The concept of Intelligent of Design (I.D.) teaches that there is a design in the universe. The design may be observed in several areas such as the intricate astronomical evidence of the universe’s origin or the detailed information discovered in DNA. Most proponents of I.D. believe that it is more probable that the universe was designed purposely by some form of Intelligence than by pure chance or luck. Although proponents of I.D. do not necessarily believe that the universe was designed by God, it is true that many of them will acknowledge that only a Being who is very powerful (like God) could design the universe. Even the famous atheist Richard Dawkins, who claims to be antagonistic towards the concept of an Intelligent Designer, in his interview with Ben Stein hinted at the possibility that aliens could have designed the world.[i]

Modern atheists will use arguments similar to the ancient philosopher Lucretius who appeal to the imperfections of the world to disprove that God was the creator. But imperfect design still implies a designer. When atheists ask why an all-benevolent being would create a world with natural disasters, disease, and death, they are actually asking a theological question about the nature of God. The design argument doesn’t defend the character of God’s goodness or perfection. I.D. simply argues that empirical evidence in the universe suggests the existence of a Designer.

In the 1997 movie Contact, based on the 1985 book by Carl Sagan, Ellie (played by Jodie Foster) monitors radio waves and signals from outer space, listening for an ordered, encrypted sequence among the static. She and her scientist colleagues eventually decipher a signal that is, as they describe it, “not local.” As a result, they surmise that a complex, ordered pattern “can only come from an intelligent source.”[ii]

Let me share another analogy. Suppose you were to visit the Louvre museum in Paris and found yourself gazing at one of the world’s most popular paintings—the Mona Lisa. Would you conclude that this was just an accident from an explosion in a paint store? You are more likely to assume that the remarkable work was done by an accomplished painter (designer).

The argument from design was popularized by an Anglican theologian, William Paley, who published Natural Theology in 1802. Paley wrote, “In crossing a heath, supposed I pitched my foot against a stone, and were asked how the stone came to be there, I might possibly answer, for anything I knew to the contrary, it had lain there forever.” Paley continued, “But suppose I found a watch upon the ground, I should hardly think of the answer I had given before.”[iii]

Paley was making the point that you don’t have to be an expert in watches or even stones to understand that someone designed the watch. You may not know who exactly created the watch, but you know someone did.[iv]

Some Darwinian naturalistic atheists will criticize this argument by showing its limitations in describing the nature of the “Intelligent Designer.” These same atheists often fail to admit the faith that is involved in some of the mysteries of evolution, too. Just as there some things that we do not understand about intelligent design, naturalistic scientists do not fully understand evolution. Once again, intelligent design does not attempt to describe all of the moral attributes of God (love, justice, mercy, etc.). It simply claims that it is more likely that the probability of fine-tuning points towards intelligence rather than accident, happenstance.

Astronomer Hugh Ross identifies hundreds of examples that suggest that the universe was precisely created and “tweaked” to support human life on earth. For example, the size of our galaxy is perfect. If the Milky Way were larger, infusions of gas and stars would disturb the sun’s orbit and cause too many galactic eruptions. If it were smaller, there would be an insufficient infusion of gas to sustain star formation.[v] Similarly, the oxygen and nitrogen quantity is just right for life. If there were more oxygen, plants and hydrocarbons would burn up too easily. If there was less oxygen, then advanced animals would have too little to breathe. Given these and hundreds of other examples of precise “fine-tuning” in the universe, it is most probable, beyond a reasonable doubt, that an intelligent designer was involved in the creation of the universe.

Other aspects of the universe—like the structure and order of a person’s DNA—also support the theory of intelligent design. Dr. Francis Collins is one of the leading DNA scientists in the world and head of the Human Genome Project. In his book, The Language of God, he also reveals that he is a man of unshakable faith in God and Scripture.[vi]

Collins recalls an announcement about the Human Genome Project in the year 2000 that appeared in virtually every major newspaper. He stood with then-president Bill Clinton and was joined by then-British prime minister Tony Blair by satellite. In the president’s address, Clinton said, “Without a doubt, this is the most important, most wondrous map ever produced by humankind.” Reflecting on Clinton’s speech, Collins noted, “But the part of his speech that most attracted public attention jumped from the scientific perspective to the spiritual.” Clinton had said, “Today, we are learning the language in which God created life. We are gaining ever more awe for the complexity, the beauty, and the wonder of God’s most divine and sacred gift.”[vii]

Collins found Clinton’s observation compelling. “Was I, a rigorously trained scientist,” he asked, “taken aback at such a blatantly religious reference by the leader of the free world at a moment like this? No, not at all.”[viii] Francis Collins is one of many scientists who do not see a problem in believing that science points to God.

You do not have to be an expert in science or philosophy to see that the evidence of the design in the universe implies beyond a reasonable doubt, and intelligent designer. For many years Antony Flew was known as one of the world’s leading atheists. But Flew abandoned his atheism and accepted the existence of God because of the argument from design. Flew explained his new beliefs in an interview for Philosophia Christi with Gary Habermas: “[I] had to go where the evidence leads.”

When we establish a personal relationship with God by trusting Christ, we do not receive all of the answers about God’s nature immediately. Nevertheless, we can go wherever the evidence leads. Sometimes I wonder why atheists such as Richard Dawkins admit that aliens might have been involved in the creation of our world but get angry when someone suggests that the world’s designer is God. Perhaps it’s because if God exists, then there are moral implications for the way we live our lives and treat one another.