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The Fine Tuning Argument

2/27/2020

17 Comments

 
 The argument from the fine-tuning of the universe asserts that the universe, and in particular, the earth, has just the right conditions for human life. The universe is fine-tuned for the existence of human life with such delicacy that it defies comprehension. This points to an intelligent designer.

The earth’s atmosphere is just right to support life. For example, the distance from the sun. We are just the right distance from the sun for us to live. If the earth were much closer to the sun, most water on the earth would boil. If the earth were much farther away, the water would mostly freeze, and we couldn’t survive in the earth’s environment.

Let’s talk a little more about water. Almost all molecules are heaviest in their solid form. But unlike most molecules, water is lighter in its solid form. That is why ice floats. If water got heavier in its solid form, ice would sink to the bottom of its container. This would cause a problem for lakes in the winter. If water in lakes froze from the bottom up, many lakes would freeze solid and kill most of their life. It seems like water itself was designed to make this world a better place to live.

Another example is the “weak force” of an atom. If this “weak force” was altered in its value by 1 in 10100 that would prevent a life-permitting universe. One more example: If the gravitational constant differed by 1 in 1060 life could not exist. William Lane Craig points out in his book On Guard that to have an accuracy of one part in 1060 is like firing a bullet to the other side of the observable universe (20 billion light-years away) and hitting a one-inch target. So the chances that there is no intelligence involved to design it the way it is are very remote. Dr. Craig uses the following lottery illustration to explain the odds:  Let’s say that there are billions of billions of white ping-pong balls mixed together with one black ping-pong ball, and there’s a chute that will allow one ping-pong ball out of the mix. If the one that comes down the chute is black, you are allowed to live (in a life-permitting universe); if white, you die. Sure, some ball will be picked, but what are the odds of the black one being picked? And if the black one is picked five times in a row, everyone would recognize it didn’t happen by chance.

I’ll put this another way with a reference to the state lottery. Even though the odds of being picked for a mega million jackpot is extremely low (like about 1 in 300,000,000), it is true that someone will be picked. But if the same person was picked five times in a row, you would know that it was rigged—that there is no way that it happened by chance. Theoretically, there’s a chance that the same person could be picked 5 times in a row, but there is so little chance for that to occur, that if it happened you would be foolish to think that the selection process was fair. That’s how it is with the universe.

The universe is so fine-tuned, with so many factors at once needing to be in place for the universe to be life-permitting, we know that it could not be by chance. In that sense, the universe is “rigged” for human life—intelligence is certainly involved to account for a life-permitting universe.  
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An atheist might object that there could be an infinite number of universes and therefore you would expect our universe to be among the universes. But these other universes have never been observed. There is no evidence or proof of a multiverse. This proposal is only speculated to try to get around the force of the fine-tuning argument. 

17 Comments
Mark Stieby link
4/24/2020 07:02:00 pm

I think the fine tuning example cannot be disputed. I still hear athiests trying to explain it has pure luck. As mentioned in the blog, the odds are just too high. Also I had one athiest come to me stating if the Earth is 6000 years old, that couldnt be because we see some star light that took millions of years to get to us, at the speed of light. At first I was stkumped, but as I thought about it an idea came to me. ?Say the universe was like a rolled up carpet, and God pulled out that carpet, the light we see was before he rolled out the universe. Thats why the stars were closer and got to where they are at creation. Its just a theory and im not sure im explaining myself well, but I am going to purt more thought and energy refining it.

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Daniel Becerra
12/11/2020 01:24:34 pm

God created things with the appearance of age like trees and animals and man. They were a day old but looked older, He easily could have done the same with the stars placing them where He did and having their light already reach us instantaneously. Once you believe Genesis 1:1 is possible, it is easy to see how God is able to do anything else.

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Dominic
4/28/2020 06:55:35 am

I have heard of the multi-verse theory, but I'm not really sure exactly what it means, or what the implications of the theory would be. If I understand correctly, it essentially seems to teach that there are an infinite number of universes, and hence and infinite number of possibilities, and so there must exist somewhere a universe as fine-tuned as ours (and we happen to live in it). This seems like pure speculation. How could such a thing be proven?

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Donovan C
5/2/2020 07:38:49 am

Not only is the earth at the right distance from the Sun, our entire Solar System is in the right place within the Milky Way Galaxy. Our Solar System would not exist if it were closer to the Galaxy's center. Mathematical probabilities have convinced many scientists that our planet is very special— there is nothing like it. Isaiah 45:18 says, "For thus says the LORD, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: 'I am the LORD, and there is no other'" (NKJV).

