Fine Tuning of the Universe

Fine tuning of the universe means that there are numerous cosmological constants that have to be exactly right in order for there to be any life in the universe.  Multiple constants, if off by the slightest amount, would not only prevent life from existing, but prevent the universe from existing at all. In fact, there are at least 34 constants that would have to be precisely right in order for anything at all to exist in the universe. 

William Lane Craig suggests three possible reasons for the fine tuning of the universe:

1. Physical necessity:  These constants must be what they are.
2. Chance:  The constants are what they are by sheer accident.
3. Design:  The constants are designed to be the way they are.

Craig says there is nothing that seems to make it necessary that a life-prohibiting universe is impossible and says that it is “fantastically implausible” that things are the way they are out of physical necessity.  In other words, it is conceivable that a universe could exist with different natural laws than those that do exist. Therefore, it is not necessary that things are the way they are.

As for chance, Dr. Hugh Ross gives an example of the least fine-tuned constant, the ratio of electrons to protons:

One part in [10 to the 37th power] is such an incredibly sensitive balance that it is hard to visualize. The following analogy might help: Cover the entire North American continent in dimes all the way up to the moon, a height of about 239,000 miles (In comparison, the money to pay for the U.S. federal government debt would cover one square mile less than two feet deep with dimes.)  Next, pile dimes from here to the moon on a billion other continents the same size as North America. Paint one dime red and mix it into the billions of piles of dimes. Blindfold a friend and ask him to pick out one dime. The odds that he will pick the red dime are one in [10 to the 37th power]. (p. 115)

Therefore, it is statistically impossible for the universe or life to exist by chance.

If numbers 1 and 2 above are false, or at least so unlikely that they are practically impossible, then the most likely cause of the fine-tuning of the universe has to be design, which points to an intelligent designer or Creator, which we call God.

Additional reading:

Used for this post:

Craig, William Lane. On Guard: Defending Your Faith with Reason and Precision. Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2010.  (ISBN 978-1-4347-6488-1)

https://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designun.html [which uses Ross, Hugh.  The Creator and the Cosmos: How the Latest Scientific Discoveries Reveal God.  Covina, CA: RTB Press, 2018.  (ISBN 978-1-8866-5314-6)]

More:

McDowell, Josh and McDowell, Sean, Ph.d.  Evidence that Demands a Verdict. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2017.  (ISBN 978-1-401-67670-4)

Myers, Jeff. Understanding the Faith: a Survey of Christian Apologetics. Summit Ministries, 2016. (ISBN 978-0-7814-1360-2)

Travis, Melissa Cain.  Science and the Mind of the Maker. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2018.