Bronze-level articleThe Equation of Creation

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===Lack of units in equation===
 
===Lack of units in equation===
  
The first major error in the equation is the failure to retain units used in the equation. Cumming argues that the numbers provide significant proof of the existence of a creator, yet <math>Hl_f</math> (basic unit: cycles/second) and <math>C_0</math> (basic unit: distance/time) do not balance on opposite sides of the equation. Pi is a unitless number, as is Ω. This is akin to coming up with an equation like (100 pounds * 10 * 0.5) = 500 hours. The numbers may match up (500 on one side, 500 on the other), but that doesn't prove that one pound is the same as one hour.
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The first major error in the equation is the failure to retain units used in the equation. Cumming argues that the numbers provide significant proof of the existence of a creator, yet <math>Hl_f</math> (basic unit: cycles/second) and <math>C_0</math> (basic unit: distance/time) do not balance on opposite sides of the equation. Pi is a unitless number, as is Ω. This is akin to coming up with an equation like (100 pounds * 10 * 0.5) = 500 hours. The numbers may match up (500 on one side, 500 on the other), but that doesn't prove that one pound is the same as one hour. [[Andrew Schlafly|Other creationists]] have proven susceptible to errors of identical form.<ref> "Eating a pound of cake does not cause one's energy to increase by the speed of light squared." http://www.conservapedia.com/Talk:E%3Dmc%C2%B2/Archive_1#Examples_of_how_meaningless_E.3Dmc.C2.B2_is:_descriptions_for_the_layman
  
 
===Arbitrary measurements in equation===
 
===Arbitrary measurements in equation===

Revision as of 07:54, 19 March 2014

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The Equation of Creation is an equation and argument promoted by creationist David Cumming. He argues that God has presented proof of Himself in the form of a simple equation that uses the frequency of the hydrogen fine transition line, the speed of light when converted, and Ω, which he defines not only as every numeral used in base-10, but also the difference in "weight" of the moon compared to the earth.

It is an excellent example of the Texas sharpshooter fallacy, in which you start with your conclusion then pick your supporting facts.

The equation

Cumming defines the equation[1] as

\frac {Hl_f \cdot \pi}{\Omega}=C_0

Hl_f is the frequency of the hydrogen fine transition line - the frequency emitted by a neutral hydrogen atom when the spin of the electron in the ground state flips from parallel to the spin of the proton to antiparallel to the spin of the proton. It is equal to 1420.405751 MHz.

\pi is 3.141592653 (Pi is chosen to 10 significant figures to match Hlf).

"Hl_f \cdot \pi equals 4462.336272 [sic]". Actually, it equals 4462.336272 MHz - don't forget the units. Cummings also mentions that Hl_f \cdot \pi is a "frequency . . . suggested by Pyotr Makovetsky, for various reasons, as the best potential transmission frequency that should be searched for signs of ETI, and this frequency was [one of many] adopted by NASA’s SETI institute (now independent from NASA)"

\Omega is 0.0123456789 and "represents all the characters of the base 10 number system."

C_0 represents "the speed of light... calculated using the equation... works out at 361,437,469.8 Thoms/sec."

The Thom is a unit of length, also called a "megalithic yard" by Cummings. It is defined to be either 0.82945 or 0.82966 meters.

Errors in the equation

There are several errors in Cumming's equation.

Lack of units in equation

The first major error in the equation is the failure to retain units used in the equation. Cumming argues that the numbers provide significant proof of the existence of a creator, yet Hl_f (basic unit: cycles/second) and C_0 (basic unit: distance/time) do not balance on opposite sides of the equation. Pi is a unitless number, as is Ω. This is akin to coming up with an equation like (100 pounds * 10 * 0.5) = 500 hours. The numbers may match up (500 on one side, 500 on the other), but that doesn't prove that one pound is the same as one hour. Other creationists have proven susceptible to errors of identical form.[2]


Cite error: <ref> tags exist, but no <references/> tag was found
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