Lecturer gives scientific ‘proof’ of creation

Last night Walter Bradley, a distinguished engineering professor at Baylor University, discussed the existing scientific evidence that has made even strict atheists concede the existence of a higher power.
Bradley presented the lecture, “Is there Scientific Evidence for an Intelligent Creator of the Universe?” as a part of the Veritas Forum and cited evidence that the universe is precisely designed and is not the result of an accident.
“The more we see the scientific evidence, the more we see the remarkable fingerprint of our intelligent creator,” Bradley said.
The forum, which will be on campus through Thursday, is a series of open lectures and discussions addressing difficult questions related to religion, science and contemporary issues. This is the first time the University has hosted the Veritas Forum, which was first held at Harvard University in 1982.
Bradley, who identified himself as a Christian, described the subject of creation and science as “a topic of great interest of [mine] for over 30 years.”
Bradley said, in the last 50 years, science has evolved to address religious issues and the existence of an intelligent creator.
“In 1950, science didn’t say anything about God, one way or the other,” Bradley said.
Now, more than half a century later, strict non-religious people are conceding that there must be some kind of intelligent creative force in the universe, Bradley said.
Bradley explained the difference between a “design,” which is something made by an intelligent force, and a “designoid,” which is something created through an accident of nature.
The ultimate question is, “Which applies to Earth?” Bradley said.
Bradley addressed the Big Bang Theory and said that — contrary to popular belief — it actually supports theism and deism.
A universe that has eternally existed is more compatible with atheism, Bradley said. The Big Bang Theory implies that the universe had a beginning, and a beginning requires some powerful force.
Bradley quoted famed physicist and author Stephen Hawking in saying, “so long as the universe had a beginning, we could suppose it had a creator.”
Evidence supporting the Big Bang Theory has grown over time, Bradley said.
Today, almost all scientists believe the theory is the explanation for life, Bradley said.
Bradley also rebutted what he called a “common misconception” that scientists try to disprove God’s existence.
“Scientists originally thought discovery would lead to a greater knowledge of God,” Bradley said.
Bradley illustrated various pieces of scientific evidence to the audience.
Conditions necessary to support life forms on Earth are extremely specific and fragile, Bradley said.
“Specific values of constants make life in the universe possible, and if they were even a little different, life would not be possible,” Bradley said.
Everything from the heat and light coming from the sun to nature’s intricate mathematical and scientific laws are so precise that they cannot be considered accidents, Bradley said.
“Conditions on Earth are ideal to start the chemical reactions that support life,” Bradley said.
Modern physicists are wonderstruck by the way mathematics seems to govern the universe, Bradley said.
“Delicate balances in nature suggest a plan,” Bradley said.
Bradley said all the evidence left scientists with a question: is life inevitable or remarkable?
Many scientists’ research suggests that it is improbable that life exists on other planets, Bradley said.
“Many scientists believe that means that we are unique under some higher power,” Bradley said.
Some audience members said they thought the information was impressive, but hard to relate to.
“I loved his examples of how precise the workings of the universe are,” said Ariel Roland, a junior at the University Laboratory School. “But I couldn’t really connect with it.
Others expressed admiration for Bradley and his speech.
“I think it was one of the most compelling and thought-provoking talks I’ve ever heard,” said Liz Vint, a veterinarian at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine.
Some were impressed by Bradley’s array of statistics and scientific information.
“It made a lot of sense,” said Emily Mosely, a University alumna. “It was very logical and impressive.”