Introduction
Our universe is a complex system of cosmic bodies and creatures. Out of the planets, only the earth is known to have life on it. Life is supported by air, water, land, energy and space. The combination of the sun, earth and moon create days, nights, seasons and tides program life routine of the humans. All this indicates an Intelligent Design, and it is working.
The universe has been designed to enable the creatures to perform their roles in life. IT has designed their bodies to perform their roles. This is visible from the reptiles, animals, humans, apes, birds and marine life. What is science? It is observation of natural phenomena, seeing their repetitive patterns and deducing laws of nature from them. The scientists study them and call them laws of science. Our Creator, the great Scientist and Designer, made these laws, not the scientists. They make use of them but some deny their Maker.
The noted physicist, Stephen Hawking (1972-2018) presents a very interesting picture. He was a self-avowed atheist, but also a man of reflection. His thinking faculty brought him to God repeatedly, but he tried to find a way to deny Him. The following statements by him demonstrate that. He says in his book ‘Brief answers to Big Questions’ (Bantam Books 2018).
1. If you believe in science, like I do, you believe that there are certain laws that are always obeyed. If you like, you can say the laws are the work of God, but that is more a definition of God than a proof of his existence.
2. One could define God as the embodiment of the laws of nature. However, this is not what most people would think of as God. They mean a human-like being, with whom one can have a personal relationship. When you look at the vast size of the universe, and how insignificant and accidental human life is in it, that seems most implausible.
3. I use the word “God” in an impersonal sense, like Einstein did, for the laws of nature, so knowing the mind of God is knowing the laws of nature. My prediction is that we will know the mind of God by the end of this century.
4. The one remaining area that religion can now lay claim to is the origin of the universe, but even here science is making progress and should soon provide a definitive answer to how the universe began. (Note: It may be noted that Hawking acknowledges the Creator here).
5. It is hard to think of a more important, or fundamental, mystery than what, or who, created and controls the universe. I think the universe was spontaneously created out of nothing, according to the laws of science. The basic assumption of science is scientific determinism. (Note: This violates the law of conservation of energy and hence is not science).
6. The laws of science determine the evolution of the universe, given its state at one time. These laws may, or may not, have been decreed by God, but he cannot intervene to break the laws, or they would not be laws.
Hawking also says, “The big question in cosmology in the early 1960’s was did the universe have a beginning? Many scientists were instinctively opposed to the idea, because they felt that a point of creation would be a place where science broke down”.
This about sums up the scientists’ attitude, i.e. be in denial of the Creator, or science will have no importance.
Science has taken great strides over centuries and there is no belittling its achievements. However, it has done it with resources available and learnt from phenomena in nature. The problem arises with their approach to cosmology, and denial of the Creator.
The major drawback in the scientists’ approach to cosmology is that it is piecemeal. They consider creation of just three elements, namely matter, energy and space by Big Bang and say that is how the universe was created. They ignore a very important fact that every cosmic body and creature has a specific role for which it has been designed. They are in space without any support. How were they created and who placed them in orbits? This is clear from the combination of the sun, earth and the moon causing seasons, lunar cycles, days and nights, which in turn control activities of the creatures. Land, rains and seasons enable availability of different crops and fruits.
The scientists believe the universe came into being by Big Bang, an explosion of the black hole, which in turn was formed by concentration of the three elements, namely matter, space and energy. So, delusion is clear: the scientist believes they were created by Big Bang and also say they caused the explosion. Indeed, an explosion cannot take place without these three.
It is necessary to have a clear idea about God, our Creator. Everyone describes God as Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Omniscient. Such an entity cannot obviously be a person. Even a lay person understands God as the power ‘up there’ that controls and runs the world. The Creator is the Spirit that created the laws of nature and made everything subject to them. IT created everything from nothing which action cannot be explained by laws of nature/science.
The Sikh scripture, Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) compiled in 1604 describes the process of creation scientifically, using concepts which science had not yet stated. It is the forerunner in awareness of some aspects of general science as observed from phenomena in nature. It says:
ਜਿਨਿ ਏਹਿ ਲਿਖੇ ਤਿਸੁ ਸਿਰਿ ਨਾਹਿ ॥
The Creator’s commands do not apply to the Creator who wrote them – metaphorically. Japji Paurri 19.
