Debate on God's Existence Reignited by Bestselling Authors
Two authors' recent assertion that modern science provides evidence for the existence of God has sparked considerable interest. Their book, translated into several languages, has already sold hundreds of thousands of copies, and the English version is set to be released soon.
People have always been curious about where they come from, as seen by the popularity of books like The God Delusion and A Brief History of Time, not to mention the Bible, the most widely printed book ever.
The Authors and Their Perspective
These two authors, one a successful computer engineer and the other a media entrepreneur, are both men of science and faith. One is a Catholic since birth, while the other found his Christian faith in his twenties. Prior to his conversion, the latter viewed believers as irrational, but he has since discovered many logical reasons to believe in God.
However, they assert that their book is not about spirituality or religion, but rather, a critique of materialism, the philosophy that everything—our origins, thoughts, consciousness—can be explained by physical matter and processes alone.
The Argument Against Materialism
The authors argue that the materialist explanation for the origins of the universe and life on Earth has many inconsistencies. They contend that every new scientific discovery strengthens the argument for a "creator" as the most rational explanation.
Even a renowned physicist who won the Nobel Prize in physics found their argument coherent, despite not finding it particularly satisfying for himself. He agreed that if the universe had a beginning, the question of creation is inevitable.
Challenging Established Scientific Orthodoxy
The book scrutinizes key scientific theories, such as the Big Bang, relativity, quantum mechanics, and the human genome. The authors claim these theories collectively challenge the prevailing belief that underpins modern science.
They specifically question the "big crunch" theory, which suggests the universe goes through an infinite cycle of expansion and contraction, leading to repeated Big Bangs and crunched states. The authors argue that the acceleration of the universe's expansion, discovered in the 1990s, discredits this theory. Instead, they propose the idea of a single beginning, a starting point to all physical existence.
The only logical explanation for this single point, the authors argue, is an entity outside the material world—an external being that could have initiated it, or a creator God.
The Mystery of Life's Origin
The authors further argue that the existence of a universal God is the only plausible explanation for the emergence of life. They point to the appearance of DNA, a "technological marvel," several billion years ago as evidence.
The theory of evolution suggests that this sophisticated data storage system, much more advanced than today's computers, emerged from the primordial soup by chance. Yet, the authors find this incredibly unlikely, arguing for the existence of a higher being behind it.
The Debate Continues
While the authors acknowledge that their book does not conclusively prove God's existence, they maintain that many scientific theories require leaps of faith similar to those demanded by belief in God. "We are all believers," one of them said.
Interestingly, the book has received the most criticism from theologians who argue that evidence of God's existence undermines the value of faith. The authors, however, are not deterred and continue to engage in debate with scientists and philosophers about their ideas. They have held conferences in the U.S. and plan more such events in the future.
While the authors stress that they aren't trying to convert anyone, they believe the debate about the origins of the universe inevitably raises questions about the meaning of life. They encourage everyone to ponder whether we are simply the product of chance and necessity, or if we are more than that.