Reasons CommunitySeptember 17, 2017

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September 17, 2017

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Topics in Science & Faith

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Reasons CommunityFall 2017

Science and Faith

What do you ponder?

What do you ponder?

What do you ponder?

What do you ponder?

CassiniJuly 19, 2013What do you ponder?

CassiniJuly 19, 2013What do you ponder?

Questions….

• Can science & faith coexist?

• Is the Bible contradicted or supported by science?

• Is the biblical creation account just poetry?

• Is Darwinian evolution a proven fact? What impact does it have on me?

• Where does the most recent evidence across the full spectrum of science point?

• Is this discussion even relevant today to me anyway? Should I really care?

Science ReligionStephen J. Gould(1941 – 2002)

Science & Faith

Science & Faith

Jane: “You’ve never said why you don’t believe in God.”

Stephen: “A physicist can’t allow his calculations to be muddled by belief in a supernatural creator.”

Jane: “Sounds less of an argument against God than against physicists.”

Science & Faith

Science & Faith

“The man of science is a poor philosopher”

- Albert Einstein

Definition of “Science”

• “The search for purely natural explanations for all phenomena”

–The National Academy of Sciences

God Intelligent Designer

Supernatural

Where do

Science & Faith

intersect?

The Intersection of Science & Faith

Fine-Tuning

Origin of Information

Origin of First LifeOrigin of the Universe

Origin of Complex Life

The Intersection of Science & Faith

Fine-Tuning

Origin of Information

Origin of the Universe

Origin of Complex Life

How did life begin?

How did life begin?

Settled Science?

Origin of First Life

Evolutionary / Materialist Predictions

1. First life emerged gradually over a long period of time

2. First life was very simple

3. A favorable “primordial soup” existed to form first amino acids

4. Amino acids spontaneously form into proteins

Science Today

1. First life emerged suddenly and very early

2. First life was metabolically complex

3. Geochemical evidence for a favorable “primordial soup” lacking

4. Amino acids to functional proteins is a huge leap

Origin of First Life

“Over the past sixty years, dedicated and skillful scientists have devoted much effort and ink to the origin of life, with remarkably little to show for it..…The study of life's origins has failed to generate a coherent and persuasive framework that gives meaning to the growing heap of data and speculation.”

Franklin M. Harold, 2014In Search of Cell History: The Evolution of Life's Building Blocks

Origin of First Life

• All evolutionary theory assumes the spontaneous generation of single-celled life from a mix of non-living chemicals

From Science Daily, April 16, 2016:

“Before there was life on Earth, there were molecules. A primordial soup. At some point a few specialized molecules began replicating. This self-replication, scientists agree, kick-started a biochemical process that would lead to the first organisms.”

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130913185848.htm

“But exactly how that happened -- how those molecules began replicating -- has been one of science's enduring mysteries.”

A

“Just So” story

Origin of First Life

• All evolutionary theory assumes the spontaneous generation of single-celled life from a mix of non-living chemicals

From Science Daily, June 1, 2015:

“In the beginning, there were simple chemicals. And they produced amino acids that eventually became the proteins necessary to create single cells. And the single cells became plants and animals.”

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/06/150601172834.htm

“But it's still a mystery how the building blocks were first assembled into the proteins that formed the machinery of all cells.”

A

“Just So” story

Dr. James Tour April 18th, 2017

The Origin of Life – An Inside Story

Dr. James Tour

T. T. and W. F. Chao Professor of Chemistry, Rice UniversityProfessor of Computer Science, Rice UniversityProfessor of Materials Science and Nano Engineering, Rice UniversitySmalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology

Over 600 research publications and over 120 patentsNamed among “The 50 Most Influential Scientists in the World Today”Ranked as one of the Top 10 chemists in the world over the past decadeOne of the Top 10 most cited chemists in the world

Visit reasons.community for full details

In partnership with:

Deeper Dive

Follow-up Session #3

RIGINDesign, Chance, and the First Life on Earth

O

Origin Film Event March 31st, 2017

Dr. Paul Nelson – Philosopher of BiologyLad Allen – Filmmaker

Visit reasons.community for full details

In partnership with:

xxx

What to do?

