The perceived conflict between biblical creation and modern science has long fueled debate and skepticism. The Genesis account describes a world formed in six days, seemingly at odds with the scientific assertion of a universe 13.8 billion years old. But what if this tension arises not from true contradiction, but from a limited framework of time and causality? Recent advancements in theoretical physics, particularly the emergent gravity theory proposed by Ruth Kastner and Andreas Schlatter, challenge long-held assumptions. If time and spacetime are emergent rather than fundamental, the biblical creation account may harmonize more naturally with our evolving understanding of the universe.

In traditional physics, gravity is considered a fundamental force, and time is treated as a continuous dimension. However, Kastner and Schlatter propose that gravity emerges from quantum-level electromagnetic interactions¹. When charged particles exchange photons, they create events that form the fabric of spacetime. This is rooted in Kastner's Transactional Interpretation (TI) of quantum mechanics, which posits that quantum events involve a time-symmetric exchange of offer and confirmation waves. In this view, an emitter sends an 'offer wave' forward in time, and a potential absorber replies with a 'confirmation wave' backward in time. Only when this handshake is completed does a quantum event become actualized. The implications are profound: time is not a universal backdrop in which events unfold, but a consequence of these interactions. This naturally raises concerns about causality. If interactions can occur with influences from both past and future, how is cause-and-effect preserved? In the Transactional Interpretation, causality is not violated because events only actualize when a full transaction is completed. No effect can occur without a consistent handshake between emitter and absorber, ensuring logical coherence across time. To illustrate, imagine a photon emitted by an atom. In TI, this photon sends out an 'offer wave' into the future. Potential absorbers respond with 'confirmation waves' backward in time. Only when a mutual handshake is established does the event become real. The event is not caused by the future, but rather co-defined across spacetime. Causality, in this view, is not a linear push from past to future, but a self-consistent structure where every actualized interaction respects a complete and non-contradictory chain of conditions.

The biblical account of creation emphasizes functional maturity. Adam is created as an adult, trees bear fruit on day three, and stars shine from the moment they are spoken into existence. This suggests readiness, not gradual development. Genesis also records that God created light on day one, yet the sun, moon, and stars were not created until day four. This distinction suggests that light—fundamentally a quantum phenomenon—may exist apart from the sources that typically emit it. In quantum mechanics, light is described as a field of potential interactions (photons) that do not require classical emitters to exist conceptually. Thus, the biblical sequence aligns intriguingly with the idea that light, as a property of the created order, could exist prior to and independent of localized sources.

Modern cosmology measures age using tools that assume time as a constant and spacetime as a fixed frame. Radiometric dating, light-years, and cosmic background radiation rely on the presumption that time flows uniformly. But if time is emergent, these measurements may only describe the internal consistency of the system—not its absolute age. From within the system, we interpret age based on relational metrics that were themselves created. What appears ancient may in fact be young if viewed from outside the system. This reframes the question from 'How old is the universe?' to 'What framework are we using to define age?'

Creation may be understood as the first quantum transaction—the divine initiation of reality. God’s spoken word, 'Let there be light,' acts like an offer wave. The universe responds in confirmation. Hebrews 11:3 supports this view: 'By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.' This aligns with the idea that spacetime arises not from visible matter, but from quantum-level interactions made actual through divine command.

One might ask, isn’t this just a 'God of the gaps' argument? Not quite. This framework does not invoke God to fill in gaps but places God as the source of the system's structure itself.
Another concern is the accusation of deception—why would God create a universe that looks old? But maturity does not imply deceit.   A tree with rings or a man with memory implies function.  
Finally, some might point out that Kastner and Schlatter's ideas are not yet mainstream.  True—but they align with other emerging theories like Erik Verlinde's entropic gravity³.  As with many scientific shifts, acceptance grows with exploration.

Science and Scripture need not be adversaries. When time is understood as emergent and spacetime as relational, the Genesis creation account becomes compatible with quantum theory. The universe may have been created in motion—its maturity and structure appearing instantly, not by accident, but by design. Through a deeper understanding of quantum foundations, both the scientist and the believer can marvel at a cosmos spoken into being. 

¹ Kastner, R. E., & Schlatter, A. (2022). *Emergent Gravity from Electromagnetic Quantum Events*. Foundations of Physics.

² Kastner, R. E. (2013). *The Transactional Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics: The Reality of Possibility*. Cambridge University Press.

³ Verlinde, E. (2011). *On the Origin of Gravity and the Laws of Newton*. Journal of High Energy Physics.