Dr. Walter Bradley, chair of Texas A&M University's mechanical engineering department, attempted to scientifically defend the existence of God last night at a lecture sponsored by the student group Christian Impact.

Although the professor specifically stated that "one cannot prove or disprove the existence of God," he offered the crowd of 100 at Emerson Hall scientific evidence pointing to the sovereignty of a supreme being.

"Chance is an inadequate explanation for the beginning of life," Bradley said. "It's the origin [of the universe] that's the enigma, not the operation."

Bradley's use of intimidating scientific equations caused many students to cringe.

But he managed to present a clear thesis that the functions of the universe and life are too specific to have been haphazardly created--and thus must have resulted from an intelligent creator.

"Getting L-amino acid, joined with only peptide bonds with exactly the right sequence is equivalent to having monkeys type `The Origin of Species' by randomly banging away on a typewriter," Bradley said.

Christian Impact, formerly known as the King's Fellowship, invited Bradley to the campus to emphasize that religion and academia are harmonious.

"Believing in God is wholly compatible with an active mind," said Christian Impact chair Eric S. Gregory '93. "You don't have to commit intellectual suicide to be a Christian."

Students attending the lecture said they were satisfied with Bradley's argument, although many of them were merely reaffirming their own beliefs.

"I thought he presented some interesting points about life coming out of nowhere," said Lora M. James '94. "It enforces my belief about creation."

Others said they found Bradley's frank manner compelling.