In my new book, God’s Crime Scene: A Homicide Detective Examines the Evidence for a Divinely Created Universe, I make a comprehensive case for the existence of God from eight pieces of evidence in the universe. In Chapter Three (The Origin of Life: Does the Text Require an Author?), I describe the futility scientists have experienced when trying to identify the location in the universe where life might have originated without the intercession and involvement of an Intelligent Designer. The origin of life requires the emergence of pre-biotic molecules (amino acids and nucleotide bases). Where could this have happened? Could life have originated from “inside the room” of the natural universe? If so, where, and is there a better explanation for the origin of life “outside the room” of the universe? (For more on this “inside the room” or “outside the room” investigative analogy, please refer to the Opening Statement of God’s Crime Scene). Naturalistic scientists have repeatedly failed to identify an evidentially reasonable location for the origin of life, despite a concerted effort over many years. Here is a very brief summary of the failed attempts to locate a reasonable naturalistic point of origin:
Could Life Have Started in the Atmosphere?
You may remember the famous 1952 Miller-Urey experiment from your high school or undergraduate biology class. Stanley Miller and Harold Urey mixed ammonia, methane, water vapor, and hydrogen and passed an electric charge through the circulating gases. Within a week, they found several types of amino acids had been created. This experiment later became the “poster child” for a naturalistic explanation of the basic building blocks of life. Many believed it proved amino acids could be formed naturally in the atmosphere of the early earth. But with the evidence we now have about the conditions of the early atmosphere, we know the gases used by Miller and Urey were not present in the quantity or proportion they used. While this experiment may have some historical significance, it does not prove life could originate in the atmosphere. In fact, scientists now believe the early atmosphere simply could not produce amino acids at any significant or necessary level.
Could It Have Started in Water?
Like the Miller-Urey experiment, the concept of an ancient “primordial soup” is an iconic fixture in most entry-level biology textbooks. Soviet biologist Alexander Oparin first proposed the idea in 1924, arguing “chemical evolution” took place in the Earth’s early waters, resulting in the formation of amino acids, then primitive proteins. But aside from the fact we have no physical evidence to support the existence of a “primordial soup,” we now know the “chicken and egg” relationship between proteins and polymer chains (DNA) makes their simultaneous appearance in water extremely unlikely (to put it mildly). In addition, the absence of significant sources of phosphate for the early formation of DNA, RNA or ATP is prohibitive in this environment. Worse yet, there would be no way to limit the proportion of left and right “handed” amino acids, nucleotides and sugars in the “primordial soup”, making the formation of DNA and RNA molecules exceedingly difficult.
Could It Have Started On Land?
Some researchers have proposed a scenario in which local terrestrial conditions, such as those occurring in clay, might capture water on occasion, allowing the necessary molecules to form and interact. But when trying to recreate these conditions in the laboratory, scientists have come to realize the impossibility of stabilizing the environment to allow for the formation of the necessary cellular components.
Could It Have Started In the Earth?
Some scientists have proposed an underground location for the origin of life where molecular formation would be protected from water and atmospheric interference. But the underground locations available in the early earth would have been incredibly hostile to the formation of bio-chemical precursors, proteins and RNA. Just as problematic would be imagining a scenario in which these primitive forms of life could then transition from their underground origin to their eventual homes above ground.
Could It Have Started In Space?
Some scientists, frustrated with the lack of progress locating a reasonable earthly source for pre-biotic molecules, have turned their attention to outer space. But even if the basic building blocks for life, amino acids, were delivered to earth in a meteorite, this would still fail to explain how the simple molecules formed into the more complex proteins and nucleic acids necessary for life, given the “chicken and egg” problem (refer to Chapter Three of God’s Crime Scene). And if these more complex organic elements came to us from space, how did they originate there and how could they survive the entry into earth’s atmosphere?
