Re: [asa] [ASA] Life on Mars

I wouldn't expect the discovery of extraterrestrial life per se to be
troubling. If there are or were microbes on Mars, that doesn't seem to
threaten the doctrine of creation. The discovery of sentient, intelligent
extraterrestrial life, however, could be troubling, as it would call into
question humanity's place in creation, the extent of sin, the nature of the
atonement, and the eschatological future of such beings. Even then, though,
it doesn't seem this would have to be paradigm-shattering. We know for
sure, after all, that there *is* intelligent life other than humans, because
the Bible mentions "spiritual" beings such as angels and demons, and such
beings apparently don't benefit from the atonement but have an
eschatological future that intertwines with that of humans. (If angels are
"spiritual" beings, does that mean they aren't part of the "universe?") I
think what would be paradigm shattering would be the discovery of
intelligent life that has no notion of the one true God.

On 1/7/07, Merv <mrb22667@kansas.net> wrote:
>
> Would the discovery of extraterrestrial life (even recognizably
> intelligent life) be any different from previous theological shakeups?
> That we aren't at the center of the universe ---- and that our sun
> isn't even at the center, those things aren't recognized as threatening
> to faith any more. But our easy and sophisticated assimilation of that
> into our world view isn't an indicator of superior intellect. It is
> rather an indicator of our historical distance from those major paradigm
> shifts.
>
> It is easy to imagine a couple more stages happening: the discovery of
> non-terrestrial life, and then beyond that, the discovery of other
> intelligent life. Both would invoke a round of 'ahas!' and 'toldyouso'
> from every different side (all of whom would, of course, wax eloquent
> about how great this new evidence is for what they already thought
> anyway). And then a century or two after all the rumpus subsides, we
> will have Christians still evangelizing and wondering why the existence
> of alien life used to be such a big deal, and we would also still have
> atheists happily declaring that Christianity is being refuted by
> everything that comes into their field of vision.
>
> Here is what would, to me, be the bigger surprise: what if we explore
> out into the galaxy (full-fledged Star Trek style) and discover
> ...... exactly NOTHING. No life ---- not so much as a microbe
> ---- no anomalous sentient entities to zap a starship for trespassing
> ... NADA. That, to me would be an even bigger shakeup to the way I
> think because it would be an apparent break from the inertia of
> dethroning our every "we're so special" sentiment. It has never been
> enough to just accept that we're special because God loves us. We keep
> wanting to hearken to some physical evidence of our uniqueness, but I'm
> wondering of these are mostly doomed to be overturned as some have
> already dramatically been.
>
> To think that we could be alone in the galaxy (let alone the
> universe) is a rather staggering thought rather akin to thinking
> ourselves the center of it. Of course the negative proposition can
> never be proved until every corner is explored (so either we do meet new
> life, or we will be left wondering...) Faith goes on either way, and
> scientific (evolutionary) thought will assimilate either future as
> well. My how adaptable it all is!
>
> --merv
>
>
> George Murphy wrote:
> > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Johan Jammart" <j_jammart@yahoo.fr>
> >> I just heard about this news:
> >>
> >> "Two dark gullies turned bright as NASA's now-lost Mars Global
> >> Surveyor looked on, suggesting liquid water still flows on the Red
> >> Planet "
> >>
> >>
> http://www.asa3.org:16080/weblog/jackhaas/2006/12/06/WaterflowsonMarsbeforeourver.html
> >>
> >>
> >> Of course presence of water doesn't mean presence of extraterrestrial
> >> life, but speculation usually abound with such news.
> >>
> >> If presence of life would be found on mars, would it shake your
> >> faith? I would like to have your opinions on this! Many thanks in
> >> advance!
> >
> > The existence of intelligent life elsewhere (which is unlikely on
> > Mars!) would require some theological work but there's no reason why
> > the type of life which might exist on Mars (now or in the past) should
> > shake anyone's faith.
> >
> > My most reason "Handiwork" column for the journal _Lutheran Partners_
> > deals with this issue. It can be found at
> > http://www.elca.org/lutheranpartners/handiwork/past/070102.html . (I
> > hope my references to my own writings don't seem too self-promoting
> > but it seems more sensible to do that than to write the same things
> > over & over, especially if articles are on the web.)
> >
> > Shalom
> > George
> > http://web.raex.com/~gmurphy/
> >
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@calvin.edu with
> "unsubscribe asa" (no quotes) as the body of the message.
>

-- 
David W. Opderbeck
Web:  http://www.davidopderbeck.com
Blog:  http://www.davidopderbeck.com/throughaglass.html
MySpace (Music):  http://www.myspace.com/davidbecke
To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@calvin.edu with
"unsubscribe asa" (no quotes) as the body of the message.