Do you believe there is other life in the universe?

[He put me back together]

Absolutely, positively, impossible for anyone to conclude at this time on an objective basis. It's not even possible to objectively lean one way or another.

The Bible does not discuss this subject. It's not in the realm of discourse. Even if the Bible was given to men with the same physical world view as ours, it is concerned with reaching the Creator--not whether life exists elsewhere besides this planet. Planets themselves, as chunks of rock and/or gas, are also outside the realm of discourse for the Bible. The Bible doesn't even mention Peru or Mexico, let alone life in Alpha Centauri.

With this understanding, an establishment of likelihood of other life in the universe depends on a few variables.

A theistic opinion implies that one knows the mind of God with respect to life. Thus, we often hear this question:

"Why would God create this vast universe, only to populate one small, solitary planet?"

The obvious response to this question is not so popular. "Why not?" It is vain and arrogant for us to assume that God's mind is like our own. It's also hypocritical for most of Christianity. We shake our heads at atheists who ask similar questions about things that they think don't make sense about what we say is God's nature, exclaiming that the mind of God is not the mind of men. Yet, when it comes to a philosophical, completely extrabiblical subject such as this, we often insist one way or another on the mind of God as if we actually knew what His complete thoughts were on the matter. And, if you're a fundamentalist, you must by necessity admit that Genesis says nothing about other planets, only that God created the stars.

An opinion based on statistical odds relies on two variables that seem to be more straight forward:

-the possibility of life occurring (possibly affected by conditions)
-vastness of the universe, thus the number of "chances" that life has occurred

This reasoning is irrelevant for an instantaneous creationist. The only variable to an instantaneous creationist is the mind of God, since God in His infinite omnipotence is well capable of creating life that can survive in any environment of His choosing. To anyone else, there is still a problem with both variables:

Outside of a complete metaphysical miracle from Almighty God, we haven't the slightest clue how life initiated. We don't even have a concrete definition for what life is. Ergo, we haven't the slightest clue of the odds of it occurring anywhere, in an environment like our own, or anywhere else.

Secondly, we don't know how vast the universe is. If the universe was infinite, and matter was infinite (i.e., stars and planets on and on and on forever and ever), one might argue that the likelihood of life is irrelevant. If we could represent any positive, arbitrary, non-zero number as x, then we could argue that the limit of that number multiplied by infinity is infinity, implying that by adding our limited mathematic understanding to our little philosophy concerning an infinite problem, we can reason that somewhere, somehow, life does exist elsewhere in the universe.

But we don't know if the universe is inifinite, and if it is infinite we will never know. An infinite universe is impossible to confirm, because that's what infinity is in that respect--what we'd be looking for is an arbitrarily vast universe. While we do know that the universe is vast by our own standards, we don't know how vast it is. That, combined with the fact that we don't know anything about how likely it is for life to form, be it by the nature of God or the nature of God within nature, we don't know anything about the likelihood of life existing elsewhere, in any respect.

But it's a moot topic.

 

[Ayersy]

Yes. We have already found one planet with life on it, so it's obviously possible that there could be more.

 

[Leimeng]

~ The existance or non existance of space critters in no way effects the need of man to deal with their sin. It in no way effects the Blood of Jesus or the work He completed on the Cross.
~ It would be fun to talk theology and philosophy with such space critters if they actually do exist though.
~ Continue to discuss amongst yourselves...

Peace,

Leimeng

Flatulo Ergo Sum ~~~

(***Insert Personal One Liner Here***)

 

[pinkputter]

Why should we limit the limitless God with religious dogma? He doesn't have to mention something specifically through Scripture for it to exist in this Universe. Furthermore, we don't even know if this is the only created Universe.

agreed.

this might stir controversial waters, but that is kind of inline with Scientology. No, you don't have to be a scientologist to believe there is life outside planet Earth, BUT they do. Will Smith, a celeb scientologist, was quoted saying scientology is 98% in-line with the Bible. I don't know the 98% that is and the 2 that isn't..

I think it is possible to have JESUS yet have scientology beliefs..i personally don't..but who are we to judge if they are right with God.

 

[Tamara224]

No.

1. The Bible indicates that the whole creation groans and travails under the weight of sin (Romans 8:18–22). The effect of the Curse following Adam’s Fall was universal. Otherwise what would be the point of God destroying this whole creation to make way for a new heavens and Earth—2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 21:1? Therefore, any life elsewhere would have been unjustly affected by the Adamic Curse, through no fault of their own, as they would not have inherited Adam’s sin nature.

