Intelligent Design

Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it cannot explain who sets the planets in motion.
- Sir Isaac Newton

Intelligent Design

There are no authentic scientific arguments against Intelligent Design. Nor can there ever be. This is particularly evident since the odds of naturalistic evolution alone accounting for human life are indistinguishable from zero. GodBlog is grateful for the contributions being made by genuine Christian researchers educating us to this fact. Our special thanks to Reasons to Believe and their informative website Reasons.org to which we have provided various links.

So why do many of the world's brightest minds daily do so? The answers vary, ranging from pseudo intellectual to philosophical. Some simple logic and reason clearly reveals that the real objection from the scientific community is not with the concept of ID but with the question of goodness in regards to the silence, distance and demands of creation's Designer.

By faith, we see the world called into existence by God’s word, what we see created by what we don’t see.

- Hebrews 11:3 MSG

The first evidence that arguments against Intelligent Design are disingenuous is as simple as Nothing + Nothing = Nothing. For anything, much less everything to exist Something or Someone must possess the power of pre-existing without having been created. Using self existence as proof of God is not a cop out, it's simply fact. Self existence, along with omniscience (all knowledge), omnipotence (all power), omnipresence (being everywhere at once) and immutability (unchangeableness) are the five attributes defining God.

The fantastic degree of fine tuning revealed in the size and age, mass and force, intricacy and beauty of the universe and life on Earth all clearly indicate an Intelligent Designer. Considerations eloquently detailed and categorized in detail in works by such distinguished and notable scientists as astronomer Guillermo Gonzalez’s The Priviledged Planet, astrophysicist Dr. Hugh Ross’s The Improbable Planet and Theoretical Physicist Dr. Michael Guillen’s Amazing Truths: How Science and the Bible Agree. As one of many supplements to his many books, articles and lectures, Dr. Hugh Ross’s organization Reasons To Believe published a concise outline delineating 154 stunning fine tuning parameters necessary for advanced human life.

Amazing scientific discoveries described millennia ago in Biblical passages include a testable model of creation that encompasses many modern discoveries in the areas of astronomy and physics, biology and human origins, earth science and understanding the universe.

The Big Bang and Evolution theories have no conflict with Intelligent Design. These theories merely address the process or method of creation. Neither are concerned with the questions of origin or intelligent design. A million Big Bangs and trillions of years of evolution could never explain what came before or disprove the presence of a Divine plan. Nor is random chance alone the best explanation for the astounding complexities in our Universe culminating in 100’s of fine tuning characteristics necessary for the development of the in human life.

Such overwhelming evidence is augmented by the simple fact that for anything to exist, it must have either been created, created itself, or possess self existence (one of the five attributes of Divinity). Such rationale holds true for everything from the tiniest partial of matter to an infinite number of universes to Omnity itself. Self evident, this undeniable proof of the existence of God is easily demonstrated by the simplest math possible: 0 + 0 = 0.

Nevertheless, some objecting to the logic of a self existent God, seek to remove the necessity of Omnity from the equation. These argue that from certain perspectives intricate and interesting mathematics and/or metaphysics could postulate a theoretical model such that nothing might indeed create something, and therefore everything. Tellingly, for such a concept to arise on Earth the everything arising from nothing need be exquisitely fine tuned to at least 10^24,000,000 or Ten with 24 Million Zeros after it! The chances of such fine tuning parameters occurring by natural selection alone are equivalent to an individual winning the California lottery 3 million times playing a single ticket each drawing.

While anything may be possible except perhaps nothing producing everything common sense as well as Occam’s Razor, a guide to theoretical modeling, suggests God rather than nothing as far better fit for the role of Creator. Paraphrased, this long established principal states “to start from the simplest possible explanation and make it more complex only if, and when, absolutely necessary.” Examples of interpretations of this theory include, ““do not make unnecessary assumptions” or “do not add assumptions that are unnecessary for the theory / conclusion” or even, “if an assumption is not necessary for the explanation – don’t recruit it in the argument.”

Those intellectually honest enough to be highly skeptical of or even jettison atheism altogether are left with agnosticism or some form of religion, of which there are many. Yet even a layman’s study of world religions in side by side comparison with the Bible reveals a preponderance of evidence for Scriptural authority and authenticity.

Scientific Masquerade

Even if somehow Nothing + Nothing could equal Everything, the concept of Intelligent Design could never be disproven. First, without question creation has a design. Secondly, all parties agree that creation's design is staggering in it's complexity. Given these two uncontested points only two explanations for creation's intricate designs are possible. Either such amazing designs reveal an the existence of an even more amazing Designer or they are simply "Apparent Design" accounted for by billions of years of random chance.

Once allowing for Nothing + Nothing equals Everything, an rational argument for Apparent Design may be made. Yet, while sidestepping the issue of a first cause for all energy and matter, the theory of evolution is possible. Even so, natural selection opportunity over and over again on random genetic mutations and variations seems unlikely given over 100 amazingly specific fine tuning parameters necessary for life as we know it.