The sequence of creation it describes, is scientific. For example, it says the Creator first identified the components that would form the cosmic bodies and life, and then created them. It also says the creatures were created after providing the wherewithal needed for their existence.
ਪਹਿਲੋਦੇ ਤੈਂ ਰਿਜਕੁ ਸਮਾਹਾ ॥ ਪਿਛੋਦੇ ਤੈਂ ਜੰਤੁ ਉਪਾਹਾ ॥ ਤੁਧੁ ਜੇਵਡੁ ਦਾਤਾ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਲਵੈ ਨ ਕੋਈ ਲਾਵਣਿਆ ॥6॥ P 130
O Almighty Creator, You first provided the wherewithal and after that created the creatures. There is none as the great beneficent Master, as You; none comes near You. P 130.
Composition of the Universe and Life
SGGS first identifies that every cosmic body as well as life comprises of five or less elements. They are (earth) solids, (liquids) water, (air) gases, (fire) energy and (sky) space. Only the creatures’ bodies have all these five; solid - in flesh and bones, liquids – water in the body, air for breathing, energy - for life, and space.
ਅਪੁ ਤੇਜੁ ਵਾਇ ਪ੍ਰਿਥਮੀ ਆਕਾਸਾ ॥ ਤਿਨ ਮਹਿ ਪੰਚ ਤਤੁ ਘਰਿ ਵਾਸਾ ॥
The soul abides in the body formed by Water, heat, air, clay and space. P 1031
This is how these were created.
The Process of Creation
ਸਾਚੇ ਤੇ ਪਵਨਾ ਭਇਆ ਪਵਨੈ ਤੇ ਜਲੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਜਲ ਤੇ ਤ੍ਰਿਭਵਣੁ ਸਾਜਿਆ ਘਟਿ ਘਟਿ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਮੋਇ ॥
Air was created by the Creator; from air (hydrogen and oxygen gases as is science) water was formed; And with water the universe was molded with Divine Spirit present in, i.e. cosmic laws applicable to, all. P 19.
ਖਾਕ ਨੂਰ ਕਰਦੰ ਆਲਮ ਦੁਨੀਆਇ ॥ ਅਸਮਾਨ ਜਿਮੀ ਦਰਖਤ ਆਬ ਪੈਦਾਇਸਿ ਖੁਦਾਇ ॥1॥
The Creator infused the Spirit in dust to create life and the material world. The sky, earth, water and plants are all creation of the Creator. P 723
The universe exists to enable the creatures to perform their roles. Charles Darwin, the author of the theory of evolution claimed all creatures have the same ancestor. This is impossible. The Creator created the creatures to be born in four different ways. Examples are (1) mammals, including the humans from the womb, (2) birds from eggs, (3) lice from perspiration and (4) earthworms and plants from the soil.
Darwin declared, and most scientists accept, that the Creator has no hand in this. This is only a contrarian view, and it has become a trend to accept anything in the name of science.
Gurbani says:
ਆਪੀਨੈ ਆਪੁ ਸਾਜਿਓ ਆਪੀਨੈ ਰਚਿਓ ਨਾਉ ॥ ਦੁਯੀ ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਸਾਜੀਐ ਕਰਿ ਆਸਣੁ ਡਿਠੋ ਚਾਉ ॥
The Eternal Spirit first created the self and then planned the universe of cosmic bodies and creatures with their roles and laws applicable to them. IT next created the universe, which is IT’s manifestation, i.e. the Supreme Spirit pervades in everyone and everywhere. IT watches and sustains it fondly. P 463
This created the wherewithal for the creatures and the creatures were created next.
ਰਾਤੀ ਰੁਤੀ ਥਿਤੀ ਵਾਰ ॥ ਪਵਣ ਪਾਣੀ ਅਗਨੀ ਪਾਤਾਲ ॥ ਤਿਸੁ ਵਿਚਿ ਧਰਤੀ ਥਾਪਿ ਰਖੀ ਧਰਮਸਾਲ ॥
Days, nights, seasons, days of the week – were created for the creatures to exist and – perform their roles. Japji Paurri 34
ਨਾਨਕ ਜੀਅ ਉਪਾਇ ਕੈ ਲਿਖਿ ਨਾਵੈ ਧਰਮੁ ਬਹਾਲਿਆ ॥
The Creator next created the creatures with ordained roles, making them accountable for their deeds. P 463.
