In our last lesson, we examined the question of the creation. We examined the choices available to each of us as to how matter came into being, and we saw that in every case the position of the atheist contradicts the scientific evidence that is available. The person who believes in the concept of God creating matter, on the other hand, has no such scientific problem. We had a beginning and that the beginning was caused.
Like the subjects discussed in the first lesson, there is an amazing contrast between the position of the believer in God and the atheist on this question. The purpose of this lesson is to show you that the statement below is logically and mathematically impossible.
We are as much a product of blind forces as is the falling of a stone to Earth or the ebb and flow of the tides. We have just happened, and man was made flesh by a long series of singularly beneficial accidents. --Julian Huxley
Intuitive Design Features in the Cosmos
There are myriads of things that man can see all around him which show design and planning, but which we cannot analyze mathematically. The incredible migratory journeys of butterflies, birds, eels, whales, fish and many other forms of life are done by a bewildering array of devices and techniques. Their migrations are beautifully designed not only in their accomplishment, but also in the ecological benefits they provide. Reproduction of all kinds demonstrates wisdom and planning. A skeptic will react to this kind of example with the statement that we are using a “god of the gaps.” When our knowledge improves, we will be able to explain these kinds of phenomena just as other mysteries of nature have been explained by scientists in the past. The complexity of the things we have referred to makes such a statement unlikely, but the point is well taken that “whiz bang” appeals have their limitations. For that reason, let us look at some statistical evidence which is of a different nature.
Let us make the assumption that the cosmos began by an expansion or explosion of some primeval mass by chance alone. Now let us ask this question:
There are myriads of factors that have to be “right” for any kind of life to exist. One of those factors is the kind of galaxy in which we are located. Galaxy 1 in the picture below is the kind of galaxy in which we live. It is known as a spiral galaxy type b. What that means is that we have a certain shape, a great deal of interstellar material, stars of a certain age and so forth. Interestingly enough, our galaxy is a very rare kind of galaxy in space. Eighty percent of all galaxies in space are of the type shown in the picture of Galaxy 2. These kinds of galaxies are known as elliptical galaxies. There are 10 basic types of elliptical galaxies plus a variety of dwarf elliptical galaxies. These galaxies contain no interstellar material to speak of, so there is nothing from which to make planets. How can we realistically talk about life existing in a galaxy where there are no planets?
The stars in elliptical galaxies are young and hot, totally unable to support any kind of a life supporting planet. In addition there are barred spiral galaxies, irregular galaxies, Seyfort galaxies and various other types and subtypes--all of which have conditions that would destroy any kind of life. What are the mathematical probabilities of having the right kind of galaxy by chance alone? There are approximately 20 different kinds of galaxies, but only one type could reasonably be believed to support any kind of life-supporting planet. The odds could easily be one out of 20.
Another factor that is critical to the existence of life is our location in the galaxy. A cross-section of our galaxy is shown below.
Any solar system located along the equator of the galaxy would have a very low probability of long term survival. Not only is there a high concentration of matter along the equatorial axis, but the gravitational force of that matter is much greater when the concentration of matter is higher. Collisions are much more likely and gravitation, magnetic and electrical forces that can disturb the stability of a solar system are also greater. The shaded-in area of the picture of the cross section of the galaxy represents “safe” areas where a solar system could exist for a very long time in stability. What are the mathematical odds of being in a “safe” area? To determine this, we simply divide the volume of the shaded-in area by the volume of the whole galaxy. The safe “doughnut” above and below the equatorial plane has been estimated by some astronomers to have a one-in-a-million ratio to the volume of the whole galaxy, so the odds of being in the right place by chance could be a comparable figure.
The kind of star that we orbit also is critical to the survival of any kind of life in a solar system. Our sun is an unusually small, cool, stable star with just the right kind of electromagnetic emissions. Most stars in space are bigger, have a different temperature, give off the wrong kind of light (such as microwaves or X rays) and/or are irregular in their behavior. The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram shown below plots the luminosity of the star against the temperature of the star. Every star in space can be plotted on the diagram, but only a very small number have the right mass, size, age, kinds of radiation, and the like, to support any kind of life. There are some 1,000 different stars in space and yet only a star like our Sun can reasonably be believed to support any kind of life. What are the odds of getting the right kind of star by chance alone? You could easily estimate the odds to be one in a thousand.
