!"#2 N o .

3 20 21

Should You
Believe in a Creator?
You Decide
!"#2 ˙ The origin of the universe and of
life on earth is a controversial topic.
Vol. 102, No. 3 2021 ENGLISH
Produced Each Issue: 68,097,000 This issue of Awake! invites you to
Available in 214 Languages
examine some intriguing facts on
Awake! (ISSN 0005-237X)
November/December 2021 is published by
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of
this subject and to reach your own
New York, Inc.; Harold L. Corkern, President;
Mark L. Questell, Secretary-Treasurer;
conclusion. Did the universe come
1000 Red Mills Road, Wallkill, NY
12589-3299, and by Watch Tower about as a result of a mindless
Bible and Tract Society of Canada,
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˘ 2021 Watch Tower Bible and Tract
process or the work of a Creator?
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Printed in Canada.
Your answer could matter more
For the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:
than you realize.
Jehovah’s Witnesses
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Jehovah’s Witnesses How Can You Decide? 3
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What the Universe Tells Us 4
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addresses, see www.jw.org/en/contact.
What Life Tells Us 6
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What Scientists Cannot Tell Us 8

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What the Bible Tells Us 10

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Why the Answer Matters 14

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Examine the Evidence 16

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 How Can You Decide?
“The universe can and will create itself from nothing.”
—Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow, physicists, 2010.

“God created the heavens and the earth.”—The Bible, Genesis 1:1.

Were the universe and the life in it created leaders preach that there is a Creator. But
by God or did they come about by chance? did they give you evidence to back up their
The words of the two physicists quoted in claim? Or did they ask you to accept their
this article and the opening words of the statement as a matter of “faith” or doctrine?
Bible provide two radically different answers You, no doubt, have thought about this
to that question. Both views have fervent question and may feel that no one can say
supporters. Yet, many people are not so
for sure whether a Creator exists. And you
sure. Best-selling books and public debates
may have another question: Does the an-
have pitted one side against the other.
swer really matter?
Your schoolteachers may have confidently
This issue of Awake! will first of all present
stated that the universe and life in it arose
some of the facts that have persuaded many
spontaneously, that no Creator was involved. people to believe in a Creator. It will then dis-
But did your teachers provide you with evi- cuss why the answer to this question about
dence that a Creator does not exist? On the the origin of life on earth matters.
other hand, you may have heard religious

AWAKE! No. 3 2021 3

 What the Universe
Tells Us
The universe continues to astonish astronomers. And they have never
had better tools to use in analyzing it. What have they discovered?
The universe is organized. “Galaxies are galaxy superclusters . . . are aligned and
not randomly splayed out across the sky but supported.”
instead follow a weblike pattern,” according How did the universe become so organized?
to an article in Astronomy magazine. How Is it likely that such order came about as a
is this possible? Scientists believe that the result of a mindless process? Note the com-
secret may lie in an invisible material known ment made by the late Allan Sandage. He is
as dark matter. This dark matter has been
regarded as “one of the greatest and most
called “a kind of unseen scaffolding upon
influential astronomers of the 20th century,”
which . . . galaxies, galaxy clusters, and and he believed in God.

