God Particle Discovery Reignites Science and Religion Debate

God Particle Discovery Reignites Science and Religion Debate

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The Higgs boson is perhaps better known by its sexier nickname: the “God particle.” But in fact, many scientists, including the physicist for whom it is named, dislike the term.

One thing is clear: The discovery that marked a new chapter in scientific knowledge also reignited debate over the universe’s origins — and the validity of religious faith as scientific knowledge expands. The Higgs boson explains why particles have mass — and in turn why we exist. Without the boson, the universe would have no physical matter, only energy. The cosmological implications are hotly debated. Can God fit in a scientific story of creation?