Argument ID: TEL-DS03

Argument: Universe and Life Were Created for a Purpose

Argument:
(P1) The universe is incredibly fine-tuned to enable life on earth [TEL-IS02].
(P2) The arrival of life was initiated by the formative power of God [BIO-IS01].
(P3) The blueprint for life originated in the mind of a Divine Intelligence [BIO-IS02].
(P4) The ubiquity and uniformity of design patterns and properties speak to the specificity of a Divine Designer [PHIL-IS02].
(C) Therefore, the universe and life were created by a transcendent, pre-existent intelligence for a divine purpose.

Summary: Darwin's theory of evolution addresses the survival of the species but does not adequately address the arrival of the species. Science strongly suggests that the arrival of all living creatures was the result of the intervention by a Creator God, not Darwinian macroevolution. If creation and life were indeed initiated by a Creator, then human life has meaning and purpose.

Description: If life originated in the mind of God, then life has intrinsic purpose and value. This is because life is rooted in the divine purposes and infinite value of God.

Conversely, if life simply evolved by random mutations and natural selection, then life is devoid of intrinsic purpose or value. It is the difference between the intended and unintended arrival of life.

This dichotomy is best argued by R. C. Sproul in his book Now, That's a Good Question!

Question: Is man the product of a purposive act of divine intelligence, or is man a cosmic accident? In other words, am I a creature of dignity or a creature of cosmic insignificance?
Answer: If I just sort of popped into being or emerged from the slime and I'm destined for annihilation, I can only fantasize that somehow in between those two poles of origin and destiny I have meaning and significance and dignity. Obviously, if I came from nothing and go to nothing, I am nothing under any objective analysis.

This notion of nothingness is echoed by humanist Ernest Nagel's famous quote "Human destiny is an episode between two oblivions". According to Nagel and the American Humanist Association, human values are derived from human supremacy in the animal kingdom, not from a divine god. [REF-AHA01]

Creation and Life were Initiated by God

According to Genesis 1, God brought all living creatures including man into being by divine edict. This is evidenced by the repeated phrases Then God said, "Let ...".

20 Then God said, "Let the waters swarm with fish and other life. Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind." 21 So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that scurries and swarms in the water, and every sort of bird—each producing offspring of the same kind. 24 Then God said, "Let the earth produce every sort of animal 25 God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock, and small animals. 26 God said, "Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. Genesis 1:26-30 NLT

From this passage, we learn that God took the initiative to create. The process of creation was directed by both God's design intelligence and formative power. It did not come about by some random process that fortuitously resulted in complex life forms.

We know that this is possible because God demonstrated his supernatural, formative power by creating the universe [COS-DS01].

While many are fixated on how life was formed, few acknowledge that it was God who was formative in creating life. The means or process of creation is secondary. The fact that God initiated the creative process is primary.

Evidence of Creation by God

As we peer through the lens of modern science, we observe that God's handiwork in creation is evident. Specifically, we acknowledge the following facts:

Therefore, the universe and life were created by a transcendent, pre-existent intelligence for a divine purpose.

Uniqueness of Humanity

According to Genesis 2:7-19, all living creatures including mankind were formed from the "dust of the ground". The Hebrew verb yatsar translated as formed in Genesis 2:7, means to fashion or shape. This implies that all living creatures were composed of organic materials commonly found on earth.

This may also imply that mankind was patterned after other mammals. The biological similarities between mankind and chimpanzees are a manifestation of common design and substance, not common descent.

Regarding descent, mankind was exclusively created in the image of God. The Hebrew verb tselem translated as image in Genesis 1:27, means likeness. Since God is spirit, this implies that mankind was created with a spiritual nature that is patterned after the moral character of God. Reword: Therefore, mankind has the unique capacity among all living creatures to relate with God on a spiritual level and exercise a moral conscience.

Because of this likeness to the Creator, mankind possesses an intrinsic value that surpasses the earthly materials from which they are made. This value is rooted in the infinite value of God himself.

Creation was Purposed for the Glory of God

God has endowed mankind with a divine purpose. As with all creation, mankind exists for the sole purpose of glorifying God.

This principle is taught throughout the Bible.

The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Psalm 19:1

For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen. Romans 11:36

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see - such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. Colossians 1:16

There are variety ways we glorify God. We acknowledge God's power, wisdom, and sovereignty over creation. We extol God for his attributes such as holiness, love, mercy, and grace. We entrust God with our lives and after-lives by living dependent on him. We honor God with our lives by obeying his moral precepts. Lastly, we honor God by exercising our God-given dominion over his creation (Genesis 1:26).

In stark contrast, humanists' highest goal is human happiness [REF-AHA01]. This view of mankind's value is highly subjective. Arguably, this worldview is flawed based on the Law of Non-Contradiction [PHY-IS02].

Observations

God has demonstrated his formative power in creation. He was involved in specifying the design of the universe and life. He was involved in breathing life into all living creatures. He was involved in creating mankind in his likeness so that we would be able to commune with him on a spiritual basis and glorify him. Ultimately, God endowed mankind with a divine purpose for living.

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