Since my book Paradox Lost: Rediscovering the Mystery of God was published last week, I’ve started to receive notes about it. Here’s a note from my friend Jack Gould, who quotes something written by Philip Yancy in his devotional Grace Notes:
“In physicist Freeman Dyson’s words, “The universe knew we were coming.” To those who know it best, the universe does not seem like a random crapshoot. It seems downright purposeful—but what purpose, and whose? I find more of a spirit of reverence among secular science writers than in some theologians. The wisest among them admit that all our widening knowledge merely exposes our more-widening pool of ignorance. Things that used to seem clear and rational, such as Newtonian physics, have given way to gigantic puzzles.”
I’m still reading Paradox. I really appreciate your insight into the gigantic puzzle.
Jack puts his finger on one fascinating way God’s mystery is being encountered today—through science!
Some Christians see science as the enemy of biblical faith. While in the early 20th century, science was at times wielded as a weapon against the Bible, this warfare has long since ended. Today, 40% of all scientists believe in a personal God! Theology and science are closer together than in the past several centuries. We no longer need to fight the science vs. Bible battles—both are sources of different kinds of truth.
As an example, look at all that modern science has discovered about the unique character of the universe.
The Sun “burns” by fusing hydrogen (and higher elements) together. When two hydrogen atoms fuse, 0.7% of the mass of the hydrogen is converted into energy. If the amount converted were slightly smaller—0.6% instead of 0.7%— the universe would consist only of hydrogen; with no heavy elements, there would be no planets and no life. If the amount converted were slightly larger (0.8%), fusion would happen so readily that no hydrogen would have survived from the Big Bang. Again, there would be no solar systems and no life. The number must lie exactly between 0.6% and 0.8%.
This is called the “fine tuning” of the universe. Like slowly turning a radio dial to “tune in” a station, scientists have discovered that a whole variety of knobs have to be fine-tuned to enormous precision for the universe, and life, to exist. Hence, Dyson’s statement that “the universe knew we were coming.”
Look at these ratios for various physical constants of the universe. These numbers represent the maximum deviation from the accepted values that would either prevent the universe from existing, not have matter, or be unable to support any form of life.
- Ratio of Electrons to Protons 1:1037
- Ratio of Electromagnetic Force to Gravity 1:1040
- Expansion Rate of Universe 1:1055
- Mass Density of Universe 1:1059
- Cosmological Constant 1:10120
These number are hard to imagine, so consider just the first one: 1:1037 Imagine covering the entire North American continent in dimes all the way up to the moon, a height of about 239,000 miles. Next, pile dimes from here to the moon on a billion other continents the same size as North America. Paint one dime red and mix it into the billions of piles of dimes. Blindfold a friend and ask him to pick out one dime. The odds that he will pick the red dime are one in 1037. If this is 1:1037, imagine how tiny 1:10120 must be!
The universe is not a random crapshoot—the sense of purpose and design is overwhelming. When one ponders how scientists today demonstrate that the odds the universe “just happened” are infinitesimally small, it’s easy to believe in a Creator.
Question: are you fascinated by how science and theology are converging today? Please share your thoughts in a comment.
I am no scientist, but I read a lot about it. There is far more that we do not understand about the universe than what we think we know. Newton and Einstein greatly helped us understand physics, but, in my view, what they came up with are crude mathematical formulae that do a decent job of explaining what is going on in a universe that is far more complex than we might imagine. Hawking once wrote that we would, some day, understand the universe. Then he said that we wouldn’t. I don’t think that man will understand the universe in its entirety, just as man will not understand God while we reside on the planet Earth. What we have learned in my lifetime as a result of science is breathtaking, and causes me to appreciate what God has provided for us. Visiting the back country of the high Sierra, or trying to understand theoretical physics, or holding a new born baby all fill me with the wonder of God’s creation.