Speaker: Science can support God's existence

Does science prove the existence of God?

The question has been debated for centuries, and in front of nearly 700 people at Rackham Auditorium last night, Texas A&M mechanical engineering Prof. Walter Bradley spoke on the topic.

Using seven predetermined questions, which University students submitted on the event's Webpage during the last few weeks, Bradley answered each inquiry through the use of recent developments in the fields of astronomy and physics.

"We used this format so you can address the issue, not the emotion," said Pat Moore, a Campus Crusade for Christ intern and doctoral student in environmental engineering. "It's not so much a lecture, but we want to address Michigan's top questions."

DHANI JONES/Daily Texas A&M mechanical engineering Prof. Walter Bradley speaks to a crowd of 700 yesterday in Rackham Auditorium on the topic of science and God co-existing.

Before beginning his talk, Bradley, who said he does believe in the existence of a creator, made sure to stress that "in the final analysis, we can neither prove nor disprove the existence of God."

The opening two questions dealt with the scientific evidence against ideas found in the Bible, and the view of astronomy, physics and philosophy in relation to the possibility of a god.

Bradley answered the questions by first looking at the big bang hypothesis and said a universe that began a finite amount of time ago is more supportive of theology.

He next looked at the growing recognition within the scientific community that many things have to be "just so" in order for life to exist and small changes in the initial conditions of the universe can cause drastic changes.

"It was quite a surprise to many scientists that really small changes in physical constants would render life improbable," Bradley said. "Small changes leave it unsuitable for life in any imaginable type."

The next question asked, "If the universe exhibits design, what is the purpose?"

In response, Bradley said God has a desire to have a relationship with human beings.

"The ultimate purpose in God creating the universe is to make a habitat for people he could love and who would respond to his love," Bradley said. "God wanted to have a relationship with us."

The fifth question of the night dealt with the controversial topic of whether evolution disproves creation.

While prefacing his comments with the note that he is not a biologist, Bradley looked at the complex existence of life as something which "does not defy the laws of nature, but can not easily be explained by them.

"Microevolution (evolution on a species level) is likely, but macroevolutiuon is more problematic," Bradley said. "There are still things we need to learn to show that macroevolution is probable."

As a conclusion, Bradley briefly spoke on his personal beliefs and the process he went through to arrive at his current beliefs.

"As a college student, I really wrestled with my beliefs and they were widely challenged," said Bradley. "It was during this time I became persuaded there is considerable reason to believe there was a creator. The God of creation was a God who wanted us to have a personal relationship with him."

The majority of the students in attendance said they were convinced of the existence of God, but were interested in seeing their beliefs confirmed from a scientific point of view.

"We live in a world where you can philosophically come from two camps," Moore said. Some people believe "God is relegated to something that really doesn't affect us, but people are seeking after something beyond themselves."

Last night's presentation was sponsored by Campus Crusade For Christ and the Michigan Christian Graduates.

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