Evolution and matter?

Question

The theory of evolution is based on the premise that matter arranges itself from the simple to the complex. If that is the case, how is it that there were no complex structures before there was life? Even the most sophisticated house is not as complex as a human life form. Why didn't matter arrange itself into houses? Or machines? Even if there was no use for those things, since practical use isn't part of the equation of the arrangement of matter, why did life come first?

Answer 1

Also, if matter arranged itself by chance, why would it not also lose it's arrangement by chance?

You've hit the nail on the head. The design of our world is fearfully complex and full of radiant beauty. It appears to be the DESIGN of a scientist or an artist more than an accident of the universe. In the Bible, Paul says, "For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities— his eternal power and divine nature— have been clearly seen, being understood from WHAT HAS BEEN MADE, so that men are without excuse.” It takes more faith to believe that God did not create life than to believe that He did.

Did life really come first? Our world and universe are complex, so who's to say? Life would come for reasons, though. I don't know all of them, but one is that God overflows in every good thing, including LIFE. Just as we reproduce what we are, God reproduces what He is. Don't throw the fallen nature of creation into that package though. We found that all on our own.

Answer 2

Tell matter this secret, because right now it arranges itself into billions of snowflakes every winter in total defiance of what you say. Oh, and inform the nebulae we see in the telescopes that they must stop collapsing to form star systems this instant. There are many other examples, but I think you get the idea.

The entire universe is constantly sliding towards randomness due to the second law of thermodynamics, as you probably already know. However, while the entropy of the universe as a whole has to increase with every change, the local entropy can decrease if it goes up elsewhere. For example, in the snow example the water vapor loses heat (equivalent to entropy) in order to arrange itself into ice.

Also, you are conflating complexity and order. Take a bowl of milk and place a few drops of food coloring of different colors in a ring around the center, one drop of each color. A relatively simple arrangement, no? Now, take a tooth pick and dip it in dishwashing fluid and touch the center of the milk. Not too much dishwashing detergent; just a little. Complexity galore, in the form of colored streamers worthy of an artist. (don't worry, it just produces psychedelic patterns, not an explosion. Try it) In truth, complexity is the measure of how random something is. Perfect random is equal to infinite complexity. Cool, huh?

Answer 3

It's a mystery how life started, the only thing I know for sure is that it evolves from simpler to more complex by mutation. There are many mutations and only the individuals with a more effective and practical mutation keep living and multiply. The others just extinguish.

That's why Brad Pitt's children will keep living and evolving while The Hunchback of Notre-Damme didn't even get close to a girl hahaha.

Answer 4

Life is complex to us. We must be careful about putting our human labels on things and accepting our interpretation as gospel.