"There is a god because e = mc²"

[bheath]

But I recall someone of my acquaintance, who is both very scientific but also a theist,
observing that the second law of thermodynamics dictates something to the effect that
entropy succeeds over time; everything winds down, like a clock, including the Universe

...and that raises the interesting question about who wound the clock up, in the first place...

But I'm way out of my depth with it, sadly.

Well, why a who and not a what? If you have a who, then where did this person come from? That is an infinite regression.

Also, that's an argument for deism, not a particular religion, though you didn't state your acquaintance's affiliation to be sure.