The Universe

[talmudicmishna]

Hi all! I was watching the television show "The Universe" on the discovery channel the other day, and they were talking about the possibility of the existance of alien life. While watching I began to ponder how our faith, and humans as a whole, may be effected by different types of discoveries. I will list a few scenerios for you to ponder and discuss:
1. microbes
a. Microbes found outside of earth which contain dna and the same basic requirements for life as microbes on earth
b. Microbes found outside of earth that are totally different that those found on earth- i.e. on mercury or jupiter.

2. Intelligent life- this is where the questions get interesting!
a. (dream scenerio) Intelligent life that confirms the universality of the new and old testiment, and christianity as a whole ( separate planets, but same biblical belief).
b. (nightmare scenerio) Intelligent life that follows another religion- aliens that while never before in contact with earth believe the koran or mormanism.
c. (just throwing this out there) Alien life that visits earth and anounces that we are an experiment of theirs- that they "seeded" earth with life in order to watch us and see how earth turns out.


So how would any of these scenerios affect your relationship with jesus? In terms of the microbes, would these discoveries change our perspective on the literal truth of creationism? In terms of the discovery of intelligent life- would the dream scenerio result in the entire world following christ, and conversely would the nightmare scenerio compel christians to begin following mohomad or joseph smith?
Hope everyone has a great sunday (church was great today!)

[Kahtar]

There is nothing in the Bible that suggests we are the ONLY lifeforms in the universe.
I look at THIS world, and see God's apparent love of diversity, the testimony of the millions of different lifeforms on this planet, and I frankly would be surprised to learn that we are the ONLY ones.
Thus, finding life on other planets would not disrupt my faith or my view of God at all, rather it would confirm what I believe.
Fact is, the Bible clearly portrays numerous lifeforms that are NOT of this planet, and posess a completely different makeup. It also clearly informs us that not all of them are our friends, that some of them desire our demise, and will go to any lengths to deceive us and destroy us.

[talmudicmishna]

There is nothing in the Bible that suggests we are the ONLY lifeforms in the universe.
I look at THIS world, and see God's apparent love of diversity, the testimony of the millions of different lifeforms on this planet, and I frankly would be surprised to learn that we are the ONLY ones.
Thus, finding life on other planets would not disrupt my faith or my view of God at all, rather it would confirm what I believe.
Fact is, the Bible clearly portrays numerous lifeforms that are NOT of this planet, and posess a completely different makeup. It also clearly informs us that not all of them are our friends, that some of them desire our demise, and will go to any lengths to deceive us and destroy us.

So you are saying that even in the scenerio where intelligent life contacts us and says that they, independent of us, believe in the koran, that they may just be trying to decieve us? Or even if they have video/documented proof that they years ago placed life on this planet, no change in thinking is warranted. Im not saying that I would lose my faith, but this would definitely be hard to deal with. Of course swatan is always trying to deceive us- does he have the power to attempt something like this? Would jesus let it happen or intercede if satan tried to destroy faith by producing false evidence such as an alien race that believed in the koran?

[Kahtar]

So you are saying that even in the scenerio where intelligent life contacts us and says that they, independent of us, believe in the koran, that they may just be trying to decieve us?

Yes.

Or even if they have video/documented proof that they years ago placed life on this planet, no change in thinking is warranted.

We WERE planted here. But it was by God. So if 'they' had such 'proof', I would question it.

Of course swatan is always trying to deceive us- does he have the power to attempt something like this?

Chuck Missler seems to think so. I'm not sure one way or the other.

Would jesus let it happen or intercede if satan tried to destroy faith by producing false evidence such as an alien race that believed in the koran?

I think things will go exactly as the Word tells us they will. 'What if's' can be fun to explore, but in the end have little if any bearing on truth.

[talmudicmishna]

Your faith is so strong! I feel like the only thing that could deter my faith would be literally what we discussed with aliens showing up with an alternate history, or if we invented a time machine and the tomb was actually not empty (obviously I dont believe this but Im just saying). Am I a bad christian for admiting that these things would deter me from my faith. Is there anything at all that would deter you from belief?

