1. The "Big Bang"

It has been known for about 70 years, that the galaxies of the universe are moving apart and away from each other, in a similar fashion to raisins moving apart and away from each other in an expanding lump of dough. In 1929, astronomer Edwin Hubble's measurements of more than 40 galaxies established that the galaxies of the universe are indeed receding away from each other at several hundred miles per second, as an explosion would propel exploded pieces from each other. That "explosion"-event is now popularly called the "Big Bang" --- and this event is evidenced by left-over heat (or "background radiation") throughout the universe which (along with much other evidence) leaves little doubt that this hot explosive event occurred.

In addition, recent research, such as data from the "BOOMERANG experiment" (short for "Balloon Observations of Millimetric Extragalactic Radiation and Geophysics") have determined that the geometry and ""shape" of the universe," is "flat" (as opposed to having "curved" space). A "flat" universe means that Euclidian geometry applies throughout space, and every "straight" line (as people normally think of straightness) in the universe does not curve with the fabric of space --even over a very long distance. It doesn't matter that gravity causes light to curve --the geometry of space is still flat. This means that there is an approximate "center" to the material universe (since there is a finite number of galaxies).

One of the implications of the universe being "flat" is that it will expand forever --and in fact, there is experimental confirmation that the universe is actually accelerating in its expansion rate. All of this means that the expansion will never reverse and bring the universe back together into a "Big Crunch," because there's not enough gravity in the mass of the universe to stop the expansion. -- Therefore, we know that the universe has not been on an endless cycle of bang, crunch, bang, crunch, etc. And because of this, we know that the universe is not an eternal entity.

In the following video, Dr. William Lane Craig discusses this current cosmological evidence:

Astrophysicists (such as Stephen Hawking) determined that the evident starting point just before the Big Bang involved something called a "singularity," which is: all the cosmos's potential mass (matter), energy, and dimensions --and time-- reduced down to an infinitely small point of zero volume. ---Thus, matter, 3-dimensional space, and time virtually did not exist before the Big Bang.

The expanding universe is an important discovery, because if we "reverse the film" of that expansion, then we arrive back at a starting-point for its beginning ...and if there is a beginning, there must logically be a "beginner" to initiate the Big Bang. The beginner of the Bang precedes and is outside of (transcends) all matter, dimensions and time. In light of this, the thoughts of many people go to the first verse of the Bible, which states, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Gen. 1:1).

The Balance of the Bang: In order for life to be possible in the universe, the explosive power of the Big Bang needed to be extremely closely matched to the amount of mass and balanced with the force of gravity, so that the expansion speed is very precise. This very exact expansion speed of the universe is called the "Cosmological Constant." If the force of the bang was slightly too weak, the expanding matter would have collapsed back in on itself before any planets suitable for life (or stars) had a chance to form, ---but if the bang was slightly too strong, the resultant matter would have been only hydrogen gas that was so diffuse and expanding so fast, that no stars or planets could have formed at all.

In terms of the expansion rate of the universe as a result of the Big Bang: "What's even more amazing is how delicately balanced that expansion rate must be for life to exist. It cannot differ by more than one part in 10⁵⁵ from the actual rate." (My emphasis.) (Ref: H.Ross, 1995, as cited above, p.116). (Note: 10⁵⁵ is the number 1 with 55 zeros after it ---and 10⁵⁵ is about the number of atoms that make up planet earth). -- It should be noted, that there is no physical necessity for the strength of the Big Bang's force to have located at the right point for a sustained universe; it could have been at any point along this scale of 10⁵⁵ possibilities.

THE PROBABILITY: The chances we can conservatively assign to this: It was about one chance out of 10⁴⁰ that the force of the Big Bang could have randomly been properly balanced with the mass & gravity of the universe, in order for stars and planets to form, so that life could exist here in our cosmos (if one imagines that it might have happened by chance).

Design and Cosmology

In the following video, Dr. William Lane Craig discusses this current cosmological evidence that the universe had a beginning:

This powerful evidence contradicts worldviews and religions that posit an eternally existing universe (such as older materialism), ... or views which posit the idea of cosmic "reincarnation" with an oscillating universe that eternally expands and contracts (such as Hinduism, Buddhism, & New Age philosophies); ---but instead, --the Big Bang would support the biblical view of a transcendent God; that "the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible" - Hebrews 11:3. In addition, ---unlike any other supposedly "holy writings"--- the Bible alone says that there was a "beginning of time" (2Tim. 1:9 & Titus 1:2), ---and God was causing effects before that beginning (John 17:5 & Col. 1:16-17).

