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The relationship between science and the Bible is a complex and often debated topic. Scientific inquiry can either support or contradict the Bible’s descriptions of the universe and our planet. According to biblical theism, God is the creator of the universe and all physical reality, and the laws of nature are a description of God’s way of caring for His creation. Additionally, the Bible affirms that God can work in supernatural ways to shape and care for His creation. The question then arises: is it possible to reconcile the scientific and biblical descriptions of the universe and our planet?

Scientific evidence supports the idea that the universe has a beginning, commonly known as the Big Bang theory. This idea is consistent with the biblical account of creation, which describes God as the creator of the universe and all that is in it. The Bible also describes the earth as being spherical (Isaiah 40:22) and suspended in space (Job 26:7), which are both scientifically accurate descriptions of our planet.

However, there are also areas where science and the Bible seem to be in conflict, such as the age of the earth. The Bible suggests a relatively young earth, while scientific evidence points to an earth that is much older. This has led to debates about the accuracy of the Bible’s account of creation and the role of God in the development of the universe.

Ultimately, the question of whether science supports the Bible is a complex one that requires a careful consideration of both scientific and biblical evidence. While there are areas of conflict between the two, there are also areas of agreement, suggesting that a harmonization of the two is possible.

In the last century, scientists have made remarkable discoveries about the universe and our planet that have shed light on why it is such an ideal habitat for life. One critical factor is the diversity of elements in our universe and planet, including a relative abundance of certain essential elements, which are necessary for the production of complex molecular machines capable of energy processing, information storage, and molecule replication, such as RNA, DNA, and proteins. Carbon, a versatile and reactive element, plays a crucial role in the production of these molecules.

Another essential factor is the presence of a universal solvent, which is capable of dissolving most elements and compounds essential to life. Water, which is abundant and liquid at certain temperatures on planet earth, fits this description and plays a crucial role in sustaining life on our planet.

Lastly, long-term sources of energy that are compatible with the chemical energy of carbon-based molecules are necessary to fuel the chemical reactions that are essential to life. Over 50 such requirements have been identified, all necessary for life to exist in our universe.

God’s design of the universe and our planet is remarkable and has satisfied the many requirements for life in three distinct ways. Firstly, God has encoded elegant mathematical forms in nature, known as “the laws of nature,” which govern the behavior of the universe. Secondly, God has fine-tuned the 19 universal constants, such as the speed of light, the gravity force constant, the mass of the electron, and the unit charge, to create a universe that is hospitable to life. Finally, God has established the initial conditions that have allowed life to exist on Earth.

To achieve a universe that supports life, several critical requirements must be met. For example, to have elemental diversity and a star like our sun that provides a long-term, stable source of energy, the ratio of the strong force constant to the electromagnetic force constant must fall within a narrow window of 5 percent of the actual ratio. Additionally, six of the universal constants, including the speed of light, the mass of the electron, and the gravity force constant, must be tailored to each other to match the energy of the sun’s light to the chemical bonding energy in organic compounds.

The exact magnitudes of these six constants satisfy a particular algebraic equation that precisely matches the energy from the sun to that needed to facilitate critical chemical reactions in organic molecules. This remarkable match demonstrates the careful and deliberate design that God has employed to create a universe that is hospitable to life.

Scientists have been amazed by the incredible design of the universe, leading them to suggest that a higher power, or “super intellect,” must have had a hand in creating the laws of physics, chemistry, and biology. Sir Fred Hoyle, an English astronomer, famously commented on the apparent design of the universe, stating that “there are no blind forces worth speaking about in nature.”

The discovery of DNA in the twentieth century is one of the most impressive scientific achievements in recent history. DNA is an information storage system that contains the instructions for life. The precise coding of DNA molecules required for life is a remarkable testimony to God’s providential care for His creation. The probability of the accidental origin of the cytochrome-C molecule having the required sequencing of amino acids is estimated to be only 1 in 1060.

These scientific discoveries give even more profound significance to Paul’s testimony in Romans 1:20 that God’s divinity can be seen even in the invisible elements of His universe. The incredible design and order of the universe point to a divine creator.

About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).

Sources:

“The Physics of the Universe” by the Institute of Physics, https://www.physics.org/article-questions.asp?id=124
“The Anthropic Principle” by the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/anthropic/
“Science and the Bible” by Wayne Grudem, The Gospel Coalition, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/science-and-the-bible/
“What Does the Bible Say About the Shape of the Earth?” by GotQuestions.org, https://www.gotquestions.org/shape-of-earth.html
“How Old is the Earth?” by The BioLogos Foundation, https://biologos.org/common-questions/how-old-is-the-earth/

“The Fine-Tuning of the Universe for Intelligent Life” by Luke A. Barnes, Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia, https://arxiv.org/abs/1112.4647
“Why Carbon is the Key to Life on Earth” by Jyoti Madhusoodanan, Scientific American, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-carbon-is-the-key-to-life-on-earth/
“What Makes Earth Special Compared to Other Planets?” by EarthSky, https://earthsky.org/space/what-makes-earth-special-compared-to-other-planets