There’s a reason why scientists are so divided over the location of life’s origin: None of the proposed environments offer a viable, reasonable explanation. Arizona State Cosmologist Paul Davies agrees: “Origin-of-life researchers cannot identify any location on primordial Earth suitable for production of pre-biotic molecules.” Every effort to stay “inside the room” of the natural universe to explain the origin of life simply fails:
An Illustration from God’s Crime Scene
Every good detective learns the importance of simple investigative questions that start with “what,” “when,” “where,” “why,” and “how”. Scientists investigating the origin of life simply cannot answer the “where” question, but that isn’t the only question they can’t answer. In God’s Crime Scene, I also describe their inability to answer the “when,” “why,” and “how” questions. One reason these questions are so difficult to answer may simply be there refusal to ask another important investigative question beginning with “who”. The impersonal laws of physics and chemistry cannot account for the origin of life. There is, however, a personal force who better explains the existence of life in our universe. A personal, all-powerful Creator God best explains the incredible, otherwise inexplicable presence of life in our universe.
This brief blog post (excerpted from my book) really doesn’t do justice to the evidence I’ve described. For a much more thorough description of this evidence, please refer to God’s Crime Scene, Chapter Three – The Origin of Life: Does the Text Require an Author?
For more information about the scientific and philosophical evidence pointing to a Divine Creator, please read God’s Crime Scene: A Cold-Case Detective Examines the Evidence for a Divinely Created Universe. This book employs a simple crime scene strategy to investigate eight pieces of evidence in the universe to determine the most reasonable explanation. The book is accompanied by an eight-session God’s Crime Scene DVD Set (and Participant’s Guide) to help individuals or small groups examine the evidence and make the case.
J. Warner Wallace is a Dateline featured Cold-Case Detective, Senior Fellow at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, Adj. Professor of Christian Apologetics at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, author of Cold-Case Christianity, God’s Crime Scene, and Forensic Faith, and creator of the Case Makers Academy for kids.
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Katika kitabu changu kipya, God's Crime Scene: A Homicide Detective Examines the Evidence for a Divinely Created Universe, mimi hufanya kesi ya kina kwa ajili ya kuwepo kwa Mungu kutoka vipande nane vya ushahidi katika ulimwengu. Katika Sura ya Tatu (The Origin of Life: Does the Text Require an Author? "Kama ilivyoelezwa hapo juu, ""haikuwa na maana kwa wanasayansi kujaribu kutambua mahali katika ulimwengu ambapo maisha yangeweza kutokea bila kuingilia kati na kuhusika kwa Mbuni mwenye akili.""" Asili ya uhai inahitaji kutokea kwa molekuli za kabla ya uhai (amino asidi na misingi ya nucleotide). Jambo hilo lilitokea wapi? Je, huenda uhai ulitokea "ndani ya chumba" cha ulimwengu wa asili? Ikiwa ndivyo, ni wapi, na je, kuna ufafanuzi bora wa chanzo cha uhai "nje ya chumba" cha ulimwengu? (Kwa zaidi juu ya hii <unk>ndani ya chumba<unk> au <unk>nje ya chumba<unk> uchunguzi analogy, tafadhali