4
 “I find it quite improbable,” he said, “that such order came out
of chaos. There has to be some organizing principle.”
The universe is fine-tuned to support life. Consider what
scientists call the weak force. It keeps our sun burning at a
steady rate. If the force were weaker, the sun would never have
formed. If it were stronger, the sun would have disappeared
long ago.
The weak force is just one of several finely tuned features that
we depend on. Science writer Anil Ananthaswamy says that if
even one of those features had been different, “stars, planets,
and galaxies would never have formed. Life would have been
all but impossible.”
The universe has an ideal home for humans. The earth is
equipped with the right atmosphere, the right amount of water, CONSIDER THIS:
and a moon that is the perfect size to stabilize the earth. “Our Newspapers and
tangled web of geology, ecology, and biology,” says National weather apps predict
Geographic, “makes this strange rock [earth] the only one in the exact time the sun
reach that’s just right for humans.” and the moon will rise
Our solar system is, according to one writer, “in the middle of and set. If those predic-
nowhere” in our galaxy. But that very isolation is what makes tions were created by
life on earth possible. If we lived closer to other stars—either someone, who created
at our galaxy’s center or among its spiral arms—the radiation the astronomical laws
would jeopardize our life. Instead, we find ourselves in what on which those predic-
some scientists have coined the “galactic habitable zone.” tions are based?
Based on his scientific knowledge of the universe and its
properties, physicist Paul Davies concluded: “I cannot believe
that our existence in this universe is a mere quirk of fate, an
accident of history, an incidental blip in the great cosmic dra-
ma. . . . We are truly meant to be here.” Davies does not teach
that God created the universe and human life, but what do you
think? The universe and the earth seem to be designed to
make life possible. Could it be that they seem that way be-
cause they were designed?
 This National Geographic article did not intend to imply that God created
the earth and humans. Rather, it was commenting on how suitable the earth is
for human habitation.

AWAKE! No. 3 2021 5

What Life Tells Us
Living things grow, move, and multiply all around us. They make
our planet uniquely beautiful. And today mankind knows more
about living things than ever before. What does life tell us about
its origin? Consider the following.

Life appears to be designed. Cells are launches a sophisticated chemical process

spoken of as the building blocks of life. Like that slows down its activity. This allows bak-
tiny factories, they perform thousands of er’s yeast to remain dormant, but alive, in
extremely complex tasks to sustain and a kitchen pantry until it is activated by the
reproduce life. Such intricate complexity baking process.
can be found virtually everywhere. For
Scientists have been studying yeast cells for
example, consider baker’s yeast, which is
decades in order to understand human cells
a single-celled organism. Compared to the
better. But they still have a long way to go.
human cell, the yeast cell may seem simple.
“There are just not enough biologists around
Yet, it is incredibly complex. Yeast cells have
to do all the experiments we want to do to
a well-organized nucleus with DNA. They
understand how even yeast works,” laments
are equipped with microscopic “machines”
Ross King, professor of machine intelligence
that sort, transport, and modify molecules at Chalmers University of Technology in
—steps that are vital for these organisms to Sweden.
live. When a yeast cell runs out of food, it

The yeast cell is

incredibly complex.
It has a well-organized
nucleus with DNA and
microscopic machines
that sort, transport,
and modify molecules
—all of which are vital
for the life of the cell.
What do you think? Does the mind-boggling complexity of the
humble yeast cell give evidence of design? Could such design
have come about without a designer?
Life can come only from life. DNA is made up of molecules
called nucleotides. Each human cell has 3.2 billion nucleotides.
These compounds are arranged in a precise pattern so that the
cell can make enzymes and proteins.
The chance of even the simplest strand of nucleotides spon-
taneously forming the right pattern has been calculated to be Discover fascinating ex-
1 in 10150 (1 followed by 150 zeros). An event such as this amples of design in nature.
would be a virtual impossibility. Search for articles and videos
The fact is that no scientific experiments have proved that life entitled “Was It Designed?”
can arise spontaneously from nonliving matter. on jw.org.

Human life is unique. As humans, we possess characteristics

that enable us to enjoy life to the full—and in ways that no MORE ON
other species can. We have advanced creative abilities, social JW.ORG
skills, and feelings. We fully appreciate tastes, smells, sounds,
colors, and sights. We plan for the future and search for
Stock media provided by jensKlingebiel/
meaning in life. Pond5.com

What do you think? Did those characteristics evolve in us

because we needed them to survive and reproduce? Or could
they indicate that life is a gift from a loving Creator?

Meet Adam—a robot designed to study yeast cells

Adam is about the size of a small van. It has a freezer,
robotic arms, cameras, sensors, and four computers.
This sophisticated machine was designed to perform
complex experiments on yeast cells and has success-
fully done so without much assistance.
If you were told that Adam appeared spontaneously,
without a design or a builder, would you believe it?
Likely not. Yet, the simplest of living cells is far more
complex than a robot. If the robot required a design-
er, what about living cells?

