Functioning Complex Specified (FCS) Information

In order to show that the grouping and arrangement of parts (pebbles) probably qualifies as being a likely product of "Intelligent Design," it must be an instance of "functional, complex, specified information" and to show that, the grouping must have three attributes (in required order of importance):

- #1.) It must be functional as information. If the unified arrangement of parts does not function to convey a "message" and accomplish specialized work, then further consideration of Intelligent Design is useless and must be abandoned. However, this arrangement of red pebbles qualifies as being functional, because it works to convey a coherent, specialized message: "Happy Birthday Zoey;" ...and...
- #2.) the group of parts must be complex and extensive (numerous) enough such that the quantity of parts are not such a tiny number, that their arrangement is easily explained by natural forces: in this case, there are more than 300 coral pebbles (not just 3 or 4) which are lined up in these properly specific spots (and missing where they should not be) so as to be functional. If the arranged parts are too small in number, the idea of Intelligent Design must be abandoned; ...and...
- #3.) The parts (pebbles) must be specified as to their sequential order, arrangement and position --and not present where they should not be-- in order to have properly functioning information. But if there were any clearly demonstrable natural (non-intelligent) forces of chemistry and/or physics of the materials to explain this arrangement of parts ---or (in the case of this beach message) if there were demonstrable random ordering forces clearly known (eg. waves, wind, random crabs, etc.) to probably be able to arrange the parts to accomplish the same function--- then we probably may not have a demonstrable instance of Intelligent Design, and the idea must be abandoned in this instance. --However, this beach message also qualifies as being so specified, because the numerous pebbles are lined up in particular required positions (lines and arcs) necessary to convey the specialized information, and the open spaces between the letters also appropriately lack pebbles --and there are no random forces or properties of physics/chemistry which would make the pebbles be so arranged.

Next, with the beach message qualifying as FCS Information, we can crunch the numbers to see whether the grouping of 300+ pebbles has a reasonable chance of being ordered totally by random arrangement, or whether that chance is too slim, and an intelligent designer is more likely.

The Chances

1.) The observer notes that for each letter of the message, the red pebbles are arranged in a little rectangular grid which is basically 7 spots high and 5 spots wide. So for each letter, there are 35 spots, and each spot either has a pebble or it does not.

2.) It is one chance out of 2, whether a spot correctly has a pebble or does not have one.

3.) The chance that a letter would be correct by randomly filling (or leaving blank) all the 35 spots of the rectangle, is one chance out of two ...multiplied 35 times. --That comes to: one chance out of 6.87 X 10¹⁰ ...(1 out of 68 billion)... that an entire letter would be correct by randomly filling (or not filling) in all the 35 spots.

4.) The message: "HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZOEY" is comprised of 17 letters. --So, we multiply the chance in point #3 times itself 17 times. --That comes out to: one chance out of 1.69 X 10¹⁸⁴ ...that all 17 letters (formed by pebbles) could be correctly assembled at random to contain the message (or any coherent message, actually). ---But if the chance is too small (in the extreme), then random assembly is virtually ruled out, and the message being set up by an Intelligent Designer makes more sense.

A Standard for Evaluating The Probabilities

As explained in my article "A Mathematical Proof of Intelligent Design in Nature," if the probability of something happening by random processes is vanishingly small enough, such a random chance explanation for that event's occurrence is virtually ruled out as a reasonable possibility, and is considered to be zero chance. That vanishingly small chance is called the "Universal Probability Boundary" of chance occurrence. Here is how we arrive at that number: There are 10⁸⁴ particles (i.e. neutrons, protons & electrons) in the physical cosmos; and there are a maximum of 10⁴⁵ interactions per second that can occur between any two of those sub-atomic particles; and there are 10²⁰ seconds in the approximate age of the cosmos (about 15 billion yrs); therefore the total number of possible interactions of all the particles in all the age in the universe is: 10¹⁴⁹ interactions. --Therefore, the "Universal Probability Boundary" on chance occurrences means that anything less likely than one chance out of 10¹⁵⁰, must reasonably be statistically considered to be zero chance of happening in the history of the known universe.

Analysis

The chance that the 17-letter message "Happy Birthday Zoey" could have been properly assembled (out of 300 pebbles) by random forces (such as water, etc.), was one chance out of 1.69 X 10¹⁸⁴. This number is 34 orders of magnitude less likely than the "Universal Probability Boundary," and therefore, is it highly more reasonable to figure that the message was not a result of random forces (waves, etc.), but it is most reasonable to conclude --rather-- that a thinking person came along and lined up the pebbles to form the message. This is an instance of I.D. being the best conclusion.

Identity of The Designer

In light of the above considerations, we therefore have a virtual "proof" that the message on the beach was intentionally designed by the purposeful work of a designer --regardless of the message designer's identity being unknown. Random ordering would be expected to virtually always produce a random jumble in every 7 X 5 rectangle, and to extremely rarely produce a coherent, clean letter (from any language in the world) in even one of the rectangles. However, even though the specific identity of the designer may not be known by the analysts, it doesn't matter; the conclusion of intelligent design still seems to be the best and most reasonable conclusion, and random forces seem most reasonably totally incapable of producing anything like this message --even in all the age of the universe.

An Analogy

This story of the message on the beach is obviously applicable as a scenario comparative to something more important:

On this website, you may read about a similar analysis which describes the chances that functional "biological information" in living things (esp. proteins and DNA) could come about by random assembly; see Intelligent Design in Nature. DNA contains many "messages" of information instructions for the construction of specific proteins, which do the work in living cells. A mid to small-sized protein (which functions as such) is much less likely than the above message on the beach to have assembled by random arrangement of parts (because it is more complex), so we can very conservatively conclude that the initial appearance and existence of even one functional protein (let alone the tens of thousands of proteins in living things) could not reasonably be due to random assembly, but every single protein must (most reasonably) be due to Intelligent Design. --And there are also no properties of the chemistry/physics of the arrangement of DNA parts which can explain the specified order of the DNA instructions for the building of functional proteins. Such rigorous probability analysis shows these complex instructions to be far beyond the reach of any random ordering of the parts. This should be easily obvious to the unbiased observer.

You may also read about a similar sort of study, in which Hugh Ross has put together a list of factors to give an estimate of the Probability for a Life Support Body arising in the universe without the purposeful work of an intelligent designer.

Identity of Nature's Designer

--If you will read further in this website, you may agree that there is an excellent body of evidence (eg. from predictions) which indicates that the Bible is a supernaturally produced piece of literature, the true Word of God. ...and the Bible claims to identify the living God (and Jesus Christ) who did the intelligent designing of all things. If you want to read about such evidence concerning the Bible, click on this link: "Prophecy Proves the Bible's Authority."

---Concerning Jesus Christ, the Bible says: "Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made" (John 1:3). Similarly, it says: "by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible" (Colossians 1:16).

YOU, dear reader are loved by God, and that's why Jesus Christ came!