Chapter 4

the layer of gas surrounding the earth, composed of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and small amounts of other gasses

the theoretical origin of the universe as an immense explosion of energy from a single point; occurred 13.8 billion years ago according to a widely accepted theory.

a conflict in contemporary culture fueled on one hand by those who incorrectly claim that there is no God, and on the other hand by Christians whose interpretation of the Bible lead them to reject widely accepted scientific theories.

the fact that throughout nature, many physical constants are set at just the right values to enable complex life to exist on earth; if any of these values were different by even a small amount, life could not exist.

a large spiral structure in outer space consisting of some 100 billion stars. there are about 100 billion galaxies in the known universe.

the orderly and very mathematical system of rules that objects in nature obey; a manifestation of the intelligence in nature that points to the creator.

the magnetic field surrounding the earth and protecting the earth from high-energy protons and electrons in the solar wind.

the name for our galaxy.

the sun and the planets, along with the planets’ moons and other smaller bodies.

a stream of high-energy charged particles (protons and electrons) continuously emitted by the sun.

the discarded theory that the universe is neither expanding nor contracting and had no beginning but has always been here.