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Astronomy and Science Highlight Intelligent Design
The Lesson:
In this exciting discovery seminar we will be examining some of the essential questions of life. - Is life on our planet the result of intelligent design? This and more we will investigate by looking at science, digging into history, and most of all studying the Bible and its amazing prophecies. This series uncovers some of the most remarkable discoveries in science, history, ancient Biblical prophecies, and global events related to our modern time. Find out how the secrets of the past and the revelations from the lost pages of history can give meaning for your life today! Let us begin our journey of discoveries by looking at some startling facts about the universe we live in. A Journey Into Space Late in the summer of 1977 an historic mission of exploration was launched. Voyager 1 and 2 broke free from the earth’s gravity on journeys to the outer regions of the solar system. The primary destinations were the four giant outer planets – Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. For 13 years these voyagers followed the planets at close range gathering data and sending stunning images back to earth. Of all the pictures the most fabulous was perhaps the one caught on February 14th 1990. Voyager 1 caught unprecedented pictures of our home star (the sun) and 6 of its orbiting planets. One of them appeared like a small pale dot engulfed by a ray of sun light. It was the earth from more then 6 billion kilometres away! While the world gazed intently at this pin point of light, again timeless questions about its meaning, purpose and significance arose! Throughout history there has been a search for purpose in the universe! Historic Discoveries The mystery of the earth’s significance in the universe has challenged philosophy and science for more than 2000 years. Early perceptions were shaped by the Greek scholars Aristotle, Plato and Ptolemy. They taught that the earth sat motionless in the centre of the heavens while the moon, sun, and other stars revolved around it. This geocentric view was the foundation for western cosmology for 18 centuries till in 1543 the Polish astronomer Nicolas Copernicus ignited a revolution! In his book on the revolution of the heavenly spheres Copernicus argued that the planet was not stationary but instead orbited with the other planets around the sun. For the first time a correct understanding of the structure and mechanics of the solar system was in sight! The idea that the earth moved seemed strange at first, but Copernicus had the mental power to imagine something that even to him sounded strange. Once he started thinking that the earth moved instead of the sun, a lot fell into place and started to make sense. It was the key that unlocked one of the great mysteries of the universe! Copernicus laid the corner stone for modern astronomy! The Copernican Principle Four hundred years after his discovery, the fact that our planet is not the centre of the solar system had evolved into what is now known as the Copernican Principle. This is the idea that our world occupies no preferred place in the universe. Copernicus had a theoretical way of explaining the motion of the planets in the sky, but that is all his theory was. It was not a theory as to whether earth was special or not! Nevertheless this reinterpretation of Copernicus became prominent in the 20th century. It is often called the principle of Mediocrity. This principle says that our location and status as a planet are mediocre in the universe. In other words we have no special significance. As a result we should not assume that we are in any way privileged or that the universe was made with human beings like us in mind. The Copernican principle of the earth’s insignificance was popularised during the 1970’s and 80’s. This happened through the late Astrologer Carl Sagan. In his best selling book “Pale Blue Dot” Sagan wrote: “Because of the reflection of sunlight, the earth seems to be sitting in a beam of light, as if there were some special significance to this small world, but it is just an accident of geometry. Look again at that dot, that is here, that is home, and that is us. Our posturing, our imagined self importance, the delusion that we have some special position in the universe are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark.” And yet over the years of cosmic discoveries astrologers have not always agreed with Carl Sagan. The astounding explosion of research leads more and more astrologers and scientists to accept the theory of intelligent design! Amazing discoveries! Between 1921 and 1926 the astrologer Edwin Hubble used the Hubble telescope to make important and amazing discoveries. From Mt Wilson Observatory in California Edwin Hubble unveiled the true magnitude of the universe. Before the major discoveries of Hubble many astrologers believed that our galaxy marked the edge of the universe and that there was nothing beyond it. Edwin Hubble altered this perception when he used the most powerful telescope of his day to photograph indistinct objects in space long thought to be nearby clouds of gas and dust. Hubble determined that these patches of light were actually individual galaxies – many as large or larger than our own milky way. He found that the universe consists of billions of galaxies each with billions of stars and planets. The wealth of new information transcended the imagination of