I've been reading about the sholastic philosophers in the 12th and 13th centuries. The debates over faith vs. reason were in the forefront then, as they continue to be today. The moslem philosopher Averroes held that the universe is eternal. Thomas Aquinas, writing to defend christianity against Averroism argued that the universe was created in time out of nothing. Other philosophers attempted to prove the existence of God by reason alone as a defense against unbelievers, as some still do today (creation science).
(Quoting Durant) "However Aquinas conceeded that the arguments offered by the theologians for creation in time are weak and should be rejected 'lest the Catholic faith should seem to be founded on empty reasoning.' Thomas concludes that we must believe on faith in a creation in time, but he adds that the question has little meaning, since time had no existence before creation; (because) without change, without matter in motion, there is no time."
This struck me as not being inconsistent with Einstein's relativity which launched our modern discussion about space/time. Indeed, modern science brings space and time into an equivalency. Today's theory of the Big Bang almost brings us back to the sholastic notion of a Primary Cause. Today's scientists offer nothing about what happened before the Big Bang.
I'm not saying that the scientists are standing at the edge of the abyss of faith, but to me, it seems that we all need to recognize that there will always be limits to knowledge and understanding. I am leery of anyone who claims certainty. Aquinas put it nicely when he said that "The highest knowledge we can have of God in this life, is to know that he is above all that we can think concerning him." Likewise, scientists with their ever larger atom smashers continue to pursue ever smaller particles to make ever infinitessimal approaches to the moment of the big bang.
The only thing that I know for certain is that there's a lot I don't know. You can't take things too seriously, it makes you lose sight of the joys of life - things like your baby crapping in his diaper. 
Your Views?
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