Posts: 28
Threads: 2
Joined: January 9, 2026
Reputation:
1
The fine tuning of god
January 15, 2026 at 2:07 pm
The god of our universe is perfect, all knowing, all good. That's what we hear, but isn't that a very improbable coincidence?
We happen to live in a universe that is over the top big, based on over the top complex physics. It seems reasonable that a less than perfect god should be able to create a less than perfect universe. Than why do we encounter this god and this universe?
It might have been otherwise and there are a lot of universe varieties that would suffice our mortal souls. A bit smaller perhaps, a bit more crowded with intelligent life perhaps, a bit less unforgiving with cataclysmic extinctions perhaps.
As I think of this there must be an infinite number of possible universes that could have done the job. So this leaves us with the baffling question: who fine tuned god?
I'd love to hear your comments.
Posts: 68538
Threads: 140
Joined: June 28, 2011
Reputation:
161
RE: The fine tuning of god
January 15, 2026 at 2:58 pm
(This post was last modified: January 15, 2026 at 3:00 pm by The Grand Nudger.)
We did. As evidenced by the pile of dead gods which failed to meet our ever changing needs for a world that suites us just right. It’s almost tragic…pour one out for Jeff, god of biscuits.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
Posts: 4865
Threads: 13
Joined: September 27, 2018
Reputation:
16
RE: The fine tuning of god
January 15, 2026 at 3:41 pm
(January 15, 2026 at 2:07 pm)LoneWolf Wrote: who fine tuned god?
I suspect you know the traditional answer to this...
Christians say that God is uncaused. This is because if we look at a chain of causation (essential, not temporal), in order to avoid infinite regress, we follow the chain back to one thing that is required to have always been the case, in order for anything else to be the case.
Of course some people think an infinite regress is OK, but of course that raises different problems of its own.
Posts: 50027
Threads: 556
Joined: July 24, 2013
Reputation:
109
RE: The fine tuning of god
January 15, 2026 at 3:53 pm
‘One man’s theology is another man’s belly laugh.’ - Robert Heinlein
Boru
‘I can’t be having with this.’ - Esmeralda Weatherwax
Posts: 28
Threads: 2
Joined: January 9, 2026
Reputation:
1
RE: The fine tuning of god
January 15, 2026 at 4:44 pm
(January 15, 2026 at 2:58 pm)The Grand Nudger Wrote: We did. As evidenced by the pile of dead gods which failed to meet our ever changing needs for a world that suites us just right. Very plausible indeed.
Posts: 11106
Threads: 15
Joined: September 9, 2011
Reputation:
119
RE: The fine tuning of god
January 15, 2026 at 4:47 pm
What are the odds that we would live in a universe created by a God who would create it exactly this way? Just barely survivable in a tiny fraction of possible habitable worlds, yet survivable enough that it doesn't take a miracle to explain our existence.
I'm not anti-Christian. I'm anti-stupid.
Posts: 28
Threads: 2
Joined: January 9, 2026
Reputation:
1
RE: The fine tuning of god
January 15, 2026 at 4:49 pm
(January 15, 2026 at 3:41 pm)Belacqua Wrote: Christians say that God is uncaused. This is because if we look at a chain of causation (essential, not temporal), in order to avoid infinite regress, we follow the chain back to one thing that is required to have always been the case, in order for anything else to be the case. But what do you think of it? How can he/she be uncaused if she/he is fine tuned?
(January 15, 2026 at 3:41 pm)Belacqua Wrote: Of course some people think an infinite regress is OK, but of course that raises different problems of its own. Is circular regress OK for you?
Posts: 1395
Threads: 3
Joined: November 16, 2018
Reputation:
18
RE: The fine tuning of god
January 15, 2026 at 4:52 pm
(January 15, 2026 at 3:41 pm)Belacqua Wrote: (January 15, 2026 at 2:07 pm)LoneWolf Wrote: who fine tuned god?
I suspect you know the traditional answer to this...
Christians say that God is uncaused. This is because if we look at a chain of causation (essential, not temporal), in order to avoid infinite regress, we follow the chain back to one thing that is required to have always been the case, in order for anything else to be the case.
Of course some people think an infinite regress is OK, but of course that raises different problems of its own.
And I suspect you know the objections.
Theists require that everything be caused except for their deity. That's special pleading. The Prime Mover argument doesn't solve the problem. It just calls it Divine and makes it taboo to think about it any further.
Posts: 50027
Threads: 556
Joined: July 24, 2013
Reputation:
109
RE: The fine tuning of god
January 15, 2026 at 6:23 pm
(January 15, 2026 at 4:52 pm)Paleophyte Wrote: (January 15, 2026 at 3:41 pm)Belacqua Wrote: I suspect you know the traditional answer to this...
Christians say that God is uncaused. This is because if we look at a chain of causation (essential, not temporal), in order to avoid infinite regress, we follow the chain back to one thing that is required to have always been the case, in order for anything else to be the case.
Of course some people think an infinite regress is OK, but of course that raises different problems of its own.
And I suspect you know the objections.
Theists require that everything be caused except for their deity. That's special pleading. The Prime Mover argument doesn't solve the problem. It just calls it Divine and makes it taboo to think about it any further.
The chief trouble with the ontological argument is that it is definitional. You can’t define something into existence.
Boru
‘I can’t be having with this.’ - Esmeralda Weatherwax
Posts: 4865
Threads: 13
Joined: September 27, 2018
Reputation:
16
RE: The fine tuning of god
January 15, 2026 at 6:56 pm
(January 15, 2026 at 4:49 pm)LoneWolf Wrote: (January 15, 2026 at 3:41 pm)Belacqua Wrote: Christians say that God is uncaused. This is because if we look at a chain of causation (essential, not temporal), in order to avoid infinite regress, we follow the chain back to one thing that is required to have always been the case, in order for anything else to be the case. But what do you think of it? How can he/she be uncaused if she/he is fine tuned?
(January 15, 2026 at 3:41 pm)Belacqua Wrote: Of course some people think an infinite regress is OK, but of course that raises different problems of its own. Is circular regress OK for you?
I don't understand what you mean when you say God is "fine tuned."
I've heard people say that the universe is "fine tuned" for life. I don't really accept that view.
What is circular regress?
|
