I see Anthropic Principles as answers to questions of the following sort:
If the present state of the universe (with special focus on its diversity of
both inanimate structures and life forms) is the outcome of formational
processes involving only the formational capabilities of entities within the
universe (that is, without occasional episodes of form-imposing
interventions by any extra-natural agent), then what must be the character
of the universe?
Using one of my favorite bits of vocabulary, the answer contained within
most APs is: The Universe must be equipped with a "robust formational
economy." That is, the menu of the universe's formational capabilities must
be sufficiently robust to actualize the full array of inanimate structures
and life forms in the course of time. [Call this the "Robust Formational
Economy Principle."]
But this simply invites the question: How does a universe come to possess a
robust formational economy? What is the source (or Source) of that
astoundingly fruitful menu of formational capabilities?
Anthropic Principles give no answer to this question.
Naturalism has little to offer beyond, "Well, that's just how it is. It
needs no source. Absolute Nothingness just happened to experience a
fluctuation and this universe--complete with a robust formational economy
adequate to form atoms, molecules, galaxies, stars, planets, cells,
organisms and us--just happens to be the result. (See Peter Atkins' _The
Creation_ for samples of this type of rhetoric)
All persons who see the universe as a Creation, however, can draw from a far
richer reservoir of answers regarding the Source of this universe, including
all of its formational capabilities.
That's why I am so often struck with an irony in the creation/evolution
debate. Preachers of Naturalism presume that they have rightful ownership of
the Robust Formational Economy Principle. Ironically, Episodic Creationists
appear to grant that ownership and propose that the Creation is NOT gifted
with a robust formational economy, and some of them spend their lives
looking for empirical evidence that certain formational capabilities are
MISSING from the Creation.
But if God is the Source of the Creation's formational economy, why not have
high expectations that it is robust--gapless--missing no formational
capabilities needed to effect the Creator's will for the actualization of
all kinds of inanimate structures and life forms in the course of time?
In other words, Christians have a far greater right to ownership of
Anthropic principles and the Robust Formational Economy Principle than do
proponents of Naturalism. It's time to claim that and to stop letting the
preachers of Naturalism get by with their shallow claims of ownership.
That was one of my theses at the Waco symposium.
Howard Van Till
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