RE: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] Famous atheist changes his mind

[Mike Miller <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

On Mon, 13 Dec 2004, Spurling, Shannon wrote:

> Well, if you stopped to think about it, you don't need a book to
> understand the energy from the sun is in a disordered state. I never
> said the second law of thermodynamics was applicable solely to the
> earth, and that the earth was a closed system.

You wrote, "In a system things tend toward disorder."  Which is only true 
in a system with no energy input from outside the system.  The Earth is 
not such a system.


> What I was saying is that life arising on earth is in direct opposition 
> to the basic tendency of chemicals to disperse and energy to dissipate. 
> Once life is established, it's all down hill from there. It takes a 
> highly ordered system to take the disordered energy from the sun, and 
> with much waste, and produce ordered energy to sustain and reproduce.

The energy flowing in from the Sun allows order to be maintained.  When 
the Sun goes out, we're screwed.  ;-)

Mike


> -----Original Message-----
> From: EMAIL:PROTECTED
> [mailto:EMAIL:PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mike Miller
> Sent: Monday, December 13, 2004 10:41 AM
> To: MLUG Off-Topic Discussion
> Subject: RE: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] Famous atheist changes his mind
>
> On Mon, 13 Dec 2004, Spurling, Shannon wrote:
>
>> I think the basis for rational belief in God can best be described by 
>> science it's self. In a system things tend toward disorder. That is a 
>> basic law of thermodynamics. What you get is more like localized 
>> regions of some order with greater disorder between that shift and move 
>> kind of like ripples or waves. Problem with Evolution is that it does 
>> not appear to follow the norm. Agreed, the disorder is typically at the 
>> chemical level or lower, but that is the level where order had to be 
>> established for the creation of DNA based life.
>
>
> You need to read more science books.  The Second Law of Thermodynamics 
> is a little different than you think it is.  The Earth is not a closed 
> system - energy comes to earth from the Sun.  Read this:
>
> http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/thermo/bioentropy.html
>
> Mike
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