Introduction

Christian astronomer Dr. Hugh Ross has been writing for decades on the scientific reasons to believe in the God of the Bible. He founded an organization called "Reasons to Believe" specifically geared towards evangelizing the scientifically-minded skeptic. I have been following his work for quite some time and always look forward to his latest book on the incredible evidence that scientists have discovered about the universe that point to the existence of God. Some of his books include:

Creator And The Cosmos
Improbable Planet
Why The Universe Is The Way It Is
Origins of Life (coauthored with biochemist Dr. Fazale Rana, current president of Reasons to Believe)
Who Was Adam (also coauthored with Dr. Fazale Rana)

His latest book is titled Designed to the Core. In this review, I will give a quick summary of the book, some of my favorite quotes, a few of my thoughts about it, and finally my recommendations.

What's "Designed To The Core" About?

In his latest book Designed To The Core Dr. Hugh Ross makes the case that the universe, at every scale level, from the outer portion of that volume to the inner core of that volume, is designed for advanced life and even advanced, high-tech civilization. As Dr. Ross examines super super clusters of galaxies, super clusters of galaxies, clusters of galaxies, our galaxy, our star and solar system, he shows how each volume at the respective level is a possible site for life. Beginning with the super super cluster of galaxies, Dr. Ross shows how the rest of the universe is eliminated as a possible site for life. He then zooms in to the super galaxy cluster level to show that the rest of the super super galaxy cluster is not habitable for life. He continues this methodical process until he finally zooms in on our planet to explain that it is designed from the atmosphere to the core for advanced civilization.

Throughout this process, as he is zooming in on the location, he is also zooming in on the timeline of the universe to show that it is not just any time in the history of the universe that advanced life could exist and that a high-tech civilization could exist, but a tiny window of time in which we currently exist.

This leaves the reader with the understanding that no other site and time in the universe exists for advanced life (much less advanced civilization). Even with the universe being as large as it is and as old as it is, for so many features and time windows to align in just the right way, for not only advanced life but advanced civilization, it defies probability and reason. That is unless our explanation for the appearance of advanced civilization in this universe includes that it was intended- designed. Chance and necessity are simply deficient in their explanatory power when faced with the evidence provided by Dr. Ross. The appearance of intentionality and design supported by the evidence is so strong, that this reality calls for a more-than-naturalistic explanation, more than just "appearance of design for life," an explanation that allows for creation with purpose, a Designer who created the universe and meticulously orchestrated and guided its history so that this one site could exist for the creation of His image bearers.

Key Quotes from "Designed To The Core"

"For the universe to transition from its capacity to sustain prebiotic chemistry to its capacity for single-celled life-forms is no trivial matter. Transitioning to its capacity for sustaining complex, multicellular organisms replete with appendages and internal organs seems even more complex. A still more dramatic step in fine-tuning would be necessary for the universe to provide for the support of any species equivalent to the human race."

"If the observed design proves inconsequential, or only vaguely purposeful, one could argue that no intentionality is necessary. Perhaps the apparent design feature is merely a probable outcome of the operation of mysteriously self-existent natural processes. On the other hand, if the observed fine-tuning is multifaceted and every facet crucial to the outcome, then the fine-tuning source must be more than a mindless, impersonal force or process. The more numerous, specific, and purposeful the necessary fine-tuned requirements, the more these required features reveal about the characteristics and identity of the fine tuner."

"Physical life is not fluid. It will not and cannot adjust to any old universe. The fine-tuning that astronomers observe indicates that even very slight alterations to the universe's characteristics would rule out the possible existence of physical life."

"If a purposeful Tuner exists, it makes sense that the deeper our search into the features of the cosmos, the more evidence of fine-tuning this search will reveal. If no purposeful Tuner exists, then a deeper search will reveal less and less specificity and intentionality. A fine-tuner's attributes and purposes will become either increasingly clear or increasingly vague."

"More than 140 different 'exterior' features of the universe, including the values of the constants that govern the laws of physics, must fit within narrowly specified ranges. This reality reasonably points to a Source with the capacity for intentionality, for deliberate, purposeful design and implementation—in other words, a Creator who transcends the well-crafted cosmos."

"Advanced life—whether 'as we know it' or 'as physics and chemistry allow'—requires highly specified ratios of the abundances of the 94 elements in the familiar periodic table. For advanced life to be possible in the universe at any time, not only must the ratio of hydrogen to helium in the universe's first few minutes be fine-tuned, but so must the number and kinds of starts that form during each epoch throughout the ensuing years."

"The Magellanic Clouds are massive enough, sufficiently close together, and positioned at the just-right distance from the [Milky Way Galaxy] as to funnel a steady supply of the Local Group's gas-rich, low-mass dwarf galaxies into the [Milky Way Galaxy]'s core. The Magellanic Stream and its Leading Arm exemplify a shepherding role--provisional and protective. This steady, gradual supply of gas has sustained our galaxy's spiral structure throughout the past several billion years without disturbing its overall symmetry and morphology."

