Prior to the big bang theory, the dominant theory was Steady State Theory which theorized an eternal Universe with no beginning or end.

If you think Steady State was considered heretical, you'd be right. Proponents were accused of being atheists, and later communists. Afterall, Steady State was in conflict with God Himself!

That is until a Catholic Priest proposed a different theory with the blessing of the Pope: Big Bang Theory.

Some time later it was discovered that distant galaxies red shift, and the priest and Pope considered this to be proof of their Big Bang model: the galaxies must be moving away from us!

Or are they?