It's probably fair to say that we live in an age of spectacle today, perhaps greater than any other time in human history. Whether it's a large sporting event, pop concert, or blockbuster movie, we seem to have an insatiable appetite for larger than life entertainment. Here in my neck of the woods every summer, we have what's called the Calgary Stampede, which is billed as "The Greatest Show on Earth".

When considering astronomical events viewable with the naked eye, there's probably no greater spectacle than a total solar eclipse. As I can personally attest, they are an event that captures the senses and can stir you to your soul. But in addition to the emotion and raw beauty, earth's eclipses have also been key to some breakthrough scientific experiments, affording us a greater understanding of our sun and the universe as a whole. One such experiment in the spring of 1919 confirmed Einstein's theory of relativity, well another opened up the world of stellar astrophysics.

Though not entirely rare, eclipses can be decades part in any given region of the globe, thus attracting scores of viewers worldwide. One such viewer was a Cuban American astronomer by the name of Guillermo Gonzalez, who travelled all the way to India to witness a solar eclipse on October 24, 1995. This was his first eclipse experience and it left quite an impression. So much so, that upon returning home, he began considering the unique apparent coincidence of conditions that made such an event possible. Upon further reflection and investigation, Gonzalez, who has become an expert in the field of astrophysical requirements for habitability and on habitable zones, came to discover that there was a strong correlation between all the circumstances necessary for a planet to observe near perfect solar eclipses, and requirements for the habitability of that planet. In other words, a planet capable of supporting observers, such as ourselves, is also the most likely to have the best solar eclipses. An article he published on this topic in the journal, Astronomy and Geophysics, caught the attention of philosopher of science, Dr. Jay Richards, who later teamed up with Gonzalez to do further research on the subject. The findings of this research pointed to what would become the title of their book "The Privileged Planet" published in 2004, and then a DVD by the same title.

Turns out we live on a rare gem, so rare in fact that no other has yet been found. And not only is it a beautiful planet to live on, in addition, because of precisely where's located in our galaxy between spiral arms, it's also the perfect observatory platform for exploring the heavens. Just as in the world of real estate, where the key is "location, location, location", it really does matter where you live! But even though location is a key condition for our existence, living in the 'goldilocks zone' isn't enough. Numerous other factors, such as a transparent oxygen rich atmosphere, liquid water, correct planet mass, plate tectonics recycling, and a magnetic field large enough to shield the planet from solar winds, to name but a few, are critical to complex life on earth, which is almost like a living organism.

After learning about the many factors necessary as well as the astronomical odds against all of them occurring, one might easily be tempted to think we won the cosmic lottery. However, just as perfect solar eclipses may seem a bit too convenient a coincidence, the preponderance of factors that make earth suitable for humans to exist, along with it being the perfect observatory for the discovery of the greater universe, should give one pause. And what about that universe? The fundamental laws and forces that govern it are so finely tuned, that deviating even slightly from one of those constants would preclude the possibility of complex life existing. And these laws can often be expressed mathematically in surprisingly elegant and simple equations. Dr. Richards states, "this I think ought to be considered surprising, that such a simple formula or equation could have such far reaching applications to a very complicated and very large universe".

By now you might be wondering, why can we understand any of this at all? Even Albert Einstein said, "the most incomprehensible thing about the universe is that it is comprehensible". This is perhaps a clue to an underlying truth. As Gonzalez puts it, " there's something about the universe that can't be simply explained just by the impersonal forces of nature and atoms colliding with atoms, and so you have to reach for something beyond the universe to account for it". What if this source of the universe intended for there to be observers, not just so we could learn about the universe, but also to know its maker? The founders of modern science such as Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, and Newton began with this premise. Believing that the universe was the product of a mind, they assumed it would be intelligible, because it was created by an intelligent being. And we are the better for their contributions. We're often told today that we are the product of chance, living on an insignificant planet in a small corner of the universe with no particular purpose for existence. Yet science is discovering more and more evidence that would suggest otherwise. The question is whether or not we are prepared to allow the evidence to lead us where it will?

The Bible tells us that "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." and that "the heavens are telling of the Glory of God; And the expanse is declaring the work of His hands." In this present age there is a common belief that science and the Bible are at odds. The first sentence in the Bible contradicted what many modern scientists believed, but then more recent findings pointed to the universe having a clear beginning. Though the Bible is not primarily a book of science, when scientifically testable statements are found, they have proven to be accurate. Many of these statements would have seemed baffling or contradictory to the people of their day, yet when science caught up centuries or in some cases more than a millennia later, they were shown to be correct. For example Job 26:7 says that God "hangs the earth on nothing" a poetic word picture that describes what we now understand to be accurate through the law of gravity. Then consider Jeremiah 31:37 and 33:22 where it says "Just as the heavens cannot be measured", "And the stars of the sky cannot be counted". When these verses were written no one would have comprehended what the power of modern telescopes would reveal, yet these statements continue to hold true. The Bible shows itself to be accurate not only at the time of writing, but for all time! Another example is Psalm 8:8 where it speaks of "the paths of the seas". Mathew Maury, an American oceanographer and navel officer, was nicknamed "Pathfinder of the Seas" after charting the ocean currents. His inspiration...Psalm 8. Although these and many other examples will never prove the existence of God, they together provide strong circumstantial evidence for a Divine Creator. In fact this is increasingly true across all scientific disciplines.

So just as a solar eclipse was the catalyst to motivate one young astronomer to investigate deeper into the uniqueness of our home here on earth, I hope that in reading this you might consider the reality, that the God of the Bible is our creator, and look at the world around you with a new perspective and appreciation, knowing how blessed we are to call this place home. For as Gonzalez and Richards have shown us, we truly are living on a very privileged planet. And for more on who God is and the quest for life's purpose...well the answer to these and other burning questions will indeed be found in, you guessed it, the Bible.

WJ