THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
Modern cosmology generally understands that the choice is between (1) a designed universe and (2) a multiverse of some kind. Even many scientists who reject religious faith reluctantly acknowledge that unless definitive proof is found of an infinite number of universes, our universe might have had a designer.
Professor Ellis continues: “Proponents of the multiverse make one final argument: that there are no good alternatives… if we are to give up the multiverse, we need a viable alternative. This exploration of alternatives depends on what kind of explanation we are prepared to accept” (“Does the Multiverse Really Exist?,” emphasis added). Many scientists are very averse to considering the alternative that there was a designer of our universe, because they only accept explanations based completely on the material world—explanations that they feel can be measured and tested. If they were to conclude that our universe was designed, they would have to ask, “Who designed it?” And most would rather not.
Are Those Who Believe in a Creator Irrational?
People often say that they will only believe something to the extent that they see evidence of it. Perhaps you have said it yourself. That statement stems from a philosophy called “evidentialism,” which is the dominant view of modern science and the general educational system. Philosophically, evidentialism dates back to the 1700s, and there are a number of questions concerning what exactly such a philosophical approach truly means and how it is applied. But for now, let’s apply its principle to the universe/multiverse issue.
As noted earlier, the odds of our universe having originated through chance are nearly zero. The evidence of a cosmic design—and of a designer—is profound.