In the Beginning Was Information

by Werner Gitt

In this classic book, Dr. Gitt maintains that God is not bound by the laws of nature, but instead uses them for His own purposes.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Christian, Theology, Religion, Christian Non Fiction, Christianity

264 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2000

About the author

Engineering degree from the Technical University in Hanover, Germany. Ph.D.

Previously Head of the Department of Information Technology at the German Federal Institute of Physics and Technology (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt [PTB], in Braunschweig).

Previously Director and Professor at PTB.

Reviews

[Karen Chung · Rating 2 out of 5]

I saw this book referenced in another book I was reading and found the pdf online. I thought I'd give it a try, since I'm interested in information theory. There are interesting bits and pieces here and there, but not much that I didn't already know.

The title does in fact give a hint as to the real nature of this book: an argument for Intelligent Design, and a church sermon. Since I had already gotten a heavy dose of these during my nine years at a parochial school, the "information value" of this book was for me in fact very low.

[Eric Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

In his book, "In the Beginning Was Information," Werner Gitt painstakingly shows that any model for the origin of life (and of information) based soley on physical or chemical processes is inherently false. Louis Pasteur stated a truism that has never been disproven. "Life can only come from life."

I’ve been slow about putting up a review of this book because I have read it in chapter snatches over a period of months. It is complicated. I can’t say I understand much of the theory, but I do understand and agree wholeheartedly with the thesis that there is no natural law or process or phenomenon through which matter can give rise to information. And without encoded information, there can be no life.

Gitt begins his book by asking how certain spiders are so specific in the web they weave, how a certain S. American butterfly’s wing can be such an amazing structure, and how human embryos can so purposefully develop. The answer is, information is encoded in the cells. An organ playing robot, although quite astonishing, can only plan what it is programmed to play. Information is crucial.

Gitt next discusses the differences between laws of nature, models, theories, hypotheses, paradigms, speculation, and fiction. He points out that inherent resistance to change results in many hypotheses and paradigms being accepted as laws long after they have been disproved. A law of nature, by contrast, is a statement verified repeatedly and in a reproducible so that it is viewed as valid. Laws of nature are based on experience, are universally valid, equally valid for living and inanimate things, are not restricted to any one field of study, are immutable. Laws of nature explain events without God since they became operational when creation was completed. For example, gravity, the law of conservation of energy, etc.

Many scientists justly regard information as the third fundamental entity alongside matter and energy. Gitt then tackles the key question of whether or not information can arise purely from matter. He lists a series of theorems, the first of which is that information is non-material, it cannot be explained in terms of material processes. The second theorem states that information arises through an intentional, volitional act. This adds a 4th entity to matter, energy and information, that of WILL or VOLITION.

He asserts, and then goes on to prove, that information comprises the nonmaterial foundation for all technological systems and for all works of art.

Next Gitt, shows that information, as transmitted from a sender to a recipient, exists on 5 levels: the level of statistics (numbers, letters, words), the level of syntax (how letters, etc. are combined--a multitude of codes [binary code, Greek alphabet, etc], the level of semantics (meaning), the level of pragmatics [eg. actions], and the level of apobetics [the premeditated purpose of the sender]. For example, a male bird calls a mater by means of his song or to establish his territory or a computer program is written for the purpose of solving equations or manipulating a system.

Gitt lists a whole series of theorems to elucidate information. For example, Theorem 23 states that there is no known natural law through which matter can give rise to information, nor is there any physical or material phenomenon that can do this. As formulated by Louis Pasteur, “Life can only come from life,” is has never been contradicted. Information is not life, but information is a necessary prerequisite for life.

Gitt continues for a hundred pages to systematically develop these laws about information and the necessity of codes to pass it on. Let me list a few salient points:
• there can be no information without a code
• Any code is the result of a free and deliberate convention
• there can be no information without a sender....a mental source...volition (will)
• information cannot originate in statistical processes
• Any model for the origin of life (and of information) based soley on physical or chemical processes is inherently false. (p. 98)
In the evolutionary view, due to philosophical bias, both information and life itself is regarded as a purely material phenomena. But the code systems used for communication in the animal kingdom have not been ‘invented’ by them but were created fully functioning.

Gitt uses abundant examples, charts, diagrams, quotations to underline what he is saying. In the end the point is, without God as creator there could be no life. He is the source of all the information contained in code form in all living things.

In almost 80 pages of appendices, Gitt discusses, the statistical view of information, the complexity and variety of languages, energy as a fundamental quantity, and more. 5 of 5 for content; 4 of 5 for readability.

[FrankTillman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let God be true and all men liars

This book altogether gives a very depth look at reality. While all concepts mentioned I may not agree with, the overall intent I do agree with.
In the Beginning there was Information! And information was created as creation unfolded. Once created/established it has NEVER not existed, we puny human beings only see through a "glass darkly" but that doesn't mean the information is not there.

