Black Holes as Evidence of God’s Care
As black holes gravitationally draw matter toward their event horizons, a high proportion of this matter is converted into energy. Radiation from this conversion process is deadly for advanced life. The apparent incompatibility of black holes with advanced life raises a problem for Christians and ot...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/3/201 |
| _version_ | 1797540929847951360 |
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| author | Hugh Ross |
| author_facet | Hugh Ross |
| author_sort | Hugh Ross |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | As black holes gravitationally draw matter toward their event horizons, a high proportion of this matter is converted into energy. Radiation from this conversion process is deadly for advanced life. The apparent incompatibility of black holes with advanced life raises a problem for Christians and other theists who believe that God planned the rise of advanced life on Earth. Yet additional scientific data may help to resolve this apparent problem. This article argues that a universe with the mass and laws and constants of physics to make advanced life possible will inevitably produce black holes, and this is good news. When the most massive stars and merging neutron stars become black holes, they manufacture elements heavier than iron. Eight of these r-process elements appear essential for advanced life; the remainder appear essential for enduring life and for advanced civilization. Moreover, though black holes produce deadly radiation in all known regions of the universe where advanced life is conceivable, our solar system is protected from this deadly radiation. By apparent fine-tuning, we live in a uniquely safe and uniquely provisioned location. These scientific findings suggest a way that theists can reconcile the existence of black holes with the existence of a Creator. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:08:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-be7d36ab33f24b638d8a5bd2e28f1490 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:08:04Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-be7d36ab33f24b638d8a5bd2e28f14902023-11-21T10:59:52ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442021-03-0112320110.3390/rel12030201Black Holes as Evidence of God’s CareHugh Ross0Reasons to Believe, Covina, CA 91724, USAAs black holes gravitationally draw matter toward their event horizons, a high proportion of this matter is converted into energy. Radiation from this conversion process is deadly for advanced life. The apparent incompatibility of black holes with advanced life raises a problem for Christians and other theists who believe that God planned the rise of advanced life on Earth. Yet additional scientific data may help to resolve this apparent problem. This article argues that a universe with the mass and laws and constants of physics to make advanced life possible will inevitably produce black holes, and this is good news. When the most massive stars and merging neutron stars become black holes, they manufacture elements heavier than iron. Eight of these r-process elements appear essential for advanced life; the remainder appear essential for enduring life and for advanced civilization. Moreover, though black holes produce deadly radiation in all known regions of the universe where advanced life is conceivable, our solar system is protected from this deadly radiation. By apparent fine-tuning, we live in a uniquely safe and uniquely provisioned location. These scientific findings suggest a way that theists can reconcile the existence of black holes with the existence of a Creator.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/3/201supermassive black holesr-process elementsentropyneutron starssupernovaeLaniakea supercluster |
| spellingShingle | Hugh Ross Black Holes as Evidence of God’s Care Religions supermassive black holes r-process elements entropy neutron stars supernovae Laniakea supercluster |
| title | Black Holes as Evidence of God’s Care |
| title_full | Black Holes as Evidence of God’s Care |
| title_fullStr | Black Holes as Evidence of God’s Care |
| title_full_unstemmed | Black Holes as Evidence of God’s Care |
| title_short | Black Holes as Evidence of God’s Care |
| title_sort | black holes as evidence of god s care |
| topic | supermassive black holes r-process elements entropy neutron stars supernovae Laniakea supercluster |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/3/201 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hughross blackholesasevidenceofgodscare |