Next --- Several of the following items deal with strengths of the four (known) basic forces of physics in the material universe, which hold everything together. Those four basic forces are: the force of gravity, the strong nuclear force, the weak nuclear force, and the electromagnetic force. The strengths of these four forces are extremely finely tuned and balanced with each other and with the amount of matter in the universe, which makes life possible in the present cosmos. ---What is the chance that such fine-tuning happened by chance? --- (Note: If a scientist can improve the accuracy in the numbers used for probabilities here, such information would be appreciated.)

2. The Force of Gravity

It is now known that if the force of gravity were any weaker, stars would not have compacted tight enough together so that nuclear fusion would occur. Fusion is necessary to produce the heavier elements upon which life depends (such as carbon, nitrogen and oxygen) ---and without fusion, there would only be hydrogen and helium in all the universe. On the other hand, if gravity were very slightly stronger, stars would burn so hot that they would burn up in about one year or so (ref. G. Easterbrook, cited, p.26). As it is, the gravitational force is so finely tuned, that the average star is capable of burning in a stable fashion for about 80 billion years (ref. H. Ross, cited, p.60). --Also, if gravity were slightly stronger, the infant universe would have stopped expanding, and would "crunch" back down to a small point again, without any possibility for life.

How finely tuned is gravity? -- Well, the strength of gravity could be at any one of 10⁵⁵ settings, but there is only one setting which is adequate (and optimal) for a universe with intelligent life to exist.

-- To illustrate: This is as if you had a measuring tape with one-inch sections stretched across the known universe, it would be 10⁵⁵ inches long, and only one of those inches in the middle is the optimal strength-setting for gravity. If you moved the strength-setting to the right or left an inch, then there would be no stars or planets and intelligent life could not exist (though bacterial life might survive with gravity stronger or weaker by one setting up or down).

THE PROBABILITY: Although the force of gravity could obviously have attained a large number of wrong magnitude-ranges, the chance of it being correct for intelligent life to exist, is one chance out of 10⁵⁵. --Thus, we can conservatively say that it was about one chance out of 10⁵⁰ that the force of gravity might have randomly landed on the one advantageous strength for the making of life-necessary elements in the stars.

3. The Strong Nuclear Force

This is the force which binds the protons and neutrons together in atomic nuclei.

If the strong nuclear force were very slightly weaker by just one part in 10,000 billion billion billion billion, then protons and neutrons would not stick together, and the only element possible in the universe, would be hydrogen only. There would be no stars, and no planets or life in the universe. (Ref., Dr. Robin Collins of Messiah College).

However, if the strong nuclear force were slightly too strong by the same fraction amount, the protons and neutrons would tend to stick together so much that there would basically only be heavy elements, but no hydrogen at all --If this were the case, then life would also not be possible, because hydrogen is a key element in water and in all life-chemistry.

THE PROBABILITY: If the strong nuclear force were slightly weaker or stronger than it, in fact, is, then life would be impossible. Therefore, we can very conservatively say that it was about one chance out of 10⁴⁰ that the strong nuclear force might have randomly possessed the correct strength to make life possible in our cosmos.

4. The Weak Nuclear Force

The weak nuclear force is what controls the rates at which radioactive elements decay. If this force were slightly stronger, the matter would decay into the heavy elements in a relatively short time. However, if it were significantly weaker, all matter would almost totally exist in the form of the lightest elements, especially hydrogen and helium ---there would be (for example) virtually no oxygen, carbon or nitrogen, which are essential for life.

In addition, although heavier elements necessary for life are formed inside giant stars, those elements can only escape the cores of those stars when they explode in supernova explosions, however, such supernova explosions can only occur because the weak nuclear force is exactly the right value. As Professor of astronomy, Paul Davies, describes this situation: "If the weak interaction were slightly weaker, the neutrinos would not be able to exert enough pressure on the outer envelope of the star to cause the supernova explosion. On the other hand, if it were slightly stronger, the neutrinos would be trapped inside the core, and rendered impotent" (My emphasis.) (ref. P.C.W. Davies, The Accidental Universe, London, 1982, p.68.)

THE PROBABILITY: Considering the fine-tuning of the weak nuclear force for both the rate of radioactive decay as well as the precise value required to allow supernova explosions, it is probably conservative to say that it was one chance out of 1000 that the weak nuclear force was at the right strength to permit these processes so that life would be possible.

5. The Electromagnetic Force

If the electromagnetic force (exerted by electrons) were somewhat stronger, electrons would adhere to atoms so tightly that atoms would not share their electrons with each other ---and the sharing of electrons between atoms is what makes chemical bonding possible so that atoms can combine into molecules (e.g., water) so that life can exist. However, if the electromagnetic force were somewhat weaker, then atoms would not hang onto electrons enough to cause any bonding between atoms, and thus, compounds would never hold together. In addition, this fine-tuning of the electromagnetic force must be even more stringent if more and more elements are to be able to bond together into many different types of molecules.

