(Revised March 23, 2009 2:30 PM)
Notice: “Evolution's Stumbling Block - The Mathematics of DNA” should be read first
Commentary on “Evolution's Stumbling Block” & Atheism – the Bottom Line
When writing the article “Evolution's Stumbling Block - The Mathematics of DNA”, the focus was on the difficulty of accidentally coming upon the correct series of DNA to change an ape creature into a civilization of scientists. A divine intervention that guided the DNA sequence was, in my opinion, the remaining reasonable solution to the sheer complexity of the combinations of the DNA in a single protein. Carl Sagan, the atheist astronomer, would represent the opposing view. He wrote the novel “Contact” but died before the completion of the movie. If he had survived his cancer, he would have certainly caught the mathematical mistake in the script. Ellie, the atheist astronomer, says to her friend, “There are 400 billion stars out there just in our galaxy alone. If only one out of a million of those had planets, and if just one out of a million of those had life and if just one out of a million of those had intelligent life then there would be millions of civilization out there.” NOT SO - even if Ellie were talking about the universe - her numbers are way off. There is a need for a more critical mind and a willingness to look at the math.
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OPTIONAL READING: 400 billion stars = 400 thousand million stars. When you divide 400 thousand million stars by 1 million as Ellie tells us to do – one gets ONLY 400 THOUSAND PLANETS not the millions of planets as she assumes. She continued compounding her mistake. I am sure Sagan groaned to himself if not for other reasons. |
Having studied engineering and taught science, I can appreciate the reluctance to question statements about evolution. Yet I was compelled to look at this when a MIT graduate – with a brilliant mind for science - sat me down and showed me his calculations. Taken aback by the mathematical reality, I realized I had to do my own calculations.
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OPTIONAL READING: Evolution requires that a protein can only come about because of chance mutations. However one should not minimize the mathematical complexity of all the combinations in a single protein. If just one protein is composed of 1000 DNA bases, and each base could be one of 4 possible acids then the total possible combinations in which this protein could be arranged is 4 to the 1000 power - an extemely large amount. OF ALL THOSE POSSIBLE COMBINATIONS, ONLY ONE OF THEM IS THE CORRECT SEQUENCE OF THE DNA. This number of variations cannot be ignored - it will NOT DISAPPEAR into a fairytale by simply invoking the magic words “nature does it”. How does it do it; how does it cover all the combinations? I wish to repeat what was said in the other article about the magic "intelligence protein". Instead of a 100 DNA protein we will now use a more realistic protein of 1000 DNA bases. 4 to the 1000 power = 10 to more than 602 power. 10 to the 12 power = 1 trillion different combinations. Therefore, in one protein of 1000 DNA we have (100)x(trillion to the 50 power) combinations. Let us assume that the time it takes for one generation of offspring to produce the next generation ready to give birth is only 1 year. Let us assume an incredibly high number of mutations per offspring - 1000 mutations. To work out all the combinations of 1000 DNA it would take at least a trillion, trillion, trillion, (repeat trillion for another 7 times) ape couples having offspring on the planet, with a trillion, trillion, trillion (keep going for another 7 times) identical planets around the sun, with a trillion, trillion, trillion (keep going for another 7 times) identical suns in the galaxy, with a trillion, trillion, trillion (keep going for another 7 times) identical galaxies in the universe, for a trillion, trillion, trillion (keep going for another 7 times) years times 100. Note: the universe is only 14 billion years.
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Charles Darwin wrote, "If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed which could not possibly have been formed by numerous successive slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down." Evolution must address itself to "successive slight modifications". It states that these modifications with regard to DNA are nothing more than “chance-olution” - pure random mutational chance. But, Natural Selection must have something to select. So, how in fact did that mutation of the correct 1000 DNA come about? Even Doctor Crick, the co-discover of the DNA double helix, saw the combinations of DNA so great that in the early years of his studies he claimed that the changes were accomplished by alien beings. As an atheist, he did not want to acknowledge Divine intervention in the process.
Ellie – The Moment Of Truth
In the movie “Contact” there is an exciting moment when Ellie hears for the first time the incoming signals from outer space in the form of pulses of sound over the receiver. She says, “2, 3, 5, 7, those are all prime numbers … And there is no way that this is a natural phenomena … let’s just calm down”. What just occurred? Ellie the atheist experiences the adrenalin of the moment caused by the reasonable hope that the pulses are intelligent communication – not just chance happening. She is willing to direct her life to pursue this, because it is reasonable.
