big Bang Theory because of the name.
Now, whether certain groups see the show as having a cavalier approach to sex for being a primetime show, etc., that’s a separate rant…
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### Author:  [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2011, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationists-and-the-big-bang-theory/606399/11 "2011-12-16T15:40:26Z")
> [@johnspartan](#):
>
> The title’s a bit of a disconnect, as I see it, as I don’t see what the show has to do with The Big Bang Theory… literally or figuratively or metaphorically or on any other level.
The Big Bang Theory (the theory) = Major theory in physics
The Big Bang Theory (the show) = Group of physicists discussing how to get laid (among other topics).
Alternate definition of “bang” = getting laid.
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### Author:  [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2011, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationists-and-the-big-bang-theory/606399/12 "2011-12-16T16:06:28Z")
My FIL and MIL are on some level Creationists (I’m too afraid to ask) but they certainly don’t believe in evolution and they love the show. Of course nerds have an analytical theory about something beyond their understanding that can’t ever be quantified.
When Sheldon was arguing with his mom in Texas:
Sheldon: Evolution is not an opinion it is fact.
Mrs Cooper: …and that is your opinion.
They most likely believed she won that debate and marked the witty retort down in their mental book of comebacks.
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### Author:  [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2011, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationists-and-the-big-bang-theory/606399/13 "2011-12-16T18:10:27Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#):
>
> I’ve never seen the show, but I just wanted to point out that the actual Big Bang Theory, when it won out over the competing Steady State Theory, was welcomed by some Creationists (and resisted by some anti-creationists) because it indicates that the Universe had a beginning, instead of always existing.
I used to go to a fundie church (“ah got bettah…”), and we loved The Big Bang. Could’ve been God setting it in motion, y’know.
And we actually had quite a few University profs, who were quick to point out that it isn’t Science’s job to explain WHY, just HOW the Universe began. And that the Bible wasn’t written to be used as a textbook. I respected them for that.
Now, judging by the hairstyles in that church, they did still believe in Steady State Cosmetology, though…
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### Author:  [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2011, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationists-and-the-big-bang-theory/606399/14 "2011-12-17T02:30:08Z")
I can’t find a quote, but I think there was a comment by Sheldon’s mother in one episode to the effect that whatever Sheldon was talking about at that moment completely fit in with the idea of intelligent design.
If I had to guess, I’d guess that most people who would get upset over a situation comedy’s disparagement of young earth creationism would be more upset by the sexual content in many episodes.
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### Author:  [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2011, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationists-and-the-big-bang-theory/606399/15 "2011-12-17T03:00:09Z")
I’m an atheist who is offended by the show’s sinfully overused laugh track. Damn them to hell I don’t believe in!
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### Author:  [@C.Montgomery\_Burns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C.Montgomery_Burns)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2011, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationists-and-the-big-bang-theory/606399/16 "2011-12-17T12:37:45Z")
I believe God created the universe, and think the big bang theory is a plausible way to explain the beginning. That being said, I think the TV show sucks.
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### Author:  [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2011, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationists-and-the-big-bang-theory/606399/17 "2011-12-17T14:13:12Z")
People are people with a variety of likes & dislikes. Just because someone is a Creationist, Evolutionist, Conservative, Liberal, Theist, Atheist, etc., doesn’t mean that’s all they are.
Old-Earth Creationist/Theistic Evolutionist here & I love it.