7
 What Scientists
Cannot Tell Us
Scientists seem to have studied just about every aspect of the known uni-
verse. Still, there are many important questions they cannot answer.
Has science established how the universe But you may wonder, ‘If life on earth was
and life began? The simple answer is no. designed, who is the designer?’ You may
Some say that a branch of science known also have asked the following questions: ‘If
as cosmology can explain the origin of the a wise and loving Creator exists, why would
universe. However, a professor of astronomy he allow his human creatures to suffer? Why
at Dartmouth College, Marcelo Gleiser, who would he allow so many conflicting forms of
is agnostic, replies: “We have not explained worship? Why would he allow his worship-
the origin of the universe at all.” pers to do so many bad things?’
Similarly, regarding the origin of life, an On its own, science cannot answer those
article in Science News magazine says: “It questions. But that does not mean that you
may be impossible to nail down how life cannot find reasonable answers. In fact,
truly began on Earth: Most geologic records many people have found satisfying answers
of what actually happened during Earth’s in the Bible.
earliest days have long disappeared.” Those If you would like to see why some scientists
statements suggest that science has not who have taken the time to study the Bible
yet answered the question, How did the say that they believe in a Creator, visit
universe and life begin? jw.org. Search for “viewpoints on the origin
of life.”

8 AWAKE! No. 3 2021

 SCIENCE AND THE BIBLE CONVINCED THEM

Georgiy N. Koidan, chemist Yan-Der Hsuuw, embryologist

“My work often involves ‘assembling’ mol- “As an embryo develops, all cells must co-
ecules. It is like playing chess: you need to operate with one another to transform
plan several moves in advance. If you leave certain cells into nerves, muscles, bones,
out one step, the molecule can fall apart. blood, and other tissues and ultimately form
Although my work is complicated, it is sim- an individual. The mechanism that regulates
ple compared to the thousands of chemical the development of an embryo is far beyond
reactions that happen inside living cells to our understanding. The way I see it, life must
produce complex chemical molecules. That come from an intelligent designer.
leads me to believe that there must be a
“The growth of an embryo in its mother’s
Great Chemist—a Creator.
womb, as described in the Bible at Psalm
“When I studied the Bible, I realized that 139:15, 16, seems to me to be similar to
it is not an ordinary book. The Bible was what scientists have discovered in recent
completed almost 2,000 years ago, but I decades. How could such an accurate
feel that its advice is just as valuable today. description have been recorded so long ago
What it says about settling disputes in the unless it was revealed to the writer by the
family, at work, and with neighbors really Creator?”
works. I came to the conclusion that only
someone who possesses a superior intelli-
gence can give such trustworthy counsel.”

Watch the video Rocío Picado MORE ON

Herrero: A Chemistry Teacher JW.ORG
Explains Her Faith. Search for
the video title on jw.org.

9
 What the Bible Tells Us
“This is a history of the heavens and the earth in the time they were created.”
(Genesis 2:4) With those words, the Bible summarizes its account of how
our planet came to be. Does what the Bible says harmonize with scientific
facts? Consider a few examples.
Has the universe always existed? What did the earth originally look like?
Genesis 1:1 states: “In the beginning God Genesis 1:2, 9 describes the ancient earth as
created the heavens and the earth.” “formless and desolate,” covered in water.
Up until the second half of the 20th century, That description is echoed by modern scien-
many prominent scientists believed that tific findings. Biologist Patrick Shih says that
the universe always existed. But based on our planet started with “an unbreathable at-
more recent discoveries, most scientists now mosphere devoid of oxygen . . . overall look-
acknowledge that our universe did, in fact, ing more like a science fiction landscape.”
have a beginning. Astronomy magazine reports: “New research
suggests ancient Earth was a water world,
with little to no land in sight.”