The SGGS summarizes the provisioning for and creation of the universe. It takes note of the earlier Indian belief, which says that the earth is supported by a bull. Similarly, an old Greek belief says that Atlas bears the heavens.
This is how it happened.
ਧੌਲੁ ਧਰਮੁ ਦਇਆ ਕਾ ਪੂਤੁ ॥ ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਥਾਪਿ ਰਖਿਆ ਜਿਨਿ ਸੂਤਿ ॥
The bull is a myth; the earth and other planets including the earth exist in space by faithfully obeying the cosmic laws.ਧਰਤੀ ਹੋਰੁ ਪਰੈ ਹੋਰੁ ਹੋਰੁ ॥ ਤਿਸ ਤੇ ਭਾਰੁ ਤਲੈ ਕਵਣੁ ਜੋਰੁ ॥
There are planets other than the earth and many more beyond, what takes their weight.
Note: This awareness of multiple cosmic systems mentioned in SGGS in the fifteen century was declared by the scientists in 1992.
ਜੇ ਕੋ ਬੁਝੈ ਹੋਵੈ ਸਚਿਆਰੁ ॥ ਧਵਲੈ ਉਪਰਿ ਕੇਤਾ ਭਾਰੁ ॥
If someone reflects, s/he would realize that a bull cannot bear weight of the earth.
ਧਰਤੀ ਹੋਰੁ ਪਰੈ ਹੋਰੁ ਹੋਰੁ ॥ ਤਿਸ ਤੇ ਭਾਰੁ ਤਲੈ ਕਵਣੁ ਜੋਰੁ ॥
Then there are more planets and many more still farther. What supports them?ਜੀਅ ਜਾਤਿ ਰੰਗਾ ਕੇ ਨਾਵ ॥ ਸਭਨਾ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਵੁੜੀ ਕਲਾਮ ॥
The earth has creatures of various hues; roles of all of them have been laid down.
ਏਹੁ ਲੇਖਾ ਲਿਖਿ ਜਾਣੈ ਕੋਇ ॥ ਲੇਖਾ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਕੇਤਾ ਹੋਇ ॥
It is hard for anyone to detail all this.
ਕੇਤਾ ਤਾਣੁ ਸੁਆਲਿਹੁ ਰੂਪੁ ॥ ਕੇਤੀ ਦਾਤਿ ਜਾਣੈ ਕੌਣੁ ਕੂਤੁ ॥
Who can have powers of the Creator and create beauty of the creation?
The wherewithal provisioned by the Creator for the creatures is beyond estimate.
ਕੀਤਾ ਪਸਾਉ ਏਕੋ ਕਵਾਉ ॥ ਤਿਸ ਤੇ ਹੋਏ ਲਖ ਦਰੀਆਉ ॥
The Creator provided the wherewithal and then created the universe with a single command; millions of streams, i.e. the total universe came into being in one step, in millions of streams. Japji Paurri 16.
This means the universe was not created in stages or by evolution.
We have seen in our lifetime that more and more items have been discovered and added to the chemistry Periodic Table, more and more species and cosmic bodies are being discovered. This is an interesting aspect. The Indian scriptures talk of 84 lakh, or 8.4 million species. The number was earlier laughed at, but the known number no is near that. Neither the Big Bang nor evolution created them.
There are other examples that certify a planned universe.