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Lane Williams
12/13/2020 07:35:21 pm

Hi! I appreciated this article a lot. It is amazing to look at all the factors that had to align for life to exist. One comment: the argument that water's weight is different is misleading. It is more scientifically correct to say that the density is different. Water is least dense when it is frozen due to the crystalline structure that forms.
I felt the lottery analogy was especially effective! It helps bring the argument into perspective with a common everyday situation.

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Abigail Montero
12/15/2020 01:16:25 am

I loved this argument. Probably one of the easiest ways to explain the lower chances of the Big Bang. Perhaps the creation of the universe by a random explosion could be a possibility, it is safer to choose the option that best explains the creation of this. I will definitely use this argument in the future to explain the possibilities that the universe has a Creator. Everything agrees and is perfect to indicate that someone created everything that exists for the benefit of humanity.

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Gregory Hinton
12/15/2020 08:13:53 am

This was great! I like how you pit the idea of atheism up against simple reason, describing how the odds of the universe are in full contradiction to common sense. It is interesting how so many atheists would say that Christians are silly to believe in something they have never seen before. But they turn around and propagate odds of nonsense regarding the origin of the universe, saying that perfect order came about from nothing. All the while, we see the existence of God being screamed from the existence of the universe and everything in it.

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Joshua Stamper
12/15/2020 02:57:07 pm

The lottery example really puts evolution and the Big Bang into perspective, because if the Big Bang would have occurred, the chances of every single molecule and atom lining up and being designed to fit so perfectly is absurd and impossible. This would also be a good example for teaching creationism to younger students who have been exposed to nothing but evolution all their life, because it's very easy to follow.

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Nicholas Long
12/22/2020 09:15:39 pm

I find this article useful, and I agree with what You're saying! It's amazing how intricately designed our universe is. God Is an amazingly powerful God that cares deeply for His creation. its amazing to think that if we were just a little too close to the sun, we wouldn't have an environment capable of living in. God truly knows what He's doing!

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Jacob Williams
5/7/2021 07:26:58 pm

I've always liked the fine tuning argument. It always gets people thinking.

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Gregory Hinton
5/10/2021 05:27:53 am

I was once talking about irreducible complexity/fine fine tuning argument with some high school students. It was really cool, as I played a video for them which had a lot of big facts, to watch one of the students' face light up in amazement. A random universe could never create the awe inspiring world we see around us.

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Meredith Neal
8/19/2021 06:30:54 pm

I think that the fine tuning argument has a lot to do with general revelation. The intentional details about how perfect the world was made for our existence is showing all humans something about God. Through the intricate design of the world and everything within it, God is revealing to humans that He cares for us and that He is in control. I think it also goes to show just how much He loves us, that he would set up the conditions of the world perfectly for us. He had us in mind even in creation. Therefore, because of the fine tuning of the world, God is revealing to us that He is good and that He is bigger than us in that He would intentionally create a world where we can exist.

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Karissa Bird
12/4/2021 12:53:58 pm

This is a. great example of how common sense and science align with the Bible not atheism. It shows that there had to be a Creator and designer because of the intricate design that could not happen by chance. Just one example of how even water shows that perfect design, can show that God is real. This article is useful to point out amazing facts about the universe and show God created it .

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Joshua Lake
12/11/2021 01:04:35 pm

The argument for design is so clear to me in showing the favor for the existence of God. When I look at His creation I see the work of His hands all throughout. I loved this reading!

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Cameron Going
12/14/2021 11:25:21 am

This is one of the most compelling arguments for the creative design of the universe. The fine tuning of this world is so incredibly complex that there is no way that all this came about by chance. I liked the comment that William Lane Craig wrote that the universe coming about by chance is like hitting a one inch target from the opposite end of the universe.

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Ryan Wilson
1/23/2022 12:13:19 pm

I believe that this is a good argument for the existence of God. It's very similar to the teleological argument (my personal favorite) but more specific. An argument that I once learned would be considered part of this argument. If the moon was a fraction closer and/or farther away to the Earth, it would produce tidal waves in the water that would decimate our planet, making it inhabitable. I believe this is a compelling argument and would be useful in conversations with sceptics.

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Frank Frausto
5/6/2022 06:01:59 pm

The fine tuning argument shows that there are just too many things that exist that aren’t probable to happen on their own. All of these things occurring in the same place, in the same atmosphere of earth is screaming that an intelligent mind is at work; a very powerful intelligent Mind. Water’s molecules doing what isn’t typical when they become a solid (get lighter instead of heavier) is a great example of how the elements on God’s earth evidence a Designer who must have engineered them to sustain life.

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    Mark Bird teaches Systematic Theology and Apologetics, among other subjects, at God's Bible School and College, a regionally accredited Bible College in Cincinnati, OH.

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