The Beginning: The material heavens and earth are First Day: Diffused light evidently penetrates the
created 1 earth’s atmosphere.—Genesis 1:3-5

10
 How did our atmosphere change over In what order did life appear on the earth?
time?
Genesis 1:20-27 states that fish, birds, land
Genesis 1:3-5 indicates that when light animals, and finally humans were created.
first began to penetrate the atmosphere, its Scientists believe that the first fish appeared
source could not have been discernable from long before the first mammals and that hu-
the earth’s surface. Only later would the sun mans appeared much later.
and the moon have been distinctly visible
from the earth.—Genesis 1:14-18.
The Smithsonian Environmental Research The Bible does not say that
Center says that our atmosphere first
allowed only diffused light to reach the all life on earth was created
earth. It says: “Methane droplets in the air
shrouded the young Earth in a global haze.”
in six 24-hour days
Later, “the methane haze cleared and the
sky turned blue.”

“Considering the brevity of the biblical narrative, the match between the
statements and timing in Genesis 1 and the discoveries of modern science
is phenomenal.”—Gerald L. Schroeder, physicist.

Second Day: The earth is covered with water and a Third Day: Surface water subsides and dry
2 dense mantle of vapor. These two elements are 3 ground appears.—Genesis 1:9-13
separated, creating a gap between them.—Genesis 1:6-8

11
 What Does the Bible Not Say? called “the day that Jehovah God made
earth and heaven.” (Genesis 2:4) So each
Some people claim that the Bible does not
of the six creative “days” during which God
harmonize with modern scientific discovery.
prepared the earth for life and created life
However, such claims are often based on a
misunderstanding of what the Bible actually on it could represent extremely long periods
says. of time.
The Bible does not say that living things
The Bible does not say that the universe
cannot undergo changes in their makeup
or the earth is only 6,000 years old.
Rather, it says simply that the earth and the over time.
universe were created “in the beginning.” The book of Genesis states that animals
(Genesis 1:1) The Bible does not specify how were created “according to their kinds.”
long ago that was. (Genesis 1:24, 25) The Bible word “kinds” is
The Bible does not say that all life on not a scientific term, but it seems to refer to
broad divisions of life-forms. Thus, a single
earth was created in six 24-hour days.
“kind” may include many species or vari-
Rather, it uses the word “day” to refer to pe- eties. This wording allows for the possibility
riods of time. For example, it states that the that within a “kind,” changes in the variety
creation of our planet and life on it—during and the types of species that lived in the
the six creative “days” spoken of in Genesis same community could occur over time.
chapter 1—occurred in the period of time
 Jehovah is the name of God as revealed in the Bible.

Fourth Day: The sun and moon could have been Fifth Day: God creates underwater creatures
4 discernible from the earth’s surface.—Genesis 5 and flying creatures with the ability to procreate
1:14-19 within their kinds.—Genesis 1:20-23

12
 What do you think? CONSIDER THIS:
As noted above, the Bible describes in sim-
ple and accurate terms the beginning of the Read Genesis 1:1–2:4. Contrast
universe, the original state of the earth, and that account with ancient creation
the development of life. Might it be, then, that myths. The Babylonians, for exam-
the Bible has also accurately identified the One ple, believed that the universe and
who created those things? “The origin of life humans were made from the corpse
[as] a result of a supernatural event,” says the of a goddess and the blood of a
Encyclopædia Britannica, “is in its most general god. Ancient Egyptians supposed
form not inconsistent with contemporary scien- that the god Ra created humans
tific knowledge.” from tears. In China, some thought
that the dead body of a giant had
 The Encyclopædia Britannica does not endorse the idea
that life was created. transformed into the natural ele-
ments of the earth and that
humans descended from the fleas
The Bible does not say that on his body. Do you think that the
Genesis account belongs among
living things cannot change those myths? Or is it scientifically
over time plausible?

Sixth Day: Land animals, both large and small, are created.
6 The sixth day culminates with the creation of the first
human couple.—Genesis 1:24-31

Watch the four-minute video

Was the Universe Created?
Search for the video title on
jw.org.