Still, it is a possibility. Even so, it's an absurdity to suggest this unlikely possibility could ever disprove Intelligent Design. The only way to illuminate the possibility of a Designer would be to prove design does not exist yet clearly exquisite design is everywhere and in everything.

From biology to chemistry, physics to cosmology the closer mankind looks the more incredible the designs we find. From the biochemical mechanisms of a cell to the blueprint of life, astounding insights into existence are constantly being discovered. The astounding intricacies of the infinitesimal are only matched by the glories of cosmology. Science is discovering a dizzying array of forces and astronomical phenomenon that reveal the designs of our Earth and solar system, galaxy and universe.

The Real Controversy

Honest science will admit the existence of anything, much less everything, is not only evidence but proof of a self existing God. Honest religion will admit that while in light of the immensity and complexity of creation God is a given, whom God is cannot be proven. Nonetheless, scientific and philosophical, historic and prophetic evidence abounds that Omnity is none other than the God of the Bible.

So why is Christianity so often marginalized and maligned by the scientific community? While immediate reasons vary, the most salient objections stem from two roots. The first and lessor of the two objections is a general dislike of Christians. This disappointment and even hostility arises from a perceived and too often real accusation of ignorance and hypocrisy. Sadly, the average Christian is not only lacking in scientific savvy but woefully ignorant of their own faith. Adding to the charge being leveled against the church is our failure to practice what we preach. With even gross sin and worldliness pandemic within First World Christianity, while serious and diligent seeking God out of style, our inconstancy is clear for all to see.

As damming as our hypocrisy is to skeptics, there's an even deeper issue in play. The greatest objection to Christianity among the the scientific community is one held in common with all of humanity. Simply put, it's the problem of pain. How could an all powerful, knowing and responsible Creator create or orchestrate a system choked full of massive amounts of longing and despair, anguish and death?

Behind every skeptic, scientific or not, is a frustrated man or women hurt and angry over God's apparent distance and silence. When brilliant minds do the math, life's disappointments and terrors simply don't' add up to a good God. Simplistic apologetics and partial answers neither are nor should be adequate for such disciplined researchers or anyone else for that matter. Sadly, modern Christianity has little stomach for deep debate, having never actually answered such questions satisfactorily for themselves. For the most part, neither clergy or laity have an accurate Biblical understanding of sin or salvation, faith or prayer, prophetic accuracy or the true price Christ paid to redeem mankind. Like the vast majority of Christians, the very idea of eternal torment is repulsive and further argues against the God of the Bible's claims to not only be the very measure of fairness but the source of all goodness. Finally, all the above conspire to cast into serious doubt any Biblical promise of eternal rewards awaiting the supposedly righteous, whomever they may be.

While there may be answers and explanations to all the objections of skeptics, most Christians remain blissfully ignorant of even the questions, settling instead to be pacified and coddled with cherry picked Biblical promises regardless of the passages's context and conditions. Rather than seek God to for a satisfactory explanation of life's intrinsic grief and the genuine pain in light of His apparent absence, Churchianity's content to sing a few songs of intimacy and dedication and then invest the bulk of their time, energy and money in "eating, drinking and being merry for tomorrow we die."

Finally, we come tot the last unspoken objection of scientific skeptics which is the Bible's clear demands on the lifestyles of it's adherents. Already hurt and angry over feeling orphaned by their Creator, to ask academics and cutting edge scientists to obey a God who's goodness is in serious doubt is adding insult to injury. Without compelling evidence or at least an adequate explanation of mankind's dilemma, to place all there hopes, fears and desires, legitimate or not, on the altar of God would seem intellectual and professional suicide.

Wise Response

Rather than simply ignoring or denouncing the growing tide of resistance and animosity from the secular intellectual community, we should give them the opportunity to air their grievances. Assured of our faith, there's nothing to fear from sifting through their reasonings by friendly, fair and factual debate.

Additionally, we would be wise to learn the lessons of history. All sides prosper most when keeping an open mind and being willing to reexamine our theories and doctrines. Galileo Galilei provides a cautionary tale of being too sure what the Bible says. Rather we should welcome general and specific revelation, confident that true and honest faith and reason are not only compatible but complimentary. Let us who promote scripture's authenticity and authority obey it's directives, particularly in it's defense:

"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander." 1 Peter 3:15-16

Taking advantage of all the great tools at our disposal we can be prepared with sound and reasonable and scientific reasons to believe and strong evidence for Biblical authority should be offered in humility and integrity. More importantly, those who can pray so God will hear should commit to seek His face, wrestling answers and a blessing from Him if necessary.

In light of the amazing modern discoveries and technology one wonders what might happen if the church took it's faith as seriously as science does it's research. One reason for their breakthroughs is a willing to review and explore past thoughts and theories. Perhaps taking a modern look at our ancient and beloved faith might encourage others to come to trust God as we do.

Let us also be constant in our asking, seeking and knocking for an unprecedented global revival in which God "rends the heavens and comes down." In the end the best antidote to doubting the goodness of God is to "taste and see that the Lord is good." While this can be done in a myriad of ways, the restoration of authentic miracles or what Christ called, "the children's bread" is most persuasive.

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