In 1944, A. Cressy Morrison, a former President of the New York Academy of Science published a small book entitled, "Man Does Not Stand Alone." In the Dec. 1946 issue of the Readers Digest it appeared in a condensed version. I read this book soon after it appeared and was very impressed with the reasoning and conclusions. I would venture to guess that a Scientist of Dr. Morrison's stature would face some real professional challenges were he to to publish this book today.
Dr. Morrison fairly points out that nature has been adapted to the needs and uses of man rather than the other way around. He presents facts to show that what we see around us could not have occurred by chance. Following are excerpts from his first chapter entitled "Our Unique World." All that appears is an exact quote, though to be concise some of the sentences and paragraphs have been shortened or eliminated.
Suppose you take ten pennies and mark them from 1 to 10. Put them in your pocket and give them a good shake. Now try to draw them out in squence from 1 to 10, putting them back into your pocket after each draw. Your chance of drawing no. 1 is 1 to 10. Your chance of drawing 1 and 2 in succession would be one in 100. Your chance of drawing 1, 2, and 3 in succession would be one in a thousand. Your chance of drawing 1, 2, 3, and 4 in succession would be one in 10,000 and so on, until your chance of drawing No. 1 through No. 10 in succession would reach the unbelievable figure of one chance in 10 billion.
The object in dealing with so simple a problem is to show how enormously figures multiply against chance. So many essential conditions are necessary for life to exist on our earth that it is mathematically impossible that all of them could exist in proper relationship by chance on any one earth at one time. Therefore, there must be in nature some form of intelligent direction. If this be true, then there must be a purpose. Let us examine the surprising facts.
(Morrison then discusses many facts which show careful design and timing. Among these are the fact that the earth is just the right distance from the sun; any nearer or futher and life could not exist. Also the tilt of 23 deg. Without that tilt there would be no seasons and the earth would be solid ice at the poles and desert in between. Were the moon closer or further away life could not exist. Without tides the oceans would be stagnant pools. With greater tides the continents would be periodically submerged. No point in my copying all of his facts. Morrison points out that there are far more than 10 conditions, each of which would have to occur by chance for life to exist if there were no intelligent designer They are in the book for you to read. A very persuasive volume.)
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9 comments:
Very interesting! I've heard these same types of arguments to support the amazing "miracle" of chance! There are too many factors for me to believe it's all just an accident.
You are right Cami but is it not a far greater miracle (impossibility) to attribute our unique world and its contents to chance than to intelligence?
I think it's definitely easier for some people to want to believe in a "natural" accident than to put their faith in God. I find it much easier to see a plan in it all. To me, it is the greater miracle that God is such a master of the laws of physics, and planned each minute detail so that our world could come about "naturally."
Yes, chance loses out when examined in the bright light of objectivity. Unfortunately, objectivity is in short supply nowadays, due mainly to pride and greed. Like they say, "follow the money." Take the faith route and you lose your funding. Have faith in God's design and you have to admit you are obliged to Him, and must then hold to His principles. You would have to give up your radical individualism. Not many willing to do this in today's world.
Sounds like a good book. Steve ordered it. Randomly speaking of good books, today I was surprised to find The Royal Road to Romance on a "Sampler of Classic Literature" book list compiled for 8th graders in a 2003 book called The Language Police by Diane Ravitch. She says, "Adventure is the hallmark of this unique and enduring travelogue. Fresh from Princeton Univ., Halliburton and a pal set out in the early 1920s to view other parts of the world, and Royal Road is an account of that unforgettable first trip. Writers attest to H's formative influence, and readers still are caught by the freshness, wanderlust,and charm that mark this work." So, she is recommending it for today's kids. Wow.I knew you had good taste. I remember Belinda saying she was going to read it aloud to her kids. Good idea.
This book is available on Ebay and other sources.
Simply Google this author and title for the sources.
