Argument for the Existence of God

1. The universe began to exist

2. The universe has complexity, order and fine-tuning

3. Complexity, order and fine-tuning imply design

4. Design that began to exist implies a designer

5. Therefore, the universe has a designer

Premise 1 asserts that the universe began to exist. According to the Space-Time Theorem of General Relativity (Hawking, Penrose), the universe - all matter and time itself - began at the Big Bang.

Premise 2 asserts that the universe seems to have a special order or a "complex design" to it, from the DNA in the smallest cell, to the way chemical bonds form, to the Laws of Physics themselves, to the integration of all of these and more! Not only does the universe seem to have been fine-tuned for life, it seems to have been fine-tuned for life on earth. [1]

Some specific examples of this fine-tuning are evident in the constants of the universe. If these constants were changed by the smallest degree, life would not be possible in the entire universe. Dr. Hugh Ross offers a list of these constants and a description of how they are interwoven into the very existence of life.

Some might say that claiming fine-tuning after the fact is invalid, but that is not the case here. Imagine if you faced a firing squad of 100 experienced marksmen at 10 yards who all missed you. Would you then say, "I don't find it at all odd that they missed"? Of course not, you would assume that they meant to miss.

Premise 3 asserts that complexity, order and fine-tuning imply design. More support for idea that the universe is designed can be found in the idea that nothing ordered can come from chaos, it must come from an orderer. Some might disagree, with counterexamples in hand. The problem lies in the fact that these counterexamples do in fact have orderers - the laws of nature. But what of the laws of nature, which are also ordered?

Lastly, the universe, which exhibits order, is supposed to have come from nothing at all, according to some. How can something come from nothing? And how can that something begin at a certain point if there is nothing to begin it? [2]

Premise 4 is self evidence. If something began to exist and is designed, it must have had a designer. If something did not begin to exist, it could not have had a beginner or designer.

Therefore, the universe has a designer.

Conclusions Drawn From the Above

The best someone can do against the above argument is to conclude that the universe just happened. In light of the above argument, which of the following makes more sense?

1. The designed universe came into existence, out of nothing, all by itself.

2. The designed universe came into existence through outside input.

The second statement clearly makes more sense. The first statement is not only an impossibility but also leaves a lot of holes that must be filled (see the "Common Questions" section below).

Why Many Secular Scientists Avoid the Conclusion that God Exists

Why do many secular scientists pull theories, not based on observation, out of thin air? To avoid the conclusion that God exists.[3] The theories that secular scientists come up with are philosophical, not scientific. So, when comparing philosophical arguments, which of the following makes more sense?

1. A big blue cow from another universe sneezed so hard that he caused a rip in the space-time continuum of the other universe (which originated with another big blue cow in another universe... ad infinitum) and created our universe.[4]

2. Our universe received outside input upon its beginning.

The second statement clearly makes more sense. Even the anti-creation FAQ/Archive for the usenet group talk.origins supports the claim that if a better theory does not exist, one must settle for the theory that best fits the data.[5] The second statement is clearly the "better theory."

• What are some examples of fine-tuning?.
  
• How can we recognize design?
  
• What is design?
  
• Who created God?
  
• What about Quantum Mechanics? (pick here, here or here for answer)


• Could the design seen in the universe have evolved?
  
• Why couldn't the universe have popped into existence, out of nothing, all by itself?
  
• What about an eternally oscillating universe?
  
• Why couldn't the universe have had no beginning?

If God exists, who is he?

The fact that the Bible says the universe and time itself had a beginning and a designer while not contradicting science, when science is correct, is unique among religions. See Who is the God That Exists? for a detailed argument.

Notes

1. For more on fine-tuning, see:

Alan Lightman and Roberta Brawer, "Origins: The Lives and Worlds of Modern Cosmologists" (Harvard University Press, 1990), pp. 194 (Joseph Silk), 407-408 (Don Page), 446 (David Schramm).

Hugh Ross, "The Creator and the Cosmos: Second Expanded Edition" (NavPress, 1995), pp. 118-121.
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2. For more on design, see the "Further Reading" section below or:

J. P. Moreland, editor, et al, "The Creation Hypothesis" (InterVarsity Press, 1994)

Design and the Anthropic Principle by Dr. Hugh Ross.

Evidence for Design of the Cosmos by Dr. Hugh Ross.

Recognizing Design by Mark Harpt.

Harpt - Lesley Debate, March 1997.
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3. Proof that emotions are driving theory for secular science in this regard was best demonstrated by Arthur Eddington when he said, "the notion of a beginning is repugnant to me..." For an honest, Christian discussion of this subject, see the "Further Reading" section below, especially see "The Existence of God and the Beginning of the Universe" by William Lane Craig. return

4. This theory is as likely as any such current "scientific" theory dealing with the origin of the universe. Like those theories, this is also not observable or provable so it cannot be considered a "scientific" theory. Current "scientific" theories are less logical than the theory that our universe received outside input. return

5. Mark I. Vuletic, "Critique of Michael Denton's 'Evolution: A Theory in Crisis'," (Talk.Origins FAQ/Archive, 1997) return

Further Reading

Astronomical Evidences for the God of the Bible by Hugh Ross

"Christian Apologetics" by Norman L. Geisler (Baker Book House, 1993)

"The Creation Hypothesis," J. P. Moreland, editor (InterVarsity Press, 1994)

"The Creator and the Cosmos" by Hugh Ross (NavPress, 1995)

"The Creator Beyond Time and Space" by Chuck Missler and Mark Eastman (The Word for Today, 1996)

The Existence of God and the Beginning of the Universe by William Lane Craig

"God and the Astronomers" by Robert Jastrow (W. W. Norton & Co., Inc., 1992)

"Handbook of Christian Apologetics" (with 20 arguments for the existence of God, plus a lot of other stuff) by Peter Kreeft and Ronald K. Tacelli (InterVarsity Press, 1994)

"Reasonable faith" by William Lane Craig (Crossway Books, 1994)

Additional Arguments

Origins Web Page

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