Part 4: The Existence of a Creator-God vs. Naturalism—Evidence from the Fine-Tuning of the Universe
This blog is part of a series. You can start the series by going back to the September 1, 2014 Introduction called A Case for Christianity: Why do we need one?
There are two things that lead men to believe in God: the existence of the soul and “the order of the motion of the stars, and of all things under the dominion of the Mind which ordered the universe.” -Plato
Ancient Greek philosophers, like modern day philosophers and scientists, have hunted for the reason behind the existence of the universe and the origin of life itself. Today science can answer many of the details of how but not the why. Every person can look outside on a clear night and see the massive structure and function of the universe and reason that something beyond us is responsible for what we see (and don’t see). I think the critical question is why is this universe able to continue to exist? Why doesn’t it all come crashing down? Why are the orbits sustained? Why is it all held in place? Why does life continue to exist here on earth?
Studies in the field of physics have unveiled certain constants needed to maintain the balance of the universe and perpetuation of life. These constants are referred to as the “fine-tuning of the universe” or The Anthropic Principle, in other words we have discovered the how but not the why.
What is this fine-tuning?
- All the seemingly arbitrary and unrelated constants in physics have one strange thing in common – these are precisely the values you need if you want to have a universe capable of producing life.
- There are over 100 constants that we find in nature. If any one of these constants was off by a percent of a billionth there could be no biologically based life on earth or anywhere in the universe.
- These constants must be maintained on a balance thinner that a razor’s edge. These include things like precise numbers for gravitational force, the difference in mass between protons and neutrons, the electromagnetic force, the nuclear force, etc.
Anthropic constants: There are over 100 very narrowly defined constants for life to exist, here are just 15:
- Oxygen level
- Atmospheric transparency
- Moon-Earth gravitational interaction
- Carbon dioxide level
- Gravity
- Centrifugal force
- Expansion rate of the universe
- Functions related to the velocity of light
- Atmospheric water vapor levels
- Jupiter’s orbit related to its protection for Earth
- The thickness of the Earth’s crust
- Earth’s rotational speed
- Earth’s axil tilt
- Atmospheric discharge rates
- Seismic activity rates
This fine-tuning of the Universe is one of the most compelling pieces of evidence of divine creation and has swayed even some ardent atheists like Anthony Flew and Patrick Glenn to become theists.
Dr. Robin Collins, Mathematics, Philosophy and Physics professor has said…
The unexpected, counterintuitive, and stunningly precise setting of the cosmological constant is widely regarded as the single greatest problem facing physics and cosmology today. There is no way we can really comprehend it. The precision of this fine-tuning has conservatively been estimated to be at least one part in a hundred million billion, billion, billion, billion, billion. That would be a ten followed by 53 zeroes, that’s inconceivable precise.
Collins put it in another way to illustrate this extreme mathematical improbability:
Let’s say you were way out in space and were going to throw a dart at random toward the Earth. It would be like successfully hitting a bull’s eye that’s one trillionth of a trillionth of an inch in diameter. That’s less than the size of one solitary atom.
With such amazing precision required to sustain the universe and maintain life I believe the Christian worldview has the best and only answer to the why question based on these hows. The God of the Bible and His nature fits the description required for such a creator of this magnitude and precision. Does the Bible show us a God that has complete power, control and order over His creation (science) with a plan and ultimate purpose for His creation (personal)? YES-YES-YES!!!
For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. -Colossians 1:16-17
Let me know what you think: Based on the magnitude and precision needed to maintain these required constants for life could there be any other answer than a supernatural creator that is beyond us? Could He also be a personal being that cares about His creation?
Over the next several blogs I am going to continue to present logical reasoning and sound scientific evidence not found in the public school textbooks.
Join us next time for: Is There Really Something Beyond Us?
Part 5: The Existence of a Creator-God vs. Naturalism—Evidence from Design (The Teleological Argument from the uniqueness of biological life)
Teri Dugan
TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com
Always be ready to give an answer for the hope that you have in Christ Jesus as Lord.
1 Peter 3:15