"One escape hatch yet exists for spontaneous generation. Why need the event have been probable? We can just stare at the odds, shrug, and note with thanks how lucky we were... After all, improbable events occur all the time.”

Robert Shapiro

Origins: A Skeptic's Guide to Creation of Life on Earth

"We are nowhere near understanding the origin of life. But let us try to avoid invoking miracles.”

Evolutionist Dr Per Bak, of the Niels Bohr Institute, Copenhagen

Origin of First Life

“My skepticism is not based on religious belief, or on a belief in any definite alternative. It is just a belief that the available scientific evidence, in spite of the consensus of scientific opinion, does not in this matter rationally require us to subordinate the incredulity of common sense. That is especially true with regard to the origin of life.”

Thomas Nagel

Mind and Cosmos: Why the Materialist Neo-Darwinian Conception of Nature Is Almost Certainly False

“My skepticism is not based on religious belief, or on a belief in any definite alternative. It is just a belief that the available scientific evidence, in spite of the consensus of scientific opinion, does not in this matter rationally require us to subordinate the incredulity of common sense. That is especially true with regard to the origin of life.”

Thomas Nagel

Mind and Cosmos

Origin of First Life

“My skepticism is not based on religious belief, or on a belief in any definite alternative. It is just a belief that the available scientific evidence, in spite of the consensus of scientific opinion, does not in this matter rationally require us to subordinate the incredulity of common sense. That is especially true with regard to the origin of life.”

Thomas Nagel

Mind and Cosmos: Why the Materialist Neo-Darwinian Conception of Nature Is Almost Certainly False

“My skepticism is not based on religious belief, or on a belief in any definite alternative. It is just a belief that the available scientific evidence, in spite of the consensus of scientific opinion, does not in this matter rationally require us to subordinate the incredulity of common sense. That is especially true with regard to the origin of life.”

Thomas Nagel

Mind and Cosmos

Let’s look at the universe

Why ask the Why Questions?

Because the universe is here.And we are here.

Fine-Tuning in the Universe

Fine-Tuning = the apparent fact that if any of various physical parameters had been very slightly different then no observers would have existed in the universe

“The foundational, regional, and locational conditions of our universe, solar system, and planet are delicately balanced and finely calibrated. The slightest modification of these conditions would be disastrous for life.”

Source: J. Warner Wallace, God’s Crime Scene, Chapter 2

Fine-Tuning for Life in the Universe

How many parameters?

Astronomer Hugh Ross lists 140 features of the cosmos as a whole that must fall within certain narrow ranges to allow for the possibility of physical life of any kind

– +402 more for advanced life

Fine-Tuning for Life in the Universe1. Strong nuclear force constant2. Weak nuclear force constant3. Gravitational force constant4. Electromagnetic force constant5. Ratio of electromagnetic force constant to gravitational force constant6. Ratio of proton to electron mass7. Ratio of number of protons to number of electrons8. Ratio of proton to electron charge9. Expansion rate of the universe10. Mass density of the universe11. Baryon (proton and neutron) density of the universe12. Space energy or dark energy density of the universe13. Ratio of space energy density to mass density14. Entropy level of the universe15. Velocity of light16. Age of the universe17. Uniformity of radiation18. Homogeneity of the universe19. Average distance between galaxies20. Average distance between galaxy clusters21. Average distance between stars22. Average size and distribution of galaxy clusters23. density of giant galaxies during early cosmic history24. Electromagnetic fine structure constant25. Gravitational fine-structure constant26. Decay rate of protons27. Ground state energy level for helium-428. Carbon-12 to oxygen-16 nuclear energy level ratio29. Decay rate for beryllium-830. Ratio of neutron mass to proton mass31. Initial excess of nucleons over antinucleons32. Polarity of the water molecule33. Epoch for peak in the number of hypernova eruptions34. Numbers and different kinds of hypernova eruptions35. Epoch for peak in the number of type I supernova eruptions36. Numbers and different kinds of type I supernova eruptions37. Epoch for peak in the number of type II supernova eruptions38. Numbers and different kinds of type II supernova eruptions39. Epoch for white dwarf binaries40. Density of white dwarf binaries41. Ratio of exotic matter to ordinary matter42. Number of effective dimensions in the early universe43. Number of effective dimensions in the present universe44. Mass values for the active neutrinos45. Number of different species of active neutrinos46. Number of active neutrinos in the universe47. Mass value for the sterile neutrino48. Number of sterile neutrinos in the universe49. Decay rates of exotic mass particles50. Magnitude of the temperature ripples in cosmic background radiation51. Size of the relativistic dilation factor52. Magnitude of the Heisenberg uncertainty53. Quantity of gas deposited into the deep intergalactic medium by the first supernovae