rejea Taarifa ya Ufunguzi wa Mungu <unk> Crime Scene). Wanasayansi wa asili wameshindwa mara kwa mara kutambua mahali pa asili ya uhai, licha ya jitihada za pamoja zilizofanywa kwa miaka mingi. "Hii ni muhtasari mfupi sana wa majaribio yaliyoshindwa ya kupata ""ncha ya asili"" ya asili: Je, Maisha Yangeweza Kuanzia Katika Anga?" "Hata hivyo, ni vigumu kukumbuka kwamba ""Miller-Urey Experiment"" ilifanyika mwaka 1952 na wanafunzi wa shule ya sekondari walipokuwa wakisoma biolojia." Stanley Miller na Harold Urey walichanganya amonia, metani, mvuke wa maji, na hidrojeni na kupitisha umeme kupitia gesi zilizozunguka. Katika muda wa juma moja, waligundua kwamba aina kadhaa za asidi za amino zilikuwa zimeundwa. Baadaye jaribio hilo likawa "mtoto wa bango" kwa ajili ya ufafanuzi wa asili wa vipengele vya msingi vya uhai. Wengi waliamini kwamba ilithibitisha kwamba asidi za amino zingeweza kufanyizwa kiasili katika angahewa la dunia ya mapema. Lakini kwa sababu ya uthibitisho tulio nao sasa kuhusu hali za angahewa la mapema, tunajua gesi zilizotumiwa na Miller na Urey hazikuwapo kwa kiasi au uwiano waliotumia. Ingawa majaribio hayo huenda yakawa na maana fulani ya kihistoria, hayaonyeshi kwamba uhai ungeweza kutokea katika angahewa. Kwa kweli, wanasayansi sasa wanaamini kwamba angahewa la mapema halingeweza kutokeza asidi za amino kwa kiwango chochote muhimu au cha lazima. Je, Inaweza Kuanzia Maji? Kama majaribio ya Miller-Urey, dhana ya kale <unk> supu ya asili <unk> ni kiashiria katika vitabu vingi vya biolojia vya kiwango cha kuingia. Mwanabiolojia wa Sovieti Alexander Oparin alianzisha nadharia hiyo mwaka 1924 akisema kwamba mageuzi ya kemikali yalifanyika katika maji ya mwanzo ya dunia, na kusababisha kuundwa kwa asidi za amino, kisha protini za awali. Lakini mbali na ukweli kwamba hatuna ushahidi wa kimwili kuunga mkono kuwepo kwa "mchuzi wa awali", sasa tunajua uhusiano wa "kuku na yai" kati ya protini na minyororo ya polima (DNA) hufanya kuonekana kwao kwa wakati mmoja katika maji kuwa haiwezekani sana (kwa maneno ya upole). Kwa kuongezea, kutokuwepo kwa vyanzo muhimu vya phosphate kwa uundaji wa mapema wa DNA, RNA au ATP ni marufuku katika mazingira haya. "Hata mbaya zaidi, hakutakuwa na njia ya kupunguza uwiano wa amino asidi ""kushoto"" na ""kushoto"" amino asidi, nucleotides na sukari katika ""mchuzi wa msingi,"" na kufanya muundo wa DNA na RNA molekuli vigumu sana." Je, Inaweza Kuanzia Kwenye Ardhi? Watafiti wengine wamependekeza hali ambayo hali za ndani za ardhi, kama zile zinazotokea katika udongo, zinaweza kukamata maji mara kwa mara, kuruhusu molekuli muhimu kuunda na kuingiliana. Lakini wakati wa kujaribu kuunda tena hali hizi katika maabara, wanasayansi wamegundua kuwa haiwezekani kuimarisha mazingira ili kuruhusu malezi ya vipengele muhimu vya chembe. Je, Inaweza Kuanzia Duniani? Wanasayansi fulani wamependekeza kwamba uhai ulianza chini ya ardhi, mahali ambapo molekuli zingeweza kuundwa bila maji na hewa. Lakini maeneo ya chini ya ardhi yaliyopatikana katika dunia ya mapema yangekuwa ya uhasama sana kwa malezi ya vichwa vya biochemical, protini na RNA. "Kama vile tatizo itakuwa kuwa kufikiria hali ambayo aina hizi za awali za maisha inaweza kisha mabadiliko kutoka asili yao ya chini ya ardhi kwa nyumba zao mwisho juu ya ardhi. """ Je, Inaweza Kuanzia Angani? Wanasayansi fulani, wakiwa wamevunjika moyo kwa sababu ya kukosa