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A “Fine-Tuned” Universe as Proof of a God?
A “Fine-Tuned” Universe as Proof of a God?
By August Berkshire [PDF Download]
This essay is available as a bi-fold pamphlet for easy printing.
There are many scientists who believe that, if one or more physics constants of the universe had varied only slightly, they would have produced a universe incapable of supporting life. For example, if one constant had been slightly different, the universe would have collapsed back in upon itself before life had a chance to form.
Some religious people look at this supposedly “fine-tuned” universe and claim it is proof that a god exists who did the fine-tuning. Let us examine this claim.
God-of-the-Gaps
At heart, this is a god-of-the-gaps argument. It says that since we can’t think of a natural way that the odds would have resulted in life in the universe, that “god did it.” However, we have no knowledge of what this god is, nor what mechanism it uses to accomplish anything. Therefore, “god” is not an answer to anything.
Religious people claim that we aren’t entitled to a “free lunch” when it comes to assuming a natural explanation for life in the universe, but “god” is the ultimate free lunch – no explanations are ever provided.
The Universe
The vast, vast majority of the universe is decidedly inhospitable to life. Outer space is deadly to anything other than, perhaps, microbes – and the majority of planets, moons, and asteroids aren’t much better.
Judging by what we observe now, the universe will continue expanding forever, creating a “big chill” effect. Heat energy will be so dissipated that no life will be possible. A person alive just before this happens won’t view things as so “miraculously fine-tuned” as some religious people do today.
Our Sun
While natural conditions are favorable for life on Earth now, this won’t be true in about five billion years. At that point the Sun’s supply of hydrogen will run out and it will begin to fuse helium into heavier elements. The Sun will expand and engulf the Earth, wiping out all life. Even a billion years from now, all water will have boiled off the Earth, making life improbable, if not impossible. Again, a person alive just before either of these events occurs won’t view things as so “miraculously fine-tuned” as some religious people do today.
The Earth
Apart from the physics constants of the universe, some religious people claim that the Earth itself is so fine-tuned for life (proper distance from the Sun, the right kind of elements, etc.) that only a god could have established it. This, of course, is the same god-of-the-gaps type argument we encountered with the “fine-tuned” universe.
An obvious natural explanation is that, given the likelihood of trillions of planets existing in the universe, it would only take a tiny fraction of them to have the right kind of conditions to produce some type of life. If only one planet per galaxy had life on it, that would still amount to 100 billion planets and at least 100 billion different species.
Limited Knowledge
The fined-tuned universe argument for a god assumes that what we think we know about the universe today is accurate. But this is cutting edge physics and what we believe to be true today is far from certain. Even now there is much dispute among physicists as to how much these constants of the universe can vary and still produce a universe capable of leading to life.
Multiple Universes
Extraordinary odds against life in one universe become a near certainty if there are many universes. If many universes exist (sometimes called a “multiverse”), or many “bubble universes” exist within a single universe, and each universe or bubble universe has its own set of random constants, then life will almost certainly arise in at least one of these universes or bubble universes. (For example, roll a set of dice long enough and you will eventually get two sixes.)
While there is, as yet, no evidence for other universes, their existence is more plausible than the existence of a god. After all, we know it’s possible for universes to exist – we live in one. We have no evidence that it is possible for gods to exist.
A Fine-Tuned God?
Those who believe a “fine-tuned” universe proves the existence of a god admit there is some slight margin for variance in these physics constants of the universe. But what about the god they believe exists? Could that god be anything other than exactly what it is? If not, then there is zero margin for variance for that god. So, as improbable as the existence of life in the universe may seem, the existence of a god would be even more improbable.
Conclusion
The track record of naturalistic science for answering questions about the natural world far exceeds the track record of supernatural “revelation.” The existence of a god seems more improbable than life arising in the universe. “God” has not provided us with any answers and has instead raised more questions.
© 2010 August Berkshire
A moving and poignant portrait of Roger Ebert that everyone should read
Chris Jones has perhaps one of the most poignant articles I’ve read in many years over at Esquire. Roger Ebert: The Essential Man is a portrait of a man who has faced hardships most of us would find intolerable, and he has done it with dignity, humor, grace and without belief in God. A brief taste:
Ebert is dying in increments, and he is aware of it.
I know it is coming, and I do not fear it, because I believe there is nothing on the other side of death to fear, he writes in a journal entry titled “Go Gently into That Good Night.” I hope to be spared as much pain as possible on the approach path. I was perfectly content before I was born, and I think of death as the same state. What I am grateful for is the gift of intelligence, and for life, love, wonder, and laughter. You can’t say it wasn’t interesting. My lifetime’s memories are what I have brought home from the trip. I will require them for eternity no more than that little souvenir of the Eiffel Tower I brought home from Paris.
There has been no death-row conversion. He has not found God. He has been beaten in some ways. But his other senses have picked up since he lost his sense of taste. He has tuned better into life. Some things aren’t as important as they once were; some things are more important than ever. He has built for himself a new kind of universe. Roger Ebert is no mystic, but he knows things we don’t know.
I believe that if, at the end of it all, according to our abilities, we have done something to make others a little happier, and something to make ourselves a little happier, that is about the best we can do. To make others less happy is a crime. To make ourselves unhappy is where all crime starts. We must try to contribute joy to the world. That is true no matter what our problems, our health, our circumstances. We must try. I didn’t always know this, and am happy I lived long enough to find it out.
“KKMS Live with Jeff & Lee” (Jan. 27, 2010)
August with Jeff and Lee from AM 980 KKMS
Last Wednesday, January 27th, I let you know that I was going to be a guest on on “KKMS Live with Jeff & Lee” debating the “God-of-the-Gaps” argument with Gannon Murphy, general editor of American Theological Inquiry.
It went pretty well. They gave me a good chunk of time at the beginning too to get my message across. During the debate however, my opponent and the host took up a lot of time (Christian apologetics tend to be like that) and I was too polite to interrupt much, but I think I got some good points in. In appearances like this, I don’t like to go for the home run slams at my opponents that make atheists cheer. Instead, I try to for gentle, “innocent” inquiry that might make believers actually listen and take us seriously. I think both Jeff and Gannon were a bit shaken after the episode. The good news is that they’re thinking of making this a regular feature.
So here at long last is the audio of the debate so you can hear for yourself. You can download the mp3 or listen online below.
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Participating in “Safeguard Your Religious Freedoms”; Minnetonka, MN
| February 21, 2010 | ||
| 2:00 pm | to | 3:30 pm |
As part of the First Amendment Watchdog Committee, August Berkshire will participate in the workshop presentation “Safeguard Your Religious Freedoms” at the Minnesota Atheists meeting, Ridgedale Public Library, 12601 Ridgedale Dr., Minnetonka, MN 55305. Free and open to the public.
Debate with Joe Boot at St. Cloud State University (SCSU); St. Cloud, MN
| February 24, 2010 | ||
| 8:00 pm | to | 10:00 pm |
Debate: “Does God Exist?”
August Berkshire (Past President of Minnesota Atheists) will debate Joe Boot (Ezra Institute for Contemporary Christianity) on the topic “Does God Exist?” on Wednesday, February 24, 2010, at 8:00 pm at St. Cloud State University (SCSU) in the Atwood Ballroom. The event is co-sponsored by Campus Crusade for Christ and Secular Student Alliance at SCSU and is free and open to the public. You can read more about the Secular Student Alliance at SCSU and the debate here.
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- August Berkshire
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- Joe Boot