54. Positive nature of cosmic pressures55. Positive nature of cosmic energy densities56. Density of quasars during early cosmic history57. Decay rate of cold dark matter particles58. Relative abundances of different exotic mass particles59. Degree to which exotic matter self interacts60. Epoch at which the first stars (metal-free pop III stars) begin to form61. Epoch at which the first stars (metal-free pop III stars) cease to form62. Number density of metal-free pop III stars63. Average mass of metal-free pop III stars64. Epoch for the formation of the first galaxies65. Epoch for the formation of the first quasars66. Amount, rate, and epoch of decay of embedded defects67. Ratio of warm exotic matter density to cold exotic matter density68. Ratio of hot exotic matter density to cold exotic matter density69. Level of quantization of the cosmic spacetime fabric70. Flatness of universe’s geometry71. Average rate of increase in galaxy sizes72. Change in average rate of increase in galaxy sizes throughout cosmic history73. Constancy of dark energy factors74. Epoch for star formation peak75. Location of exotic matter relative to ordinary matter76. Strength of primordial cosmic magnetic field77. Level of primordial magnetohydrodynamic turbulence78. Level of charge-parity violation79. Number of galaxies in the observable universe80. Polarization level of the cosmic background radiation81. Date for completion of second reionization event of the universe82. Date of subsidence of gamma-ray burst production83. Relative density of intermediate mass stars in the early history of the universe84. Water’s temperature of maximum density85. Water’s heat of fusion86. Water’s heat of vaporization87. Number density of clumpuscules (dense clouds of cold molecular hydrogen gas) in the universe88. Average mass of clumpuscules in the universe89. Location of clumpuscules in the universe90. Dioxygen’s kinetic oxidation rate of organic molecules91. Level of paramagnetic behavior in dioxygen92. Density of ultra-dwarf galaxies (or supermassive globular clusters) in the middle-aged universe93. Degree of space-time warping and twisting by general relativistic factors94. Percentage of the initial mass function of the universe made up of intermediate mass stars95. Number of sterile neutrinos in the universe96. Decay rates of exotic mass particles97. Magnitude of the temperature ripples in cosmic background radiation99. Rate at which the triple-alpha process (combining of three helium nuclei to make one carbon nucleus) runs inside the nuclear furnaces of stars100. Quantity of molecular hydrogen formed by the supernova eruptions of population III stars101. Epoch for the formation of the first population II (second generation) stars102. Percentage of the universe’s baryons that are processed by the first stars (population III stars)