ਚੰਦੁ ਸੂਰਜੁ ਦੁਇ ਦੀਪਕ ਰਾਖੇ ਸਸਿ ਘਰਿ ਸੂਰੁ ਸਮਾਇਦਾ ॥6॥
The moon draws light from the sun. P 1033
2. The mother has milk ready in her breasts before the baby arrives.
ਸੈਲ ਪਥਰ ਮਹਿ ਜµਤ ਉਪਾਏ ਤਾ ਕਾ ਰਿਜਕੁ ਆਗੈ ਕਰਿ ਧਰਿਆ ॥1॥
Some creatures are born under rocks. They get their food there. P 10
ਜਲ ਮਹਿ ਜੰਤ ਉਪਾਇਅਨੁ ਤਿਨਾ ਭਿ ਰੋਜੀ ਦੇਇ ॥
Creatures created in water have the wherewithal provided there. P 955
5. ਸਭੁ ਜੀਉ ਪਿੰਡੁ ਦੀਆ ਤੁਧੁ ਆਪੇ ਤੁਧੁ ਆਪੇ ਕਾਰੈ ਲਾਇਆ ॥ ਜੇਹਾ ਤੂੰ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਕਰਹਿ ਤੇਹੇ ਕੋ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਵੈ ਜੇਹਾ ਤੁਧੁ ਧੁਰਿ ਲਿਖਿ ਪਾਇਆ ॥2
The creatures’ bodies are designed for their allotted roles. O Creator You gave the soul and body to everyone and a its role. Everyone plays the role allotted by the Creator. P 736
Examples of this are: The camels mostly operate in the desert where the soil is soft and water scarce. They have spongy feet for a good hold in sand and they store large quantity of water in the body. Polar bears find their food in the snow. Marine life subsists with resources there.
Design of Human Body
Design of the human body is fascinating. It has a large number of organs, arteries and veins. They all form one system; anything failing causes collapse of the system. This is called ‘irreducible complexity’ and any of them forming by evolution is fantasy, but Charles Darwin, the author of the theory of evolution indulges in it.
ਸਭੁ ਜੀਉ ਪਿੰਡੁ ਮੁਖੁ ਨਕੁ ਦੀਆ ਵਰਤਣ ਕਉ ਪਾਣੀ ॥ ਅੰਨੁ ਖਾਣਾ ਕਪੜੁ ਪੈਨਣੁ ਦੀਆ ਰਸ ਅਨਿ ਭੋਗਾਣੀ ॥ ਜਿਨਿ ਦੀਏ ਸੁ ਚਿਤਿ ਨ ਆਵਈ ਪਸੂ ਹਉ ਕਰਿ ਜਾਣੀ ॥3॥We were given the soul, body, mouth, nose and water for use; Design of human body Food to eat, clothes to wear as well as avenues of enjoyment are given; Caught in ego the animal-like mind does not acknowledge the Creator (M: 4, SGGS, p 167).
In his book “On the origin of species by means of natural selection”.
Chapter VI – Difficulties on Theory, Darwin has spent considerable effort to show that different organs of the body evolved gradually. He also says that if it can be shown that any organ has irreducible complexity his theory fails.
But then says even though the eye is he most complex organ of the body, it could have evolved. This is not science, just conjecture.
The concept of gradual evolution of the organs is not scientific because a body could not have existed with partial organs. Then there is the interconnection between organs. For example in the human body the heart, lungs and the kidneys are all associated with purification of blood and disposal of waste. Who designed this and the other systems like the digestive and respiratory systems involving multiple organs?
Here is the aspect that shows that the creator has designed how a human eats, digests food to convert it to energy and then excretes the waste.
The food is cooked at home or purchased. The eyes see it for suitability. The hands pick it up, the nose smells it for suitability, the hands put it in the mouth, the tongue tastes it for agreeability and the teeth grind it. It is then passed down into the body, the digestive system digests and converts to energy and the waste leaves through the excretory system. Surely, all this could not have evolved bit by it. The total system was designed and created by the Creator.
We take the Creator’s play for granted and do not realize its beauty. The tongue, a soft tissue is located inside the set of teeth, and takes in food. The system ensures that the teeth grind the food but the tongue remains safe to taste food and also speak.
Conclusion
ਏਹੁ ਪਰਪੰਚੁ ਖੇਲੁ ਕੀਆ ਸਭੁ ਕਰਤੈ ਹਰਿ ਕਰਤੈ ਸਭ ਕਲ ਧਾਰੀ ॥
The universe is the work of the Creator, and the Creator holds all the powers. P 507.
Indeed, everything happens according to the methods established by the Creator. The cosmic bodies were placed in orbits by the Creator. The creatures are conceived, born, grow and die as established. No one can change these. The sun, earth and moon create seasons, days and nights. No one can change these. The most advanced medical intervention cannot prolong life when the allotted lifespan is over. The Creator is indeed all-powerful. Let us accept the truth and enjoy peace.