THE PROBABILITY: Considering the range of electromagnetic force that might have occurred, it is reasonable to say that the probability of the electromagnetic force being balanced at the right level for many thousands of compounds to function for the making of chemical compounds necessary for life, is one chance out of 1000.

6. The Ratio of the Electromagnetic Force to the Gravitational Force

It has been established that if the ratio of the electromagnetic force were barely stronger relative to the gravitational force by just one part in 10⁴⁰, then only small stars would form. On the other hand, if the ratio of the electromagnetic force were weaker compared to the gravitational force by a mere one part in 10⁴⁰, then only very large stars would form. The problem is, that both types of stars are necessary for life to be possible, because the larger stars is the place where life-essential elements are produced by thermonuclear fusion, ---and the smaller stars (like our sun) are necessary because only such stars burn long enough, and in a stable manner, to support life near to them. (ref. H.Ross, cited, p.117).

In a similar vein, cosmologist Paul Davies explains: "If gravity were very slightly weaker, or electromagnetism very slightly stronger, (or the electron slightly less massive relative to the proton), all stars would be red dwarfs. A correspondingly tiny change in the other way, and they would all be blue giants" (His italics; my underline). (Ref. P. Davies, cited above, '82, p.73). ---The problem with red dwarfs and blue giants, is that the color spectrum given off by either color of star cannot sustain life because the photosynthetic reaction would be inadequate. (ref. H. Ross, cited, p.139).

THE PROBABILITY: As required for photosynthesis, ---since the ratio of the electromagnetic force cannot vary from the gravitational force by any more than (plus or minus) one part in 10⁴⁰, it would be conservative to say that the probability of achieving the required ratio between these two forces, would be one chance out of 10³⁰. ---(Remember: 10³⁰ is the number 1 followed by 30 zeros, and it is ten billion times smaller than 10⁴⁰.)

7. The Ground State Energies of Carbon, Oxygen, Helium & Beryllium

In the years around 1980, Fred Hoyle discovered that the ground state energies of carbon, oxygen, helium and beryllium had to be within 4% of each other, or else the universe would not have enough carbon or oxygen for life to exist. (Ref. Hoyle, "The Universe: Past and Present Reflection", Annual Reviews of Astronomy... 20, '82, p.16). Realizing the unlikelihood of this situation just happening by itself, Hoyle (who was an anti-theist), declared that for all four of those life-essential elements to randomly hit within 4% of the same "bulls-eye", was so unlikely that it seemed like "a superintellect has monkeyed with physics, as well as with chemistry and biology" (Ref. Hoyle, last citation, p.16).

THE PROBABILITY: For a single one of those elements to randomly "hit the bulls-eye" to within 4% accuracy of the target energy level, could be conservatively said to be one chance out of 20. ---However, to have the second element hit the same bulls-eye, is also one out of 10, ---and the chance that the two elements both hit it together, is the product of those probabilities (1 out of 10 times 1 out of 10), ---OR--- one chance out of 400.

When we follow through for all four elements, using the same procedure of calculating the probability, the final result is: The chance that the ground state energies of all four elements would randomly hit the same energy level required (allowing life to exist), is conservatively one chance out of 100,000. ---(...since 1 chance out of 20x20x20x20 = 1 chance out of 160,000).

8. The Number of Electrons Compared to Protons

Astronomer Hugh Ross explains that the universe must have a fine balance of electrons (with a negative charge) as compared to protons (with a positive charge), and this balance must be very precise. He states: "Unless the number of electrons is equivalent to the number of protons to an accuracy of one part in 10^37, or better, electromagnetic forces in the universe would have so overcome gravitational forces that galaxies, stars, and planets never would have formed" (My emphasis) (Ref. H.Ross, as cited, p.115). --This is a minimum accuracy for the required balance of electrons compared to protons in the universe.

This would mean that if the Big Bang produced a billion (or 10^9) protons for every billion-and-one electrons, then no galaxies (etc) would have formed (and thus, no life either). The balance must be much better. --- Going further: If a trillion (10^12) protons were produced for every trillion-and-one electrons, there would be no galaxies (etc) or life. The balance must be much better. --- And further: If a quadrillion (10^15) protons were produced for every quadrillion-and-one electrons, there would be no galaxies (etc) or life. --- This same sort of tiny un-balance would make the formation of galaxies or life impossible, by merely adding one extra electron to a perfectly balanced number of both particles... even if the number 10^36 is reached for both particles. (10^36 is the number 1 with 36 zeros after it.) Merely adding one particle of either type would produce enough imbalance to render the existence of life impossible.

