How does the appearance of design in the earth make some people believe in God?

Answer 1

The appearance of design is the fifth proof used by theologians, St. Thomas Aquinas most eminent among them, to demonstrate the existence of God. Here is an excerpt taken from Anthony F. Alexander's book "College Apologetics":

"The starting point for the fifth proof for the existence of God is the observation that there are about us things which serve a purpose. The cogency of this argument is not weakened because of the fact that the purposefulness of many objects cannot be readily named. If there were but one instance of usefulness in the whole universe, this proof would still be valid.

"There are many things in the world which were made for a definite reason. Man has eyes to see and ears to hear; birds have wings to fly; fishes have gills to breathe; an eagle has talons to grasp. Many other instances of purposefulness could be given. In each object the parts were fitted together in such a manner that a definite goal might be attained. A different arrangement of the same parts would not bring about the same result. The parts of the eye are so arranged that sight may be had; wings are so made up that they may sustain the bird in flight; a root is designed to play an integral part in the life of the plant.

"The designing of a useful thing involves several factors. It takes intelligence to arrange the parts of an object so that it will serve a purpose. The designer must first conceive his goal. Then he must know how the parts are to be arranged so that this goal will be reached. These two steps must be thought out abstractly before the work of fitting the parts together can begin. But abstract thought requires an immaterial thinking power called intelligence. Material things, because they are material, are not capable of abstract thought.

"An object such as an eye or an ear is purposeful, yet is wholly material. It does not have the power to think or plan. It, therefore, could have designed itself. An outside intelligence must have been in operation in designing the eye. The eye which exhibits purposefulness we shall call A. Being material, it clearly did not design itself. The designing intelligence we shall call B. If B is a limited intelligence, then it was given intelligence by C. The existence of a series of beings in which each intelligence received its intelligence from another intelligent being does not account for the source of all intelligence. One must ultimately admit to the existence of being whose intelligence was not acquired from another. This being is called the "Unacquired Intelligence". This is but another name for God."

Answer 2

It seems unlikely that any appearance of design in the earth would make people believe in God. However, it could be said that some who already believe in God find apparent design in the earth and use it to reinforce their belief.

Answer 3

Design points to a Designer, as does purposeful complexity. Each cell in your body is much more complex than an entire town with all its Plumbing and wiring. See also:

Can you show that God exists

God's wisdom seen in His creations

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