Divine Design

"Only a rookie who knows nothing about science would say science takes away from faith. If you really study science, it will bring you closer to God."

James Tour, Nanoscientist

There are more than 122 Anthropic Constants, if any one of these were altered, we would all be dead. Athrophysicist Hugh Ross has calculated the probability that all 122 constants would exist today for any planet in the universe by chance (without God). Assuming there are 100000000000000000000000 planets in the universe, there is a one in 10 with 138 zeros after it! There are only 10 with 70 zeros after it atoms in the entire universe. In fact, there is zero chance that any planet in the universe would have the life supporting conditions we have.

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 26 percent, fires would erupt spontaneously; if it were 15 percent, human beings would suffocate.

Anthropic Constant 2: Atmospheric Transparency If the atmosphere were less transparent, not enough solar radiation would reach the earths surface. If it were more transparent, we would be bombarded with far too much solar radiation. In addition to atmospheric transparency, the atmospheric composition of precise levels of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and ozone are in themselves anthropic constants.

Anthropic Constant 3: Moon-Earth Gravitational Interaction If this interaction were greater than it currently is, tidal effects on the oceans, atmosphere and rotational period would be to sever. If it was less, orbital changes would cause climatic instabilities. In either event, life on earth would be impossible.

Anthropic Constant 4: Carbon Dioxide Level If the carbon dioxide level was 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 would suffocate)

Anthropic Constant 5: Gravity If the gravitational force were altered by 0.0000000000000000000000000000000000001 percent, our sun would not exist and therefore, neither would we.

A small change in the universe would result in big problems for us as well. As we have seen scientists have discovered that the universe is precisely designed to create the very narrow envelope of life-supporting conditions here on earth. Any slight variation in on of a number of environmental and physical factors would preclude us from even existing.

The extent of the universe's fine-tuning makes the Anthropic Principle one of the most powerful argument for the existence of God. It's not that there are just a few broadly defined constants that may have resulted by change. No, there are more than 100 very narrowly defined constants that strongly point to an intelligent Designer. We've already identified 5 of them. Here are 10 more:

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

2. If the universe had expanded at a rate one millionth more slowly that 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.

3. 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 other constants and preclude the possibility of life on earth.

4. If water vapors in the level of the atmosphere were greater than they are now, a runaway greenhouse effect temperatures to rise to high for human life; if they were less, an insufficient greenhouse effect would make the earth to cold for human life.

5. 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 would otherwise strike earth.

6. If the thickness of 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.

7. If the rotation of the earth to longer than 24 hours, temperature differences would be to great between night and day. If the rotation period were shorter, atmospheric wing velocities would be too great.

8. The 23-degree axil tilt of the earth is just right. If the tilt were altered slightly, surface temperatures would be too extreme on earth.

9. If the atmospheric discharge (lightning) rate were greater, there would be too much fire destruction; if it were less, there would be too little nitrogen fixing in the soil.

10. If there were more seismic activity, much more life would be lost; if there was less, nutrients on the ocean floors and in river runoff would not be cycled back on the continents through tectonic uplift.

    Nobel Laureate Arno Penzias, codiscover of the radiation afterglow, put it this way: "Astronomy leads us to a unique event, a universe which was created out of nothing and delicately balanced to provide exactly the conditions required to support life, In the absence of an absurdly-improbable accident, the observations of modern science seem to suggest an underlying, on might say, supernatural plan."

Cosmologist Ed Harrison uses the word proof when he considers the implications of the Anthrpic Principle on the question of God. "Here is the cosmological proof for the existence of God-the design argument of Paley-updated and refurbished, The fine-tuning of the universe provides prima facie evidence of deistic design."

I am going to have to do a part 2 of part 2 on "How do atheist respond" Should have it done by the end of the weekend. Thanks you!