laymen and astrologers in those days! The Hubble telescope enlarged the bounds of the universe for us. Edwin Hubble revealed that the milky way galaxy, encompassing more than 100 billion stars including our sun, was a mere pin point in the universe. Centuries ago the astronomers studied the heavens and came to the conclusion that there are 5119 stars. So if on a clear night you would count and come to 5118 you had missed one, or if you counted 5120 you had one too many! Of course modern science has exploded and our knowledge of the universe has as well. More than 80 years have passed since Edwin Hubble’s discovery, yet today its profound implications evoke the fundamental question: Does contemporary scientific knowledge actually confirm the Copernican principle’s primarily claim? That is that the earth and the life it sustains exist without purpose or significance in the universe. Or is there a purpose for this planet? A Privileged Planet! It takes a lot of factors to have an inhabitable planet as ours! All these factors have to be met at one place and at one time in the galaxy if you are going to have a planet as inhabitable as the earth. This is needed for complex life. The number of factors has grown as science discovers more about our planet and universe. Here are just a few vital ingredients for life on our planet. 1. We have the right location in the galaxy – a habitable zone. Just think about this last point for a moment. A terrestrial planet like earth needs lots of water. Water has the capacity to absorb heat from the sun. This process is critical to regulate the earth's This factor links with another factor – the planet’s distance to its home star (the sun). Planet earth is located about 150 million kilometres (93,000,000 miles) from the sun. Astronomers tell us that we are in the perfect zone as it is not too hot and it is not too cold. It is just right for the water on the earth! If we would be closer to the sun the water on this earth would boil away. If we would be further from the sun the water would freeze. Within our solar system the habitable zone is relatively narrow. Beginning well outside the orbit of Venus and ending short of the orbit of Mars. If the earth would be 5% closer to the sun it would be subject to the same fate as Venus: A greenhouse effect with temperatures running to 480°C (900°F). But if the earth would be 20% farther from its home star (the sun) carbon dioxide clouds would form the atmosphere causing all to freeze which stereotypes Mars. But then this factor again links with others. If our sun was like some of the other stars (smaller), the habitable zone around it would be smaller. The earth would have to be closer to its star. The increased gravity would knock our planets rotation into synchronisation with its orbit. While one side would still face the sun, the other side would be perpetual in ice. Needless to say the complex organisms could not tolerate such conditions. The size and function of the moon has been another fascinating factor that has triggered the mind of many as to the structure and beauty of the universe. For the size of our planet we have a big Contrary to what the Copernican principle might suggest, the recipe for life is far more complex than many would suggest! The list of necessary factors continues to grow! If there was no intelligent designer involved in the creation of this planet, then the remaining option is that we are here by accident. This is what drives projects like S.E.T.I. – Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intellegence – which began around 1980. Big radio telescopes sent signals into space listening for sounds in the universe. They said that if they would hear a pattern in the sounds, someone intelligent must be sending those signals. Just remember that line of argument as we will come back to it. They believe that if there is a pattern, there is intelligence behind it. Interesting conclusion! But why are they out there looking for extra-terrestrial beings? Well, if we believe that life can come into being all by itself it would really help the theory if we could find one more example. But up to now no signals of intelligence have been returned. We are living on a very unique and fantastically made planet! We are a very privileged planet and the planet earth is located so that discovery of this fact is possible. The source and location of the planet enables discovery of the highest form. Our location in the solar system is optimal to make a wide range of scientific discoveries. Why? All the probabilities united make it very improbable, if not impossible, for us to be here by accident! Could it be that Carl Sagan was wrong? Did we just win the cosmic lottery? Are we just very lucky? Or is there more to life? Is life more than atoms colliding with atoms? Is there an underlying purpose of design? Nicolas Copernicus was motivated to comprehend the mechanism of the universe. He wrote the following: “The mechanism of the universe, wrought for us by a supremely good and orderly Creator…the system the best and most orderly artist of all framed for our sake.” He imagined the analogy of a workman. A craftsman making something that worked well and was beautiful! The founders of modern science, like Copernicus, Galileo, Newton, and others, believed that the universe was the product of a mind. They were on a quest to uncover the handiwork of God! We are still on that same quest! But long before these scientists, there were men with similar