JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The discussion of religion and faith resonates across the world, often centering around one question---does God exist?
The believer --
"I absolutely believe that God exists. Not just believe, like when John was asked, do you believe there is a God. I know there is a God," one local minister says.
The Atheist --
"There's a lack of evidence. We can believe all we want. But, we can never know.," says Earl Coggins.
And the man who claims he has the answer --
"We have a simple very straight forward proof of the existence of God," says Dr. Frank Tipler.
Tipler is a Mathematics professor at Tulane University. He says he's made a divine discovery.
"It is not possible to divorce theology from science without throwing out Christianity," added Tipler.
According to Tipler, that proof can be determined by the laws of physics and quantum mechanics.
"These equations combined with this one tell us there has to be more than one universe," says Tipler.
He's come up with an equation. It's not understandable to most. But Tipler concludes the initial conditions of our universe and what made it happen is not due to chance. He uses a diagram of the universe to make his point and when dozens of numbers and mathematical symbols add up across the board, Tipler says it equals God.
"The singularity is outside of space a time is the ultimate uncaused of everything. therefore the initial singularity is God. Christianity has a way to say that this quote in time, is at this point God, the father will be all and all, the whole universe is moving into God."
But not everyone is seeing the light. We invited a group of Atheist to watch Tipler's presentation.
"I see his intelligence, but the empirical evidence is just not there. I'm not going to fill in the blank like Tipler did saying the answer is God," says Coggins.
"You kind of need to see the end result. If we don't actually see God..what does all the proof and ideas mean," added Sean Luei.
Tipler was once and atheist himself and knows how hard it is to believe. But says after he found the numbers and the scriptures connected so perfectly..it was a match made in heaven and he converted.
"My younger self 40 years ago would be astounded to find his name on that book, but I have been forced to do these conclusions by the mathematical consequences of the laws of physics," says Tipler.
Other math experts are praising Tiplers findings..
Dr. Paul Simony is the head of the Physics Department at J.U. Although he says personally, he has questions about some of the research, there is nothing blasphemous about Tipler's theory and it all makes sense.
"Everything in here is correct and his interpretation of the equation is correct. But some people may find if you have numbers and this equation, it raises the question of faith. But the diagraph even represents, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit," says Tipler.
Many church leaders aren't surprised about Tipler's discovery. But they say equation or not, the true answer is found right here, because they believe through faith, God lives within us.
"I don't think you have proof. You have evidence. You will not have proof in fact. The bible clearly says without faith it is impossible to please God. Then it goes on to say that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things you can't see. God will not allow himself to be proved, because then you won't need faith," says Newman.
And as long as the church bells continue to ring, they'll always be questions about faith.
While some believe God is no mystery, it's up to you to judge that for yourself.
