Return to 3rd Quarter 2025 articles.
Everyone is curious about the things we see in nature. Our posts on DoesGodExist.Today and on Facebook often concern animals, plants, and ecosystems. Most people observing living creatures believe they see design and have questions about life in three categories.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The first category of questions, asked mainly by scientists or the scientifically minded, is, “How does it work?” We want to understand how DNA determines the various traits of living things. We are curious about how green plants convert sunlight and carbon dioxide into energy to power their cells. How does a bat find its prey in the dark? How can an octopus control eight arms independently? The questions are many.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE?
The second category is, “What is the purpose?” Atheist scientist Richard Dawkins stops after the “how” question to say, “Biology is the study of things that give the appearance of having been designed for a purpose.” But then he makes it very clear that he believes they are not designed and have no purpose. On the other hand, theologians look for a purpose. Since God created the world, he must have a purpose in mind.
HOW AND WHEN DID THIS ORIGINATE?
Both scientists and theologians ask questions in the third category. They want to know, “How and when did this originate? How did the universe come into being? How did life come from non-living chemicals? When did the first human life begin, and how?” For believers, the Bible provides basic answers to these questions. However, since the Bible is not a science textbook, it leaves many questions unanswered. That is where science can help find answers.
Looking at questions about life in three categories, the third is very contentious because scientists and believers disagree. I mean that unbelieving scientists disagree with believers and vice versa. But also, scientists disagree with other scientists, and believers disagree with other believers. Interestingly, in recent years, some of these disagreements have been resolved. Those who once insisted that the universe was eternal have been forced to accept the evidence of a cosmic beginning about 13.8 billion years ago.
Believers, however, continue to debate young-earth and old-earth theology. All believers need to accept that the Bible does not specify when the universe began or when Adam and Eve lived. As Christians, we must let the Bible speak where it speaks and allow science to speak where it speaks.
Of the questions about life in these three categories, the most important for believers to consider falls into the second category. “What is the purpose of life?” That is a question the Bible clearly addresses. For example, read Romans 12:1-2; Romans 6:22; and Ephesians 3:10-12.
— Roland Earnst
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Scripture links/references are from BibleGateway.com. Unhighlighted scriptures can be looked up at their website.