2007-4-4 06:42:00
The Question:
What is the meaning of entropy and how does this principle prove the existence of higher intelligence or God?
Thanks for your answers on this. Dan gets a gold star for his answer. He said:
What comes to my mind when I think of entropy is the tendency of a system to degenerate to a state of chaos, asymmetry, disorganization or anarchy (no system or law) through lack of intelligent activity or attention. Very similar to the idea of attrition.
The fact that the universe is NOT chaos is in itself indicative of intelligence. Moreover, the degree of complexity manifested from quark to man to universe is indicative of both where the attention of that intelligence has been (primarily) applied in the past as well as where it (the point of creation) is currently focused.
Good answer. As some pointed out God also uses entropy. When a creation has outlived its usefulness then the intelligent life force is withdrawn and the creation falls apart through entropy.
Entropy is the closest word I can find to bear the name of this principle and the meaning has evolved or changed somewhat in recent years. The best dictionary definition I can find that harmonizes with the principle is from the Wordsmyth online dictionary. It defines it as:
The natural and irreversible tendency toward randomness and disorder in any system without an external source of energy.
Perhaps we should redefine it slightly to harmonize with the principle under discussion:
The natural and irreversible tendency toward randomness and disorder in any system without an external source of energy applied with intelligence.
Energy alone is not enough to maintain order in the universe, on a planet, in a body, a cell or an atom. That energy must be applied with intelligence.
If intelligence is withdrawn from a creation then energy also dissipates and the system begins to disintegrate and fall apart.
A great example of this is the withdrawal of an intelligent entity from his body at death. When the intelligence withdraws then energy is not supplied to sustain the body and it rapidly starts to fall apart, or disintegrate.
Jesus said to consider the lilies of the field - Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If we look at any plant through a powerful microscope or the greater universe through the Hubble telescope we indeed see a majesty of creation that has to be sustained by some great intelligence.
One thing that presently impresses many scientists is the study of DNA and learning of its complexity, as if it were a great computer more powerful than any that we presently have.
Recent discoveries have convinced Professor Antony Flew, a renowned atheist for 50 years, that there is indeed a great intelligence we loosely call God.
He said:
"What I think the DNA material has done is show that intelligence must have been involved in getting these extraordinarily diverse elements together. The enormous complexity by which the results were achieved look to me like the work of intelligence."
http://www.thewonderoftheworld.com/newsrelease-flew.php
Actually, just looking at a beautiful female sunbathing on the beach is enough to convince me, but to explore the complexity of the microcosm is even more impressive.
Conclusion:
The fact that great order exists in the universe and entropy does not dominate proves that some great intelligence is at work.
The next principle to consider is evolution.
Forget about whether the various schools of evolution as taught by scientists are exactly true and accurate. What we are looking for is an understanding of the principle of evolution.
Question:
How would you define evolution and what is the true principle behind it?
Global Warming Enlightenment:
The portion of his Farewell Address in which he (Dwight Eisenhower) worries about the possibility of a "Military-Industrial Complex" is often quoted, but he had the same worries about science. Eisenhower said: "The prospect of domination of the nation's scholars by Federal employment, project allocations, and the power of money is ever present-and is gravely to be regarded. Yet, holding scientific research and discovery in respect, as we should, we must always be alert to the equal and opposite danger that public policy could itself become a captive of a scientific-technological elite."
"Meltdown" by Patrick J. Michaels, Page 22
Copyright © 2007 by J J Dewey, All Rights Reserved