The Story – Created or Pure Evolution?
Anthropic Principle:
The Design Is In The Details.
Excerpt from “I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist” by N. L. Geisler
& F. Turek.
“Scientists are now finding that the universe in which we live is like a
diamond studded Rolex, except the universe is even more precisely
designed than the watch. In fact, the universe is specifically tweaked
to enable life on earth. A Planet with scores of improbable and interdependent life- supporting conditions that make it a tiny oasis in a vast
and hostile universe. The extent of the universe’s fine-tuning makes
the Anthropic Principle perhaps the most powerful argument for the
existence of God.
These highly precise and interdependent
environmental conditions (which are called “Anthropic Constants”
make up what is known as the “Anthropic Principle.” “Anthropic”
comes from the Greek word that means “human” or “man”. The
“Anthropic Principal” is just a fancy title for the mounting evidence
that has many scientists believing that the universe is extremely finetuned (designed) to support human life here on earth.”
It’s not that there are just a few broadly defined constants that may have
resulted by chance. No, there are more than 100 very narrowly defined
constants that strongly point to an intelligent Designer.
THE FOLLOWING is a LIST of but 15 of them….
Anthropic Constant 1: Oxygen Level
On earth, oxygen comprises 21 percent of the atmosphere. That precise
figure is an Anthropic Constant that makes life on earth possible. If oxygen
were 25% fires would erupt spontaneously, if it were 15%, human beings
would suffocate.
Anthropic Constant 2: Atmospheric Transparency
If the atmosphere were less transparent, not enough solar radiation would
reach the earth’s surface. If it were more transparent we would be
bombarded with far too much solar radiation down here. (In addition to
atmospheric transparency, the atmospheric composition of precise levels of
nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and ozone are in themselves Anthropic
constants).
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Anthropic Constant 3: Moon-Earth Gravitational Interaction
If the interaction were greater than it currently is, tidal effects on the oceans,
atmosphere, and rotational period would be too severe. If it were less, orbital
changes would cause climatic instabilities. In either event, life on earth
would be impossible.
Anthropic Constant 4: Carbon Dioxide level
If the CO2 level were higher than it is now, a runaway greenhouse effect
would develop (we’d all burn up). If the level were lower than it is now,
plants would not be able to maintain efficient photosynthesis (we’d all
suffocate).
Anthropic Constant 5: Gravity
If the gravitational force were altered by
0.00000000000000000000000000000000000001 percent, our sun would not
exist, and, therefore neither would we. Talk about precision.
Anthropic Constant 6: Centrifugal Force
If the centrifugal force of planetary movements did not precisely balance the
gravitational forces, nothing could be held in orbit around the sun.
Anthropic Constant 7: Rate Of Expansion
If the universe had expanded at a rate one millionth more slowly than it did,
expansion would have stopped and the universe would have collapsed on
itself before any stars had formed. If it had expanded faster, then no galaxies
would have formed.
Anthropic Constant 8: Speed Of Light
Any of the laws of physics can be described as a function of the velocity of
light (now defined to be 299,792,458 meters per second). Even a slight
variation in the speed of light would alter the other constants and preclude
the possibility of life on earth.
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Anthropic Constant 9: Water Vapor Levels.
If water vapor levels in the atmosphere were greater than they are now, a
runaway greenhouse effect would cause temperatures to rise too high for
human life. If they were less, an insufficient greenhouse effect would make
the earth to cold to support human life.
Anthropic Constant 10: Jupiter.
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 earth.
Anthropic Constant 11: The Earth’s Crust.
If the thickness of the earth’s crust were greater, too much oxygen would be
transferred to the crust to support life. If it were thinner, volcanic and
tectonic activity would make life impossible.
Anthropic Constant 12: The Earth’s Rotation.
If the rotation of the earth took longer than 24 hours, temperature differences
would be too great between night and day. If the rotation period were
shorter, atmospheric wind velocities would be to great.
Anthropic Constant 13: Axis Tilt.
The 23-degree axis tilt of the earth is just right. If the tilt were altered
slightly, surface temperatures would be too extreme on earth.
Anthropic Constant 14: Atmospheric Discharge.
If the atmospheric discharge (lightning) rate were greater, there would be too
much fire destruction; if it were less there would be little nitrogen fixings in
the soil.
Anthropic Constant 15: Seismic Activity.
If there were more seismic activity, much more life would be lost; if there
were less, nutrients on the ocean floors and in river runoff would not be
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cycled back to the continents through tectonic uplift. (yes, even earthquakes
are necessary to sustain life as we know it).
So which one requires TOTAL BLIND FAITH?
An article in U.S. News & World Report remarks, “So far no theory is
even close to explaining why physical laws exist, much less why they take
the form they do. Standard big bang theory, for example, essentially explains
the propitious universe in this way: ‘Well, we got lucky.’ ”
LUCKY YOU SAY?
On Christmas Day in 2002, Jack Whitaker, of Scott Depot, West Virginia,
got lucky, becoming the largest single-ticket lottery jackpot winner ever in
North America. His prize? A Powerball jackpot of $314.9 million.
