Belief Quote by William Peter Blatty
“In order for life to have appeared spontaneously on Earth, there first had to be hundreds of millions of protein molecules of the Ninth Configuration. But, given the size of the planet Earth, do you know how long it would take for just one of these protein molecules to appear by chance? Roughly 10 to the 243rd power, billions of years; and I find that far, far more fantastic than simply believing in a god.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Discussion on The Ninth Configuration, 1978
The quote highlights the astronomically low probability of complex life arising by chance, suggesting belief in a higher power is more plausible.
In simple terms: Life’s chance origins are extremely unlikely.
Key Takeaway
Consider the odds of spontaneous protein formation.
Themes
probability
origin of life
faith
science
philosophy
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- debates on creation vs evolution
- science education
- philosophical discussions
- personal belief formation
Key Concepts
anthropic principle
fine-tuning
cosmology
biology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you reconcile scientific evidence with personal belief?
- What role does probability play in your worldview?
A Different Perspective
The calculation assumes random assembly without natural selection, which may oversimplify.
