The Fine-tuned Universe
Evidence
Let’s start here …
The Fine-tuned Universe
The topic of design in creation is a hotly contested area, as you could imagine. A pile of books have been written and hundreds of papers published. Not only that, the areas of science are so specialized that mere mortals can barely decipher the language, let alone join in the conversation. We can, however, point out some of the arguments that show that design as evidence for God is hard to escape.
Last week we used design as one evidence for the existence of God. This was more of a philosophical argument, and there are others we will get back to. But design is so interesting, it deserves more time.
So, lets start with our universe, and it’s stunning display of fine-tuning. Scientists say there are 30 - 200 known parameters necessary for a planet to support life. The explanations for the most part are incomprehensible, but I think we can all appreciate the ranges that are discussed. Let’s start with gravity.
The illustration is given that if you were to stretch a ruler from one side of the universe to the other, marked off in 1 inch increments, and the marks represented the balance between gravity and nuclear forces, we are currently at the one point in this ruler that life can exist. If you were to move that dial just one inch gravity would increase a billion fold, and it’s impact on life in the universe would be “catastrophic”.
Another. If the electromagnetic force (The electromagnetic force is a type of physical interaction that occurs between electrically charged particles. Yea, me either ) were slightly stronger or weaker, life in the universe would be impossible.
Another. The “weak force” (one of the four fundamental forces of nature) is so well tuned that life could not have existed if altered by only one part out of 10^100th power. (that is one followed by 100 zeroes.)
Roger Penrose said “This now tells us how precise the Creator’s aim must have been: namely to an accuracy of one part in 10^10^123”.”
Reason
What do you think?
The Divine Foot
As we progress through other evidences we always will encounter secular counter-arguments. Many times they are not logical, or even truly scientific. We will encounter this attitude throughout the duration of this blog. The following illustrates this.
This quote is from Richard Lewontin, an American evolutionary biologist.
“Our willingness to accept scientific claims that are against common sense is the key to an understanding of the real struggle between science and the supernatural. We take the side of science in spite of the patent absurdity of some of its constructs, in spite of its failure to fulfill many of its extravagant promises of health and life, in spite of the tolerance of the scientific community for unsubstantiated just-so stories, because we have a prior commitment, a commitment to materialism. It is not that the methods and institutions of science somehow compel us to accept a material explanation of the phenomenal world, but, on the contrary, that we are forced by our adherence to material causes to create an apparatus of investigation and a set of concepts that produce material explanations, no matter how counter-intuitive, no matter how mystifying to the uninitiated. Moreover, that materialism is absolute, for we cannot allow a Divine Foot in the door.”
No one could explain it better.
Faith
Something else to consider ...
The Romans Explanation
As our home page quote suggests, in any discussions on evidences, there will always be room for disbelief. So what would it take to make someone consider the supernatural?
How about direct revelation?
“They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? “ John 6:30
“Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe” John 4:48
Put it in writing? “But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? “John 5:47
No, there is something deeper going on here. It is recorded in Romans 1:20 “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: “ Anyone paying attention all know that there is a Creator. it’s clearly seen.
But why not believe? It is a choice: “who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. “ Romans 1:18
I think that this appeal to “materialism” is a cop-out. It is intellectually satisfying without actually having to say what you are really afraid of. Letting a Divine Foot in the door.