Over a hundred million other tickets didn’t match. What are the odds
of that?
If someone won even two such lotteries consecutively, we would all assume
the results were rigged.
And yet, when it comes to life existing in our universe, the odds are
far more remote than winning 100 such Powerball lotteries consecutively.
Astrophysicist Hugh Ross has calculated the probability that these and
other constants (122 in all) would exist today for any planet in the universe
by chance (I.e., without Divine design). Assuming there are 1022 planets in
the universe (a very large number: 1 with 22 zeros following it), his answer
is shocking; one chance in 10138, that’s one chance in one with 138 zeros
after it. There are only about 1070 atoms in the entire universe.
In effect, there is zero chance that any planet in the universe would have the
life-supporting conditions we have, unless there is an intelligent Designer
behind it all.
Part 2: A FINELY TUNED UNIVERSE BY CHANCE?
Dr. Robin Collins states in The Case for a Creator, “Over the past thirty
years or so, scientists have discovered that just about everything about the
basic structure of the universe is balanced on a razor’s edge.”5 Over 35
different characteristics of the universe and its physical laws must be
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precisely fine-tuned for physical life to be possible.6 Following are six of
those characteristics:
-A large enough expansion rate. The birth of the universe had to begin
with enough force, or life couldn’t exist. Stephen Hawking states, “If
the rate of expansion one second after the big bang had been smaller
by even one part in a hundred thousand million million, the universe
would have recollapsed before it ever reached its present size.”
-A controlled expansion rate. Although the expansion rate had to be
great enough for the universe to avoid a big crunch, if its outward
force had been even a fraction greater, that would have been too much
for gravity to form stars and planets. Life could never have been
possible.
SIDE NOTE: In order for these things to unfold properly within a
few billionths of a second. The “big bang” expansion would have to
travel at a speed GREATER than the speed of light (thus also
explaining the constant temperature within the void of space) This
universe (smaller than an atom) must have then contained all FOUR
forces of Nature as part of the whole, it was not until the “split” that
Gravity was released and the KNOWN LAWS of PHYSICS as we
know them were propagated. EVEN if we accept this…isn’t it odd
that science will “explain” things using events PRIOR to the inception
of accepted law….YET, refuse to acknowledge anything an
ETERNAL (who existed prior to said known law) Creator did in
creation by stating that it must defy the EXISTING laws of
PHYSICS???
-Force of gravity. If the gravitational force were altered by
0.00000000000000000000000000000000000001 percent, neither
Earth nor our Sun would exist—and you would not be here reading
this.
-The balance of matter and antimatter. In the formation of the
universe, the balance between matter and antimatter, and the excess of
matter over antimatter, needed to be accurate to one part in ten billion
for the universe to arise.
-The mass density of the universe. For physical life to exist, the mass
density of the universe must be fine-tuned to better than one part in a
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trillion trillion trillion trillion trillion (1060). Thus, the mass contained
in all dark and visible matter, including stars, is essential for the
existence of our universe.
-Space-energy density. The space-energy density of the universe
requires much greater precision than the mass density. For physical
life to be possible, it must be fine-tuned to one part in 10120.
While the design of the universe has been gradually unfolding over vast
periods of time, all of this minute fine-tuning was programmed into the
initial conditions of the first microsecond of the big bang. At that instant the
rate and ratios of expansion, mass, density, antimatter, matter, etc., were set
in place, eventually leading to a habitable planet called Earth.
In addition to the 35 different characteristics of our universe that must be
just right for life to exist, over 100 characteristics of our galaxy, solar
system, and planet needed to be fine-tuned or we would not be here.
Part 3: A FINELY TUNED GALAXY BY CHANCE?
Galaxies are clusters of stars containing from millions to trillions of stars.
Our own galaxy is called the Milky Way. It’s unknown how many galaxies
the universe contains, but it may be around a trillion. Surprisingly, given the
great number of these star groups, most galaxies are incompatible with life.
In order for life to exist in a galaxy, it needs to meet several criteria.13 The
following are just three of the fine-tuned characteristics a galaxy needs to
support life:
· Shape of the galaxy. The Milky Way is spiral-shaped. Of the three
types of galaxies—elliptical, irregular, and spiral— the spiral type is
most capable of hosting human life.
· Not too large a galaxy. Our Milky Way is enormous, measuring
100,000 light-years from end to end. However, if it were just a bit
larger, too much radiation and too many gravitational disturbances
would prohibit life like ours.
· Not too small a galaxy. On the other hand, a stable Earth orbit that is
necessary for life could not exist if our galaxy were slightly smaller.
And a smaller galaxy would result in inadequate heavy elements, such
as iron and carbon, essential to life.
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Our Milky Way galaxy meets these and many other conditions essential for
life. Most of the others do not.
When we focus in even closer, on our own star and its planets, the odds for
life being possible become even more extreme.
Part 4: A FINELY TUNED SOLAR SYSTEM BY CHANCE?
As the story goes, it was the medieval church that believed the Earth to be
the center of universe, with the Sun revolving around it, and it was those
boys in the lab, Copernicus and Galileo, who assigned us a more random
place in the universe—like, say, third place.
