Naomi’s Moon
Evidence
Let’s start here …
Our Unique Moon
We have been discussing design arguments for God’s existence. Now let’s leave earth for the time being and head back into space to explore our closest neighbor - the moon and it’s origins.
Our moon, one of 690 in our solar system, is surprisingly exactly what we need to make the earth habitable. Without it, we couldn’t exist – for long anyway.
To begin with, earth’s moon is the perfect shape, size, density, and distance from us to perform it’s functions for life to thrive. If the distance was too close or too far away the tides would change dramatically. The moon’s orbit is also unique.
The moon causes tides and wind that generates ocean currents that help to widely redistribute Earth’s water nutrients and toxins. Without this effect most life in the ocean would die. These tides and winds also keep temperature extremes in check by slowing winds and clouds.
Because of the Moon’s gravity, the tilt of the Earth is held at a more stable point and prevents the Earth from wobbling around up and down as it rotates.
The moon plays a big role in migration cycles, the earth’s magnetic field, and is a major reason we have 24 hour days.
Besides all this, it is awesome to look at and provides light for the night sky.
These lead us to believe that the moon’s existence was not an accident, indeed was necessary for our habitable earth!
Reason
What do you think?
The Moon’s Identity Crisis
Seeing as how the moon is so close to us, and has been studied extensively for so long, scientists should be able to explain it’s origins fairly easily. This would also lend a lot of credibility for any other statements about the universe and it’s origins, right?
So how did the moon form, and when? Well to begin with, secular scientists seem pretty certain the moon is 4.5 billion years old.
In the 60’s the explanation for the moon’s origin was the fission theory – that it spun off from earth. Problems, so we move on.
In the 70’s was the capture theory, where a wandering moon was captured by the earth. Problems.
80’s, was nebular theory – the sister theory. From gas clouds. Problems.
Kind of current is the collision theory or giant impact theory. 4.5 billion years ago a larger object hit the earth.
Then In 2004, astrophysicists proposed the multiple large asteroid impacts model saying that the Moon was formed as a result of a violent rain of large asteroids.
Then, a new theory was published in 2012 which suggested that two bodies—each five times the size of Mars—collided, then recollided, that eventually formed Earth and the Moon.
Or, in 2011, it was theorized that a second moon existed 4.5 billion years ago, and later had an impact with the Moon.
Or the Co-accretion theory--The Moon formed at the same time as the Earth from the same material.
You get the idea – we’re still trying to figure this out – but we do know when and how the rest of the universe formed! The problem for secular scientists is trying to find a natural origin for something that was supernaturally created. This is going to take some time.
One more fun fact that has caused a lot of problems for evolutionary astronomers is a small problem called “lunar regression”. This is an observed measurement showing that the moon is moving away from the earth about 2” per year. This doesn’t seem like a lot, but some math causes problems for the 4.5 billion year age. The oversimplified result is that the moon couldn’t have been there more than a billion years. (Not that I agree with that number.) This causes huge problems for evolution and the 4.5 billion year age of the earth, since the evolutionary theory needs long ages to work. The side splitting irony is that one of the researchers of lunar regression was Charles Darwin’s son! Kind of wonder if he thought through the implications of his research!
As with other evidences of fine tuning, if the moon was anything other than ideal, life on earth would be miserable, if not impossible.
Faith
Something else to consider ...
Naomi’s Moon
Our secular and atheistic scientists talk confidently about the formation of the universe, how it was most likely formed and can even tell us how long ago it happened – naturally, without God’s help. (Anyone questioning this, of course, is considered an unlearned, religious hillbilly.)
The moon is our closest neighbor. We have studied it intently. Walked on it and collected samples. (No it wasn’t faked) You would think by now we should have a handle on how the moon formed before tackling the solar system, much less the universe, but as can be seen above, we don’t seem to be any closer to an answer than the ancients were. You see, if they can’t figure out the moon, they really can’t figure anything else out there either.
As creationists, we do have an answer to the origins dilemma, one that doesn’t change each few years. Gen 1:14-18 says God spoke the moon into existence, although he didn’t dignify it with a name, just called it the “lesser light”. Like the rest of creation, it was a supernatural act, of creating something out of nothing. Psalm 19:1 says “the heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” I’m sure the search for natural solutions to the moon will go on. I’ll wait.
We have seen the evidence of design and purpose of the moon. Design is found in other areas as well.
This weekend, I had the joy of holding another newborn granddaughter – Naomi. Nine months ago, she had 2 cells. Now there are 29,000,000,000. They multiplied at the rate of 67,000 / minute! Each cell has 3 billion base pairs of DNA, which if this were to be printed out would take 1.5 million pages of text. Before each cell divides, a genetic code is replicated so that the information is passed on correctly.
What do a baby and the universe have in common? Mind numbing complexity, purpose & design. From the cellular level to the universal level. Did design come about by chance and chaos? I think not. Psalm 139:14 says “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
Thanks for stopping by!