MORE ON
JW.ORG

13
 Why the Answer Matters
Why does it matter whether there is a Creator? If the evidence con-
vinces you that an almighty God exists, then you may want to exam-
ine the evidence that the Bible is inspired by him. And if you trust
what the Bible says, then you stand to benefit in the following ways.

Add meaning to your life Get answers to your questions

THE BIBLE SAYS: “[God] did good, giv- THE BIBLE SAYS: “You will find the
ing you rains from heaven and fruitful knowledge of God.”—Proverbs 2:5.
seasons, satisfying you with food and
WHAT IT MEANS: Discovering that
filling your hearts with gladness.”—Acts the Creator exists can help you find
14:17. answers to fundamental questions,
WHAT IT MEANS: Everything you enjoy such as: What is the purpose of life?
in the natural world is a gift from the Why is there so much suffering? What
Creator. You will appreciate these gifts happens when we die? You can find
even more when you discover how satisfying answers in the Bible.
much the Giver cares about you.
Look at the future with hope
Find reliable guidance for daily living THE BIBLE SAYS: “ ‘I well know the
THE BIBLE SAYS: “You will understand thoughts that I am thinking toward you,’
what is righteous and just and fair, the declares Jehovah, ‘thoughts of peace,
entire course of what is good.”—Prov- and not of calamity, to give you a fu-
erbs 2:9. ture and a hope.’ ”—Jeremiah 29:11.
WHAT IT MEANS: As your Creator, God WHAT IT MEANS: God promises that in
knows what you need in order to be the future he will eliminate evil, suffer-
happy. By examining the Bible, you can ing, and even death. When you trust
learn lessons that can benefit you now. God’s promises, your hope in such a
future will help you face day-to-day
problems with courage.

See the videos How Can We Be Sure the Bible

Is True? and Who Is the Author of the Bible?
on jw.org. You can find each of these videos
by typing the phrase “Bible true” or “author of
Bible” into the search box.

14 AWAKE! No. 3 2021

 H O W S O M E H AV E
BENEFITED FROM THEIR
B E L I E F I N A C R E AT O R

“I continue to be amazed when I see how

God helps us in so many aspects of life. From
setting priorities in life to how to deal with
conflict to how to become God’s friend.”
—Cyndi, U.S.A.

“My belief in a Creator makes my life fulfilling

and rich. It stimulates me intellectually, since
there are endless beautiful things to be dis-
covered about him, about his creation, and
about his Word.”—Elise, France.
“Applying what our Creator teaches us in the
Bible makes me a happier person. It helps me
to be less critical, more attentive, and more
content. It has also helped me to be a better
father.”—Peter, Netherlands.
“Formerly, my life was a vicious circle of eat-
ing, sleeping, and scrambling to get to work
on time. I was in survival mode! Now I see life
as an incredibly wonderful gift—one meant to
be enjoyed and nurtured.”—Liz, Estonia.
“I am an anxious person. But knowing
that there will be an end to wickedness, injus-
tice, and suffering helps me to cope.”—Adrien,
France.

See how the Bible answers MORE ON

life’s big questions. Watch the JW.ORG
video Why Study the Bible?
—Full Length.

15
This issue of Awake! presents some of
the evidence that suggests that the universe
Examine the
was created. Examine this evidence for yourself,
and determine if there is a basis for believing
Evidence
that a Creator exists. Listed here are some
MORE ON
more videos and publications that you might JW.ORG
find informative. Search for the titles on
jw.org:

Why do many Is the teaching of Is it reasonable to Is it reasonable to

educated people evolution based on believe in a Creator? believe in the Bible?
believe in a Creator? solid facts?
Watch the video What Read the brochure
Watch the interviews in Read the brochure Was Your Peers Say—Belief The Origin of Life
the series “Viewpoints Life Created? in God. —Five Questions Worth
on the Origin of Life.” Asking.

s n p
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