The odds of life existing on another planet grow ever longer. Intelligent design, anyone?
In 1966 Time magazine ran a cover story asking: Is God Dead? Many have accepted the cultural narrative that he’s obsolete—that as science progresses, there is less need for a “God” to explain the universe. Yet it turns out that the rumors of God’s death were premature. More amazing is that the relatively recent case for his existence comes from a surprising place—science itself.
Here’s the story: The same year Time featured the now-famous headline, the astronomer Carl Sagan announced that there were two important criteria for a planet to support life: The right kind of star, and a planet the right distance from that star. Given the roughly octillion—1 followed by 27 zeros—planets in the universe, there should have been about septillion—1 followed by 24 zeros—planets capable of supporting life.
With such spectacular odds, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, a large, expensive collection of private and publicly funded projects launched in the 1960s, was sure to turn up something soon. Scientists listened with a vast radio telescopic network for signals that resembled coded intelligence and were not merely random. But as years passed, the silence from the rest of the universe was deafening. Congress defunded SETI in 1993, but the search continues with private funds. As of 2014, researches have discovered precisely bubkis—0 followed by nothing.
What happened? As our knowledge of the universe increased, it became clear that there were far more factors necessary for life than Sagan supposed. His two parameters grew to 10 and then 20 and then 50, and so the number of potentially life-supporting planets decreased accordingly. The number dropped to a few thousand planets and kept on plummeting.
Even SETI proponents acknowledged the problem. Peter Schenkel wrote in a 2006 piece for Skeptical Inquirer magazine: “In light of new findings and insights, it seems appropriate to put excessive euphoria to rest . . . . We should quietly admit that the early estimates . . . may no longer be tenable.”
As factors continued to be discovered, the number of possible planets hit zero, and kept going. In other words, the odds turned against any planet in the universe supporting life, including this one. Probability said that even we shouldn’t be here.
Today there are more than 200 known parameters necessary for a planet to support life—every single one of which must be perfectly met, or the whole thing falls apart. Without a massive planet like Jupiter nearby, whose gravity will draw away asteroids, a thousand times as many would hit Earth’s surface. The odds against life in the universe are simply astonishing.
Yet here we are, not only existing, but talking about existing. What can account for it? Can every one of those many parameters have been perfect by accident? At what point is it fair to admit that science suggests that we cannot be the result of random forces? Doesn’t assuming that an intelligence created these perfect conditions require far less faith than believing that a life-sustaining Earth just happened to beat the inconceivable odds to come into being?
There’s more. The fine-tuning necessary for life to exist on a planet is nothing compared with the fine-tuning required for the universe to exist at all. For example, astrophysicists now know that the values of the four fundamental forces—gravity, the electromagnetic force, and the “strong” and “weak” nuclear forces—were determined less than one millionth of a second after the big bang. Alter any one value and the universe could not exist. For instance, if the ratio between the nuclear strong force and the electromagnetic force had been off by the tiniest fraction of the tiniest fraction—by even one part in 100,000,000,000,000,000—then no stars could have ever formed at all. Feel free to gulp.
Multiply that single parameter by all the other necessary conditions, and the odds against the universe existing are so heart-stoppingly astronomical that the notion that it all “just happened” defies common sense. It would be like tossing a coin and having it come up heads 10 quintillion times in a row. Really?
Fred Hoyle, the astronomer who coined the term “big bang,” said that his atheism was “greatly shaken” at these developments. He later wrote that “a common-sense interpretation of the facts suggests that a super-intellect has monkeyed with the physics, as well as with chemistry and biology . . . . The numbers one calculates from the facts seem to me so overwhelming as to put this conclusion almost beyond question.”
Theoretical physicist Paul Davies has said that “the appearance of design is overwhelming” and Oxford professor Dr. John Lennox has said “the more we get to know about our universe, the more the hypothesis that there is a Creator . . . gains in credibility as the best explanation of why we are here.”
The greatest miracle of all time, without any close seconds, is the universe. It is the miracle of all miracles, one that ineluctably points with the combined brightness of every star to something—or Someone—beyond itself.
Mr. Metaxas is the author, most recently, of “Miracles: What They Are, Why They Happen, and How They Can Change Your Life” ( Dutton Adult, 2014).
@ honeybee:
🙂 Cleaned and oiled?? 😉
Haven’t seen or read who were the supermarket victims anyone know? Watched French TV channel and all the talk is on the terrorists and the newspaper. When Jews are attacked no great upset either in the press or the general public.
