This week is a continuation of topic number two, “conversations about God” where we are looking at compelling areas of evidence for the existence of God. This week we are looking at evidence for the “Teleological Argument” from obvious design factors found in our Universe. We will also provide references for going deeper for those who would like to explore these concepts further.

Watch this week’s presentation on this topic:

Overview Notes From the Presentation

Topic #2: Conversations About God

Part 1: How Do We Know God Exists?

III. The Teleological Argument for the existence of God
Part I: The Design of the Universe

Premise #1: Whatever has the appearance of design must have a designer. For example, a building must have a builder, a painting or sculpture must have an artist, and a computer must have a programmer.

*Premise #2: The Universe has the appearance of design. Mathematics, engineering, physics and biochemistry are all elements with evidence of design.

Premise #3: Therefore, the Universe has a designer.

*Evidence #1:
Design in Mathematics

The Fibonacci Sequence: The first two numbers in the Fibonacci sequence are 1 and 1, or 0 and 1, depending on the chosen starting point of the sequence, and each subsequent number is the sum of the previous two:

0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, etc.

The next number is found by adding up the two numbers before it:

The 2 is found by adding the two numbers before it (1+1)

The 3 is found by adding the two numbers before it (1+2),

And the 5 is (2+3), and so on!

Example: the next number in the sequence above would be

21+34 = 55

We can find examples of the Fibonacci sequence in nature and humans use this sequence in engineering designs (modeling our Creator Father)

We find examples of the Fibonacci sequence everywhere because it works…

The Fibonacci sequence in Golden Spirals

The Fibonacci sequence in the Golden Rectangle

*Evidence #2:
Design in Engineering

Examples of engineering designs inspired by nature’s design:

Warren Truss Bridge – design model found in the wing of birds
Eiffel Tower – designed after the structure of the human femur

*Evidence #3: Design in Physics
The Fine Tuning of the Universe—The Anthropic Principle

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 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 than a razor’s edge:

Oxygen level:

21% of the atmosphere is oxygen, if it was at 25% – fires would erupt spontaneously, if it was at 15% – human beings would suffocate.

Moon-Earth gravitational interaction:

If the gravitational pull were a few degrees greater then tidal effect on the oceans would be too severe, if less, orbital changes would cause climatic instabilities, in either event life would be impossible.

Carbon dioxide level:

If sustained at a higher level a runaway greenhouse effect would develop and we would all burn up, if lower, plants would not be able to maintain efficient photosynthesis and we would all suffocate.

Strong and weak nuclear force:

If at a greater or weaker force then elements could never form and the atom could not hold together.

Gravitational force:

If altered by 0.37 of 1 percent our sun would not exist and neither would we.

Centrifugal force:

If the force of planetary movements did not precisely balance the gravitational forces, nothing could be held in orbit around the sun.

Expansion rate of the universe:

If at a rate one-millionth slower expansion would have stopped and the universe would have collapsed on itself before any stars had formed, if faster then no galaxies would have ever formed.

Atmospheric water vapor levels:

If greater a runaway greenhouse effect would cause temperatures to rise too high for human life, if less an insufficient greenhouse effect would make the earth too cold to support human life.

Jupiter’s orbit related to its protection for Earth:

If Jupiter were not in its current orbit the Earth would be bombarded with space material—Jupiter’s gravitational field acts as a cosmic vacuum cleaner, attracting asteroids and comets that might otherwise strike the Earth.

The thickness of the Earth’s crust:

If thicker too much oxygen would be transferred to the crust therefore not enough left to support life, if thinner volcanic and tectonic activity would make life impossible.

Earth’s rotational speed:

If the rotation of the Earth took longer than 24 hours temperature differences would be too great between night and day, if shorter than 24 hours atmospheric wind velocities would be too great to sustain life.

Earth’s axial tilt:

The 23-degree tilt is just right, if altered slightly the surface temperatures would become too extreme to support life.

“If we nudge one of these constants just a few percent in one direction, stars burn out within a million years of their formation. If we nudge it a few percent in the other direction, then no elements heavier than helium form. No carbon, no life. Not even any chemistry. No complexity at all.”

Dr. David D. Deutsch,

Institute of Mathematics at Oxford University

“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. 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.”

Dr. Robin Collins, Mathematics,

Philosophy and Physics professor

Collins put it in another way to illustrate this extreme mathematical improbability:

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.

Watch this reasonablefaith.org short presentation on the “fine tuning” argument:

Going Deeper

“The Case for A Creator,” Full Documentary, by Lee Strobel on DVD or YouTube, or book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bice8EnJFsU

“The Privileged Planet” by Illustra Media on DVD or YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmIc42oRjm8

“The Ultimate Proof of Creation” by Dr. Jason Lisle

Reflection

If you only had one minute for each question, to the best of your ability, give an answer in your own words: (Note – these are building from the notes each week)

What are the four areas of our Christian walk that we should work on growing in? (From the Ministry Statement in the first session)
What makes the ”Christian Worldview” unique, and how do we know it is true?
What are the differences between objective truth, subjective truth and relative truth?
Give an example (or two) for the existence of God from each of these areas: Biblical evidence, Philosophical evidence, and Cosmological evidence (from last week’s post)

Bible Study

Always remember to pray before you study and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into the truth found in God’s Word – pray for protection from the evil one who will try to discourage, distract and deceive us when we commit to growing closer to the LORD.

NOTE: Questions are taken directly from the chapters, and answers should be found and cited from the Scripture text in order to be Biblically accurate (unless asked to summarize in your own words). Study Bibles, commentaries and your own thoughts can be used for “Discussion” or “Going Deeper” questions. Cite your sources to share with your group.

Daily Devotional:

This week do Proverbs chapters 26-29 (4 chapters only this week), note any questions you may have, or anything that stands out to you as a life application.

1. From your daily devotional reading in the book of Proverbs 26-29, discuss the following:

a. What do the proverbs have to say about a lazy person (a sluggard) and a diligent person, and the potential consequences of each?

b. What do the proverbs have to say about the characteristics of a foolish (wicked) ruler versus a wise ruler?

c. How do people respond to the leadership of a fool (wicked person) versus a wise person?

d. What other things stood out in your reading of Proverbs this week?

Bible study:

Read Ephesians chapter 5, then to the best of your ability, answer these questions:

2. Re-read Ephesians chapter 5:1-33 with your table group. In this chapter Paul teaches Christians to be imitators of God, and to live as the “bride of Christ.”

From verses 1-21:

a. How should Christians be imitators of God?

b. Make a list of the things that Christians should not be doing? Why is it important to avoid these things?

From verses 22-33:

c. How should a Christian wife treat her husband, and what would that look like?

d. How is a Christian husband compared to Christ in the treatment of his wife, and what would that look like?

3. Going Deeper: In light of culture and the varying views of marriage, how should Christians model God’s idea of marriage? What about situations of infidelity and abuse?

4. Memory Verses: Recite with your table group 1 Peter 3:15; Ephesians 2:8-9; Philippians 4:67; and Romans 12:2; and Colossians 1:16-17.

Join us next week as we continue our study in Christian Apologetics with the Teleological (design) evidence from Biochemistry for the existence of God!

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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in! Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.

Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.

Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.

Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15