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OPTIONAL READING: What are the odds of getting this exact set of numbers 2, 3, 5, 7, which fills Ellie with excitement? 011, 0111, 011111, 011111110 = one out of 2 to the 24 power or just 12 DNA bases. The odds are less than one out of a hundred million. Ellie then listens to the signal from space covering all the prime numbers from 2 to 101. The actual math for the prime numbers 0 to 101 primes plus zero at the end = 1128 bases or 2^1128 = one out of 10^339.5618 or the odds of getting an exact sequence of 564 DNA bases. |
Ellie is excited when she hears a few numbers coming up which is the same odds of getting the right sequence of only 12 DNA molecules. She is excited because she knows that they are being contacted. When she discovers signals that are prime numbers from 2 to 101 - which is still trillions of times easier to arrive at then the odds of getting the right sequence of a single protein 700 DNA bases long (1/10^339.562 compared with 1/10^421.442) - she is willing to risk her reputation, to tell the world.
Earlier in the movie “Contact”, Ellie says to a potential benefactor who is declining assistance to her search, “Look, all I’m asking is for you to have the tiniest bit of vision - you know, to sit back for one moment and to look at the big picture - TO TAKE A CHANCE ON SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE THE MOST PROFOUNDLY INPACTFUL MOMENT FOR HUMANITY, FOR THE HISTORY OF HISTORY.” Ellie says this about alien beings. All the more she should be saying this about God. So the question arises. Why is there excitement for extra terrestrials – a higher power - but denial concerning the existence of God, the Power on High? Why do they not apply the same standards for belief in the existence of God as they do for the existence of aliens?
Atheism and The Bottom Line
When I was flying back from Africa, I sat with a couple on the long transatlantic flight. Eventually the conversation came to religion. He was an atheist. I said to him, "If I could prove to you with such stunning clarity that God existed" – I paused – "would you buy me a beer?" We both laughed. I began a second time. "If I could prove to you with such stunning clarity that God existed" – I paused – "would you give the rest of your life to Him?" As I looked at him he became sad. I said, “That is why you are an atheist.” The bottom line is atheists mind that God exists. It interferes with their comfort zone.
The Causes of Atheism
When a child bonds to his atheistic parents, he will try to please them by excluding God’s presence. But, eventually the sheer wisdom of the universe and God’s grace beckons the child to acknowledge His presence. I have read authors who have said atheism could possibly be their way of expressing bitterness and anger toward God caused by tragedy or some sense of abandonment. One suggested that perhaps a person would want to remove the painful memories of his parents from his life by removing them symbolically - i.e., by removing God from his life. Other writers considered it a form of arrogance to refuse to serve the loving God - a cry of how dare you demand that I follow you or worship you. One suggested it as a means of removing the guilt of an immoral life - an opium for the conscience. Perhaps. Could some have embraced that belief without reflection? The belief in the personality of God depends on revelation; the existence of God is grounded in the rational observation of wisdom filling our universe. (Romans 1:19f)
CONCLUSION
A couple of prime numbers and Ellie the atheist and Carl Sagan are excited over extraterrestrials. But, when it comes to God revealing Himself through the wisdom contained in creation, there is denial. Ellie makes an interesting statement. Why has this almighty hidden God not revealed Himself? – BUT HE HAS!! To Ellie’s question of a hidden God I would respond, "Well, if He is God why does He not multiply bread, calm the storm, walk on water, raise a stinking corpse to life, appear to 500 at the same time, break bread with his disciples? – BUT HE HAS!! Why does He not empower his disciple to cure the sick, regenerate a cancerous kidney? – BUT HE HAS!! Atheism is the opium of the intellectually immature. It is a refusal to recognize God's presence in their universe, and the call for each person to enter into a loving relationship with Him. Whether it is the God who reveals Himself in the flaming bush, or the God who raises Lazarus from the corruption of the tomb, He has sent us a message far more profound than prime numbers. He has communicated a love story that answers the questions of life by the mystery of Himself. Between the shadow of the Cross and the opening of the tomb is found the answer to the bitterness of life’s sudden tragedies. We are meant for Him. The grace is there for each to respond - purchased at a great price. One does not need a telescope to look deep into the eyes of God and hear His voice - only humility.
The Lord give you peace.
Father Patrick of the Immaculata FLHF
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