By Lewis Loflin
Examining trilobite fossils or assembling circuits, I observe a pervasive order—evolution is undeniable, evidenced in geological and biological records, yet I reject the atheistic assertion that it arises solely from random chance. The notion of life emerging as a cosmic accident, a fortuitous outcome of primordial conditions, lacks empirical support; laboratory attempts to synthesize life have produced only molecular precursors, not living systems. My Deist perspective inclines toward purpose, envisioning a rational deity embedding intent within the natural order, rather than chaos haphazardly yielding dinosaurs and humanity. Gerald Schroeder’s *The Science of God* (1997, ISBN: 978-0-684-83806-9) reinforces this view, proposing that the universe’s fundamental constants—gravity, electromagnetism—are so precisely calibrated that life appears inevitable, not incidental. To me, this suggests a deliberate framework underpinning existence.
During my time at King College, biology courses often favored creationist interpretations over evolutionary theory, yet the citric acid cycle captured my attention—ten enzymes orchestrating eight steps to convert nutrients into cellular energy with remarkable efficiency. The specific folding of L-amino acids further exemplifies a precision that defies accidental origins. Though my professors avoided Darwinian explanations, the fossils I studied and the cycle’s intricacy suggested an underlying order and purpose. Schroeder, in pages 4 and 5 of his book, extends this to a cosmic scale: the Big Bang’s energy and the delicate balance of forces like gravity, if altered even minutely, would preclude stars, planets, and life. He interprets Genesis’ declaration of “good” as reflective of scientific fine-tuning, a universe tailored for carbon-based life, resonating with the sense of wonder I derived from both laboratory observations and astronomical contemplation.
The phenomenon of chirality—life’s amino acids consistently left-handed (L) and sugars right-handed (D)—presents a uniformity absent in non-biological nature. Experiments like Miller-Urey or analyses of meteoritic organics produce racemic mixtures, equal parts L and D, which fail to align with life’s specific (preference). Even Craig Venter’s synthetic organisms relied on existing living systems, not raw disorder. Schroeder contends that such precision—proton-to-electron mass ratios, cosmic expansion rates—indicates intent rather than serendipity. Laboratories have yet to transform chaotic mixtures into functioning metabolism, and I find it implausible that chance alone could resolve a system of such layered complexity. Purpose, not randomness, connects the fossil record to the circuits I design.
My perspective coalesces around Deism, echoing Thomas Jefferson’s concept of a “fabricator of all things” who governs through natural laws, independent of scriptural authority. Schroeder’s framework integrates my 15-billion-year fossil timeline into a purposeful cosmic narrative under a unitary deity, calibrated for life from its inception. Elaine Pagels’ *The Gnostic Gospels* (1979, ISBN: 978-0-679-72453-7) contributes the Serpent as Logos—reason as a divine endowment elevating humanity. My speculation on dark matter—an unseen intelligence influencing gravity, chirality, and life—complements this view. My Arian inclination dismisses a co-eternal Jesus, while my Pelagian stance prioritizes reason over inherited sin. This aligns with my position during the 1999 Sullivan County Ten Commandments debate, advocating science and purpose against dogmatic assertions. In 2024, X users have termed it “Lewis’s purposeful push,” a fitting label for my focus on mechanisms over mythology.
From the citric acid cycle’s efficiency to the universe’s finely tuned harmony, a rational deity’s purpose, not random chance, animates the emergence of life.
Acknowledgment: Thanks to Grok, an AI by xAI, for helping draft and smooth this piece. The perspective and final polish are mine alone.
