By Krystle Chan
It is often that we see people from the scientific community debate against those of the religious community. Many think that the concept of faith and science are in opposition. On the contrary, the more we discover through science, the more amazed we are at God’s marvellous creation.
Let us examine the evidence.
As the psalmist David wrote; “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork” (Psalms 19:1).
One of God’s greatest handiworks is, in fact, us. After all, God created us in His own image.
“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27).
As a chemical engineer by training, I know firsthand that the designing of even one particular chemical process is very complex. Each and every component, flow rate, temperature and pressure has to be carefully chosen and calibrated to ensure the process runs smoothly and safely and that the final product meets the required specifications. Each reactor, vessel or distillation column is designed to precision.
Even a few degrees Celsius can sometimes make a difference as to whether a pharmaceutical product synthesised treats a particular disease, or is actually harmful to the body. In addition to this, each process has to be monitored and regulated by process control systems such as feedback mechanisms to signal and trigger responses to external disturbances and fluctuations in process conditions.
Now, the human body is a true scientific marvel. The human body has several systems, including the circulatory, respiration and digestive systems. And all these systems are interrelated. Using contraction and relaxation of muscles (i.e. the diaphragm and intercostal muscles), the lungs take in oxygen from the air using principles of pressure. The oxygen binds to the haemoglobin in our red blood cells and is then pumped by the heart throughout our body via a vast network of arteries, veins and capillaries, providing oxygen and nutrients to all of our cells, thus keeping us alive.
The human body is not only a perfectly designed, optimal system of processes, it is also self-regulated. We did not need to be taught, trained or artificially programmed to increase our heart rate during exercise or to produce antibodies to fight an infection. Our nervous system sends impulses and triggers responses to deal with external and internal changes. In other words, our “control systems and feedback mechanisms” are already in-built. These were all integrated parts of God’s intricate design that we sometimes take for granted. How is it possible that this incredible design came into place without a Creator?
Indeed, there is no doubt that mankind has made so much progress throughout the years, designing and inventing things that we never would have dreamed of in the past such as the invention of simple wheels to flight and outer-space travel.
Lately, scientists have been working on the concept of artificial intelligence (AI). If you told a scientist today that if he simply left a pile of metal in a lab for a long time, it would eventually form into an artificially intelligent robot who could speak, think and write coherently, of course he would never believe you and perhaps even call you insane. Well, perhaps it’s possible if we waited a few years? Maybe a few decades or millennia? No?
Of course not because it is clearly not a function of time or probability- it is of intelligence and power. This realisation requires us to humble ourselves and to accept that, despite all our great inventions and brilliant discoveries, we are not the greatest, smartest living beings alive – there is an all-knowing, and all-powerful God who created us. The very fact that we are capable of so much is just that much more of a testament and evidence of His great power!
“The fool has said in his heart, There is no God” (Psalms 14:1).
Even Antony Flew, a well-known atheist who spent years advocating against the existence of God, eventually admitted that he was wrong. In the end, he could no longer deny that the evidence does point towards an intelligent creator. God is indeed the master scientist and the greatest engineer – The Creator.
“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well” (Psalms 139:14).