Re: ICR's ACTS AND FACTS

I thank Burgy for pointing out this stuff about how ETs don't exist, based
on those two verses of scripture. The exegesis in the Acts case is really
puzzling, and of course just dumb in the other case. Of course the earth
was made for us, where else do we find humans?!

In Acts & Facts, the objection that is presented is the old saw about the
uniqueness of the cross, as given by Henry Morris in 1976. To repeat the
cosmic drama elsewhere in the universe, bemoans Morris, would be "grotesque
and blashphemous."

This is an old objection, voiced by (among others) the Lutheran reformer
Philipp Melanchthon in 1550, just 7 years after De revolutionibus.
"Therefore it must not be imagined that Christ died and was resurrected more
often, nor must it be thought that in any other world without the knowledge
of the Son of God, that men would be restored to eternal life."

I take this objection quite seriously, as I do the theological (not the
scientific) objections to evolution that YECs make. I do think this is up
to God, whether or not to make other creatures in communion with God, and
whether or not to redeem them if necessary. This does seem to be a case of
idolatrous reason erecting a doctrine that goes well past the Bible. But
I'd like to hear from George Murphy (and anyone else) on this one.

The Acts & Facts also mentions Seth Shostak (head of SETI), who has
apparently predicted that we will make contact with aliens by 2025. (so
says A&F) Thirty years ago, I was Shostak's research assistant at NRAO in
Virginia. Don't recall that he was into ETs then, though he was very
interested in radio galaxies. I got to run the 300-foot telescope (the one
that collapsed several years ago) one weekend when he could not be around.
Lots of fun.

ted
Received on Thu Mar 4 13:47:51 2004