Astrophysicists have been discovering that the Big Bang appears to have been incredibly fine-tuned. Stephen Hawking describes the situation,

"...the universe and the laws of physics seem to have been specifically designed for us. If any one of about 40 physical qualities had more than slightly different values, life as we know it could not exist: Either atoms would not be stable, or they wouldn't combine into molecules, or the stars wouldn't form the heavier elements, or the universe would collapse before life could develop, and so on..."⁷

The numerical values of the different natural forces like gravity, electromagnetism, subatomic forces, charges of electrons, etc. "just happened" to fall into an extremely narrow range that is conducive for life to exist. Minute changes in any one of these forces would have destroyed the possibility for life and in most cases destroyed the universe itself.

Consider these examples from among dozens:

Chance or Design

If the Big Bang was merely a chance happening it is virtually impossible that the values of all of these 40-50 forces would have been exactly right to ensure the survival of the universe and to allow life. Given the potentially infinite number of other values these forces could have taken, it is much more likely that they would have fallen outside the very narrow range that is conducive to life. As John Leslie, the philosopher of science has put it, "Life prohibiting universes are much more probable than life permitting universes." This is evidence of an intelligent designer behind the Big Bang who ensured that it happened in such a way that the universe could support life.

No wonder scientists like Dr. Paul Davies, internationally known author and professor of Theoretical Physics, has said this finding represents "the most compelling evidence for an element of cosmic design.";⁸ and Dr. Robert Jastrow, Founder of NASA's Institute of Space Studies, has called this "the most theistic result ever to come out of science."⁹

Most Common Objection

"It is not surprising that we observe the initial conditions of the universe to be conducive to life because those are obviously the only conditions that could precede our existence."

This is only the case if one assumes beforehand that our existence itself is not surprising. But our argument is that, given the potentially infinite number of non-life values the forces could have taken, it is extremely surprising that the entire scenario has taken place, i.e., the right initial conditions and the existence of observers. If one assumes that the second part is not surprising, then of course it follows that the first part is also not surprising. But that clearly begs the question.

Summary and Conclusion

Just like two cords wound together become a strong rope, so too the cumulative effect of these two arguments provide us with a powerful case for the existence of God.

Taken together these two arguments tell us that the cause and designer of the universe is an intelligent, immaterial, powerful, changeless being that existed in a timeless, eternal state beyond the beginning of the universe. This, I suggest, is close enough to the traditional Judeo-Christian concept of God that we can justifiably conclude that indeed, God does exist.

Seeking God

A recent survey of university students indicated that 49.4% of the students polled claimed to think about the existence of God very or quite often. Furthermore 71.3 % said that they would want to have a personal relationship with God, if they could.¹⁰ Many students are seeking God.
However, some people have told me that even if all their objections about God's existence were answered to their satisfaction they still would not seek God. This shows, I believe, that in many cases the arguments may not be the real issue. The issue is that some of us have decided beforehand that we want to be autonomous, independent, masters of our own destiny, and this is what stops us from accepting the clear evidence that is all around us for God's existence.
I agree with Blaise Pascal the French philosopher and mathematician when he wrote, " God has given us evidence sufficiently clear to convince those with an open heart and mind. Yet evidence sufficiently vague so as not to compel those whose hearts and minds are closed."

Our attitude influences what we see. Of even greater importance than arguments for God's existence is whether we are open to the possibility of a personal love relationship with God.
Consider the atheist philosopher Thomas Nagel's comments, "I want atheism to be true and am made uneasy by the fact that some of the most intelligent and well-informed people I know are religious believers. It isn't just that I don't believe in God and, naturally, hope that I'm right in my belief. It's that I hope there is no God! I don't want there to be a God; I don't want a universe like that."¹¹

To accurately answer this crucial question "Does God Exist?", we need to ensure that our heart and minds are open, not closed.

God tells us that, "You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart." Jer 29:13

© 1993, Revised Oct 2003
Notes

Back to ARTICLES