Does Quantum Cosmology Actually Make a Universe from Nothing?

Quantum Cosmogical Models for the origin of the universe, or more accurately to describe the universe at 10-³⁵ seconds after the beginning of the universe, presupposes existing universe's. Though the universal wave function does posit that the possibilities of different mass-energy distributions and spatial geometry all existing at the same time in this small singularity of the universe, they do not explain what caused the universe to come into being in the first place!

Quantum Cosmogy is analogous to normal Quantum Physics, in other words, concepts in quantum physics are taken into mind when thinking about the universe before 10-³⁵ seconds. As that size is when normal physics breaks down, and quantum mathematics would dominate. In Quantum physics, there exists something called the wave function, which can be derived from a previous equation, who's solutions represent different positions that a particle may manifest within a wave of energy.

For example, I have a wave of light approaching a photographic plate. Whenever I do my calculations, I come to many different locations for a photon of light to be detected across that wave of light. Until I make a measurement, I will not know what possible location the particle is located. Once I make an observation, will I know which possibility the particle is located at. Coming to the early universe. Cosmologist imagine the universe existing in state of many possible mass-energy distributions and spacetime geometry.

The existence of all possible universe's at the same instance is called superposition, and in normal quantum physics describes how a particle of light can exist along any point of the spread of the wave of light, and until a measurement is made will a particle be detected along the wave. Before the measurement is made, and the particle can exist at any point in the field, is called superposition.

Anyhow, while the universe is in superpositon in these models, there exists an infinite amount of possibilities. This is because of the Wheeler-Dewit equation, which can be solved to produce a universal wave function that includes our possible universe. But for a physicist to solve the equation, they must do two things. They must (1) arbitrarily limit the mathmatical freedom of the equation, and (2) apply what are called boundary conditions to limit the amount of possible universe's that exist in superspace. Superspace is what quantum comsologists call the region where all these possibilities exist, it is an infinite space of infinite mathmatical possibilities. By applying boundary limits, they limit the amount of possibilities in superspace, creating what they call mini-superspace.

Without these arbitrary limitations and boundary conditions, the Wheeler-Dewit equation cannot be solved and is thus useless and meaningless. Quantum Cosmology implies a mind pre-existing the universe to act on the mathmatical possibilities to produce a universal wave function that includes our Universe. Moreover, QC is analogous to normal Quantim Physics, and therein the Copenhagen Interpretation states, for a wave function to "collapse" into a particle with position and momentum, an observer must observe it. So to dig the hole deeper, for our Universe to come into existence from these posibilities, it seems that a mind must have observed it for the universe to manifest from possibilities.

Depiction of the collapse of the wave function. Under the Copenhagen Interpretation, an observer causes the collapse to occur, and a particle to be measured.

But to say that these equations cause the universe is to make a category error. Mathmatical equations are not causal entities: when a car makes a collision with another car, the law of the conservation of momentum did not cause the collided car to move, the momentum from the first car caused that. The law simply described what happened, so to posit a mathmatical equation that uses "imaginary time" and has no "physical counterpart" is to simply commit a fallacy, because nowhere in our unified experience have we seen mathmatical equations producing material events. Moreover, the math presupposes an already existing universe, where the Wheeler-Dewit equation allows for a universal wavefunction to be made from this superspace. So to say that superspace preceeded the universe reveals a misunderstanding of what the theory is discussing.

In Quantum Physics, a quantum system must already exist for a wave function to be created. There must be information within the system prior to the math so that possibilities can be calculated. So in an analogous way, the Wheeler-Dewit equation presupposes an existing system to calculate possibilities. Cosmologist may call this "nothing" and claim to have discovered the cause of the universe. But their theories and math do not show this, by redefining nothing to include the vacuum energy, and superspace. We are still left with what caused the universe to (1) come to this state of superspace, and (2) what caused this universe to manifest from superspace. All that quantum cosmological models show is that some information was pre-existing the equations, for if not, then there would be no point to applying boundary conditions, as those represent information limiting possibilities.

So if quantum Cosmology accurately describes the universe before 10-³⁵ seconds after the big bang, it has theistic implications for the Cause of the universe. If it doesn't, then it has theistic implications, but for "wholly other reasons" (Stephen Myer, Return of the God Hypothesis, Page 404).