It Takes MORE Faith NOT to Believe!

The Intricate Design of Nature: A Case for a Designer

Many demand “proof” of God and rightly claim “there is no empirical evidence” on the existence of God. And with this, I actually agree! And yet the concept of God transcends what can be empirically “proven” in scientific terms. But don’t be too quick to claim victory in the debate over God’s existence simply because He can’t be proven. I’ve often asked someone to prove to me they have a brain, and they have struggled. I can not see their brain, they can not show it to me, and all the reasons they give me to prove they do, indeed, have a brain, work quite well to prove there is a God. (I can think, I can create, I can invent, I can communicate… hmmm, so can God.)

But let’s leave your brain aside, and get back to God. When we look at the intricate design found in nature, I would argue that it requires less faith to believe in a Designer than to assert that such complexity arose by mere chance. To look at our amazing world and hold that it somehow appeared out of “nowhere,” I suggest requires far more faith, than to hold that it was created by God, or some divine intelligent Being.

Examples of Design in Nature:

The Human Eye: Often cited in discussions about design, the human eye is an incredibly complex organ. Its ability to adjust focus, handle different light conditions, and process visual information with the brain suggests a level of engineering that, to many, points towards intelligent design rather than random mutations.

The DNA Molecule: DNA’s structure and function are nothing short of miraculous. Containing the blueprint for life, its double helix structure, and the precise sequencing of nucleotides that code for proteins, all work with such precision that it’s likened to a language or code, which naturally leads one to ponder the coder.

The Fine-Tuning of the Universe: The physical constants of the universe, such as the gravitational constant or the charge of an electron, are finely tuned to allow for life. A slight alteration in these constants would make life as we know it impossible. This fine-tuning argument suggests that the universe was set up intentionally for life.

Symbiotic Relationships: Nature is replete with examples where different species depend on each other for survival in ways that seem too coordinated to be accidental. For instance, the relationship between flowering plants and their pollinators, where both benefit in a cycle of mutual survival.

A Design Requires a DESIGNER:

The argument from design, or the teleological argument, as it is called, posits that the order and complexity of the universe, particularly life, suggest a purposeful intelligent design. Here’s why this perspective requires less faith than its atheistic counterpart. Whether it is a Lego Set or a Planet, anything with designer, had a designer. To believe otherwise, is pure folly.

A few reasons to consider:

Complexity vs. Chance: The probability of life, with its intricate systems, arising from purely random processes is often argued to be astronomically low. While evolution explains how species change over time, it does not address the origin of life itself or the initial conditions that made life possible.

Historical Perspective: Throughout history, from ancient philosophers like Aristotle to modern thinkers, the idea of a divine creator has been a common thread. This isn’t to argue from popularity but to highlight that intelligent people across cultures and epochs have found the design argument compelling.

Philosophical Implications: If one accepts that complex design implies a designer, this designer would need attributes traditionally ascribed to God: omnipotence (to create the universe), omniscience (to design life’s complexities), and benevolence (if life’s flourishing is considered).

In Conclusion:

Some don’t like accepting things on faith. They accuse Christians of believing in God on “blind faith.” My answer, is it is FAR from blind faith, it is eye-wide-open faith!

In Romans 1:20 (NIV), the Apostle Paul writes, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” That is hardly, “blind faith.” That is faith after considering the Design on the world!

While empirical proof of God’s existence might elude us, the evidence of design in nature suggests a designer. This perspective doesn’t require a leap of faith as significant as believing that the universe’s complexity, fine-tuning, and life’s emergence are purely the result of chance. For centuries, many have found in this design a compelling reason to believe in a higher power, often referred to as God. This isn’t just a matter of faith but also of reasoning from the observable to the plausible, from the effect to the cause. Thus, for many, it’s not about proving God but recognizing design where design is most evident.

This is probably why the Psalmist concluded, “The fool says in his heart, there is no God.” Psalm 14:1 (and repeated again in Psalm 53:1)

Once you have accepted there is a God, the next step in the journey, is seeking how to know Him. Consider taking the GOD CHALLENGE.