[John Rossitto · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING READ

The authors knowledge of information and systems is amazing. Provides both layman and technical explanations of information theory. Those with more advanced physics and math back grounds get their equations and derivations. The layperson can follow the logic and theorems that he provides. On top of that, he offers data in diversely different fields from language to glow worms to the navigation of bird as examples of information and its use. Not bedtime reading but highly beneficial.

[Eldonex1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Glimpse Into the Unfathomable Creation of God

I would recommend this book to Christians seeking to reinforce their faith against the constant barrage of evolutionary propaganda we are subjected to every day in our culture.

I would also recommend it to an unbeliever seeking answers to the claims by so many “scientists” who insist (in spite of evidence to the contrary) that all life is a result of random occurrences happening over the course of billions of years.

[Eddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Gitt does a great job of walking the reader through fundamental principles related to information, and really, the preconditions for knowledge/science and life in general. The appendixes on language and energy alone are worth the price of admission!

[Victor Bolbot · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thought-provoking book, although it lacks rigour scientific background

[Matthias Hausdörfer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Beware there are still missionaries unwilling to learn from history

[Gene · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading George Gilder's Knowldge and Power, I've had a new appreciation for information science. This book also dealt with that realm, but to a totally alternate purpose. I think anyone familiar with what is now called "Information Technology" would do well to get a good foundation in information science to understand the foundation of that technology. And it touches on many things I'm interested in: languages (especially Chinese and the CangJie Input Method), digital electronics, communications and radio technology, mathematics, and ultimately theology, too, if one agrees with Francis Schaeffer that He is There, And He Is Not Silent. And that was the end goal of Professor Gitt's treatise, that the world had to be designed by a magnificently intelligent Engineer.

I was excited to see the world of science get a third basic entity, in addition to matter and energy: information. And Gitt provides us with some scientific laws and theorems related to information that he claims are as legitimately in the realm of science as any of Newton's Laws. He aims to mostly use the law that I will paraphrase here: Any codified information cannot be generated by matter or energy, but requires a willful intelligence. He then goes on to show that the genetic code in biological life fits that description, thus delegitimatizing the theory of unguided evolution. It does seem a somewhat clever shortcut to do away with evolution, but I wouldn't put all my eggs in the information science basket in disproving evolution. For me, however, it's one more argument that steers me away from having any confidence in evolution. It's a nice addition to the anti-evolutionary evaluation of the universe I occupy.

I wonder if his book was well written, however. Parts of it were repetitive and stylistically dull. Also, his insistence on making it a Christian book that declares Biblical inerrancy, etc., will only cause non-Christians to write the other content off as the ravings of a slightly mad scientist. Even though I'm in agreement with him, I think he may make his case less persuasively by adding so many references to the Christian faith.

Many of the scientific facts throughout the book left me amazed. God's design in terms of efficiency and miniaturization cannot be even faintly imitated by our best science and technology. Another reason to give God praise.

The book was a mixed bag of pleasures and disappointments, but still well worth the read for anyone who puts himself in the science and technology or linguistics "nerd" category.

[A.C. Vaner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Without a doubt, it’s one of my favorite books of all times and I will definitely re-read it in the future. The general thesis statement is that information does not really exist at a physical level; it is mental and attributed mainly to associations.

Dr. Werner Gitt does a thorough job explaining the origin of information and kinds of information. He also talks about the transfer of information in steps, namely: apobetics, pragmatics, semantics, syntax, and finally, statistics. The topics of biology, theology and the bible are also explored in respect to information.

Anti-evolution theory sentiments are very clear and explicit, which to me, only gives it an extra two or three stars and lots of approval, as the need to think outside of this normalized theory is quite necessary in contemporary society in the West. The topic of miracles is briefly talked about which does make Dr. Werner Gitt’s stance on creationism clear.

Unfortunately, the bible discussion towards the end broke away from the pattern of the book, which I think impacted it a bit negatively. Dr. Werner Gitt really should have stayed on topic throughout the entire book.

Some have argued, controversially, that some of the information stated in the book is inaccurate. I do not believe this is true, although I can agree that some arguments and facts presented are indeed subjective. It is vitally important for one to read such material with an open mind I suggest.

It is safe to say that In the Beginning Was Information is one of those books that one will either really hate or really fall in love with. I fell in love with it, and though it is a non-fiction book, there is something quite magical about it. I have reviewed it on YouTube and here is the link to that video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-D1i...

[Jay Brand · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent argument that reductionism falls short of an adequate account of particularly the origin of life. Thus, matter cannot be the source of the laws governing its interactions to form highly complex structures such as life forms--particularly intelligent life.

[Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this fascinating and very insightful work, Professor Gitt makes a strong case from natural laws and information theory for intelligent design. Good food for thought apart from anything.

[Josh Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very powerful book in the case for Intelligent Design.

[Keri]

10.00

[David Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply and succinctly awesome :-)