"Unlike other known spiral galaxies, the MWG continuously 'sips' rather than intermittently 'gulps' available matter. This unique history helps explain why the MWG today has such remarkably symmetrical spiral arms, a spiral structure and stability essential to the possibility of hosting advanced life."

"For any star within a galaxy to contain enough carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorous, iron, thorium, and uranium to make the existence of advanced life possible within its planetary system, at least two generations of stars must form, burn, and explode to enrich the gas clouds that form the next generation of stars."

"Only in a galaxy like the [Milky Way Galaxy] does star formation begin soon enough and last long enough to produce all the elements essential for advanced life."

"Just as the Sun has no 'twin,' neither do any of the planets held in its orbit. The solar system is the only multiplanet system yet discovered with a population and configuration that would allow for the possible existence of advanced life and, what's more, provide for the ongoing development and sustenance of a large, technologically and culturally sophisticated civilization within it."

"For a planet to be truly habitable, it must orbit its host star not only within the liquid water zone but simultaneously within twelve other known planetary habitable zones."

"Every one of the Sun's eight planets provides for the needs of advanced life on Earth in some crucial way."

"The history and features of the solar system's asteroid-comet belts, along with the gravitational influences of the Moon's mass and early orbital proximity, ensured that Earth would receive sufficient impact events, especially before animals appeared, to salt Earth's crust with rich ore deposits. These ores played a crucial role in the early launch of metallurgy and, more recently, in the development of global, high-technology civilization. On the other hand, major impact events during the human era have been so infrequent as to pose no risk to humanity's survival nor to global civilization."

"Just as the interior structure of our supercluster of galaxies, our galaxy cluster, our galaxy, our local galactic neighborhood, our star, our system of planets, asteroids, and comets, and our Moon differ from the normal pattern in precise ways that favor the possibility of advanced life on Earth, so, too, does Earth's core."

"[The features of Earth's mantle], among others, appear so intricate and specific that Earth may well be the only rocky planet on which plate tectonic activity, at a survivable level for life, has been operating for an extended period, much less approaching 4 billion years."

Reviewer's Thoughts

Dr. Ross has written another incredible book on the history of the universe. He achieves a good balance between a technical and non-technical presentation for both types of readers. This one is a bit more technical than some of his latest works, but that is appreciated since it places the details in front of the reader rather than in the appendix.

I must say that I noticed in this book that he reserved the majority of his philosophical and theological conclusions for the introduction and conclusion, as opposed to revisiting them in each chapter. This approach, though, while adequately setting up the investigation into the cause of our planet, allows the skeptical reader to focus on the scientific data presented before being confronted with the dramatic conclusion that has theistic, specifically Christian, significance.

Whether the reader is a Christian or not, they cannot have a comprehension of the content presented and not come away with a sense of awe about the universe and, perhaps, a sense of dissatisfaction with modern naturalistic explanations.

Recommendations

I recommend "Designed To The Core" to any Christian who is interested in science and particularly astronomy. Dr. Ross really brings the magnificence of God's creative acts into focus for the reader. He also presents a distinctly abductive argument for God's existence (and design) based upon the scientific observations of the universe. For Christians who have questions about how Dr. Ross reconciles a historical reading of Genesis and the observations of God's creation, I also highly recommend his books "Navigating Genesis" and "A Matter of Days."

If you are a science teacher presenting from a Christian perspective, you may particularly find this book of value. As science teachers present data on God's creative actions, they need to present it accurately and show how it is compatible with God's Word. The presentation of the natural data given by Dr. Ross in "Designed To The Core" not only shows compatibility but presents a powerful argument from the sciences against naturalistic explanations for students.

I recommend "Designed To The Core" to agnostics and deists who value nature in their investigation of whether the theistic God of the Bible exists or not. Dr. Ross presents the data from the sciences then presents his abductive argument. The book's content is focused heavily on the scientific data, but as it progresses, the argument and conclusion of intentional design become more obviously implied. The fact that Dr. Ross simultaneously argues for God's existence and intentional design dissuades the agnostic from taking the half-step into deism and pushes the deist to logically recognize God's intervention in the history of the universe. Both agnostic and deistic readers will be challenged to find a more consistent explanation in any naturalistic alternative. For agnostics and deists, I also recommend Dr. Ross' books "Creator And The Cosmos" and "Why The Universe Is The Way It Is."

I also recommend this book to any atheist who is interested in the argument for God from the apparent design of our planet for advanced life. Dr. Ross presents numerous observations from the sciences then offers a best-explanation argument (abductive reasoning). The book spends probably 95% of its space on the scientific observations and only about 5% on the logical argument and theological conclusion, though the argument is always in view throughout its pages. If an atheist is seeking the most logical explanation of this world, without committing the logical fallacy of presupposing atheism, this book cannot be ignored.

If you have read this far into this review, you likely have a decent level of interest in this topic. Along with the Designed To The Core, I will again recommend the books above to continue your investigation and will recommend that you check out these additional resources:

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