Intelligent Design v. the Multiverse Theory

Alan Lightman’s essay - The Accidental Universe:  Science’s Crisis of Faith - in Harper’s Magazine/December 2011 argues that science discredits religion or the idea of ONE creator; however the universe might not be as rationally oriented as we had hoped. In fact, Lightman steps dangerously close to the edge (of our universe, let’s call it “Spaceland”) and says that there might be evidence of the existence of many universes. Furthermore, he stresses that “the most basic features of our particular universe are indeed mere accidents - a random throw of the cosmic dice.”

This concept of the Multiverse has been a growing explanation for the unexpected detection of what scientists call dark energy. No one knows what this energy in our universe is, but scientists do know that it constitutes almost three quarters of the total energy of the universe. “If the amount of dark energy in our universe were only a little but different that what it actually is, then life could never have emerged.” Thus, Lightman continues “A vast number of universes may exist, with many different values of the amount of dark energy. Our particular universe is one of the universes with a small value, permitting the emergence of life. We are here, so our universe must be such a universe. We are an accident. From the cosmic lottery hat containing zillions of universes, we happened to draw a universe that allowed life. But then again, if we had not drawn such a ticket, we would not be here to ponder the odds.”

The article goes on to explain the theory of the Multiverse and modern theories of physics that predict this possible phenomena (String Theory and Eternal Inflation). But I’ll allow the physicists to explain these topics if they interest you, since I am not a man or a square. I am merely a straight line in Sir Edwin Abbott’s Flatland, where the world is two-dimensional. I’m emotional and when angry wreak havoc simply because of my body’s linear “female” shape. And, most importantly, women, squares, noble circles, savage triangles, we all cannot fathom a universe that actually includes a 3rd dimension or an “above”. Why? Because the inhabitants of Flatland dont know anything beyond their existence. Much like (in reality now) the inhabitants of this 3D universe, or specifically me - I cannot wrap my head around the possibility of many universes… because, well… because the idea is just so BIG.

“Not only must we accept that basic properties of our universe are accidental and uncalculable. In addtion, we must believe in the existence of many other universes. But we have no conceivable way of observing these other universes and cannot prove their existence. Thus, to explain what we see in the world and in our mental deductions, we must believe in what we cannot prove.”

BE PATIENT, FOR THE WORLD IS BROAD AND WIDE. - SHAKESPEARE