@ yamit82:
And here I was thinking he was just looking for a nice chicken for the Sabbath.
yamit82 Said:
Kosher supermarket killer ‘told TV station he deliberately targeted Jews’
Amedy Coulibaly phoned French channel at height of siege, said he and the Kouachi brothers had planned their attacks together
Read more: Kosher supermarket killer ‘told TV station he deliberately targeted Jews’ | The Times of Israel http://www.timesofisrael.com/kosher-supermarket-killer-told-tv-station-he-deliberately-targeted-jews/#ixzz3ON6Ae7r9
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honeybee Said:
Do you still remember where you hid it????
@ mar55:
Guns are dangerous. I have one hidden at home, in 24 yrs only thought I might need it once. But TX handled the situation.
@ yamit82:
honeybee, I also agree with this statement The preservation of the Jews is really one of the most signal and illustrious acts of divine Providence… and what but a supernatural power could have preserved them in such a manner as none other nation upon earth hath been preserved.
After watching the link of the events in France which Ted included in this forum I still believe. However, I have not ever used a firearm in my life. I’m going to start learning and get often to a shooting range. Even if I perished I’ll take a few before I go. I’ll try to remember
General Patton. “It is not your job to die for your Country. It is to make the other bastard to die for his”.
The Paris events made my very sad and could not contain tears. When I finished I was angry and have decided I
ll not die. Until we find an effective vermin exterminator
we have to take the responsibility to protect our children and grandchildren. What happened to the woman in the market
who was shopping while carrying her child? Hashem will help us to protect ourselves.
yamit82 Said:
Just ???? The long game !!! eh.
@ honeybee:
Since the holocaust I never bought into the proposition that G-d is merciful. He is correct always correct but not merciful.
@ yamit82:
So you say, but THE ALMIGHTY and I shall have a serious conversation about the little children who are orphaned and trapped.
@ honeybee:
We shall see? I never presume to outguess Providence.
What ever is the result it will be a catalyst for more Jews to leave France…
yamit82 Said:
Where is THE ALMIGHTY now!!!!!!!!!! In the Paris market ???
@ ArnoldHarris:
@ ArnoldHarris:
Oops. He, She or It just put my comment into moderation.
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
I can’t say I agree with one prognosis or another about these theological questions, inasmuch as I matriculated with an advanced degree in urban and regional planning, and have spent most of my last 30 years performing database programming, at least when I am not busy promoting practical Zionism with screeds on Israpundit. So I can pray to HaShem now and then, and my wife and I routinely make a Shabat to fulfill one of his many, many, mitzvot.
But sometimes I run across something on the internet that bumps all the competing theologies of humankind into the most nearby universe outside ours, and brings laughter into my frequently mean-spirited and bitter soul.
Click on the Church of Apatheism, and see what I mean:
http://www.ginohn.com/wunder201005/cetera/apatheism.html
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
honeybee Said:
YUP!!!!!
yamit82 Said:
@ honeybee:
No. 😉
@ yamit82:
Need you ask, Darlin !!!!
@ honeybee:
Did he really?
Yidvocate Said:
Yidvocate you should only wish to have Yamit82’s flaws.
mar55 Said:
You and I have given birth, we know what no man can never know.
Max Said:
So Max whose Science. If you’re a Atheist, why do you write G-d instead of god?
Yidvocate Said:
Yidvocate Said:
What about my comments, what I am I , ” a cold Knish” ?
yamit82 Said:
My Dad would quote the above to me every time I “smart mouthed” him.
Max Said:
HMMMM? this psychobabble sounds familiar, gosh we now have a psychobabbling trotskyite who throws around big words like hate, democracy and fascist.
Max Said:
perhaps you can point out your “common saying” and show us how you “paraphrased” it and why you believe it was humorous, I am always ready for a good laugh 🙂
Max Said:
Its obvious that you know nothing about “science” either. Who is they?
Do you actually have ANYTHiNG to contribute here or are you just coming to show us how very little you appear to know about anything? So far, I have seen you offer NOTHING on this page about anything. You are wasting our time with your childish rants and hissy fits.
yamit82 Said:
right on, he is a clueless fool who doesnt even read anything.
Max Said:
😛 😛 😛 😛 I searched through your posts and see nothing that demonstrates you have a shred of a clue about anything in the middle east. That reminded me that you were the naive little girl who 2 years ago believed (LOLOROF) that the syrians were having a democratic revolution and you knew the real news because you were following twitter. In other words you were following the reports of the useful idiots who had to hand over to the imported mercenaries. You said I was a conspiracist then also for pointing out the gulf monarchies hands behind the scenes and relations with israel. Since then BB and liberman have spoken of these understanding but apparently you are still the naive little girl who arrived two years ago who still comments without having a clue about anything. Tell me maxine, do you still beleive that there was a democratic revolution in syria(LOL). where do you get your info from these days?
