By Stan Gudmundson
Peterson, MN
Darwin claimed in his book “Origin of Species” that evolution explained life on earth. And that the universe was just happenstance. I suppose many assumed that a better understanding of science would confirm that he was correct. But that isn’t how it has worked out. As we learned more about the universe, we have found that facts are pointing in another direction. The universe didn’t just happen. Four reasons.
First, thermodynamics. Its second law shows that closed systems change towards disarray. That means disarray will become greater in the future. And that the past was not in the disarray that it is now. But it will be. In something like five billion years, the sun will run out of fuel, along with many other stars in the universe. Ultimately, they will all die. The universe has a life span. With an end.
Second, the universe is expanding. Finding residual background radiation everywhere revealed a starting point. The Big Bang. Ultimately, expanding and out of fuel, what we know as today’s universe, will be pieces of dust becoming increasingly distant from other dust.
Third, physicists found that the universe is currently ruled by something like 30 constants. Tiny, tiny changes in any of those would result in a universe that is far different. Our universe of today is very finely tuned. Built by a very fussy builder. As the universe gets older, those constants will likely have less influence.
Fourth, DNA. Watson and Crick didn’t just find the genetic reasons for life. What they found was an incredibly complex code. ‘At the heart of every cell lies a system for storing, transmitting, and executing instructions … the informational density of DNA is billions of times greater than that of a modern mobile phone.’
A Creator exists. Even the most hardcore atheist scientists, such as Nobel Prize winner biologist George Weld, understand that, as he said, “that spontaneous generation (is) an untenable theory.” Given that a random universe is a scientific fantasy, we all have a choice to make about what to believe.
In a creator that is not interested in us? If that were true, we would have to try answer the question, why? And who or what is it? Or, is there a Creator who created us? And who is concerned about us? I’ll go with the latter. As great as that mystery might be. I suppose the other option is to wander the earth without ever making up one’s mind.
But there are other reasons that confirm God’s existence. As I’ve written about before.
First, are near death experiences, both good and bad. Given the capabilities of modern medicine, I’m betting that just about everyone knows someone, or knows of someone who has had one. I ran into a fellow who said that he died. He told me that he met a brother on the ‘other side.’ That he didn’t know he had. After recovering and then investigating, he found a record of his older brother’s death. That he didn’t know about.
I know others who have also had “near-death” experiences. Plus, there is a seldom discussed reference in the Bible that talks about a “third-heaven.” Biblical confirmation of a near-death event?
My most amazing experience confirming God’s existence? We live in a dimension that many assume is the only one that exists. That is not the case. A former girlfriend and I both, at the same time, were confronted by something very evil. From another dimension that most of us do not normally encounter.
I told a very smart pilot friend about that incident. He said that he had an experience with the Holy Spirit but that he hadn’t told anyone about before because he thought people might think he might be a little tetched. When we first became friends, he was a confirmed atheist. Not now.
When we were younger, most of my Air Force buddies and I were running around with our hair on fire. As we often used to say. Not paying attention to our Creator and careless about the spiritual path we were on. That has changed for many of us. Maybe, I hope, for most of us.
And you? Which path are you on?
Anonymous says
Louis Pasteur proved germ theory. But good try.
Agree 100%, this is garbage.
Gerald Boyum says
1. Speaking of paths, there’s John 5-7: “Lord, ‘said Thomas, “We do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way? “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would know My Father as well. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”
2. Personal Experience. When we were getting ready to move to Rochester, a clear thought, not a voice, came out of the blue: “If you’re going to go, you better get going.” We were preparing to move at any rate but left for Rochester shortly afterwards. A week later, after we arrived, we were hit with the Covid epidemic, I got to see one of my brothers before he passed away.
.
Thomas E.H. says
@ Stan the airplane man
//Darwin claimed in his book “Origin of Species” that evolution explained life on earth.//
No he didn’t. Have you even read the book?
//And that the universe was just happenstance.//
Tell me what page he talked about the universe being “happenstance”.
//I suppose many assumed that a better understanding of science would confirm that he was correct. But that isn’t how it has worked out.//
Darwin wasn’t always correct, but he was right in that evolution was the primary driving force regarding the diversity of life on Earth.
//As we learned more about the universe, we have found that facts are pointing in another direction. The universe didn’t just happen. Four reasons.//
Here we go….
//First, thermodynamics. Its second law shows that closed systems change towards disarray. That means disarray will become greater in the future. And that the past was not in the disarray that it is now. But it will be. In something like five billion years, the sun will run out of fuel, along with many other stars in the universe. Ultimately, they will all die. The universe has a life span. With an end.//
Earth is currently not in a closed system, but ultimately, yes, the Earth will cease to exist.
