Hogwash:

Andre Linde & others who postulated the nucleation of “Bubble” universes (like our own) into a Multi-verse, based on Inflationary Theory, estimated some 10⁵⁰⁰ such universes to make plausible our extremely Fine Tuned Universe by Random Chance.

Atheism apologist Victor Stenger, in “The Fallacy of Fine-Tuning” & other books claims that such was as if an unintended “mandate” from the results of research & not a concocted refutation of the more spiritual Anthropic Principle. Hogwash !

While many points of his entire thesis could be logically knocked down, just as one small example, consider his complaint about the use, by Anthropic Principles, of “less fundamental” constants such as Planck’s constant: h = 6.626 069 57 (29) x 10^–34 J s, the vacuum Speed of Light: c  = 299, 792, 458 m/s, & the Gravitational constant:

G = 6.673 84(80) x 10^–11 N m²/kg².

For the sake of elegance & simplicity for “insiders”, Physicists are wont to define “natural” dimensionless units by setting 4 π G = 1 = c = h, which is to say put other constants “in terms of” G, c, h. This serves “insiders” while obscuring details for those more amateur. In any case, such is just a device of convenience & does not “sanctify” that dimensionless format. Some focus on G, c, h in Metric Units for Anthropic Principle arguments because they are more concrete for the unprofessional reader than say, the Fine Structure Constant. Stenger, however, disqualifies them as “arbitrary” because, unlike dimensionless units, their numerical value depend on the particular units chosen. Well of course ! But given those particular units chosen, the still indicate ratios & other relationships between physical realties in the Universe. Definitions like 4 π G = 1 = c = h are also arbitrary, other choices could have bee made. To knock down the Metric Units is foolish or disingenuous, take your pick Victor. Inventing 10⁵⁰⁰ unreachable universes, bolstered by tenuous arguments about CMB anisotropy, just as special pleading in your Atheist argument against Theists, my God Victor !

To so justify Anthropic Chance begins to compare to all the particles in the Universe, requiring 1 with 80 zeroes, 10⁸⁰ as compared to Universe size to Electron size ratio – with 40 zeroes, 10⁴⁰. Add 6 zeroes to 86 & we have the particles in a million Universes 10⁸⁶. We can’t imagine 100 zeroes, a Googol, 10¹⁰⁰. How about 200 zeroes, 10²⁰⁰ ? What about 500 zeroes, 10⁵⁰⁰ not of particles now, but of same-size Universes ? That’s the number in the Multi-verse, with just 1, ours, working out.

We side with neither Atheist nor the Creator God of the Theist, but award way more points to the Theist. One Absolute Divine Consciousness has no Universe(s), though one or more may appear in the Waking State, but 10⁵⁰⁰ ???

[The above themes & 1600 pages more are freely available as perused or downloaded PDF’s, the sole occupants of a Public Microsoft Skydrive “Public Folder” accessible through  www.jpstiga.com ]