OCCAM'S RAZOR AND INTELLIGENT DESIGN (Part I)

OCCAM’S RAZOR AND INTELLIGENT DESIGN (Part I)

Born in the English village of Ockham, a Franciscan friar named William was a 14^th century philosopher and logician.  The famous principle attributed to him (but likely developed earlier by the French monk, Durandus) came to known as OCCAM’S RAZOR (spelled differently than the name of his home village).  In its simplest form, Occam’s Razor says this: “When two competing theories make exactly the same predictions, the simpler one is the better.”  In other words, Occam’s Razor suggests that the simplest explanation for the unknown is usually the right one.

The origin of the universe has always intrigued me.  For centuries, there has been a somewhat controversial competition between the science and faith communities regarding both the origins of the universe and humankind.  While much of the scientific community (certainly not all) has traditionally embraced the theory of Darwinian evolution, there is a much simpler way to view the origins of all that we see.  Occam’s Razor is an appropriate application in this case.

The simpler view for the origins of our universe is known as INTELLIGENT DESIGN, which is the notion that “certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an INTELLIGENT CAUSE, not an undirected process such as natural selection.”  Before I go into more detail about Darwin’s theory, allow me to state four general reasons why I am a firm believer in intelligent design.

1.        I believe that, in every case, the WORD OF GOD is right.  The Bible clearly states that “In the beginning, GOD created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) The mere fact that humans cannot comprehend the ‘how’ of divine creation does not cause it to be false or untrue.

2.       It is virtually impossible for me to accept the possibility that all that we see (including us) is the result of an extraordinary series of random events.

3.       It is a fact that the form and structure of what we observe in the macrocosm of the larger universe is repeated identically in the microcosm of the atom, the basic building block of every element, for example hydrogen or carbon.  One simple example of this is the fact that a given number of electrons (depending on which element we are referring to) are set in a systematic revolution around the nucleus of the atom, much like the planets in our solar system revolve in systematic revolution (with phenomenal precision) around the sun.  On a larger and more cosmic level, our solar system is also set in a systematic revolution around the center of our galaxy, the Milky Way Galaxy.  My conclusion: This duplication of form on the macrocosmic and microcosmic level is far to intricate and artful to be random or accidental.  The more logical conclusion is that these forms and structures are intentional, as are their atomic and sub-atomic components.

4.       There are many missing pieces in Darwinian theory, so much so that a huge leap of faith is required to ‘believe’ all that this theory holds to be irrefutable truth.  And if I am left with the choice of making a leap of faith to embrace the perspective of a man or the declaration of Almighty God, then I choose to come down on the side of God.

Now let’s take a closer look at some of the ‘holes’ in Darwinian theory.  Indeed, there are (at least) five major problems with the current theories of biological and chemical evolution.  I will address two of them today.

§  GENETICS: Darwinian theory depends upon random mutations that are naturally selected – with no overall guide or goals.  Many scientists have concluded that such random mutations would actually cause harm to the organisms and would not (as Darwin suggested) lead to more complex organisms over time.  According to Lynn Margulis, a biologist in the National Academy of Sciences, “new mutations do not create new species, they create offspring that are impaired.”  And Pierre-Paul Grasse, a past president of the French Academy of Sciences, draws a similar conclusion: “Mutations have a very limited ‘constructive capacity’ because no matter how numerous they may be, mutations do not produce any kind of evolution.”

Note:  A “mutation” is a sudden departure from the parent type in one or more heritable characteristics, which is caused by a change in a gene or a chromosome.  The word “mutation” also refers to the individual or species resulting from such a departure. (Source: Dictionary.com)

§  BIOCHEMISTRY: Unguided and random processes cannot possibly produce cellular complexity.  Our cells are like miniature factories, but they are much more complex than anything that has ever been constructed by human beings.  Our cells use miniature circuits, motors, feedback loops and encoded language.  Importantly, they contain systems to check for errors, thus protecting and repairing DNA.  Darwinian theory fails to adequately explain how cells become more complex and morph from one biological family (phylum) to another.  According to the noted biochemist, Franklin Harold, “there are presently no detailed Darwinian accounts of the evolution of any biochemical or cellular system, only a variety of wishful speculations.”

As stated previously, if I am required to make a ‘leap of faith’ based on the option to either embrace the Word of God or the speculations of men, I choose to believe GOD.  Stay tuned…more to come tomorrow!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!