conceptions about life. “Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.” —Isaiah 40:26 “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” —Psalm 8:3-4 “Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name.” —Amos 5:8 “Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?” —Job 38:31 These men of old made incredible discoveries as they unlocked the mysteries of life. The writers understood that an intelligent God was behind the creation of the universe. It was this God of the universe that inspired them to write and these writings we have today in the Bible. God revealed himself to humanity through his word that he spoke to the Bible writers. As these various writers looked around them they could see evidence of a Creator God. They understood that we are wonderfully created. “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” —Psalm 139:14 The Complexity of Human Life When you look at the incredible diversity and complexity of life, inevitably the question arises: What brought this all into existence? Is there design due to a cause? The more we know about life and biology, the more problems Darwinism has! The evolutionary concept does not answer vital questions that are coming to the service today. Since 1988 Michael Behe (Biochemist) has investigated complex Biological systems that seem to defy explanation by natural selection. Michael Behe’s scepticism was largely triggered by what modern Biology has revealed about lifes most fundamental unit – the cell. In 1996 Michael Behe published a book titled: Darwin’s Black Box. In the book he argued that natural selection could not explain the cell and what happens inside the cell. In the 19th century when Darwin lived, scientists thought that the cell was some simple blob of gel and that it was not hard to explain. This perception did not change so much until the nineteen fifties, but in the last half of the twentieth century our knowledge of the cell has just exploded! Today powerful technology reveals microscopic worlds. At the very basis of life where molecules and cells are at work scientists have discovered incredible machinery, referred to as molecular machines. Billions of machines within the cells are at work to carry supplies from one end of the cell to the other, machines which capture the sunlight and turn it into usable energy. When we see these complex machines we ask the question: Where do they come from? Natural selection—theDarwinian theory—does not have the answers. Michael Behe studied a specific machinery within the cell, called the flagellum. The flagellum is a bacterium within the cell that is driven by a complex motor which looks like a tail. To see these parts you need to magnify a part of a cell 50,000 times! Biochemists have used advanced equipment to study the flagellum motor. In the process they have revealed marvellous engineering on miniaturised scale. Howard Burg, professor from Harvard, has labelled it the most efficient machine in the universe! Some of these machines are running at a hundred thousand rpm (rotations per minute). Even though they are spinning at this speed they can turn at a quarter of a turn. The flagellum is hardwired into a signal transducer (a sensory mechanism). It is receiving feedback from the environment. It has 40 structural arranged parts to make it function incredibly wonderful! It is no chance assembly of parts! Since its discovery scientists are trying to figure out how a rotary motor could have arisen through natural selection and as yet they have failed to give any explanation! It is absolutely impossible that this came about by accident. There is no chance of events inside each living cell. There is a complexity and intricacy that blows the mind! This is what Michael Behe refers to as “irreducible complexity”. The term “irreducible complexity” was originally defined by him as following: “A single system which is composed of several interacting parts that contribute to the basic function, and where the removal of any one of the parts causes the system to effectively cease functioning.” – Darwin’s Black Box, page 9. Behe is pointing to biological systems that could not have come about by a series of small changes. One of these is the flagellum. Behe uses the mousetrap as an illustrative example of this concept. A mousetrap consists of several interacting pieces—the base, the catch, the spring, the hammer. Behe contends that all of these must be in place for the mousetrap to work, and that the removal of any one piece destroys the function of the mousetrap. Likewise, biological systems require multiple parts working together in order to function. Natural selection can not create from scratch those systems for which science is currently unable to find a viable evolutionary pathway of successive, slight modifications, because the selectable function is only present when all parts are assembled. About 150 years ago scientists did not know about irreducible complex molecular machines. Yet Darwin anticipated the threat that such machines could pose to his theory. Charles Darwin: “If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed which could not possibly have formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down.” It seems that with the discoveries of our time this is exactly what is taking place! We See Design and We Naturally Ask: Where is the Designer? Science should be a search for the truth about the world. Evolution rules out a cause before evidence has the opportunity to