Was the universe designed JUST for us?

[CatholicSoxFan]

It’s a common new atheist meme/slogan, that is brought up in many different contexts, that theists are oh-so arrogant, because they think that the whole universe, with all of the billions and billions of stars, and all of the time its existed (I accept the Big Bang and the age of the universe), was all created just for us, such small and insignificant creatures on a tiny rock in this specific portion of time. But If memory serves me right, I don’t think that the Church actually teaches that, and that atheists use that demonstrates their lack of depth of understanding of yet another Church doctrine, Divine Providence. They often bring this up when objecting to the fine-tuning argument, when they bring up that the events that enabled their birth, for example, if you go back through the generations, were also improbable, and yet no one says that the universe was made just for them. It is true that we are part of God’s plan, but that doesn’t mean that we are the only part of it.
Thoughts?

 

[Della]

It is funny the false accusations thrown at the Church by those who know nothing. Really, they are painting the Church’s teachings with their own brush by making this claim. They claim the universe exists so species can gain intelligence. I’d have to ask what real difference there is between the two ideas. And why it would make such a difference if God had created the whole universe just so we humans would have a suitable place to live. If we are all mere worm food, why should they care? It’s illogical, as Spock would say.

But in truth, the Church does not teach that we are the sole reason for the creation of the universe. All we know for certain is that God created us because he wished to share his love with us and that he loved us so much he sent his Son to redeem us. Apart from that, why he created the universe, in all it’s size and complexity, is a mystery. We may be privileged to know that in God’s good time or not, but again, what difference does it make to the atheist? Why should they be offended or get worked up over something no one is asking them to believe?

 

[PietroPaolo]

It’s a common new atheist meme/slogan, that is brought up in many different contexts, that theists are oh-so arrogant, because they think that the whole universe, with all of the billions and billions of stars, and all of the time its existed (I accept the Big Bang and the age of the universe), was all created just for us, such small and insignificant creatures on a tiny rock in this specific portion of time. But If memory serves me right, I don’t think that the Church actually teaches that, and that atheists use that demonstrates their lack of depth of understanding of yet another Church doctrine, Divine Providence. They often bring this up when objecting to the fine-tuning argument, when they bring up that the events that enabled their birth, for example, if you go back through the generations, were also improbable, and yet no one says that the universe was made just for them. It is true that we are part of God’s plan, but that doesn’t mean that we are the only part of it.
Thoughts?

The universe wasn’t designed just for us. It was designed just for Christ. See Col 1:16 -

“All things were created through Him (Christ) and for Him.”

 

[TomD123]

It’s a common new atheist meme/slogan, that is brought up in many different contexts, that theists are oh-so arrogant, because they think that the whole universe, with all of the billions and billions of stars, and all of the time its existed (I accept the Big Bang and the age of the universe), was all created just for us, such small and insignificant creatures on a tiny rock in this specific portion of time. But If memory serves me right, I don’t think that the Church actually teaches that, and that atheists use that demonstrates their lack of depth of understanding of yet another Church doctrine, Divine Providence. They often bring this up when objecting to the fine-tuning argument, when they bring up that the events that enabled their birth, for example, if you go back through the generations, were also improbable, and yet no one says that the universe was made just for them. It is true that we are part of God’s plan, but that doesn’t mean that we are the only part of it.
Thoughts?

The universe was created “for the glory of God.”

This means that everything made is created so that in some way God may manifest His goodness through the created thing by giving it a share in His perfection.

Human beings are part of this plan because in attaining eternal life we simultaneously secure our happiness and God’s glory. Human beings, as rational creatures are especially significant becasue we can appreciate and respond to God’s glory. However, there are other rational creatures we know about, namely angels.

It is entirely possible that there are other rational creatures in the universe as well.

So the universe is created for God’s glory and we have a special spot…maybe other rational creatures do as well, maybe they don’t in our physical universe.

 

[Della]

Indeed, PietroPaolo and TomD123. The wonder is that we can appreciate it on many levels–that of sentient beings and as spiritual beings. Why it is as it is, though, is the mystery. God could have created a much smaller universe or one we could not perceive or any number of variations. I think the great size and scope of the universe is what overwhelms some people. As Chesterton once observed: “The poet only asks to get his head into the heavens. It is the logician who seeks to get the heavens into his head. And it is his head that splits.”

 

[mommamaree]

I have done quite a bit of exploring this question recently, actually. The answer that I believe the Catechism of the Catholic Church, as well as writings of the saints, offer us is that the universe was not created for US, but for HIM, as in the Person of Jesus Christ.

God willed to first create human beings, a creature composed of body and soul, and then His plan was to take on human flesh and elevate it, thereby allowing such humble creatures to partake in the divine life.

He also devised a test, of which we are all well aware, which resulted in our fall from grace. However, that is what we refer to as “felix culpa” or happy fault. The reason being, that though Christ would have always been our King in an unfallen world, by reason of our fall from grace, He became our Redeemer as well. And so we have so much more reason to love Him!

 

[Charlemagne_III]

The universe does seem to be larger than it should have to be, yet it is finite. If we are the only thinking and immortal creatures in it, and that is possible, God’s decision to make the universe just for us does not show that he is wasteful, but that he himself is grand and expansive beyond imagining. If atheists cannot see this, it is mostly because they lack imagination. It is because they cannot imagine an Ego vastly bigger than their own.

 

[CatholicSoxFan]

Is there a contradiction in saying that God created the universe for His own purposes, but that He also did it for the love of creation? I mean, we humans often have multiple reasons for doing things. As we are mere finite images of God, you’d think God would, too.

 

[Charlemagne_III]

Is there a contradiction in saying that God created the universe for His own purposes, but that He also did it for the love of creation? I mean, we humans often have multiple reasons for doing things. As we are mere finite images of God, you’d think God would, too.

God made the days of the Earth so very ancient for many reasons. He had to prepare a nesting place for men. And evolution proves that over the ages he had to make enough ancient creatures to live and die and become fossils so that later there would be enough fossil fuels to warm that nest.