maendeleo katika kutafuta chanzo cha kibinadamu cha molekuli za kabla ya uhai, wameelekeza fikira zao kwenye anga ya nje. Hata kama vipengele vya msingi vya maisha, amino asidi, viliwasili duniani katika meteorite, bado hii haitaweza kueleza jinsi molekuli rahisi zilizofanyizwa kuwa protini tata na asidi za nyuklia zinazohitajika kwa maisha, kwa kuzingatia tatizo la "kuku na yai" (tazama Sura ya Tatu ya God's Crime Scene). Ikiwa vitu hivyo vilivyotengenezwa kwa njia ya viumbe vilivyotengenezwa kwa njia ya viumbe vilivyotengenezwa kwa njia ya viumbe vilivyotengenezwa kwa njia ya viumbe vilivyotengenezwa kwa njia ya viumbe vilivyotengenezwa kwa njia ya viumbe vilivyotengenezwa kwa njia ya viumbe vilivyotengenezwa kwa njia ya viumbe vilivyotengenezwa kwa njia ya viumbe vilivyotengenezwa kwa njia ya viumbe. Kuna sababu kwa nini wanasayansi wamegawanyika sana juu ya mahali ambapo uhai ulitokea: Hakuna mazingira yoyote yaliyopendekezwa yanayotokeza ufafanuzi wenye kutegemeka na wenye busara. "Mtaalamu wa asili ya uhai Paul Davies anasema: ""Watafiti wa asili ya uhai hawawezi kutambua mahali popote duniani pa awali pa kutengeneza molekuli za kabla ya uhai.""Jitihada zote za kukaa ""ndani ya chumba"" cha ulimwengu wa asili kueleza chanzo cha uhai hushindwa: ""Mfano kutoka kwenye eneo la uhalifu wa Mungu"" ""Kila mpelelezi mzuri hujifunza umuhimu wa maswali sahili ya uchunguzi yanayoanza na ""Ni nini, ni lini, ni wapi, ni kwa nini, na ni jinsi gani.""" Wanasayansi wanaochunguza chanzo cha uhai hawawezi kujibu swali "wapi", lakini hilo si swali pekee ambalo hawawezi kujibu. Katika "God's Crime Scene", pia ninaelezea kutoweza kwao kujibu maswali ya "wanapi", "kwa nini", na "jinsi gani". Sababu moja maswali haya ni vigumu sana kujibu inaweza kuwa tu kuna kukataa kuuliza swali jingine muhimu uchunguzi kuanzia na <unk>who<unk>. Sheria zisizo za kibinafsi za fizikia na kemia haziwezi kueleza chanzo cha uhai. Hata hivyo, kuna nguvu ya kibinafsi ambayo hueleza vizuri zaidi kuwepo kwa uhai katika ulimwengu wetu. Mungu wa kibinafsi, mwenye nguvu zote, Muumba, anaelezea vizuri zaidi uwepo wa maisha katika ulimwengu wetu ambao kwa njia nyingine hauwezi kuelezwa. Chapisho hili fupi la blogi (litokana na kitabu changu) kwa kweli halifanyi haki kwa ushahidi ambao nimeelezea. Kwa maelezo ya kina zaidi ya uthibitisho huu, tafadhali tazama God's Crime Scene, Sura ya Tatu <unk> Asili ya Uhai: Je, Maandishi Huhitaji Mwandishi? Kwa habari zaidi kuhusu uthibitisho wa kisayansi na kifalsafa unaoonyesha kuwa kuna Muumba wa Kimungu, tafadhali soma kitabu God's Crime Scene: A Cold-Case Detective Examines the Evidence for a Divinely Created Universe. Kitabu hiki hutumia mkakati rahisi wa eneo la uhalifu kuchunguza vipande nane vya ushahidi katika ulimwengu ili kuamua ufafanuzi wa busara zaidi. Kitabu hiki kinaongozwa na seti ya DVD ya God's Crime Scene na mwongozo wa washiriki ili kusaidia watu binafsi au vikundi vidogo kuchunguza ushahidi na kufanya kesi. J. Warner Wallace ni Dateline featured Cold-Case Detective, Mshiriki Mkuu katika Kituo cha Colson kwa ajili ya Christian Worldview, Adj. "Mwanamke huyo ni Profesa wa Uhakikisho wa Kikristo katika Shule ya Theolojia ya Talbot, Chuo Kikuu cha Biola, mwandishi wa ""Kikristo cha Cold-Case,"" ""God's Crime Scene,"" na ""Forensic Faith,"" na muundaji wa Chuo cha Watengenezaji wa Kesi kwa watoto." Kujiandikisha kwa J. Warner's Daily Email