Please show us anything maxine which demonstrates that you actually know ANYTHING about Israeli politics or the mid east. Please dont waste our time with your whiny little hissy fits you are too far gone to give you an education, too clueless, too ignorant, know too little.
You need to find quigley and hold discussions with him, you have something in common.
Max Said:
Maybe I am maybe not first define fascist?
Democracy is in actuality republicanism. Works sometimes and not others. For nations in constant crisis i submit it’s the worst and least efficient. Only very wealthy nations not in conflict can afford your concept of democracy. All democracies as opposed to meritocracies become populous catering to the lowest common denominator which leads always to mass corruption dictatorship and Tyranny and or monarchy. People do not want the responsibility and self interest always wins out over the good of the collective.
A benevolent dictatorship is preferable and the people always have the right of insurrection if the Dictator or King oversteps his authority with no other legal restrictions or methods of popular redress.
I put my family and close friends ahead of your humanity and I put Jews ahead of your humanity! Your Humanity is not even near the top of my concerns and if they are your I say you are full of shit. How many diners in restaurants have you given up and donated the sum you would have paid to humanity??? You are all talk and that talk is total inane BS. Not worthy to be aired on this site or any where some the the readers and commenters are normal elements of that humanity you so treasure.
Your contribution to this site are zero and you diminish us by your participation.
Have to agree with you Max on both points:
1. Yamit does have his flaws but then who doesn’t?
2. I guess then I must have a dead sense of humor (must have been a very recent and sudden demise!) as I found no humor in any of your posts in this article.
I’ll be very disappointed if Yamit simply agrees to all your aspersions of his character. I’d rather believe that by not responding he is complying with Ted’s request that we refrain from extraneous comments, as we should be doing.
Yidvocate Said:
Whatever you hate , you hate so much you have killed your own sense of humor. I merely described Yamit as he has described himself countless times. I already know Yamit’s response and couldn’t care less – – he takes pride in being a bigoted fascist – he is ossified and a lost cause.
@ Max:
Max, I don’t hate you. I actually feel sorry for lost souls like you. Please don’t take offence as none is intended.
I’m rather looking forward to Yamit’s response to your scathing comment to him. Should be a doozy!
Yidvocate Said:
I merely reflect your hate. I am a mirror. The hate stemming from intolerant fundamentalist religion is yours and you need it shown back to you.
@ Max:
Ouch! Such hateful words. Max you really belong on a Jerry Spring blog. This one is way out of your league.
Atheists like you do have a G-d but the G-d is a mere mortal and therefore must be excused for their abysmal ignorance.
Yidvocate Said:
Oh really? Do tell.
Isn’t it interesting how uptight persons without a sense of humour can lose all intelligence and not recognize a paraphrasing of a common saying and thus their brains turn to mush and they become simpletons?
This is what fundamentalist religion does to human beings.
@ yamit82:
I am here discussing politics related to Israel. You are here as a long time neo-fascist with a hatred of democracy and another equal hatred of all humanity except “jews” and promoting elite rule over the masses and now apparently religious fascism as well.
Max Said:
The correction question should be, what are you doing here?
@ Max:
With comments like yours, it certainly is starting to sound like a Jerry Springer Forum.
“Science” is not a thing that “wants” and it is not a “they” something even a simpleton should know.
So what is this article doing on Israpundit? Is this the Jerry Springer Forum?
Humankind has survived for several million years now without a G-D. – so what’s the big deal now?
..
If science had wanted us to have a G-D , they would have invented one long ago.
Excerpt from a 40 years writing by me.
“With all its beauty, our planet is just a small molecule
of dust in the immensity of the universe. A speck of dust
gyrating through space in our galaxy.”
Even then in spite of what the entire world did proclaim I never lost faith. Perhaps for a couple of months during the mid-life crisis.
Have always made G-d an intrinsic part of my life.
Thank you yamit82 for the wonderful links. It is a treat to see
the links you so appropriately offer.
Back in the 70’s I listened to an MD’s lecture about statistics and evolution. I’ve forgotten the number about the chance of life evolving, but it was less than 1 in the number of atoms in the Universe. Statistics has been proving evolution wrong for decades.
Scientific Proof of God
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzetqYev_AI
Proving Darwin’s Theory Wrong
Foundations and Pillars of Earth
“…Where you when I laid the foundations of the earth?…”
Iyov (Job)
When I behold Your Heavens your very handiwork,
the moon, stars that you ordained, What is man That YOU are mindful of him!!.
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjR6on46u3w
When things that exist are impossible, you’ve got to be wrong.
Call me thick but I just don’t get what these genius scientists are so wowed by. Say Sagan was right and that life on other planets was common. So what? How would that have explained away G-d or “intelligent design”? How would that have explained origin of the universe or the miracle of our existence and the order and intricacy of the universe?