2. When Jesus appeared in the flesh, He came to Earth not only to redeem mankind but eventually the whole creation back to Himself (Romans 8:21, Colossians 1:20). However, Christ’s atoning death at Calvary cannot save these hypothetical aliens, because one needs to be a physical descendant of Adam for Christ to be our ‘kinsman-redeemer’ (Isaiah 59:20). Jesus was called ‘the last Adam’ because there was a real first man, Adam (1 Corinthians 15:22,45), not an alien. There is no provision given for the redemption of any other lifeform, including angels.

3. Any other life would be lost for eternity when this present creation is destroyed in a fervent heat (2 Peter 3:10, 12), so Christ’s sacrifice would have to be repeated elsewhere for other beings. However, Christ died once for all (Romans 6:10, 1 Peter 3:18) on the earth. He is not going to be crucified and resurrected again on other planets (Hebrews 9:26). This is confirmed by the fact that the redeemed, and earthly church is known as Christ’s bride (Ephesians 5:22–33; Revelation 19:7–9) in a marriage that will last for eternity.

4. God has made us a little lower than the angels, but raised us up above them to sit on His throne, and they were around even before the creation because they sang and shouted for joy when it was made.(Job 38:6-7)

The size of the universe is not an argument for other life, as God could have chosen to create a universe two planets big and place life on both had He wished. Size makes no difference unless you partially bought into some form of the evolution lie.

Math and probability can be used to determine the 'what' of creation, but not the 'why'. If God has determined to start with the angels, then with us, there is no amount of number-crunching that will change that fact. If the math don't match the Scripture, the math is lying.

QFT. Nicely reasoned, Faulty.

 

[jpcedotal]

What makes you believe one way or the other?

Do you believe that there are scientists/governments who have "proof" of life on other planets (like Area 51)?

 

[Svt4Him]

Would this other life need Jesus as Savior, because it seems to me Jesus died for all mankind, but if there were other mankinds, would they be different? Regardless of how big the universe is, God had a plan and that plan made His son die for us. Will He have to go die on another planet as well?

 

[lismore]

I dont understand the desire to search for intelligent life on other planets. Its hard enough to find intelligent life on this planet.

 

[gratefulgrace]

I dont understand the desire to search for intelligent life on other planets. Its hard enough to find intelligent life on this planet.

ROFL

 

[imperfectchristian]

Do you believe that there are scientists/governments who have "proof" of life on other planets (like Area 51)?

I doubt it, but who knows. However, I bet they have ample evidence of spiritual activity that they would call unexplained.

 

[WileyCoyote]

I don't believe that there is life on other planets, but I am curious as to why God created the other planets.

 

[Tamara224]

I don't believe that there is life on other planets, but I am curious as to why God created the other planets.

I think God created the universe the way He did so that it would testify of Him. He intended for His creation to reveal Himself to mankind. The universe filled with galaxies filled with solar systems... we are given a glimpse of God and eternity in His creation. Gazing at the sky we begin - barely begin - to understand how BIG God must be, how powerful.

Plus, the order of it all. The way the planets, stars and galaxies all appear to follow rules and have order. This tells us that God is not of chaos but of order.

 

[New_Wineskin]

There is more evidence pointing to more life existing in the Universe than there is that Earth would be the only planet with life. Even mathematical probability says so. Math is about logic, not wishes or belief.

One : That is not true . There is absolutely *no* evidence that life exists anywhere in the Universe outside of Earth . That is why they are spending billions of dollars just to find evidence that *maybe* there was *water* on Mars and Titan . They do this because they think that if they can find water , they *may* find evidence of life . They haven't found evidence of life anywhere as of yet .

Two : I didn't write anything about Earth being the only planet with life . I wrote that there was no evidence to the OP's title - belief there is other life in the universe .

Three : Mathematical probability says *nothing* about the existance of life *anywhere* ( not including Earth ) . A probability of *one* and *only* one can prove the existance of anything . In that case , probability is no longer needed , it is an absolute .

Four : If you don't believe Math , you can't use it . Belief isn't about wishes - it is about what you consider to be true . Believe means that you consider something to be true and proceed with that idea as true . One must believe that one plus one is two in order to use it as a fact in everyday life .

The reason for lack of hard proof is simply explained, ...

You wrote in only a couple of sentences prior that there is more proof for it than something else . Now , you state that there is a lack of proof .

and it does not mean there is no life out there. It is that we have very limited experience in the Universe and have not been able to explore the many star systems with planets in them.

That is correct . That is *why* one cannot state that life exists elsewhere - not enough experience to find any as of yet . Until proof is found , it is unknown - not to be believed - that is why I don't believe it .