103. Ratio of ultra-dwarf galaxies to larger galaxies104. Constancy of the fine structure constants105. Constancy of the velocity of light106. Constancy of the magnetic permeability of free space107. Constancy of the electron-to-proton mass ratio108. Constancy of the gravitational constant109. Smoothness of the quantum foam of cosmic space110. Constancy of dark energy over cosmic history111. Mean temperature of exotic matter112. Minimum stable mass of exotic matter clumps113. Degree of Lorentz symmetry or integrity of Lorentz invariantce or level of symmetry of spacetime114. Nature of cosmic defects115. Number density of cosmic defects116. Average size of the largest cosmic structures in the universe117. Quantity of three-hydrogen molecules formed by the hypernova eruptions of population III stars118. Maximum size of an indigenous moon orbiting a planet119. Rate of growth in the average size of galaxies during the first five billion years of cosmic history120. Density of dwarf dark matter halos in the present-day universe121. Metallicity enrichment of intergalactic space by dwarf galaxies122. Average star formation rate throughout cosmic history for dwarf galaxies123. Epoch of rapid decline in the cosmic star formation rate124. Quantity of heavy elements infused into the intergalactic medium by dwarf galaxies during the firsttwo billion years of cosmic history125. Quantity of heavy elements infused into the intergalactic medium by galactic superwinds during thefirst three billion years of cosmic history126. Average size of cosmic voids127. Number of cosmic voids per unit of cosmic space128. Percentage of the universe’s baryons that reside in the warm-hot intergalactic medium129. Halo occupation distribution (number of galaxies per unit of dark matter halo virial mass)130. Timing of the peak supernova eruption rate for population III stars (the universe’s first stars)131. Ratio of the number density of dark matter subhalos to the number density dark matter halos in thepresent era universe132. Quantity of diffuse, large-grained intergalactic dust133. Radiometric decay rate for nickel-78134. Ratio of baryonic matter to exotic matter in dwarf galaxies135. Ratio of baryons in the intergalactic medium relative to baryons in the circumgalactic media136. Level of short-range interactions between protons and exotic dark matter particles137. Intergalactic photon density (or optical depth of the universe)138. High spin to low spin transition pressure for Fe++139. Average quantity of gas infused into the universe’s first star clusters140. degree of suppression of dwarf galaxy formation by cosmic reionization

Source: Hugh Ross, Why the Universe Is The Way It Is, 2008, research notes: http://www.reasons.org/links/hugh/research-notes

What do scientists say?

Source: Paul Davies, “Yes, the universe looks like a fix,” The Guardian, 25 June 2007.

“Scientists are slowly waking up to an inconvenient truth - the universe looks suspiciously like a fix. For 40 years, physicists and cosmologists have been quietly

collecting examples of all too convenient ‘coincidences’ and special features in the underlying laws of the

universe that seem to be necessary in order for life, and hence conscious beings, to exist. Change any one of

them and the consequences would be lethal.”

Paul Davies

What do scientists say?

Source: Paul Davies, The Goldilocks Enigma, p191, 2006.

“Everyone agrees that the universe looks as if it was designed for life.”

Paul Davies

What do scientists say?

“A common sense interpretation of the facts suggests that a superintellect has monkeyed with

physics, as well as with chemistry and biology, and that there are no blind forces worth speaking about in nature. The numbers one calculates from the facts seem to me so overwhelming as to put

this conclusion almost beyond question.”

Sir Fred Hoyle

Source: Sir Fred Hoyle, “The Universe: Past and Present Reflections,” Engineering and Science 45 (November 1981): 8–12.

“The more I examine the universe and study the details of its architecture, the more evidence I find that the universe in some sense must have known

that we were coming”

Physicist Freeman Dyson

Source: Freeman J. Dyson, Disturbing the Universe, 1979, p. 250

On the Neo-Darwinian Conception of Nature

“What is lacking, to my knowledge, is a credible argument that the story has a non-negligible probability of being true.”

Thomas Nagel

Mind and Cosmos: Why the Materialist Neo-Darwinian Conception of Nature Is Almost Certainly False.

Weltanschauung (Worldviews)

• The universe had a beginning

• The universe was designed purposefully for intelligent life on earth

• Biology abounds with evidence of design

• Infusions of information occurred at many points in history

Deism Naturalism

Pantheism Theism

Weltanschauung (Worldviews)

• The universe had a beginning

• The universe was designed purposefully for intelligent life on earth

• Biology abounds with evidence of design

• Infusions of information occurred at many points in history Theism

A Designer

• Outside of space and time

• Power and knowledge beyond comprehension

• Purposeful

• Active

Sound like anyone you know?

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature,

have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are

without excuse.

Romans 1:19-20

Final Thought

“For the scientist who has lived by his faith in the power of reason, the story ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the mountain of ignorance; he is about to conquer the highest peak; as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries.”

Robert Jastrow

The Intersection of Science & Faith

Fine-Tuning

Origin of Information

Origin of First LifeOrigin of the Universe

Origin of Complex Life

Related Topics

Old Earth / Young Earth

Icons of Evolution

Are We Alone? Darwinism: Cultural and Sociological Implications

Dissent from the Majority