Science Increasingly Makes the Case for God

[RandomGuyOnCouch]

http://www.wsj.com/articles/eric-metaxa ... 1419544568

Highlights include:
"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?"

"It would be like tossing a coin and having it come up heads 10 quintillion times in a row."

And the other greatest appeals you've come to know and love.

Posted here because science is in the title. Feel free to move elsewhere if appropriate.

[tattuchu]

I don't know whether to laugh or to cry. I suppose I'll do one of those choking sobby laughs. Like I usually do

[Animavore]

Need to subscribe to read the full article. The subtitle is a complete non-sequitur. I don't expect the article to get any better.

[Tero]

Fine tuned universe?
God of the gaps?

[Blind groper]

This is another example of the "improbability" argument for God. Basically, what it says in any of a million variations is that things are too complex to have happened at random, therefore God.

There are two major flaws in those arguments.
1. Things are not exactly random. Evolution, for example, involves selection.
2. Even the most improbable events become statistical certainties when there are enough trials. Since the universe is 12.8 billion years old and contains 40,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 star systems, even the most unlikely events are going to happen somewhere, and probably many, many times.

It may not even be the only universe. String theory suggests that E500 universes exist, and each has different physical constants. With a number that large (indistinguishable from infinity), everything must happen somewhere.

[pErvinalia]

http://www.wsj.com/articles/eric-metaxa ... 1419544568

Highlights include:
"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?"

"It would be like tossing a coin and having it come up heads 10 quintillion times in a row."

And the other greatest appeals you've come to know and love.

Posted here because science is in the title. Feel free to move elsewhere if appropriate.

Yeah, this came across my facebook feed yesterday. I facepalmed my keyboard.

[pErvinalia]

This is another example of the "improbability" argument for God. Basically, what it says in any of a million variations is that things are too complex to have happened at random, therefore God.

There are two major flaws in those arguments.
1. Things are not exactly random. Evolution, for example, involves selection.
2. Even the most improbable events become statistical certainties when there are enough trials. Since the universe is 12.8 billion years old and contains 40,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 star systems, even the most unlikely events are going to happen somewhere, and probably many, many times.

It may not even be the only universe. String theory suggests that E500 universes exist, and each has different physical constants. With a number that large (indistinguishable from infinity), everything must happen somewhere.

Another tool to counter it is to imagine a situation where one flipped a coin 500 billion times. The odds of getting the resultant sequence of tosses are spectacularly minute. Does that mean Goddidit? Of course not, you just physically did it.

[Hermit]

Another tool to counter it is to imagine a situation where one flipped a coin 500 billion times. The odds of getting the resultant sequence of tosses are spectacularly minute. Does that mean Goddidit? Of course not, you just physically did it.

Ayup. That's my main objection to the fine tuning argument, though I prefer to express it a bit differently: By what metric can one determine the point at which an unlikelihood becomes an impossibility unless said unlikely matter of fact is caused by divine creation?

[pErvinalia]

Yeah, that's a good point.

[laklak]

By the only metric that counts, the Word of The Lord God Almighty as revealed to us through His Holy Bible.

See how much easier it is now? It's like No More Tears shampoo for the mind.

[Seth]

This is another example of the "improbability" argument for God. Basically, what it says in any of a million variations is that things are too complex to have happened at random, therefore God.

There are two major flaws in those arguments.
1. Things are not exactly random. Evolution, for example, involves selection.
2. Even the most improbable events become statistical certainties when there are enough trials. Since the universe is 12.8 billion years old and contains 40,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 star systems, even the most unlikely events are going to happen somewhere, and probably many, many times.

It may not even be the only universe. String theory suggests that E500 universes exist, and each has different physical constants. With a number that large (indistinguishable from infinity), everything must happen somewhere.

So you're saying that somewhere out there there's a library full of books identical to the works of Shakespeare and every other great writer that was written by monkeys at typewriters?

Interesting hypothesis. You do realize of course that you have just argued for the existence of God, many of them in fact.

[Seth]

This is another example of the "improbability" argument for God. Basically, what it says in any of a million variations is that things are too complex to have happened at random, therefore God.

There are two major flaws in those arguments.
1. Things are not exactly random. Evolution, for example, involves selection.
2. Even the most improbable events become statistical certainties when there are enough trials. Since the universe is 12.8 billion years old and contains 40,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 star systems, even the most unlikely events are going to happen somewhere, and probably many, many times.

It may not even be the only universe. String theory suggests that E500 universes exist, and each has different physical constants. With a number that large (indistinguishable from infinity), everything must happen somewhere.

Another tool to counter it is to imagine a situation where one flipped a coin 500 billion times. The odds of getting the resultant sequence of tosses are spectacularly minute. Does that mean Goddidit? Of course not, you just physically did it.

This falsely assumes that your flips were not influenced or directed by some other entity that you cannot perceive.

[MiM]

Another tool to counter it is to imagine a situation where one flipped a coin 500 billion times. The odds of getting the resultant sequence of tosses are spectacularly minute. Does that mean Goddidit? Of course not, you just physically did it.

.
And then of course: If the universe is so improbable, how improbable is a being with the abilities to design and create it all

[rainbow]

It may not even be the only universe. String theory suggests that E500 universes exist, and each has different physical constants. With a number that large (indistinguishable from infinity), everything must happen somewhere.

...including God.

[piscator]

This is another example of the "improbability" argument for God. Basically, what it says in any of a million variations is that things are too complex to have happened at random, therefore God.

There are two major flaws in those arguments.
1. Things are not exactly random. Evolution, for example, involves selection.
2. Even the most improbable events become statistical certainties when there are enough trials. Since the universe is 12.8 billion years old and contains 40,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 star systems, even the most unlikely events are going to happen somewhere, and probably many, many times.

It may not even be the only universe. String theory suggests that E500 universes exist, and each has different physical constants. With a number that large (indistinguishable from infinity), everything must happen somewhere.

Another tool to counter it is to imagine a situation where one flipped a coin 500 billion times. The odds of getting the resultant sequence of tosses are spectacularly minute. Does that mean Goddidit? Of course not, you just physically did it.

This falsely assumes that your flips were not influenced or directed by some other entity that you cannot perceive.

To assume an extra unperceivable entity is unnecessary. If I shoot at you 500billion times, are you going to shoot back at me, or some entity you can't even falsify, much less perceive?