We've all asked the question from the
age of two. Why did the universe have a beginning but not God? If God
didn't have a beginning why should the universe have a beginning.
Couldn't the universe just have always existed? Why a need for God?
The
answer is found in understanding why the universe requires a beginning.
Even though energy cannot be created or destroyed (by any natural
processes), in every energy transfer that occurs in the universe some of
the useful energy becomes irreversibly useless. This is known in
science as the Second Law of Thermodynamics or the Law of Entropy. If
the universe were eternal then all of the energy would have become
totally useless by now and I wouldn't be writing this article and you
wouldn't be reading it either!
The
law of entropy (continual net energy decay) occurs in open systems as
well as closed systems. We discovered the law of entropy here on Earth
which is an open system in relation to the Sun. Regardless of whether the universe is a closed system or an open system,
the law of entropy will have reduced the universe into totally useless
energy. This is true even if the universe were expanding and contracting
as some scientists believe.
But,
isn't the law of entropy merely an expression of probability? Yes, but
the probability is so high and certain that the odds of just one calorie
of energy spontaneously defying the law of entropy would be trillions
times trillions to one, and the universe is made up of far more than
just one calorie of energy!
Since
we know from the First Law of Thermodynamics in science that
matter/energy cannot be created from nothing by any natural process, and
since we know from the Second Law of Thermodynamics, or the law of
entropy, that the universe does not have the ability to have sustained
itself from eternity, the only logical and rational conclusion is that a
supernatural power (God) brought the universe into existence.
Furthermore, the complexity and order in the universe logically points
to a supreme mind. Disorder in the universe is because of chance but the
high degree of order can only be rationally explained due to a supreme
mind or intelligence.
Einstein
showed mathematically that space, time and matter came into existence
simultaneously. Space and time are as physical as matter. That's why
Einstein's equations show that space and time can be altered by gravity.
Space is something, not nothing. That's why space has been known to produce particles.
The
universe is not eternal. It had a beginning. Time had a beginning. Time
didn’t exist before there was space and matter (i.e. energy). Einstein
showed that all matter is some form of energy.
What about the Higgs boson, the so-called 'God Particle'? The Higgs boson does not create mass from nothing. What it does is convert energy into mass. Again, the universe had a beginning. It is not eternal because it does not have the ability to have sustained itself eternally. All scientists believe that the universe (time, mass, and space had a beginning from nothing).
Atheistic scientists believe that the beginning of the universe came from nothing by natural processes yet to be discovered. This contradicts fundamental laws of science.
What about the Higgs boson, the so-called 'God Particle'? The Higgs boson does not create mass from nothing. What it does is convert energy into mass. Again, the universe had a beginning. It is not eternal because it does not have the ability to have sustained itself eternally. All scientists believe that the universe (time, mass, and space had a beginning from nothing).
Atheistic scientists believe that the beginning of the universe came from nothing by natural processes yet to be discovered. This contradicts fundamental laws of science.
The natural (or spontaneous) tendency of matter is towards
greater disorder -- not towards greater order or complexity as evolution would
teach. Even the scientific followers of Prigogine, the father of Chaos theory, have
acknowledged that only a very minimal level of order will ever be possible
as a result of spontaneous or chance processes.
Yes, a few amino acids have been produced spontaneously, but there is already
a natural tendency for molecules to form into amino acids if given the right
conditions. There is, however, no natural tendency for amino acids to come
together spontaneously into a sequence to form proteins. They have to be
directed to do so by the genetic code in the cells of our bodies. Even the
simplest cell is made up of billions of protein molecules. An average protein
molecule may comprise of several hundred sequentially arranged amino acids.
Many are comprised of thousands of sequential units. If they are not in the
precise sequence the protein will not function!
The tendency towards disorder that exists in all matter can only
be temporarily overcome if there first exists an energy converting and directing
mechanism to develop and maintain order.
When a seed becomes a tree, for example, it does not violate entropy because
there is already a per-existing biological energy converting mechanism and
code in the seed which directs the order, growth and development of the tree.
In other words, the development of greater order from seed to tree is not
chemically a spontaneous event. It is not something that is happening by
chance. The problem for atheists is how did biological order develop in the first place
when there was no already existing energy-converting/ directing mechanisms in nature.
What about natural selection? Natural selection is a passive process in
nature making sure that only the fit survive. Natural selection doesn't
produce anything. It can only "select" from what is produced. Natural
selection is not an energy converting and directing mechanism, and
natural selection only operates once there is life and reproduction and
not before, so it couldn't have
been involved in life's origins. A partially-evolved cell (an oxymoron)
would quickly disintegrate. It couldn't wait ("survive") millions of
years for chance to complete it and then make it alive! A partially-evolved cell (an oxymoron)
would quickly disintegrate. It couldn't wait ("survive") millions of
years for chance to complete it and then make it alive! Read my Internet article: HOW
FORENSIC SCIENCE REFUTES ATHEISM
Natural
laws may explain how the order in the universe operates, but mere
undirected natural laws are insufficient to explain the origin of that
order. Once there is a complete and living cell then the code and
mechanisms exist to direct the formation of more cells. The problem is
how did life come about when there was no already existing directing
code and mechanism in nature.
Laws
of physics may explain how a television works but mere undirected laws
of physics cannot explain the origin of the television. Similarly, laws
of physics may explain how the universe works but mere undirected laws
of physics cannot explain the origin of the universe and its order. The
disorder in the universe is because of chance (i.e. entropy) but the
high degree of order can only be rationally explained due to a Supreme
mind or intelligence.
And
what about the stars? Oh, yes, gravity may explain how the order found
in the precise courses of trillions of stars is maintained, but mere
undirected gravity cannot explain the origin of that order!
God's
nature doesn't require that He have a beginning. God is
self-sustaining. The universe is not. And because the universe is not
ultimately self-sustaining, the universe requires creation (a beginning)
as well as a Supreme Designer and a Supreme Sustainer. In other words,
the universe requires God.
Ultimately,
however, scientists concede that the Second Law of Thermodynamics will
conquer the entire universe and the universe, if left to itself, will
end in what scientists predict will be a heat death because all of the
energy in the universe will reach a uniform state where no more work of
any kind will be possible. Even a contracting and expanding universe
would no longer be possible in such a state. This proves, as mentioned
earlier, that the universe could not be eternal or otherwise it would
have long ago reached this point of uniform energy decay or level.
All
of this simply supports the belief that an intelligent power outside of
nature and the universe was responsible for its origin and order.
Science
cannot prove that we came about by creation or by chance processes, but
educators and students should be free to investigate and make up their
own minds as to which position the scientific evidence best supports.
Belief
in neither chance origins nor creation is necessary to the actual study
of science itself. One can understand the human body and become a first
class surgeon regardless of whether he or she believes the human body
is the result of the chance forces of Nature or of a Supreme Designer.
