The Word of Life
It is no surprise that Irreducible Complexity remains a staggering and effective method for teaching the probability of an intelligent designer. I am of course very grateful for the work of Micheal Behe, but I have always thought he didn’t go far enough. For the past decade I have upgraded his terminology that began with Darwin’s Black Box and have offered the more accurate phrase “Irreducible Sophistication” in an effort to improve or enhance the topic to more effectively reveal the realities of the first symbolic codes which resulted in biological magnificence. Life!
Questions about how we developed the ability to communicate complex ideas, how language emerged, and how genetic information originated in a structured manner similar to alphabet and grammar have remained largely unanswered. However, the concepts of the “Information Enigma” and the “Surprise Effect,” as described by Dr. A.E. Wilder-Smith, offer a compelling perspective. By understanding these ideas, one can find powerful reasons to believe in an Intelligent Creator—a Coder behind all codes.
John 1:1, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
Knowing the Word of God guides one towards building a strong foundation and a reasonable faith.
DNA and the Surprise Effect
To understand the Surprise Effect, it’s important to think about how codes function. A code is not merely a collection of symbols; it requires an underlying framework of meaning, an intentional link between symbols and what they represent. In language, symbols are letters and words, while in DNA, symbols are nucleotides—the building blocks of genetic information. Just as written language allows us to communicate beyond our immediate environment, DNA encodes the information necessary for life.
The Word and the Origin of Information
The creation of the first symbolic link—the connection between a symbol and the object it represents—is a leap of significance in human development. It allowed humans to discuss concepts beyond direct experience.
The Bible provides a perspective on the origin of information. In John 1:1, it says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The idea here is that “the Word” is foundational to creation, to life, and to meaning itself. For those who hold faith, the intricate language of DNA is no surprise but rather a testament to a purposeful designer.
The Nature of Symbolic Links
DNA’s symbolic links are formed through the pairing of nucleotides, which encode the genetic information essential for life. The concept of symbolic links—the pairing of symbols and meanings—is the foundation of any code. Language links symbols to meanings, DNA links nucleotides to biological outcomes, and information theory links data to communication. These links, as arbitrary as they may seem, are not accidental but intentional.
To say that a scheme using an “arbitrary method” is not arbitrary is to say that the rules governing symbolic systems are established purposefully. The choice of symbols may be arbitrary, but the fact that they are chosen, encoded, and structured systematically to produce meaning is anything but random. This idea supports the assertion that information—whether found in human communication or biological systems—is a product of design.
Codes Require a Coder
Information Theory is not a theory but rather a method for understanding the requirements for using effective communication.
Sources for more information.
Dr. Wilder-Smith, a prominent biochemist and theologian who turned from atheism who being the youngest General in the British Indian Army, noted the significance of symbolic links in the natural world, stating that “the DNA molecule…is essentially a linear sequence of symbols.” In this sense, DNA can be thought of as a language of life, with the sequence of nucleotides representing the genetic code that underpins all living organisms.
Claud Shannon, a mathematician and the pioneer of information theory, recognized the significance of encoding and transmitting information efficiently. He showed that communication, whether it be language or other forms of symbolic systems, relies on encoding information—requiring both a framework and an intentional design. Without a designer to develop the rules of the code, communication would be impossible.
Walter Remine, an expert mathematical fields of signal processing and pattern recognition, where he holds four patents. His book The Biotic Message has been well received for its novel insights and arguments against evolutionary theory, and for offering a creationary alternative—a scientifically testable theory of life’s major patterns. “The Biotic Message,” arguing against evolutionary randomness and in favor of design. ReMine’s insights highlight the complexity of biological systems as messages that demand an intelligent source. The biotic message is an echo of the designer’s purpose—a scientifically testable theory that underscores the uniqueness and intentionality of life.
The Information Enigma or Surprise Effect, which is the concept of the first symbolic link, is not unique to human language but is also seen in the genetic code of DNA and RNA. These molecules use symbolic links to represent genetic information, demonstrating the power of symbolic links.
Codes do not self-generate; they emerge from thought, intention, and design.
The Power of the Word
The “Information Enigma” or “Surprise Effect” is a reminder that the origin of information is not a mystery for those who see the divine purpose behind it. The Word, as described in the Bible, is not just an abstract concept but the cause of all information. It is the creative force behind language, life, and meaning. The origin of life, according to this view, is a declaration—a purposeful act of creation by the Word of Life.
It should be no surprise that DNA, a sophisticated code that stores the blueprint of all living organisms, reflects the work of an intelligent Coder. The complexity, intentionality, and symbolic nature of genetic information echo the power of language, the spoken word, and ultimately, the divine origin described in John 1:1.
Conclusion: No Enigma, No Surprise
The Surprise Effect, as articulated by Dr. Wilder-Smith, is no surprise at all when seen in the light of purposeful creation. The origin of symbolic codes—whether in our genetic makeup or in the words we speak—points toward a creative force. That force is the Word of Life, and through understanding the intricate language of DNA, one finds not randomness, but reason, purpose, and a divine author.
Think About it and remember!
Any physical asset used to formulate a scheme, or a code cannot be the cause (origin) of the code.
Any scheme that uses an arbitrary method, isn’t arbitrary.
Ponder that “The Word” is the cause of the Origin of Information and there is no Enigma or Surprise Effect as it should be no surprise at all. The origin of life is the purposeful declaration from the Word.
The power of language or the spoken word is divine. And it is no surprise that DNA is coded and coded by the one true Coder.
