Why the Universe Is The Way It Is

Nathan Biberdorf

12-13-09

Astronomy

Why the Universe is the Way it is

It’s one of life’s great mysteries.Why are we here?Are we nothing more than the product of a cosmic coincidence?Or is there a God watching everything, with a plan for our lives?These are the questions that keep us up at night.

I grew up in a family that believes in a young-earth creationist approach to interpreting Genesis and have held that view since very young.I was always aware of differing opinions about life’s origins, but it wasn’t until college that these beliefs were held by people I loved and respected.

In this course, both The Cosmos and Why the Universe is the Way it is presented theories about origins that clash strongly with the views I hold.The Cosmos was written from an entirely secular viewpoint, so all of the theories presented were for an atheistic big bang that caused all the complexity of the universe by chance.Hugh Ross takes the stance of an old-earth creationist.Scientifically, his beliefs are rather similar to those of Pasachoff and Filippenko, as far as the processes by which the universe came into being.Where he differs with these writers is that he believes that the Christian God was the cause of the big bang and other elements of the universe’s formation.

Ross’ views, though based in Christianity, are still significantly different from how I understand the Bible’s explanation of creation.I look at Genesis as a book to be taken literally, including the first few chapters.Thus I believe God created the world and everything in it in seven days, in the order dictated in the Bible.

I see too much order in the universe to account it to mere chance.Some scientists believe that in an infinite universe, or in an infinite number of universes in a multiverse, that eventually anything is possible.However, I believe the amazing number of necessities for life to occur that have been fulfilled are evidence of God’s creative guidance.I also am not convinced that large-scale evolution is possible, and this also contributes to my belief that creation was specifically directed by God.

The Hugh Ross book does a good job of bringing up many of the ways in which the universe, our galaxy, and our solar system are perfectly designed for us to exist and thrive on this planet.For instance, the density of the protons and neutrons and atoms is at just the right value that various elements can form.If the density was higher, all hydrogen would fuse into heavy elements.If the density was lower, hydrogen wouldn’t form new molecules, and no heavier elements would be formed.

Our world is also in the right place in the universe for us to exist.We live in a number of different habitable zones, all of which are important for our survival.In our galaxy, we are the right distance from the center of the Milky Way.If we were closer to the center, there would be much more radiation to put up with, as well as a greater number of large stars that would interfere with our sun’s gravity.Further away, we would not have enough heavy elements to develop and grow as a species.We are also in a good spot in this habitable zone, away from the star-dense spiral arms and any other hazardous areas.Then, in our solar system, we are just the right distance from the sun.If we were closer to the sun, we’d burn up, but further away, we’d freeze.

Ross’ book also brings forth a lot of good points about reasons to believe the Bible.He points out that the Bible gives the perfect explanation for the origins of the universe through God.He lists ways that the Bible explains the features of the universe, the Earth, and human life.The Bible also shows why we are different from the animals, and why the universe seems to show evidence of some other realm beyond what we can see.In the end, if you have a little faith, the Bible can explain everything.

At this stage in my life, I’m not really sure what to believe.I’ve lived with the young-earth literal creationist mindset so long that it is very strongly ingrained in me.But I am continually met with reasonable and compelling arguments that support slightly different worldviews.Are these arguments compelling because they are right?Or are they God’s way of testing the strength of my faith?I really don’t know.I don’t know if I want to change my beliefs because I honestly feel that I am in the wrong, or if I just want to be in agreement with the vocal majority.

For now at least, I will continue to believe what I have always believed.I don’t see enough evidence yet to convince me that I should change my views on this, so I will keep studying the evidence.I will continue to hold out for the truth, because, as Jesus said in John 8:32, “The truth shall set you free.”

DMU Timestamp: November 09, 2010 14:39