The Solar Eclipse: Coincidence? Or Evidence of Design?

[Volbrigade]

Here in the US, many people are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to observe a total solar eclipse. 14 million people reside in the path of totality. Many more are well within 90% of totality. The entire lower 48 will experience a degree of partiality.

Prompted by an PM exchange with another user, I am reminded of the astronomically small odds that the disc of the moon would fit precisely over the disc of the sun, relative to an observer on earth. This phenomenon allows for observation of the sun’s corona, which is otherwise undetectable to the naked eye. The observation and analysis of the corona led to advancements in the field of spectroscopy by Bunsen, Kirchhoff, Jansen, Huggins, Lockyear, and others. Those advancements, in turn, led to discoveries in astrophysics which have formed our current understanding(s) of the cosmos in which we exist.

Which begs an intriguing question. Is the precise matching of the diameter of the sun and moon, relative to the Earth, just another one of those “happy accidents� — a coincidence, comparable in scale to the probability of select amino acids linking up by chance to form proteins, which in turn link together to form a self-replicating code of protein “letters�, in the precise order necessary to code for a living cell, in Earth’s harsh primordial environment, 5 billion years or so ago? And those codes increasing in information content, through unguided cause-and-effect processes, in order to provide the blueprints for all living things?

A coincidence, like the simultaneous linkages of dimensionless constants — e.g., gravity, strong and weak force, electromagnetism — which provide the appearance of “fine tuning� the parameters of the universe? Of which incremental changes to would produce an environment too unstable for the periodic table, and thus the universe as we know it, to exist?

I’m sure the reader can see where I’m going with this. What if the appearance of “fine tuning� is related to the REALITY of fine tuning, by an Agent possessing mind, intelligence, and will, and which exists outside of the space time continuum which is Its (or “His�) creation?

And what if that Agent adjusted countless variables — i.e., the constants referred to; along with such physical factors as solar size, distance from star, axial tilt, position in a “clear� region of its galaxy, etc. — on one particular, specific planet, in order to generate an environment where intelligent life could not only exist, but have a sense of the scope of the cosmos in which it exists?

And what if the synchronicity displayed in a solar eclipse is not mere coincidence, but a deliberate design? The discoveries made possible by it, which have informed our astrophysical awareness, an indication that this universe is “designed� — by its Creator — “to be discovered�?

[H.sapiens]

[Replying to post 1 by Volbrigade]
There is a major flaw in your thesis:

The Moon orbited Earth every ten hours 4.57 billion years ago. Ever since then, it has receded in distance and slowed from only ten hours to its current 23.93. There was a time when the disk did not "match" and there will be a time when it no longer does. You are living in a time of accidental (and actual) coincidence.

[Neatras]

[Replying to post 2 by H.sapiens]

What's more, the "halo" varies in thickness at all times given our elliptical orbit around the sun. There's a range here, with christians unknowingly applying a huge tolerance to push the narrative of design.

[benchwarmer]

[Replying to post 1 by Volbrigade]

I guess God flubbed it on Mars:

Amazing Mars Solar Eclipse Videos Caught by Curiosity Rover
https://www.space.com/22685-mars-solar- ... ideos.html

The moons on Mars don't currently blot out the entire sun. Oops.

[Volbrigade]

LOL.

Today I found out that some people think the following somehow invalidates the incredibly long odds -- given the diameter of the moon, that of the sun, the distance between the two, and the their respective distances from earth's surface -- that the moon fits perfectly over the sun.

1. It may not always have been so, when there were no intelligent creatures around to observe it. And may not be so again, (almost certainly) under the same circumstances.

2. The fit (moon and sun) is not prefect in every instance.

3. Other objects in the solar system cross the path of the sun, relative to an observer (but, of course, there has to be an observer).

I submit as self-evident that none of those affect the overwhelming reality of what actually occurs, and the connection between the observation of the Sun's corona, and our understanding(s -- there are several; all indebted to spectroscopic analysis) of the cosmos we inhabit.

And suggest that if you are within the path of the moon's shadow on the 21st -- or on any other occasion of a total solar eclipse --

you look up (safely!), and think of it as God winking at us.

[Neatras]

What we see is an example of a theist dismissing counter-arguments, not with evidence-based reasoning, but with an a priori or "self-evident" example of begging the question.

I submit this isn't a scientific debate thread, this is an excuse to brag about Volbrigade's favorite god concept. That he insists we project personable characteristics onto a natural phenomenon also demonstrates his preference to wear rose-tinted glasses that only let in light which shines favorably on his narrative.

[H.sapiens]

[Replying to post 6 by Neatras]

It is like Forrest Gump said, and I don't mean, "life is like a box of chocolates."

[Wootah]

As an atheist I look at everything as meaningless. It's all chance and coincidence. As a theist I find that hard to do all the time.

Given the posts in this thread I am lead to believe that the unique pairing of intelligent life and the moon receding has coincided to allow for the intelligent life to use the relationship of the moon and the sun to advancing its' knowledge.

Such extraordinary incompatible world views.

[H.sapiens]

As an atheist I look at everything as meaningless. It's all chance and coincidence. As a theist I find that hard to do all the time.

Given the posts in this thread I am lead to believe that the unique pairing of intelligent life and the moon receding has coincided to allow for the intelligent life to use the relationship of the moon and the sun to advancing its' knowledge.

Such extraordinary incompatible world views.

This is a celestial example of the idea that even a broken clock is right twice a day.

[Volbrigade]

What we see is an example of a theist dismissing counter-arguments, not with evidence-based reasoning, but with an a priori or "self-evident" example of begging the question.

My reasoning is nothing BUT "evidence-based".

I submit this isn't a scientific debate thread,

The circumstances necessary to produce an eclipse, featuring the precise relative sizes of two celestial objects, 93 million miles apart, isn't "scientific"? Hmmpff.

this is an excuse to brag about Volbrigade's favorite god concept.

Well, technically... EVERTHING'S an excuse to do that...

That he insists we project personable characteristics onto a natural phenomenon also demonstrates his preference to wear rose-tinted glasses that only let in light which shines favorably on his narrative.

Is that what you would define as an example of "evidence-based reasoning?"