ALL THINGS CREATED
Posted on July 15, 2024 by Patrick Shabi with an estimated reading time of 10 minutes
Last updated September 15, 2024
“By faith we understand that time was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are invisible.” (Hebrews 11:3)
This verse aligns closely with what we hear from science today; the things created and that exist in our world came not from things seen by us, but from invisible things.
What we discussed in our previous article, Science and Scientists, regarding natural laws and the forces that govern our world is a good example of this. Progressing from philosophical arguments that were briefly discussed, we should also be able to see scientific proof of how these laws came into nature. We are beginning to see just that occur within science through a term called “fine-tuning.” Simply put, fine-tuning is the process of making small adjustments to something, which eventually leads to the best or desired performance, or desired outcome. The concept of fine-tuning was discovered in 1961 by Robert H. Dicke. Due to its profound implications, it has already been implemented in a variety of fields such as physics, engineering, and computer science.
SpaceX rocket boosters successfully landing on LZ1 and LZ2 landing pads after launch.
This picture was donated to the public domain by SpaceX.
In 2017, SpaceX used the fine-tuning concept to achieve what so many thought was impossible: successfully launching and landing re-used rocket boosters for space exploration. Recently in 2023, we’ve seen AI (artificial intelligence) dominate headlines with the introduction of new AI platforms, which many experts claim will fundamentally change society and how we interact with computers. Both these inventions are impressive and will change our lives; however, let’s consider for a moment both of these examples from another perspective. No one would argue that either of these breakthroughs just occurred. On the contrary, these breakthroughs only occurred as the result of meticulous planning, design, and construction by someone (or in this case, a group of people) with the same objective. This fact should be absolutely clear and indisputable. So, if these facts are indisputable, how much more indisputable should the fine-tuning of our universe, and the exponentially more complex processes which took place, be to us?
To properly understand the complexity of the fine-tuning that was required when it comes to the creation of the universe, it is important to be acquainted with the four fundamental forces which govern the universe. All four of these forces interact with each other, so all had to come into existence within hundredths of milliseconds of one another. In addition, all of these forces had to come into existence in the perfect ratio for the universe to not only be created, but to sustain life and continue to exist. These four fundamental forces are widely accepted throughout the scientific community as the governing forces of the universe.
To illustrate this point, I will be using information from IntelligentDesign.org.
These four fundamental forces, and a brief explanation of each, are as follows:
The gravitation force constant (large scale attractive force, holds people on planets, and holds planets, stars, and galaxies together) – too weak and planets and stars cannot form; too strong and stars burn up too quickly.
Electromagnetic force constant (small scale attractive and repulsive force, holds atoms’ electrons and nuclei together) - if it were slightly weaker or stronger, we wouldn’t have stable chemical bonds.
Strong nuclei force constant (small-scale attractive force, holds nuclei of atoms together, which otherwise repulse each other because of the electromagnetic force) – if it were weaker, the universe would have far fewer stable chemical elements, eliminating several that are essential for life.
Weak nuclear force constant (governs radioactive decay) – if it were much stronger or weaker, life-essential stars could not form.
Although these forces are very technical and complex, it’s important to understand the scale that is being dealt with to properly comprehend the intricate design required for all this to occur at the perfect time and in the perfect ratio. So, to give you an example, when theorists are dealing with the fundamental forces they consider in terms of their range, which is theoretically infinite. To get around this, theorists compare each of these constants against the gravitation force constant to get a more exact awareness on the precision of fine-tuning required for each individual constant (the range would be when the force is at its weakest and strongest). So, using this technique, theorists have observed that the strong nuclear force compared to the gravitational force is 1,040 times stronger, or put another way, is ten thousand, billion, billion, billion, billion times the strength of gravity.
If we take this range and represent it by a ruler stretching across the observable universe, this would be the equivalent to 15 billion light years. Now, you would probably think because of the strength of the gravitation force, there would be considerable leeway for this force to fluctuate, but that is actually the opposite of what we see. If the gravitation force constant was increased by just 1 part in 1,034 of the range of force strengths, the universe couldn’t have life sustaining planets, like the Earth. Measuring this in the example of the ruler, this would be the equivalent of moving less than one inch on that universe-long ruler! If you just contemplate the precision of this force for a few seconds, you quickly begin to realize how everything fits together too perfectly for it to all have happened by accident.
The example of the gravitation force constant was just one of how these four fundamental forces are fine-tuned. This same precision is seen in all four of them, but for the sake of this article I’ve only tried to help you understand the precision required for one. It should also be noted that not only are these four fundamental forces fine-tuned, but scientists have discovered another 22 lesser forces that were not mentioned. The fine-tuning for these 22 lesser forces is the same seen in the four fundamental forces. If any of these forces were off by the smallest fraction (to the extreme that was illustrated with the gravitation constant example), and didn’t happen with hundredths of milliseconds of the others (all of these forces interact with each other), then the universe would not be here, and life on Earth would not exist.
The amazing knowledge that has been discovered regarding natural laws, and more recently, the fine-tuning of the universe, shows us the full power and majesty of God as its Creator. While Genesis is the most well-known account of creation in the Bible, there are actually many other places throughout the Old and New Testaments which speaks to God’s role in the creation of the universe and its laws, as well as sustaining them. In a book that actually pre-dates Genesis (in regards to the events described), the book of Job gives us some fascinating insights into this. Job 38 includes a discourse between Job and God, and contrasts what God can do with what humans are able to do.
“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determines its measurements – surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? (Job 38:4)
We read in both Psalms and Isaiah that the world was created and is sustained by God:
“O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have them all; the earth is full of your possessions [or creation].” (Psalms 104:24)
“Thus says God, the Lord, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spreads out the earth and what comes from it, Who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it.” (Isaiah 42:5)
The New Testament also speaks similarly when Paul speaks to the Colossians:
“He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:17)
The Bible is filled with verses like these that not only speak to God’s majestic power, but also to His sustaining attributes as the Creator of the Universe. Through these verses, and the many more available, we see a clear picture of the God that was intimately involved in every aspect of creation, and His power to continue to sustain.
So, ask yourself again, where did the natural laws come from, and why do we see such order and consistency in the universe? The answer should be clear.
The theologian Thomas Aquinas thought about this question, and puts it succinctly in his book Summa Theologica,
“Therefore it is necessary to arrive at a first mover, put in motion by no other; and this everyone understands to be God.”