What is the Omega Point?

Answer

Omega Point is a term coined by the scientific mystic and Catholic priest Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881–1955). According to Teilhard, the Omega Point is the ultimate destination towards which all of history is progressing. Teilhard acknowledged that the Bible refers to Christ as the Omega, the One through whom, for whom, and to whom all things exist (see Romans 11:36). However, it would be inaccurate to interpret Teilhard as identifying Christ as the Omega Point. More precisely, Teilhard would likely suggest that the biblical authors were portraying the Omega Point using concepts familiar to them, but the Omega Point transcends Christ. It represents the ultimate unity that all of history is moving towards.

Frank J. Tipler is a contemporary mystical scientist. Tipler, a mathematical physicist and cosmologist at Tulane University, theorizes that the universe will eventually collapse into a single point—where all the matter and energy in the universe will be condensed into an almost infinitely small and dense speck. He regards this Omega Point as God, as he believes this point possesses all the attributes typically associated with God. Tipler’s ideas are generally not well-received within the scientific community.

Evolutionary theory posits that, despite the universe appearing to be designed, any such appearance is coincidental. The universe is progressing, but it is not striving towards a specific point—there is no predetermined goal. Following this line of thought to its logical conclusion leads to a rather pessimistic view of life.

The form of scientific mysticism advocated by individuals like Teilhard and Tipler aims to uphold the significance of evolution by asserting that the universe does indeed have a purpose. This purpose can be articulated in religious and scientific terms alike. The ultimate objective is the Omega Point, which the biblical authors recognized as God or Christ. However, the biblical writers were describing the Omega Point in terms they understood, which goes beyond the concept of Christ.Writers were only using terms with which they were familiar. Certainly, none of the prophets or apostles would have described God as an impersonal singular point of almost infinite density and smallness. (Many scientists who are not mystics, like Stephen Hawking, believe the present universe will suffer the same fate. Hawking calls the point a “singularity.”)

Christians know that history is going somewhere. History is “His story.” However, we reject the concept behind the Omega Point teaching. We do not believe that everything will culminate in some impersonal point of ultimate unity. Scripture teaches that people will continue forever as personal beings and will spend eternity with God or be banished from His presence. All things will be summed up in Christ, and all things will culminate in God’s glory (Colossians 1:19-20), but the universe will not become one in substance with God, nor will God become one with the universe.

In summary, naturalistic evolutionary scientists believe that the universe has no goal. This perspective can lead to despair. (If the universe has no purpose, why does anything I do matter?) Mystical scientists like Teilhard and Tipler believe that evolution has a goal in view, and they call the ultimate coalescing “the Omega Point.” On the surface, this perspective may sound a bit more encouraging. Some may even incorporate religious language, calling the Omega Point “God” or “Christ.” But, according to the Omega Point theory, the final disposition of the present universe will be little different from that described by the naturalistic evolutionists (although the mystics have hope that somehow personality will survive the “compacting” to be reborn in another universe). Christians believe that history will culminate in a final judgment (Revelation 20:11-15), after which every person will continue as an individual who is ei

Whether in fellowship with or alienated from a personal God. This final state will not be accomplished by naturalistic evolution but by the dramatic intervention of the personal Creator of it all (Revelation 19:11-21). The Bible teaches that what we do here and now matters because we will continue to live with the consequences as individuals for all eternity.