For just as though some musician, having tuned a lyre, and by his art adjusted the high notes to the low, and the intermediate notes to the rest, were to produce a single tune as the result, so also the Wisdom of God, handling the Universe as a lyre, and adjusting things in the air to things on the earth, and things in the heaven to things in the air, and combining parts into wholes and moving them all by His beck and will, produces well and fittingly, as the result, the unity of the universe and of its order, Himself remaining unmoved with the Father while He moves all things by His organising action, as seems good for each to His own Father.
– Athanasius
(Cited from Against the Heathen, 3.42.3)
A fine-tuned lyre played by skilled hands can bring forth the most glorious ethereal music. The resonate frequencies of each string unite to form elegant melodies and harmonies. Athanasius recognizes the same sort fine tuning in the universe bears witness to the Wisdo of God in the creation. We experience different seasons with rain and sunlight. Both provide conditions for plant, birds, and animals to thrive. There are recognizable patterns in the weather that cycle through the year. The Sun gives forth light. The Moon and other stellar objects can give direction at night. Nature bears the fingerprints of God.
Today, we know that the Earth is a planet of the right size orbited with the right size moon orbiting at a proper distance to regulate tides, and the Earth orbits at the proper distance a right size Sun emanating right spectrum of light. The Earth has liquid water and an atmosphere with the right balance of oxygen and other gases. These features are but a few that distinguish the Earth as an optimal habitation for complex biological life. There are many Earth-like planets detected in outer space but whether the share the same kind of habitability as our own is unknown. Moreover, Earth is in a solar system situated at the end of one arm of a spiral galaxy. The center of the Milky Way is uninhabitable given all the black holes. Plus, the clustering of stars makes it difficult to observe other stars. The fact that the Earth is situated around the arm of this spiral galaxy makes it optimal for space exploration. What makes Earth a privileged planet with optimal habitability for complex biological life and space exploration can never just come by chance and unguided processes. No. The well-suitability of Earth for supporting complex biological life and space exploration is the song played upon a finely tuned instrument in the hands of the Creator.
Athanasius of Alexandria (c. 295-373). Bishiop of Alexandria in North Africa known for taking bold stances against error, which resulted in his exile on numerous occasions. Athanasius stood string against the doctrinal errors perpetuated by the Arians. Arians denied Christ was truly God but one of highest created beings of God. The Bishop of Alexandria’s name is also attributed to the Athanasian Creed, which is one of the three ecumenical creeds of Western Christianity, expounding upon the doctrines of the Trinity and Incarnation
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