--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The 'hard swallow' built into science is…" description: "\"The 'hard swallow' built into science is this business about the Big Bang. ... This is the notion that the universe, for no reason, sprang from nothing..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94b/terence-mckenna-287_bangs_the-hard-swallow-built-into-science-is-t_2216026.jpg" --- # The 'hard swallow' built into science is this business… ![“The 'hard swallow' built into science is this business about the Big Bang. ... This is the notion that the universe, for no reason, sprang from nothing in a single instant. ... Notice that this is the limit test for credulity. . . . It's the limit case for likelihood.” quote by Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94b/terence-mckenna-287_bangs_the-hard-swallow-built-into-science-is-t_2216026.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94b/terence-mckenna-287_bangs_the-hard-swallow-built-into-science-is-t_2216026.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94b/terence-mckenna-287_bangs_the-hard-swallow-built-into-science-is-t_2216026.jpg) > “The 'hard swallow' built into science is this business about the Big Bang. ... This is the notion that the universe, for no reason, sprang from nothing in a single instant. ... Notice that this is the limit test for credulity. . . . It's the limit case for likelihood.” [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Big Bang theory suggests the universe emerged from nothing, challenging our intuition and demanding extraordinary belief. **In simple terms:** The universe supposedly began from nothing. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about origins. Themes science philosophy skepticism Mood inquisitive critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - academic debate - science education - philosophical inquiry - public outreach Key Concepts cosmology probability credibility Questions to Reflect On - What evidence would convince you? - How do we balance wonder with skepticism? A Different Perspective Evidence for such a claim remains indirect and contested. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big bang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-bang/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Limits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limits/) [Physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physics/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) ## Related quotes > [“something cannot just come out of nothing, there has to be a transcendent cause beyond space and time which brought the universe into being.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zondervan-publishing/something-cannot-just-come-out-of-nothing-there-has-to-be-a/) [Zondervan Publishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zondervan-publishing/) > [Christianity believes that God has created an external world that is really there; and because He is a reasonable God, one can expect to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/christianity-believes-that-god-has-created-an-external-world-that-is/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [“Don't you understand? 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