THE PROBABILITY: Because of the extremely fine balance required, it would be safe to say that in order for life to be possible, the probability that the necessary balance between protons and electrons was achieved by a random result of the Big Bang, would be one chance out of 10^30.

Calculating The Above Probabilities Together

In order to calculate the chance that two probabilities could happen together, we must multiply the probabilites together. For example, the chance of flipping a two-sided coin so that we get "heads," is one chance out of 2 ---and the chance of flipping two heads in a row, is the product of the two flips, or one out of 2 times 2, --or-- one chance out of 4.

To calculate the probability that our first two attributes of the universe could both occur at random so that life could exist, we must multiply them together. (Those first two attributes were: #1: that the force of the Big Bang could have randomly been properly balanced with the mass & gravity of the universe ; and #2: that the force of gravity might have randomly attained such an advantageous strength for the making of life-necessary elements in the stars).
---The chance that the first attribute could have happened randomly, was one chance out of 10⁴⁰, and the chance for the second attribute's random occurrence, was also one chance out of 10⁵⁰. Thus, by multiplying the two, we see that the chance that both could occur randomly together, is one chance out of 10⁹⁰.

The chance of the #3 attribute happening at random, was 1 chance out of 10⁴⁰, therefore, when we multiply to get the chance that the first three attributes could all happen together at random, we get one chance out of 10¹³⁰.

The chance of #4 happening was 1 out of 1000. Thus, the chance of the first four happening together randomly is 1 out of 10¹³³.

The chance of #5 was also 1 out of 1000. So, the chance of the first five all happening randomly is 1 out of 10¹³⁶.

The chance of #6 was 1 out of 10³⁰. So, the chance of the first six all happening randomly is 1 out of 10¹⁶⁶.

The chance of #7 was 1 out of 10⁵. So, the chance of the first seven all happening is 1 out of 10¹⁷¹.

The chance of #8 was 1 out of 10³⁰.

So, the chance of all eight attributes randomly happening together in the cosmos, thus permitting life to exist, is about 1 chance out of 10²⁰⁰.

The actual number for the chance would be many times slimmer than this, since there are several of other critical factors we could have figured in.

Standard for Evaluating The Probabilities

As explained in the 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)... multiplied by 1000; 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

We have determined that the chance of the eight constants of physics in the universe has much less than one chance out of 10²⁰⁰ of occurring randomly and without being intentionally "set" to be that way.

--However, we find that Universal Probability Boundary is one chance out of 10¹⁵⁰. Therefore, in light of this vanishingly small probability, we can quite reasonably say that the above constants of physics of the cosmos --which make it possible for life to exist-- did not occur together as a random chance combination of events.

Since it was not a chance occurrence (and they didn't happen by necessity), then the other rational and logical option is that purposeful intentionality --Intelligent Design-- caused the cosmos to originate and be "set up" as it did, and to have the finely tuned attributes that it does, so that life may exist.

The "Multiverse"? Some people have imagined the theoretical possibility that there might be many other universes --besides our own-- (the "Multi-verse") that might be continuously popping into existence. So, (as the thinking goes) --with so many universes popping into existence, the chances could be that there would be very many "tries" to get all the cosmological constants of physics correctly "tuned in" so that life could exist ...and that is the universe in which we happen to live! ...Tadaah! ...and that is why we are observing and thinking about it. Problematic "Multiverse": Though the multiverse may seem to be a fascinating speculation, the biggest problem with it is: There is no shred of solid evidence that it may actually exist. It cannot be detected, because we are in the universe that exists; whatever is tested, is in this universe. --And "where would all these many universes in the multiverse come from?" No one has a good idea. If there was a "multiverse-generating mechanism," it would have to be extremely complex and very finely tuned (sound familiar?) ...and we would have the exact same problem. A designer would be required. --The universe in which we now live, is the only one for which we have actual solid evidence of its existence. Period. And this universe that we know actually exists, is extremely finely tuned, giving massive evidence for an Intelligent Designer of the universe. --It seems unwise to try to escape the implications that there is an almighty designer of the universe, by pinning one's hopes on a very sketchy and doubtful "multiverse" speculation.

Identity of The Designer

In light of the above considerations, we therefore have a virtual "proof" that the cosmos was intentionally designed by the purposeful work of a designer, however, the specific identity of the designer does not seem to be (as yet) apparent from an investigation of only nature. It does not even appear that we can necessarily conclude that the designer is an omnipotent being, since all of the designed things we might consider are finite things, for which a finite designer could be adequate (...however, it would seem that an almost unfathomably powerful and intelligent designer would be necessary, due to the magnitude of the universe, and the complexity of designed things).

You may 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.

--If you will read further in this website, you may agree that there is an excellent body of evidence 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: "For 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!