Why There Should Be Order in a Godless Universe
If you think the universe is orderly, you've clearly missed the mark. As an Astrophysics Professor, I can attest to the chaotic nature of the cosmos. Astrophysical phenomena are ever-changing; unexpected events are the norm, not the exception. From the birth of the universe to the clustering of galaxies, order and chaos coexist, each playing a vital role in the cosmic dance.
Understanding Chaos in the Universe
The universe began as a simple and ordered place, but as gravity exerted its influence and matter came together, chaos became the prevailing force. In some regions, order triumphed (like the galactic core), but in many others, chaos reigned supreme. Just look to the Oort Cloud or the Kuiper Belt for examples of cosmic chaos.
The Oort Cloud and Kuiper Belt: These regions are home to comets and asteroids, embodying the raw, unbridled chaos of the universe. If you venture out there, you'll understand why the universe isn't as orderly as some might believe. Whether you go alone or bring a political figure like Donald Trump, you'll be amazed (or perhaps appalled) by the sheer randomness and unpredictability of space.
Confronting the Second Law of Thermodynamics
The idea that the universe is orderly is challenged by the Second Law of Thermodynamics. This law states that the total entropy of an isolated system will always increase over time. It's axiomatic and universally applicable. Just because people make excuses for it not applying doesn't change the fact that it does. Furthermore, the First Law of Thermodynamics, which governs conservation of energy, explains how the universe emerged from nothing. A Creator God is required to make sense of this cosmic puzzle.
Intelligent Design and Human Complexity
The common misconception that complexity is a sign of natural growth with mistakes is now being challenged. Nature absolutely requires complexity to function effectively. The common belief that 'apparent' complexity equates to intelligent design is flawed. This notion doesn't hold up to scrutiny.
The Human Eye: Inside Out and Backward
It's a fact that the human eye is "inside out." The Intelligent Designer supposedly created the banana to perfectly fit the human hand, and the bacterial flagellum de novo. However, the way the human eye is structured is anything but optimal. The color receptors (rods and cones) sit underneath the surface layer of the retina, which means light must pass through other cells before reaching them. This arrangement is not found in other animals like reptiles and birds. The 'practice eyes' hypothesis doesn't hold up; a true Designer would have created the mammalian eye properly.
The Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve: An Example of Unintelligent Design
The recurrent laryngeal nerve connects the brain to the larynx. A simple, direct course would suffice, but instead, it takes a much longer path. For humans, this nerve is about three feet long. In giraffes, it can be more than 15 feet long, looping around the aorta. This looping is inefficient, making it the epitome of unintelligent design. If this complexity were indeed evidence of deliberate design, one would expect a better solution to have been implemented.
Conclusion: There is ample evidence that the apparent design of our bodies and the universe itself is a matter of chance and accident. If you believe in a deity as the creator of the universe, this should be taken as a sign that your deity is clumsy at best. The universe doesn't bend to the will of a designer but rather follows the natural laws that govern its existence.