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Page last edited on 12 March, 2003
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Was the universe created or is it merely an act of chance?
[Taken from TheRevival]
Here we refer to the
well known law of conservation of matter. This law states that 'Matter
cannot be created nor destroyed'.
What that means is that all that we are able to do is convert one form
of substance to another. We can never create matter from nothing, and
similarly we cannot turn matter into nothing. Trees are brought down to
make wood and paper, sand is used in the making of glass.........etc.,
but we can never create wood or glass out of vacuum.
Similarly we cannot completely destroy wood or glass, for even if we
burn wood, we are only converting it to ashes and gases that are given
off in the process.
We have also shown that all matter had a definite beginning or a moment
in time when it came to exist, the moment when the universe was created.
By joining these seemingly contradicting statements together:
1- Since the universe had a definite beginning, we can say that it was
created.
2- Laws of physics states that matter cannot be created!
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Therefore, it is only rational to say that the universe was created by a
power that is above and independent of the laws of physics as we know
them. That power is clearly not restricted or confined to the basic laws
of physics but far superior.
Neither can this power be of a physical essence. It is also justifiable
to expect this power not to have had a beginning because the concept of
a beginning, and for that matter time in general, has been shown to be a
dimension of the physical universe only. In his 'Theory of relativity',
Einstein stated that time, space and matter were all created when the
universe was born, and that before that moment time did not exist. It is
not easy for the human mind to envisage the concept of no time, but if
one accepts that time is only a dimension of the physical world the idea
becomes more acceptable. Further still, and since the universe had a
definite beginning before which nothing existed, then such an awesome
event (the creation of the universe) cannot be attributed to chance,
since before that initial moment of creation nothing existed, not even
chance!
A superior non-physical power and creator is the only possible
explanation to this argument.
a- The laws of probabilities
The laws of probability offer another interesting argument:
If we throw the dice, the chance of obtaining double 6 is (1 in 36).
What this means is that on average if we throw the dice 1000 times, the
chances are that we should get double 6 around 27 times. Now if we throw
the dice 1000 times and we obtain double 6 every single throw then there
is a design, a system or a controlling force behind the throws. We can
hardly call it chance.
The science of Genetics offers vivid evidence that chance could not be a
factor in the process of creation due to the very precise combinations
necessary in the building of cells. These requisite combinations defy
all laws of probabilities.
On a larger scale, We only need to look at the universe to be able to
marvel at the endless examples of precision and beautiful design. Every
field of scientific knowledge seems to testify to the existence of a
master creator. It does not seem difficult to dismiss the possibility of
chance.
b- The Mechanical argument
The mechanical argument is also in support of the concept of a creator.
'For every action there is a reaction, equal to it and opposite in
direction.'
Everything that has moved was moved by something else. If we go back in
time, tracing everything to its original mover, we would ultimately
arrive at that which was not moved by anything else. That analysis will
also lead us to the unavoidable conclusion of an initial Creator.
c- The Development vs. Destruction argument
Everything left unattended gradually disintegrates. If one builds a
house and leaves it unattended, in a few weeks it will become full of
dust. In thirty years or so the paint will start falling off. After two
hundred years or so some of the walls will start to weaken and fall, and
maybe in a thousand years or so the whole house will be flat to the
ground. In other words, and if left unattended, any organised structure
or system will eventually become one of chaos.
Never will chaos suddenly spring into a system. A house will never
spring into being of its own doing.
If we try to analyse what has actually happened on earth we realise that
it was quite remarkable. When the earth was first formed it was a very
hostile hot planet with no form of life whatsoever. Gradually simple
forms of life evolved leading all the time to more complex forms of
living creatures and culminating in the appearance of mankind. The trend
has been reversed, instead of things crumbling they have in fact
developed all the time to higher forms of being. Chaos has developed
into a system. Has the earth been attended all the time?
It is amusing, to put it mildly, to observe man so full of vanity
thinking he is the master of everything merely because he is given some
intelligence to discover some of the laws of the universe. In reality,
man has no authority in setting or altering such laws. With the aid of
the physical senses, man is given a view over a divine masterpiece, but
considering the human being is a mere spectator within the huge
universe, he can indeed be very pompous!
There is so much symmetry in the universe to be able to go through all
of it, but one particular design has special appeal,. And that is the
Macro/Micro pattern.
d- The Macro/Micro patterns
If we look at the universe at large we find that it is composed of vast
areas of empty space and also other areas containing shapeless matter in
the form of hot gases, dark matter and formed stars. These stars group
together to form galaxies. Our galaxy, 'The Milky Way' has within it no
less than 100 billion individual stars. Our star, the sun, has nine
planets in orbit around it. Most of these planets have a number of moons
again in orbit. The basic force that governs the movement of all these
bodies is gravity. The moons rotate around their planets, which all
rotate around the mother star, which in our case is the sun. Similarly,
all these stars revolve round the centre of gravity of the galaxy.
Galaxies group together to form clusters of galaxies and once again
individual galaxies revolve round the centre of gravity of the cluster.
Clusters group together to form super-clusters, and these obey the same
laws. These are the largest units in the universe as we know it today.
However, and if we proceed in the opposite direction, we notice that the
similarity is truly remarkable. If we look at the other end of the scale
and examine the atom which is the smallest form of substance able to
exist in a chemical reaction, we find that it is composed of electrons
revolving round a nucleus, in the same way as stars revolve round the
centre of gravity of their galaxies. Are we but seeing the finger prints
of the creator?
If one searches one can surely find God. God's signs in His creation are
all around us. It was very naive when the first man in space, the Soviet
astronaut Yuri Gagarin, said when he was high in orbit around the earth:
"Where is God? I do not see him!"
It seems ironic though that he met his death in a helicopter accident,
still in the air, where he could not find his maker! No doubt he found
Him now !
If we accept that the creation of the universe must have been the work
of a supreme intelligent power, we are faced with another puzzle and
that is: How many gods are there? Is God one, or could there be more
than one god?
Have a look
at other related articles in the articles section
[ Taken from TheRevival ]
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