Need some understanding

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On Fri, 27 Sep 1996 ILRANGEL@CSUPomona.Edu wrote:


> 
> I am just writing to see if anyone on the list can help me understand a
> certain subject.  It is the 2nd Law Of Thermodynamics.  I heard a preacher
> speak on this law and related it to the Bible and God.  I am a Mechanical
> Engineering student in southern California.  I understand the 
> Law from an analytical and thermodynamic view but when relating it to 
> God,  I'm a little confused on whether it supports or doesn't support
> the existence of God.
I thought I give an answer to this because I have a masters degree in 
physics.

I have a real doubt that the second law of thermodynamics has a thing to 
do with God except that it helps understand how void the world is, but 
since it does no harm to discuss the topic I will try to explain the 
topic as well as common theological issues related to it.

The simplest statment of the law would be that heat does not flow from a 
colder object to a hotter object without using a substantial amount of 
energy. (This is in terms of classic thermodynamics as they were 
formulated before the exact meaning of heat was understood.)

A more common statement is that in a closed system (a system where no 
external energy is provided from outside the system and no energy leaves 
the system) the total order in system will remain the same or decrease.

This statement uses a twentieth century definition of order which comes 
from formal statistical mechanics namely that 
everything is in particular state.  If all the cards in a card deck were 
pointed face up, this would be called ordered, but if half the cards were 
face up and half were face down this would be disorered. 

The consequence of this law is that everything in universe is going to a 
state of equilibrium, and there is no return from this state.

In theological terms equilibrium is corruption, and the second law of 
thermodynamics can be used to demonstrate that things which are not of 
God are corruptable where as things of God (not subject to laws of 
physics are incorruptable.)

I have heard attempts to use the law in another way.  Some people have 
claimed that the earth is a closed system, and life violates the second 
law because life is ordered, and take this as proof of a miracle in the 
creation of life.  There is a problem with this theory. remember I said 
that a closed system is a system which no energy enters or leaves.  
Energy in the form of sunlight enters the earth continously.

I don't mean to imply that the creation of life was not a miracle, but I 
wish to caution the reader not to make haste statements about 
thermodynamics. 

The only reason that I mention this because I know a number of potential 
converts have been driven away from the true faith by careless theories 
expounded by people with little training in science (we become so 
preoccuppied with proving we are right about minor issues, we sometimes 
prove ourselves fools, and become hostile to those who better understand 
the minor issues.)




 "the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32)

                        Yeaton Clifton

                        yhclifto@vela.acs.oakland.edu