speak. The possibility of intelligent design as a scientific explanation is often ruled out, yet we make references to intelligence all the time. Consider the cravings on stone by ancient cultures like the Egyptians. We don’t say these came by sand storms or erosion! We recognise them as the work of ancient scribes – intelligent human agents! But what are the features of how we recognize intelligent design? Mathematician William Demski wrote a book titled: The Design Inference. He made an important breakthrough in the understanding of design reasoning. William Demski has specified the specific features of artifacts that cause us to recognise prior intelligent activity. He looked at how we reason about design. What are the logical moves we go through before we conclude something as intelligent design? According to Demski human beings detect intelligent design whenever they encounter a highly improbable object that also matches a recognisable pattern. Such a pattern is found in the black hills of South Dakota: The carving of the faces of 4 USA presidents in stone. You will see lots of shapes on mountain sides, most of which mean nothing at all, but you don’t see the faces of Lincoln, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Washington. The patterns of the faces match faces elsewhere. When we look at Mount Rushmore we not only have a highly improbable configuration of rock, but one that matches a given pattern. We have a small probability and a specific recognisable pattern or specification. This equals design! Now with this in mind, remember the SETI project (search for extra-terrestrial beings). They are using millions of dollars looking for signals creating a pattern in the universe to conclude there is intelligent life out there. But what about all the intelligent patterns around us? Why aren’t they acknowledged as intelligent design! The evidence is being removed by a preconceived ideology. “Biologists must constantly keep in mind that what they see was not designed, but evolved” – Fransis Creck (Nobel Laureate DNA research). Doctor George Wald (Noble price winning scientist) states: “There are only two possible explanations as to how life arose; spontaneous generation arising to evolution or a supernatural creative act of God. Spontaneous generation was scientifically disproved 120 years ago by Louis Pasteur (He proved that life does not come from no life!) and others, but that just leaves us with only one other possibility…that life came as a supernatural act of creation by God, but I can’t accept that philosophy because I do not want to believe in God. Therefore I choose to believe in that which I know is scientifically impossible, spontaneous generation leading to evolution.” A prophecy in the Bible predicted this would happen: “For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished.” 2 Peter 3:5,6 They willingly deny and forget! The Bible predicted a day when people would close their eyes to the evidence, and that day has come! The Recognition of Intelligence During the nineteenth century scientists believed there were two fundamental entities – matter and energy. But as we have entered the 21st century there is a third element that science has had to recognize and that is information! What do we make of the fact that there is information in life? In every living cell and every living organism there is information. Where does the information come from? It must have a source? There is no natural cause that produces information! Information must come from intelligence. A healthy science is a science that allows truth and evidence to speak for itself. It is observation of the facts. It’s a powerful idea that the universe is underwritten by a supreme intelligence. God has put His signature on His designed objects! We can go out and look at the world and the world will make sense. If what we see is the product of a mind, then science becomes a wonderful puzzle solving project! We can expect to find logic, rationality, and immense beauty right at the foundation of life! Robert Jastrow, in his book ‘God and the Astronomer’ said: “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 mountains 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.” If life has a purpose, then you and I have a purpose as well. We do not merely exist, but we are fashioned and framed by an intelligent God that has an intention and plan for us. The universe bears the marks of design. This planet is full of design. God had man in mind! The Argument From Degree Several hundred years ago there was a theologian by the name of Thomas Aquinas. He came up with 5 reasons for the existence of God. One of his arguments was the fact that everything has a cause and eventually this can all be traced back to God. Another argument was design. But another one of his arguments was the degrees of perfection argument. We all know the difference between good and evil, and how do we know this? How do we know what is moral and what is immoral? Why is it wrong to kill? If it can enhance your survival, what’s wrong as evolution upholds the survival of the fittest. But something outside of us has set a moral standard and distinctively we know things like that are wrong! I believe that God has set that moral for us and is speaking to our conscience. There is an incredible, shocking account in the pages of history that illustrates what happens when God’s moral standard is fully denied. The French revolution of 1793 shows us something remarkable. Sir