Why is there a universe at all? What can the structure of living things tell us about their origin? How should we distinguish what science observes from what we infer about the past?
Why a Scientist Believes in a Creator is an ongoing Virginia Christian Alliance series by Jeff Bayard examining these questions from a biblical Christian perspective. The articles explore arguments about cause and effect, the universe, biological information, design, and the limits of scientific explanation. Each installment presents its case and provides sources for further study.
This guide brings the published articles together in a suggested reading order. You can begin at the start or choose a subject that interests you. Christians and skeptical readers alike are invited to examine the arguments, consult the sources, and consider the conclusions.
Start here
Begin with The Question Everything Else Depends On. It introduces the series through the question of why the universe exists and the author’s argument for a Creator.
Read the series
The Question Everything Else Depends On
Explore the opening argument about the universe’s beginning, a sufficient cause, and the connection the author draws to the biblical account of creation.
Cause and Effect
A shorter companion to the opening article, revisiting the argument about the universe’s origin and its proposed cause. Choose this version if you would prefer a briefer introduction.
The Language Written in Every Cell
Consider DNA and biological information, and the author’s argument that the coded instructions in living cells point to an intelligent Creator.
Shorter companion: DNA Is a Code offers a condensed introduction to the same subject.
Designed from the Start
Examine examples of interacting biological systems and the author’s case for understanding them in terms of design.
Two Kinds of Science
Explore the distinction the author draws between repeatable present-day experiments and inferences about the past, and why that distinction matters to his argument about origins.
A Universe Calibrated for Life
Consider the universe’s life-permitting physical conditions and the author’s discussion of fine-tuning, alternative explanations, and a Creator.
From Chemistry to Life
Review questions about the origin of life and the author’s argument about the transition from nonliving chemistry to living systems.
Common Design, Not Common Ancestry
Explore how the author compares common design and common ancestry as explanations for similarities among living things.
A series that continues
This is an ongoing series, not a fixed course with a final installment. Subjects and reading order may develop as new articles are published. Return to this guide for the suggested reading sequence and newly added installments.
Read, compare, and examine the sources
The series presents a Christian case for a Creator; it is not a neutral survey of every position on origins. Where an article makes a scientific or historical argument, readers should consult its cited sources and consider competing explanations. Use each installment’s further-study material to examine the case in greater depth.