I had no difficulty in agreeing with Paley that a watch would point to a watch maker, as a footprint on a sandy beach would point to someone who has walked a while ago..Taking it from micro to macro level again would point that a magnificent God must have created this sophisticated universe. Thinking about the human body alone would amaze a physician, and the more medical science advances the more it shows the intelligent design of this body, which many functions still remain mysterious... If this engineering talents is vivid in human body, it must point to greatest talent in the creation of this universe..

having said that, I would like to leave you with the following verses from Koran..
[Chapter 27]

http://www.sacred-texts.com/isl/pick/027.htm

60 Is not He (best) Who created the heavens and the earth, and sendeth down for you water from the sky wherewith We cause to spring forth joyous orchards, whose trees it never hath been yours to cause to grow. Is there any God beside Allah ? Nay, but they are folk who ascribe equals (unto Him)!

61 Is not He (best) Who made the earth a fixed abode, and placed rivers in the folds thereof, and placed firm hills therein, and hath set a barrier between the two seas ? Is there any God beside Allah ? Nay, but most of them know not!

62 Is not He (best) Who answereth the wronged one when he crieth unto Him and removeth the evil, and hath made you viceroys of the earth ? Is there any God beside Allah ? Little do they reflect!

63 Is not He (best) Who guideth you in the darkness of the land and the sea, He Who sendeth the winds as heralds of His mercy ? Is there any God beside Allah ? High Exalted be Allah from all that they ascribe as partner (unto Him)!

64 Is not He (best) Who produceth creation, then reproduceth it, and Who provideth for you from the heaven and the earth ? Is there any God beside Allah ? Say: Bring your proof, if ye are truthful!

I would think that an eternal creator who originated everything is simple, correct and logical. If he is eternal then the question who created this creator would not rise, because he was there from infinity. I think Big Bang theory is in the camp of Paley and not of Hume. God must be the originator of this Universe through Big Bang mechanism. Ex nihilo can not be the originator of this Universe through Big Bang. Hence, I advocate that Big Bang is just a mechanism which requires an intelligent mechanic, and ex nihilo can not be intelligent, omnipotent, omniscient and creator. Therefore, an eternal intelligent God would solve regress problem and will incorporate Big Bang as mechanism and will be very simple for a human mind to digest. Ex nihilo as creator -and as an answer to solve the problem of regress- goes against common sense let alone healthy reason.

A Letter to Hume

Dear Mr. Hume;

Looking at the watch which I found makes me not think of a watchmaker void of any attributes, rather I think of a watchmaker who enjoys all attributes and properties which requires to make such a watch. This watchmaker knows the mechanical details of how to make the watch that can indicate the time of the day, he is rich enough to purchase the materials to make the watch, he must be living being, for a dead can not do that, he must be able to move, he must have some organs and skills to place such tiny bearing and metallic pieces in place, etc....

Going from wrist watchmaker to Universe maker which you branded as X, then this X must enjoy far greater attributes and properties, he must have the knowledge to make the universe, he must have the power to do that, and he must not be dead, and has a will, and he has a sense of aesthetics, etc. all series of qualities need to make this universe.

Another Letter to Hume on benefits of Analogy

Hume, I want to say few words on analogy which you criticized..

I think analogy is a good tool to make difficult concepts clear. Mawson uses it heavily in his book. In analogy we use something that we understand (watch and watchmaker) and reason that it should apply for something of a debate (universe and God). The closer the match between the two items the better the analogy is. This is why I (Paley) used watch rather than vegetable. Although vegetable would also serve the purpose if (by 20th century) we know that it consists of living cells, and each living cell is like a factory which operates is complex systematic manner (much sophisticated than a man made watch). Another problem with citing vegetable as analogy is that God is behind both vegetable as well as universe, and hence this analogy would not satisfy someone who deny the existence of God, however, no one can deny a human watchmaker.

when I mention that a boy of 6 years can lift the book of Mawson, wouldn't this analogy be appropriate to suggest that an adult of 16 years would be able to lift the book in the first place (assuming the adult was not paralyzed).

Am I making a faulty analogy above? I think I am. Because, here I am fixing the same book, and varying the object who would carry it. But in my watch analogy, both objects are varied, from one side we wave a watch and a universe and at the other side we have a human watchmaker and a God.

The more appropriate analogy would be:

If a 6-years boy is able to carry the book of Mawson, would not a 16 years adult carry the entire Encyclopedia Britannica. For which an affirmative answer might not be true.

But again we might fall in the trap that we know the power of (average) 16 years old adult, and we also estimate the weight of hardcover encyclopaedia. In the case of watch analogy, we know –to some extent- the complexity of this Universe, but we do not know the power of God. So, the power of God remains the only unknown variable in this equation. So, if we relax on this variable and give unlimited power and knowledge to the omnipotent and omniscient God, then no matter how complex this universe can be, an intelligent and power God is always there to create.

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