Dad, check out this link
http://ourworld.cs.com/mikegriffith1/id96.htm
Truly a Miracle (An Article From Church News June 15, 1996)
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?. . . When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?-Job 38: 4, 7
The first photographs of Earth as seen from the moon stunned the world. There above the gray, dead moonscape hung the home of mankind, its blue oceans and white clouds vivid against the black backdrop of space, the only sign of life in the starry night scape.
It was our home, seen for the first time as only the earth's Creators had seen it before, and the realization of this had a profound impact on the fragile astronauts in their high-tech space suits. No longer would they-and we-see our planet in the same casual light. They had seen the work of the Creator from a new viewpoint.
Years ago a scientist named A. Cressy Morrison tried to dispel the notion that the earth was created by pure chance. In his book, Man Does Not Stand Alone, he itemized a number of factors that, had they been different, would have made life impossible on the world. If the earth's crust were 10 feet thicker, there would be no oxygen, or if the oceans had been a few feet deeper, oxygen and carbon monoxide would have been absorbed. If it were not tilted at 23 degrees we would have had no seasons and water vapor would have moved to the poles. If the moon were closer, tides would have been so enormous that lowlands would be submerged. The planet's atmosphere is just thick enough to let in the solar rays needed for vegetation, but not enough to kill life. Essential elements exist in just the right proportions for life, he wrote, citing many other factors that argue against a haphazard creation.
Since then we've seen photographs of other planets in our solar system, great gaseous giants and sister planets with acid-blown deserts blasted by howling winds twice as ferocious as earthly hurricanes. With each visit from our robot spacecraft, we appreciate more and more how narrow are the limits of life and how blessed we are with the home Deity created.
Moroni had the same thoughts more than 1,500 years ago, when he wrote, "Who can comprehend the marvelous works of God? Who shall say that it was not a miracle that by his word the heaven and the earth should be; and by the power of his word man was created of the dust of the earth; and by the power of his word have miracles been wrought?" (Morm. 9:l6,l7)
For the truth is that God created man and the earth to be together forever, as part of His grand design to bring immortality and eternal life to His offspring. Brigham Young taught, "The whole object of the creation of this world is to exalt the intelligences that are placed upon it, that they may live, endure, and increase for ever and ever. We are not here to quarrel and contend about the things of this world, but we are here to subdue it and beautify it. Let every man and woman worship their God with all their heart." (Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 57.)
The destinies of both the earth and its inhabitants are thus linked forever. The scriptures tell us that the world was created by the word of God's power. They also tell us that without the presence of mankind, learning its crucial lessons of the need for opposition in all things, of uniting in marriage to produce children, or of those children turning their hearts back to their fathers, then the earth would have had no purpose nor would it have answered the end of its creation, and it would have been utterly wasted. (See 2 Ne. 2:12; D&C 49:16; D&C 2:3.)
The earth is truly a miracle. In many ways, it also serves as an appropriate metaphor for the gospel with which it is so closely linked in God's eyes. Like the gospel, it is our ultimate source of life. Both are creations of God. Both demand obedience to their laws, with severe penalties for those who disregard either the law of nature or the law of God. On the other hand, both also offer great riches and rewards. Both offer their greatest satisfaction when they are shared with others and both still guard knowledge that is available only after diligent study and research.
And finally, both will endure forever. We believe that the earth has its own life, and that, like us, it will one day be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory. (See Articles of Faith, 10 ) This is our earth, created for us and entrusted to us to fulfill the purposes of God. We are a part of that earthshine that falls upon the moon.
I found that Glenn Beck is going to do a story on the myths of global warming. And on his 011607 show he mentioned a 1975 Newsweek article that talked about global cooling. Yeah, cooling. Take a look at the article by going to his website and look at the bottom right of the home page and click on the newsweek article link. www.glenbeck.com.
Hey I am really impressed by the number and quality of the comments. Thanks to Barry for calling attention to an Article that amplifies my Post. Thanks for looking and commenting. I am pleased to hear too that RRR is being recognized for the inspiring book I always thought it was - a celebration of this great world and its many lands and peoples.
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