We do now know there are other planets orbiting stars, however, by measurements taken of oscillating stars being affected by the gravitational pull of orbiting planets.

That is also not true . It is *assumed* that those are planets . Those measurements are taken from information travelling huge amounts of distances through a lot of space with debris and gases for many years . If they were planets , they may not be such today as they could be destroyed . We need to be there to observe that they are indeed planets .

Even so , let's say that there are other planets out there . Well , that means nothing to the argument . We have seven other planets in our own solar system . Other planets do not mean other life .

Our God is a creative God of Life. Having created such a vast Universe of many star systems in many galaxies, millions of galaxies even, each with billions or even trillions of stars, it would make no sense this creative God of Life would only be creative with life on one planet. The very idea when thought of in this way is absurd.

It is absurd when making assumptions of the Lord . He routinely does things that makes no sense to us humans . Something not making sense to you is not proof . Many things in life don't make sense until a greater picture is understood .

As others have pointed out, the lack of evidence for something does not prove it doesn't exist.

Again , I did not write that a lack of evidence of something is proof of nonexistance . But , look what you are doing ... you are using a lack of evidence *as* proof that it *does* exist . You even stated that it was absurd to think in a way that says that it *doesn't* exist .

This goes for scientists or non-scientist. It could simply mean that our exploration has not been thorough enough. In the case of the Universe, we should all be able to agree that we have not explored enough to rightly state, "No, there is no other life in the Universe." Such as statement is utterly foolish.

Such a statement *I* didn't make . However , by your own correct reasoning and words , it is "utterly foolish" to state , "Yes , there is other life in the Universe" . And , that is what I wrote in my previous post - there is no evidence to "believe there is other life in the universe" ( OP's title ) .

Our small amount of exploration isn't enough to conclude that no life exists outside of Earth . It *is* , however , enough to state that no life exists outside of Earth *of which we are aware* . It certainly isn't enough to state that life does exist elsewhere until it is actually found elsewhere .

 

[heron]

Humans have a tendency toward egocentrism. Christopher Columbus assumed America was India, because he allowed his ideas to be limited by what his culture already knew. Ancient stargazers spoke of the stars as their ancestors... claiming what they could barely see as part of their world.

We grow up wishing our parents loved only us, and thinking that neighbors don't live at the real house... they are outside the center of our universe. We can barely say what is in Antarctica, no less the universe.

Job 9
He who moves the mountains, and they do not know; when He overturns them in His anger; http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=job+9:6&t=lit&sr=1&l=enwho shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble;

the One speaking to the sun and it does not rise; and He sets a seal around the stars; http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=job+9:8&t=lit&sr=1&l=en

stretching out the heavens by Himself, and walking on the waves of the sea; http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=job+9:9&t=lit&sr=1&l=en

Who made the Bear, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south; http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=job+9:10&t=lit&sr=1&l=en

who is doing great things past finding out; yea, marvelous things without number?

Behold, He goes by me, and I do not see Him ; and He passes on, but I do not perceive Him.

Behold, He takes away; who can turn Him back? Who will say to Him, What are You doing?

God will not withdraw His anger; the helpers of pride stoop under Him. http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=job+9:14&t=lit&sr=1&l=en

How much less shall I answer Him, and choose my words with Him!

If the universe was infinite, and matter was infinite (i.e., stars and planets on and on and on forever and ever), one might argue that the likelihood of life is irrelevant.

*

God is life. God resides in His creation. Why would there not be life or energy throughout every molecule He made?

Who are we to set limits on what is beyond our vision and scope?

NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database (NED) contains data for over 7.5 million extragalactic objects. The WISE spacecraft is cataloging hundreds of millions of objects beyond earth.​

 

[DavidPresently]

One : That is not true . There is absolutely *no* evidence that life exists anywhere in the Universe outside of Earth . That is why they are spending billions of dollars just to find evidence that *maybe* there was *water* on Mars and Titan . They do this because they think that if they can find water , they *may* find evidence of life . They haven't found evidence of life anywhere as of yet .

I said there is more proof there should be life out there than otherwise because there is no proof life doesn't exist somewhere in the Universe other than Earth because we haven't explored it all - therefore to state there is none is a statement based on 0 evidence and complete ignorance.

There is very limited evidence that life exists outside of the Earth. The evidence of water found on Mars (yes it has been done now, you must be behind on this) is an example. More important is the evidence of fossilized bacterial life found on space rock fragments.

They are not spending all that money to prove their could be life in some form out there. They already have evidence there is at least microscopic life. What they are looking for with Mars and beyond if they can travel further, is complex life - organisms.