[Kahtar]

Your faith is so strong! I feel like the only thing that could deter my faith would be literally what we discussed with aliens showing up with an alternate history, or if we invented a time machine and the tomb was actually not empty (obviously I dont believe this but Im just saying). Am I a bad christian for admiting that these things would deter me from my faith. Is there anything at all that would deter you from belief?

No, you're not a bad Christian. Admitting weaknesses is a mark of good character. As for my faith, there probably is something, but I don't know what it would be. My faithfulness is another story..

[acacia_gold]

Hi all! I was watching the television show "The Universe" on the discovery channel the other day, and they were talking about the possibility of the existance of alien life. While watching I began to ponder how our faith, and humans as a whole, may be effected by different types of discoveries. I will list a few scenerios for you to ponder and discuss:
1. microbes
a. Microbes found outside of earth which contain dna and the same basic requirements for life as microbes on earth
b. Microbes found outside of earth that are totally different that those found on earth- i.e. on mercury or jupiter.

2. Intelligent life- this is where the questions get interesting!
a. (dream scenerio) Intelligent life that confirms the universality of the new and old testiment, and christianity as a whole ( separate planets, but same biblical belief).
b. (nightmare scenerio) Intelligent life that follows another religion- aliens that while never before in contact with earth believe the koran or mormanism.
c. (just throwing this out there) Alien life that visits earth and anounces that we are an experiment of theirs- that they "seeded" earth with life in order to watch us and see how earth turns out.


So how would any of these scenerios affect your relationship with jesus? In terms of the microbes, would these discoveries change our perspective on the literal truth of creationism? In terms of the discovery of intelligent life- would the dream scenerio result in the entire world following christ, and conversely would the nightmare scenerio compel christians to begin following mohomad or joseph smith?
Hope everyone has a great sunday (church was great today!)

Are you saying there are only one of two explainations?

[apothanein kerdos]

If intelligent life that had the same essence as human life were found, then it'd be quite interesting and would be a challenge to the faith. If cold, almost robotic, intelligent life were found, that lacked the human essence were found, there would be hardly any challenge to the faith.

If microbes were found...well...I honestly expect microbes to be found. I don't see how that challenges the creation narrative at all.

[Athanasius]

If intelligent life that had the same essence as human life were found, then it'd be quite interesting and would be a challenge to the faith.

Would be interesting to see how they viewed God, if they had any concept of God at all.

[Bladers]

Hi all! I was watching the television show "The Universe" on the discovery channel the other day, and they were talking about the possibility of the existance of alien life. While watching I began to ponder how our faith, and humans as a whole, may be effected by different types of discoveries. I will list a few scenerios for you to ponder and discuss:
1. microbes
a. Microbes found outside of earth which contain dna and the same basic requirements for life as microbes on earth
b. Microbes found outside of earth that are totally different that those found on earth- i.e. on mercury or jupiter.

2. Intelligent life- this is where the questions get interesting!
a. (dream scenerio) Intelligent life that confirms the universality of the new and old testiment, and christianity as a whole ( separate planets, but same biblical belief).
b. (nightmare scenerio) Intelligent life that follows another religion- aliens that while never before in contact with earth believe the koran or mormanism.
c. (just throwing this out there) Alien life that visits earth and anounces that we are an experiment of theirs- that they "seeded" earth with life in order to watch us and see how earth turns out.


So how would any of these scenerios affect your relationship with jesus? In terms of the microbes, would these discoveries change our perspective on the literal truth of creationism? In terms of the discovery of intelligent life- would the dream scenerio result in the entire world following christ, and conversely would the nightmare scenerio compel christians to begin following mohomad or joseph smith?
Hope everyone has a great sunday (church was great today!)

This would not be intelligent life, these would be devils. Not some out of space alien.

My friend, the universe cant contain God. The Universe lives in GOD! He is bigger than all of it!