subject: Is there Scientific Proof that God Exists? Part 2 [print this page] It has been suggested that there is no scientific proof for the existence of God. This assertion is simply not accurate. Recent scientific evidence strongly points to the existence of God. Specifically, the existence of God is demonstrated in 1) the evidence of the "Big Bang"; 2) the Design of the Universe; 3) the fine tuning of the Universe; 4) the fine tuning of earth's biosphere; 5) the complexity of organisms discovered by microbiology and microchemistry; 6) the information in DNA; 7) the existence of consciousness in the brain; 8) the sense of common morality throughout the world; and 9) the seven day week.This Article will consider points 3 and 4. Future articles will consider the additional scientific evidence. Nevertheless, science continues to either ignore or deny the existence of God for a variety of reasons that will be considered in part5 of this series of Articles. (Footnotes to this Article have been omitted. For the full article with footnotes go to www.heartpointe.com.)
3.Fine tuning in the universe points to an intentional Fine Tuner. Former professor of theoretical physics at the University of Adelaide, Paul Davies, is convinced that a purpose behind the universe and its fine tuning exists. According to Stephen Meyer, Director and Senior Fellow with the Center for Science and Culture at the Discovery Institute in Seattle, "The fine tuning of the physical laws of the universe and the precise configuration of the initial condition dating back to the very origin of the universe itself suggest a need for a cause that's intelligent. Theism affirms the existence of an entity namely, God." Even theistic skeptic, Cambridge University Professor of Astronomy, Martin Rees marvels that "The expansion speed, the material content of the universe, and the strengths of the basic forces, seem to have been a prerequisite for the emergence of the hospitable cosmic habitat in which we live." The observation of the fine tuning of the earth and the universe by cosmologist Edward Harrison has led him to conclude that, "The fine tuning of the universe provides prima facie evidence of deistic design."
To further illustrate the importance of the fine tuning of the universe physicist Robin Collins uses the analogy of a bread machine:
"To make edible bread, we needed this well designed machine that had the right circuitry, the right heating element, the right timer, and so forth. Then we had to put in the right ingredients in the right proportions and in the right order water, milk, flour, shortening, salt, sugar, yeast. The flour had to have the right amount of a protein substance called gluten, or else it would need to be added. Everything had to be just right to produce a loaf of bread otherwise, you get what looks like a burnt hockey puck."
Of course, the universe and the earth are each much more complex than bread. That is the point. From the perspective of physics the degree of harmony, symmetry, and proportionality is astonishing. Such fine tuning has "been estimated to be at least one part in a hundred million billion billion billion billion billion. That would be ten followed by fifty-three zeroes. That's inconceivably precise." Like throwing a dart at the earth and hitting a bull's eye that is less than the size of an atom. According to Collins any rational assessment of the fine tuning of the universe and earth's biosphere results in a conclusion that the only hypothesis that does make sense is the God hypothesis. Similarly, John O'Keefe who has been labeled "the godfather of astrology" and has run mathematical calculations on the probability for life existing elsewhere asserts, "We are, by astronomical standards, a pampered, cosseted, cherished group of creatures If the universe had not been made with the most exacting precision we could never have come into existence. It is my view that these circumstances indicated the universe was created for man to live in." Astronomer George Greenstein concurs that a supernatural Agency must be involved, "Is it possible that suddenly, without intending to, we have stumbled upon scientific proof of the existence of a Supreme Being?" For Davies, Meyer, Jastrow, Harrison, Collins, O'Keefe, Greenstein and many scientists like them, the answer is yes.
4.The fine tuning of the earth points to an intentional Fine Tuner. Human molecular genetics senior research fellow Michael Denton observes that Earth's location, size, composition, atmosphere, temperature, internal dynamics, carbon cycles, oxygen cycles, and so on testify to the exquisite balance of Earth. In their book, Rare Earth, geologist Peter Ward and astronomer Donald Brownlee, both professors at the University of Washington write, "not only intelligent life, but even the simplest of animal life, is exceedingly rare in our galaxy and in the universe" which leads to the inescapable conclusion that "Earth is a rare place indeed." Science educators Jimmy Davis and Harry Poe agree that "The data imply that Earth may be the only planet in the right place at the right time."
To explain this point Robin Collins, with doctorates in physics and philosophy, uses the analogy of astronauts landing on Mars and finding an enclosed biosphere. Inside the biosphere the astronauts find a control panel with all the dials for its environment oxygen, temperature, humidity, gravity, and so on set perfectly for human life. The biosphere even has systems for replenishing and maintaining a proper chemical balance in the air, producing food, generating energy, and disposing of waste. Now, if astronauts from earth made such a discovery on Mars what conclusion would be agreed on by NASA and scientists all over the earth? Would it not be agreed that intelligent life on Mars had created such a biosphere. Earth is just such a biosphere. Why then are so many scientists unwilling to credit its creation to an Intelligent Designer?
Paul Davies adds, "If the world's finest minds can unravel only with difficulty the deeper workings of nature, how could it be supposed that those workings are merely a mindless accident, a product of blind chance?" Clearly, such incredible evidence of the fine tuning of the earth's biosphere points to an intentional and Intelligent Fine Tuner. More and more scientists are coming to agree with Davis, Collins, Denton, Greenstein, and other like them who see the incredible fine tuning of the Universe and the planet earth, rare earth, to be solid evidence for an Intelligent Designer.
For additional scientific evidence for the existence of God including 1) the evidence of the "Big Bang"; 2) the Design of the Universe; 3) the fine tuning of the Universe (in this article); 4) the fine tuning of earth's biosphere (in this article); 5) the complexity of organisms discovered by microbiology and microchemistry; 6) the information in DNA; 7) the existence of consciousness in the brain;8) the sense of common morality throughout the world; and 9) the seven day week,look for Parts 1, 3,4, and 5of this series. Part5 also includes information on whyscience continues to either ignore or deny the existence of God.
