by Ben Clausen
Translated for Ciencia de los Orķgenes, Setiembre 1995 - Abril 1996, N.42,43, p.13
Dr. Bradley received both his B.S. degree in Engineering Science
(1965) and his Ph.D. in Materials Science (1968) from the University of Texas (Austin). He
spent 8 years as a professor at the Colorado School of Mines and is currently at Texas
A&M University. At Texas A&M he served as head of the department of mechanical
engineering for 4 years, and is now a professor and Senior Research Fellow. He has
received over US$3,000,000 in research grants and contracts resulting in the publication
of more than 80 technical articles.
His work in polymer science gives him a background suitable to address
origin of life questions. He co-authored The Mystery of Life's Origin which
presents a severe challenge to the accepted interpretation of chemical evolution, and
concludes that: "the undirected flow of energy through a primordial atmosphere and
ocean is at present a woefully inadequate explanation for the incredible complexity
associated with even simple living systems, and is probably wrong." (p.186)
In the spring of 1987 while on business at Cornell University,
Professor Bradley agreed to give a Campus Crusade for Christ presentation, entitled
"Scientific Evidence for the Existence of God". He says, "As I gave my
presentation with eagerness that evening, I knew God was doing something special in and
through my life." Over 500 students and faculty attended and a lively discussion
lasted past midnight. Since then, similar lectures have been greeted with an
overwhelmingly positive response at most of the major US universities.
Dr. Bradley presents three lines of evidence for the existence of God:
(1) The universal physical constants and the initial conditions of the universe are
exactly what is needed to support life of any type on this planet. These coincidences are
an evidence that the universe was designed for life. (2) The universe had a beginning, and
a beginning demands a first causežan Originator. (3) The implausibility of life
originating naturalistically is phenomenal.
Andrew Ellington, an atheist and Indiana University abiogenesis (origin
of life) researcher, gave an electronic-mail critique of Bradley's April 1995 presentation
at IU. Ellington was concerned that those making a proof for Jesus from intelligent design
today, must be prepared for the disproof as well, and that they are setting themselves up
for another embarrassment to the Christian church like what happened in the Galileo
affair. However, Ellington had a nice discussion with Bradley after the presentation and
gave him "a big thumbs up." He felt that Bradley was "quite civil" and
"very honest for a Creationist." After their discussion, Ellington himself made
a long electronic-mail posting summarizing the various problem areas in abiogenesis
research.
Bradley says that over the last 8 years he has discovered many
additional areas in which evidences for the existence of God can be found. He is persuaded
that "God's fingerprints are ubiquitous in his creation" (Romans 1:19-20) and
that almost anyone who works in a field of science could develop a presentation of this
type in their area of expertise.
References