Epigraph

He is Allah, the Creator, the Maker, the Fashioner; His are the most beautiful names. All that is in the heavens and the earth glorifies Him. He is the Mighty, the Wise. (Al Quran 59:24)

Collected by Zia H Shah MD

Here is a curated collection of quotes from theologians, scientists, mathematicians, and philosophers marveling at the fine-tuning of the universe, organized by field:

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Theologians

1. William Lane Craig (Philosopher & Theologian):
   “The fine-tuning of the universe is not mere coincidence. It points to the existence of a transcendent Designer.”
   — Reasonable Faith (1994).
2. John Polkinghorne (Physicist & Theologian):
   “The universe is not just any old world, but it’s special and significant in that it is the vehicle for the evolution of life.”
   — Science and Theology (1998).
3. Alister McGrath (Theologian & Scientist):
   “The universe is shot through with signs of mind, and the fine-tuning of the cosmos is one of them.”
   — A Fine-Tuned Universe (2009).
4. Denis Alexander (Biologist & Theologian):
   “The fine-tuning of the universe is entirely congruent with the belief that a divine being created these conditions.”
   — Creation or Evolution: Do We Have to Choose? (2008).

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Scientists

1. Martin Rees (Cosmologist):
   “Alter one of [the universe’s fundamental constants] and the consequences would be lethal for life.”
   — Just Six Numbers (1999).
2. Freeman Dyson (Physicist):
   “The universe in some sense must have known we were coming.”
   — Disturbing the Universe (1979).
3. Paul Davies (Physicist):
   “There is for me powerful evidence that there is something going on behind it all. It seems as though somebody has fine-tuned nature’s numbers to make the Universe.”
   — The Cosmic Blueprint (1988).
4. Stephen Hawking (Theoretical Physicist):
   “The remarkable fact is that the values of [the universe’s constants] seem to have been very finely adjusted to make possible the development of life.”
   — A Brief History of Time (1988).

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Mathematicians

1. Roger Penrose (Mathematical Physicist):
   “The entropy of the universe at its origin was ‘an utter singularity’ of order one part in 10^10^123.”
   — The Emperor’s New Mind (1989).
2. Max Tegmark (Cosmologist & Mathematician):
   “Our universe is governed by a mathematical structure, and even slight changes to its equations would make life impossible.”
   — Our Mathematical Universe (2014).

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Philosophers

1. John Leslie (Philosopher):
   “The universe’s fine-tuning suggests that ethical requirements might have a creative role.”
   — Universes (1989).
2. Alvin Plantinga (Philosopher):
   “The fine-tuning argument seems to me to be a plausible argument for the existence of God.”
   — Where the Conflict Really Lies (2011).
3. Thomas Nagel (Philosopher):
   “The fine-tuning of the universe, which seems to be necessary for the existence of anything as complex as living organisms, is… a sign that the cosmos is not just a physical reality.”
   — Mind and Cosmos (2012).

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Literary & Historical Perspectives

1. Annie Dillard (Writer):
   “The universe was not made in jest but in solemn incomprehensible earnest.”
   — Pilgrim at Tinker Creek (1974).
2. Arthur Eddington (Astrophysicist, 1920s):
   “The universe is a universe of thought, and the laws of nature are the thoughts of the Creator.”
   — The Nature of the Physical World (1928).

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These quotes reflect a spectrum of awe, ranging from theological interpretations to scientific and philosophical wonder, highlighting the profound mystery of our universe’s precise conditions for life.

For additional study:

Attributes of God, Cosmological Argument, Cosmology and Physics, Fine Tuning, Highlights, Quran & Science