Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created
the heavens.”
Our church has be going though a “Systematic Theology
/ Apologetics” teaching series on Wednesday nights, and I was asked to put
together and present an overview lesson on the subject of Creation verses
Evolution. With such a large and detailed subject, I centered on three areas in
the debate (1) the Universe – which includes the Earth, (2) Life on Earth, and
(3) The True Issue.
According to one theory, a Big Bang occurred approximately 13.8 billion years ago, which is thus considered the age of
the universe. At this time, the
Universe was in an extremely hot and dense state and began expanding rapidly. After the initial expansion,
the Universe cooled sufficiently to allow energy to be converted into various subatomic particles, including protons,
neutrons, and electrons
making the over 100 billion galaxies that we can see. This theory is not believed anymore with the advancement of technology to look deeper into
the Cosmos and the associated new observed Scientific discoveries. But the
logical question is, how do they know? What is this extremely hot and dense
state they talked about and where did it come from? What made it explode and
why?
John 3:3 Jesus
answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot
see the kingdom
of God
In the so-called “age of science”, a growing sentiment that clinging to
a belief in a Creator God is an option for those who cannot face living in a
universe where things happen by natural laws and random chance; a climate of
option that science has made God unnecessary or not capable of being defended
against attack or criticism. Materialism is all they see and believe. Skeptics of the Biblical Creation account maintain that the God-hypothesis was no
longer necessary because “now we know the universe came into being by
“spontaneous generation”. They speak of the origin of the universe in terms of
combinations of space, time and chance. In a popular sense this means “creation
by chance” and the notion of “self-creation” by luck in a Cosmic accident. Is
that logical?
Job 38:4 “Where were you when I laid the earth’s
foundation? Tell me, if you understand.
In my study, I found that the notion of “self-creation” is irrational in
the extreme. Chance is defined as “something that happens as a result of
unknown or unconsidered forces”. Chance describes a mathematical relationship
of factors. Does chance do anything? Of course not. Chance merely tells us the
possibilities in light of the multitude of variables. Chance has no power to do
anything. It has no power because it is nothing. To say that the universe was
created by “chance” is to say that it was created by nothing or was
“self-created”. What are the chances that the universe was created by chance?
Not a chance! It is non-scientific, illogical and irrational. Science is defined as "knowledge" acquired by the rational scientific method of
study, experimentation and observation.
Psalm 19:1-4 “ The
heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the
work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth
speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard
from them. Yet their voice goes out into
all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.
The nearest star to Earth, Proxima (Alpha) Centauri is about
4.243 light year away. The disk of the Milky Way galaxy is about
100,000 light years in diameter. Remember that light travels at 670,616,629 mph, so do the math. This universe is big, with some 100
Billion visible Galaxies in the Universe. What are the chances of life out
there? Not good.
Some of the factors necessary and sufficient conditions for complex
life on an inhabitable planet:
- A
planet orbiting a Main Sequence G2 Dwarf Star. Less mass reduces the
“inhabitable zone” and increases gravity to stop planet rotation.
- A
planet within the circum-stellar
“Inhabitable zone” of the solar system. 5% closer = too hot for
life. 20% farther = too cold for life.
- A
planet within a solar system, within the Galactic “Habitation zone”, middle
plain between spiral arms for maximum protection.
- A
planet protected by “Gas Giant” planets to draw meteor collisions &
enough gravity to stabilize inner planet orbits.
- Correct
size (mass) of planet for proper gravity.
- Proper
magnetic field cause by movement of interior liquid iron producing a
protective field from harmful solar rays.
- Proper
plate tectonics of a thin outer crust (4-30 miles thick) for adjustments.
- A
planet with a nearly circular orbit around the Sun for mild climate
changes.
- A
planet with a transparent atmosphere for life-giving visible light penetration and
warmth.
- A
planet with a moderate rate of rotation for day and night.
- An
oxygen rich atmosphere (21% oxygen, 78% nitrogen & 1% carbon dioxide).
- A planet orbited by a large moon. ¼ the
size of earth, the gravitational pull stabilizes the angle to the axis at
exactly 23 degree, so that the entire earth’s surface is warmed evenly, with
temperate seasonal changes, and churning tides.
- Liquid
water (where water flows life grows)
- Proper ratio of liquid water to Continents (land) for weather and climate change.
The probability of necessary major and minor factors
necessary existing simultaneously and fine tuned for a terrestrial planet one
one-thousandth of a trillion or 1 over 1,000,000,000,000,000. There shouldn't be life on this planet with those odds. How do you explain this? The earth is
obviously “Anthropic” (designed and created for life to exist and be sustained).
It takes a lot of faith to believe otherwise … or on faith.
Quote: "This most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets,
could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful
Being. Atheism is so senseless. When I look at the solar system, I see the
earth at the right distance from the sun to receive the proper amounts of heat
and light. This did not happen by chance." Isaac Newton – Principia
It's an interesting overview, from a Christian perspective. I encourage you to look into the debate and the information available. We shall
look at "Life on Earth" next time.
Blessings,
in Christ, Brian
No comments:
Post a Comment