But things didn’t go down exactly like that. Copernicus and Galileo saw
their systems as promoting the Earth, not demoting it. Galileo, in his
writings, heralded the fact that Earth reflects the glory of the Sun as
humankind reflects the glory of God.
Galileo was right, for our location—our precise location—in the solar
system bears the fingerprint of grand design. Consider just a few of dozens
of proofs:
· The Sun’s distance from the center of the galaxy. Our Sun is
positioned thousands of light-years from the center of the Milky Way,
near one of its spiral arms. This is the safest part of the galaxy, away
from its highly radioactive center.
· The Sun’s mass not too large. If the mass of the Sun were a small
percentage greater, it would burn too quickly and erratically to
support life.
· The Sun’s mass not too small. On the other hand, if it were smaller,
its greater flaring would disrupt Earth’s rotation rate.
· The Sun’s metal content. Only two percent of all stars have enough
metal content to form planets. Too much metal in a star will allow too
many planets to form, creating chaos. Our Sun has just the right
amount of metal for planets to form safely.
· Effect of the Moon. The Moon stabilizes the Earth’s tilt and is
responsible for our seasons. If it weren’t there, our tilt could swing
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widely over a large range, making our winters a hundred degrees
colder and our summers a hundred degrees warmer.
This is the revolutionary message of Copernicus’s universe. True, back in
the old days the Church wasn’t crazy about him messing around with the
position of the Earth, and that’s why there aren’t any parochial schools
named St. Copernicus. But then, maybe there should be.
PART 5: A FINELY TUNED PLANET BY CHANCE??
You may believe that aliens have sent life to Earth from a far distant galaxy
(perhaps you watch the Sci-Fi channel too much). You may believe that the
government is hiding something outer spatial in Nevada’s mysterious Area
51 (did anyone mention the X-Files?). Or you may simply believe that there
is undoubtedly intelligent life on other planets (at times I struggle with
believing that about our own planet). In any case, we have all been raised on
the assumption that, given enough time, intelligent life will spring up
anywhere in the cosmos (just fortunate we have 2 eyes, ears, legs and arms
and are not some gelatinous substance) Yet new evidence from cosmology
is really saying the opposite.
The reality is that we live on an extremely rare planet… perfectly positioned
in an extremely rare solar system… ideally located in an extremely rare
galaxy…all within a highly improbable universe. Now let’s look closer at
our rare Earth.
Water. Earth has an abundance of water, which is essential for life.
Mars once had water and therefore might have harbored life. But
water is only one of many requirements for life.
Oxygen. Earth is the only planet in our solar system in which we can
breathe. Attempting to breathe on other planets, such as Mars or
Venus, would be instantly fatal, Mars having virtually no atmosphere
and Venus having mostly carbon dioxide and almost no oxygen.
Earth’s distance from the Sun. If the Earth were merely one percent
closer to the Sun, the oceans would vaporize, preventing the existence
of life. On the other hand, if our planet were just two percent farther
from the Sun, the oceans would freeze and life would be nonexistent.
Plate tectonic activity on Earth. Scientists have determined that if
the plate tectonic activity were greater, human life could not be
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sustained and greenhouse-gas reduction would overcompensate for
increasing solar luminosity. Yet, if the activity was smaller, lifeessential nutrients would not be recycled adequately and greenhousegas reduction would not compensate for increasing solar luminosity.
Ozone level in the atmosphere. Life on Earth survives because the
ozone level is within the safe range for habitation. However, if the
ozone level were much greater, there would be too little UV radiation
for adequate plant growth. Yet, if the ozone level were much smaller,
there would be too much UV radiation for adequate plant growth, and
life would be impossible.
For life to exist, these, as well as many other conditions need to be just
right.
In Conclusion:
Michael Denton, senior research fellow in human molecular genetics at
the University of Otago in New Zealand, poetically summarizes the
evidence from the fine-tuned universe: (Concerning Creationism)
No other theory or concept imagined by man can equal in boldness and
audacity this great claim … that all the starry heavens, and every species of
life, that every characteristic of reality exists for mankind. … But most
remarkably, given its audacity, it is a claim which is very far from
discredited prescientific myth. In fact no observation has ever laid the
presumption to rest. And today, four centuries after the scientific revolution,
the doctrine is again reemerging. In the last decades of the twentieth century,
its credibility is being enhanced by discoveries in several branches of
fundamental science.
It seems ludicrous to claim that life exists on only one tiny speck in a
universe of ten billion trillion stars. Yet, incredibly, Earth appears to sit
alone in a hostile universe devoid of life, a reality portrayed recently in
National Geographic:
"If life sprang up through natural processes on the Earth, then the
same thing could presumably happen on other worlds. And yet when
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we look at outer space, we do not see an environment teeming with
life.
We see planets and moons where no life as we know it could possibly
survive. In fact we see all sorts of wildly different planets and moons—hot
places, murky places, ice worlds, gas worlds—and it seems that there are far
more ways to be a dead world than a live one."
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