The Second Law of Thermodynamics and Evolution
by Owen Borville
October 30, 2018
Biology, Chemistry, Physics
Many creationists have noted that the second law of thermodynamics conflicts with the theory of evolution and is therefore an evidence of creation and the young earth. First let us define thermodynamics according to mainstream science: the scientific study of the movement of energy within matter, including heat energy and molecular motion. The first law of thermodynamics says that the total energy of the universe is constant so that it cannot be created nor destroyed but it can change form. The second law of thermodynamics says that the entropy or degree of disorder in systems will always increase. Therefore, the entropy or disorder of the universe is always increasing. The creation model explains that the heavens and the earth were created fully formed during the creation week and since then have gradually increased in disorder. The stars, planets, and life on earth cannot form from random processes as the evolutionists claim. In the creation model the stars, planets, and life on earth were created fully formed from the beginning. The concept of evolution and gradual processes of improvement over long periods of time violate the second law of thermodynamics. Evolutionary models propose disorderly systems in the past from the spontaneous Big Bang moment that somehow gradually became orderly over millions and billions of years. These evolutionary models simply violate and completely contradict the second law of thermodynamics. Mutations in living systems commonly cause disease and are an example of entropy and disorder over time as random errors in genetic processes make species and organisms less perfect than when they were originally created. Living organisms on earth have not shown evidence of increasing order and complexity over time but have shown quite the opposite. Evolutionists have countered the argument by claiming that the second law of thermodynamics only applies to closed or isolated systems. However, Dr. John Ross of Harvard University has stated that the law applies to all environments, both open and closed systems. The universe could be seen as one giant closed system and therefore the laws of thermodynamics would apply everywhere in the universe. Evolutionists also claim that crystal formation is an increase in complexity, but the fact is that crystal structures have many imperfections and errors, which increases the entropy according to the second law of thermodynamics. Liquid substances were also intelligently designed to crystallize at certain temperatures according to their chemical composition and this is not a random process.
Ross, John. Chemical and Engineering News, 7 July 1980, p. 40; cited in Duane Gish, Creation Scientists Answer their Critics, Institute for Creation Research, 1993.
by Owen Borville
October 30, 2018
Biology, Chemistry, Physics
Many creationists have noted that the second law of thermodynamics conflicts with the theory of evolution and is therefore an evidence of creation and the young earth. First let us define thermodynamics according to mainstream science: the scientific study of the movement of energy within matter, including heat energy and molecular motion. The first law of thermodynamics says that the total energy of the universe is constant so that it cannot be created nor destroyed but it can change form. The second law of thermodynamics says that the entropy or degree of disorder in systems will always increase. Therefore, the entropy or disorder of the universe is always increasing. The creation model explains that the heavens and the earth were created fully formed during the creation week and since then have gradually increased in disorder. The stars, planets, and life on earth cannot form from random processes as the evolutionists claim. In the creation model the stars, planets, and life on earth were created fully formed from the beginning. The concept of evolution and gradual processes of improvement over long periods of time violate the second law of thermodynamics. Evolutionary models propose disorderly systems in the past from the spontaneous Big Bang moment that somehow gradually became orderly over millions and billions of years. These evolutionary models simply violate and completely contradict the second law of thermodynamics. Mutations in living systems commonly cause disease and are an example of entropy and disorder over time as random errors in genetic processes make species and organisms less perfect than when they were originally created. Living organisms on earth have not shown evidence of increasing order and complexity over time but have shown quite the opposite. Evolutionists have countered the argument by claiming that the second law of thermodynamics only applies to closed or isolated systems. However, Dr. John Ross of Harvard University has stated that the law applies to all environments, both open and closed systems. The universe could be seen as one giant closed system and therefore the laws of thermodynamics would apply everywhere in the universe. Evolutionists also claim that crystal formation is an increase in complexity, but the fact is that crystal structures have many imperfections and errors, which increases the entropy according to the second law of thermodynamics. Liquid substances were also intelligently designed to crystallize at certain temperatures according to their chemical composition and this is not a random process.
Ross, John. Chemical and Engineering News, 7 July 1980, p. 40; cited in Duane Gish, Creation Scientists Answer their Critics, Institute for Creation Research, 1993.