Walter Scott wrote in his book “The Life of Napoleon”: “The world for the first time heard an assembly of men, born and educated in civilisation, and assuming the right to govern one of the finest of the European nations, uplift their united voice to deny the most solemn truth which man’s soul receives, and renounce unanimously the belief and worship of a Deity.” During the revolution there was a state of moral debasement and corruption. Marriage vows were reduced to a mere civil contract between any two people. France became a pleasure driven nation casting down everything noble and pure. Crime flourished in these dark years and Bibles were publicly burnt. France set up their own god – the Goddess of Reason in the person of a profligate woman. For three and a half years the blood of martyrs flowed from the guillotine in France. For three and a half years a nation denied God, but reaped a bitter harvest. After this time man recognised the necessity of faith in God and His Word as the foundation of virtue and morality. God has given us a standard by which to live! True happiness is found in following the principles of His Word. This is a powerful argument in favour of God! This brings us to our final piece of evidence. The Argument of Experience! “Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:12-13 This argument is stronger than any other. A serious encounter with our intelligent designer and Creator will change our lives forever! This is something that can’t be proved – it needs to be experienced! In my short life I have been privileged to travel around the world and teach the Bible. I have seen with my own eyes that when somebody allows God into their lives, a change takes place. A new dimension enters their life, and joy, peace, and purpose takes hold of them who were once slaves of doubt, hopelessness, and utter despair. Many people think that they are the product of a big bang accident without meaning and do not know why they are really here, how they should live, or what their destiny is. But the Bible answers all these questions! Keep following this series as we together unlock the mysteries of life! The God of the Universe is Seeking a Relationship With You “Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.” Job 22:21 The God that made our planet, and placed it so life can flourish, is the same God that seeks a relationship with us. He wants us to know Him and come to Him in faith. There is no problem too great for Him to solve and there is no perplexity too great for Him to unravel. There is no obstacle in your life that the God of the universe, the powerful, awesome, intelligent, loving God cannot handle. We are made for God. We are made to be one with our Maker.
“That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us.” Acts 17:27 The Bible tells us that God is not far from us. He is within our reach when we reach out in faith! From beyond the stars, God cares for you. He is interested in you. “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 God cares for you! In your sorrow and disappointment, He cares. In your heartache, He cares. We have come to see two alternatives. Let us suppose there is no God and you are here by evolutionary chance. Basically there is no purpose for your life and you are an advanced animal. When you go into the grave there is no life beyond. Your body gets eaten by the worms. That’s it! You struggle through life and some good things happen and some bad things. That’s it! Or there is another alternative: There is a God that made this world and brought you into existence. Sin has separated you from Him, but He sent His Son to redeem and save you. This Creator has a plan for you, and you can exist with Him through all eternity! He wants to realise His plan even now. You are made to experience happiness, joy, and love. If you only had these two choices, what would you choose? Deep inside there is that sense – there must be more! There is a divine spark in every heart that tells us that we are created with a plan. Examine your own heart in a quiet moment. “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.” Eccelesties 3:11 (NKJV) He has put eternity in your heart! There is something in your heart that tells you to reach beyond yourself. Reach out for God’s hand and find out that He is there! In the heart of the universe, in the cosmic control centre of the universe, there in the centre of it all, there is an all-powerful, intelligent, loving God that has you in His mind. “How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.” Psalm 139:17-18 God’s thinking about you. The question is: Are you thinking about Him? |
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surface temperature. As water dissolves it transports chemical nutrients vital to all living organisms. 
moon. The current thinking is that if the moon did not exist then neither would we! One fourth the size of the earth, the moons strong gravitational pull stabilises the earths axis at a nearly constant 23.5 degree angle! This ensures relatively moderate seasonal changes and the only climate in the solar system mild enough to sustain complex organisms. 
Many people are distressed inside and are searching for meaning and purpose in life. They try making a lot of money to feel better, and they try materialism and entertainment where morals are twisted. Men and women are running here and there to find solutions to their problems. But the good news is that a loving God cares and reaches out to us. 