The planet on which we live also offers conditions critical to our survival. Any kind of life will have to have the right kind of planet. The distance to the Sun is critical to the existence of water or any other compound needed for life. The size of the planet determines its atmospheric makeup. The rotation rate, the existence of a magnetic field, the structure of the atmosphere, and a myriad of other factors are all critical for the existence of any kind of life. In addition to all these factors, we have to consider the odds of being in the right place in space. If a black bole was located in the neighborhood of the earth or any other life-supporting planet, it would make life a total impossibility and would be likely to destroy both the planet and its sun. Chemical problems also exist in the development of any kind of life. The existence of water is critical for life to exist. It seems there are literally hundreds of conditions that have to be “right” for any kind of life to exist anywhere.
When we look at odds such as one-in-a-million or one-in-a-thousand or even one-in-a-hundred, we can see that the probabilities are low. But there are billions of stars in space and there may be billions of planets as well. If there are enough places out there, it will happen! All we need are enough places and enough time and the situation will ultimately be right. We have already mentioned in our discussion that there is a very large number of stars in space. Our galaxy alone contains some 100 billion stars (1010). It has been estimated that there may be millions of galaxies (106). Even if there were billions or hundreds of billions of galaxies, we are talking about something on the order of a maximum of 1020 stars. Is this enough to allow any kind of life to come into existence by chance alone?
You might look at the probabilities that we have identified in our previous discussion which are summarized in the table below and say, “Yes, the odds of each of those events is way below the number like one in 1020." That is certainly true, but there is a mathematical point that needs to be considered that we have not yet discussed.
Factors Necessary to Have a Functional Planet for any Kind of Life by Chance Alone
| VARIABLE | ODDS |
| RIGHT KIND OF GALAXY | 1:15 |
| RIGHT PLACE IN GALAXY | 1:10,000 |
| RIGHT KIND OF STAR | 1:1000 |
| RIGHT DISTANCE OF PLANET | 1:40 |
| RIGHT SIZED PLANET | 1:10 |
| RIGHT SPIN OF PLANET | 1:5 |
| NOT NEAR A BLACK HOLE | 1:100 |
| PROPER MAGNETIC FIELD | 1:10 |
| HIGH COMPOSITION OF CARBON | 1:1000 |
| HIGH WATER CONTENT | 1:1000 |
Let me illustrate it by a very simple example. Suppose that I were to hold out a deck of well-shuffled playing cards to you and ask you to draw a single card blindfolded. What would be the mathematical odds of drawing the ace of spades? One in 52 is the correct answer. Now suppose that I told you to draw twice and to draw the ace of spades each time. What would be the odds of successfully doing that? If you are familiar with the mathematics of this situation, you know that the odds are 1 out of 52 times 1 out of 52.
When you have two events that must both be successful to obtain a desired result, you multiply the probabilities of each event. To draw the ace of spades out of a shuffled deck four times in a row back to back would be:
In other words, the total probability increases logarithmically as we increase the number of variables that have to be considered for a successful conclusion.
The application of this mathematics to the chart should be obvious. It does no good to be in the right kind of galaxy if you are in the wrong place in that galaxy. It does no good to be in the right kind of galaxy and in the right place in that galaxy if you are going around the wrong kind of star or are too close or too far from that star. In other words, every one of the conditions in the chart would have to be right. What you have to do then is to multiply the parameters listed in the chart plus the hundreds that have not been included. Just using the numbers in the chart (conservative and very incomplete though they are) we would get:
If you will look back at the beginning of this lesson, you will see that we have completed a logical scientific argument for the credibility of the statement in Genesis 1--“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” We have seen that from a scientific standpoint there had to be a beginning. The atheistic faith that matter is eternal is impossible to believe from a scientific standpoint (lesson 1). We have seen that it is illogical to believe that the beginning was uncaused because it forces us to accept the idea that matter can come from nothing, which invalidates all of science. And we have seen that the caused beginning cannot logically or mathematically be believed to be a product of chance. Statistically it is impossible to believe that the myriad of conditions necessary for any kind of life to occur could have taken place by chance. There is intelligence, purpose, design, order, and direction in the cosmos which speaks of a personal intelligence.
The next logical question is “What God are we talking about?” Why the God of the Bible? Why not Mohammed, Buddha, Zoroaster, Baha Ullah, Confucius, or some other religious leader? Why Jesus Christ? Is there a logical reason or reasons to believe that the Bible is in fact God’s Word for man, or are we simply a product of our culture and environment? This will be the subject of our next lesson.
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for the Intermediate Correspondence Course.
10/16/2008