//Second, the universe is expanding. Finding residual background radiation everywhere revealed a starting point. The Big Bang. Ultimately, expanding and out of fuel, what we know as today’s universe, will be pieces of dust becoming increasingly distant from other dust.//
Fuel?
//Third, physicists found that the universe is currently ruled by something like 30 constants. Tiny, tiny changes in any of those would result in a universe that is far different. Our universe of today is very finely tuned. Built by a very fussy builder. As the universe gets older, those constants will likely have less influence.//
Do you know what the puddle said to the pothole?
//Fourth, DNA. Watson and Crick didn’t just find the genetic reasons for life. What they found was an incredibly complex code. ‘At the heart of every cell lies a system for storing, transmitting, and executing instructions … the informational density of DNA is billions of times greater than that of a modern mobile phone.’//
And the genetic relationship between humans and all other life on Earth fits perfectly with natural causes.
//A Creator exists. Even the most hardcore atheist scientists, such as Nobel Prize winner biologist George Weld, understand that, as he said, “that spontaneous generation (is) an untenable theory.” Given that a random universe is a scientific fantasy, we all have a choice to make about what to believe.//
What makes George Wald the most hardcore atheist? Spontaneous generation of living organisms is an untenable theory. He was correct. Abiogenesis is NOT spontaneous generation of living organisms.
//In a creator that is not interested in us? If that were true, we would have to try answer the question, why? And who or what is it? Or, is there a Creator who created us? And who is concerned about us? I’ll go with the latter. As great as that mystery might be. I suppose the other option is to wander the earth without ever making up one’s mind.//
That’s a big IF to start postulating characteristics or personality.
//But there are other reasons that confirm God’s existence. As I’ve written about before.
First, are near death experiences, both good and bad. Given the capabilities of modern medicine, I’m betting that just about everyone knows someone, or knows of someone who has had one. I ran into a fellow who said that he died. He told me that he met a brother on the ‘other side.’ That he didn’t know he had. After recovering and then investigating, he found a record of his older brother’s death. That he didn’t know about.
I know others who have also had “near-death” experiences. Plus, there is a seldom discussed reference in the Bible that talks about a “third-heaven.” Biblical confirmation of a near-death event?//
Are you suggesting there are no known natural causes for NDEs? Would you believe any supernatural cause, where the laws of nature are suspended, before a natural cause that is grounded in known understanding and facts?
//My most amazing experience confirming God’s existence? We live in a dimension that many assume is the only one that exists. That is not the case. A former girlfriend and I both, at the same time, were confronted by something very evil. From another dimension that most of us do not normally encounter.
I told a very smart pilot friend about that incident. He said that he had an experience with the Holy Spirit but that he hadn’t told anyone about before because he thought people might think he might be a little tetched. When we first became friends, he was a confirmed atheist. Not now.//
A “confirmed atheist”…. lol. I don’t remember seeing him at any True Atheist™ meetings. Did he have his Certificate of Atheinticity?
Laurie Tuohy says
Using pseudo=religion to deny pseudo-science is just wrong on both accounts! The author is not an expert on science or religion, not even close. His writing reminds me of a lot of politicians today that believe “If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, then baffle them with bullshit”!
Ann Lyons says
What a crock this is! I’m amazed the FCJ would publish such trash. I tried to research George Weld. He was an opinion columnist. I think we should stick to science.
Stanley James Gudmundson says
The correct spelling for ‘Weld’ is ‘Wald.’ And here is a quote: Dr. George Wald (Nobel Prize winner in Biology and professor of Biology at Harvard) once said, “There are only two possibilities as to how life arose; one is spontaneous generation arising to evolution,
the other is a supernatural creative act of God, there is no third possibility. Spontaneous generation, that
life arose from non-living matter, was scientifically disproved 120 years ago by Louis Pasteur and
others. That leaves us with only one possible conclusion – that life arose as a creative act of God. I
choose not to accept that philosophically because I do not want to believe in God. Therefore I choose to
believe in something which I know is scientifically impossible…”
Gerald Boyum says
Instead of making “drive by” general comments, how about focusing on where Stan Gudmundson is wrong. Also, get a copy of “I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist” and “The Greatest Hoax on Earth” by Jonathan Sarfarti.
I agree with sticking with science, particularly when defining what a woman is, especially when it comes to sports eligibility.
And speaking of paths, there’s John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but will have eternal life.” Then there’s John 14:6, where Jesus tells His disciples, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” NIV