Atheists were initially outraged by the Big Bang theory, denouncing it as Christian propaganda. The concept of the universe having a definitive beginning echoed too closely the religious narrative of creation, making many atheists suspect it was a ploy to insert faith into science. They vehemently championed the steady-state model, which maintained the universe had no beginning, to avoid any semblance of divine implication. Despite this fervent opposition, the overwhelming tide of scientific evidence (by Catholic scientists) eventually established the Big Bang as a cornerstone of modern cosmology.