There is no evidence of any other complex organisms in the Universe other than here on Earth. But, again, that could simply be due to the fact that we haven't even explored our own backyard in the Galaxy yet. We have a very limited view of all that is out there.

I've never said there is complex life (organisms) out there. I have no hard proof of such. However, the likelihood is that such does exist. Regardless, no one on Earth can rightly say there is no complex life out there in the rest of the Universe, because we have not explored it all. Such statements are made in ignorance to support a belief system people have made up (God did not tell us in Scripture there is no other complex life such as on Earth).

Three : Mathematical probability says *nothing* about the existance of life *anywhere* ( not including Earth ) . A probability of *one* and *only* one can prove the existance of anything . In that case , probability is no longer needed , it is an absolute .

Don't be silly. The mathematical probability that life such as found on Earth is also found somewhere else in the Universe out of the trillions of planets is "likely." My speaking of mathematical probability is not meant as a proof of life elsewhere. It cannot be proven until it is observed and we haven't even traveled outside of our own solar system yet.

But, mathematically speaking, it is more likely that life does exist out there than that life does not exist, considering all the life we observe just on this tiny planet, compared to billions of galaxies and trillions of planets.

Again, the only reason to state otherwise is to hold to a belief system that there cannot be anything out there because religion says so. Anyone who dogmatically states there is no life in the Universe other than Earth is speaking from 100% ignorance, as they have not explored the Universe to find out.

Four : If you don't believe Math , you can't use it . Belief isn't about wishes - it is about what you consider to be true . Believe means that you consider something to be true and proceed with that idea as true . One must believe that one plus one is two in order to use it as a fact in everyday life .

Bull. People used gravity regularly before they believed in the force of gravity. People also use math even if they haven't been trained in it. Even a primitive tribe not taught mathematical disciplines uses math for every day life.

Mathematics is a Universal language because the facts of math, or rather the truths of math, are true universally. 2+2 always = 4, without exception, for example. This is true whether you or I believe it or not. Whenever one couple goes out to dinner with another couple, they are proving 2+2=4 whether they realize it or not, whether they believe math is right or not.

If someone has 2 children and then has another, they by such action prove 2+1=3. It is that simple.

Math is a very important language to speak if one is to understand the truth of the Word in creation, holding it all together by creative laws.

You wrote in only a couple of sentences prior that there is more proof for it than something else . Now , you state that there is a lack of proof .

It is relative. There is very little physical evidence (samples from bodies in space showing fossilized life, for example) for life out there. But, again, this may simply be due to the lack of exploration. We have explored a very, very, very small pinprick portion of this Galaxy, much less the Universe the Galaxy exists in.

By saying there is more proof that something else exist out there is simply highlighting the fact that 0 evidence exists that there isn't any other life out there. So even a small fraction of evidence in the other direction is more than 0.

That is correct . That is *why* one cannot state that life exists elsewhere - not enough experience to find any as of yet . Until proof is found , it is unknown - not to be believed - that is why I don't believe it .

It is most probable life does exist out there in complex forms (organisms). However, I do not state that such is proven as fact. My theory is that life is out there. Until there is proof, it is just a theory. The reason my theory is that instead of with those who theorize that there is no life out there, is probability plus the character of the Creator, being creative, and being life, who fills the Universe. If life fills the Universe, if our God is real, then I would expect this creative God we believe in to have manifested life throughout the Universe.

When he speaks to us on Earth he is going to deal with us about what is necessary for us to seek and find him. He did not give Scripture as a history or science book about everything in the Universe that he has done, is doing, or will do.

That is also not true . It is *assumed* that those are planets . Those measurements are taken from information travelling huge amounts of distances through a lot of space with debris and gases for many years . If they were planets , they may not be such today as they could be destroyed . We need to be there to observe that they are indeed planets .

Even so , let's say that there are other planets out there . Well , that means nothing to the argument . We have seven other planets in our own solar system . Other planets do not mean other life .

Yes, these are only theories right now - whether one theorizes no life out there, and no planets, or that there are other planets and even life bearing planets. Humanity has not explored it up close with careful observation.

However, we can see how our own star acts because of the gravitational pull of planets in orbit around it. If one large body in the Universe acts a certain way (wobbles) because of satellite bodies going around it, pulling on it from different angles at different times, then if we observe other stars out there doing the same type of wobbling, it stands to reason that it is most likely planetary bodies of significant size are causing such.

Until we have equipment powerful enough to see in detail that far, or travel there in person or with machines for observation, we will not know for sure.

I'm sure the scientific community has considered what could be causing the wobbles, considering all known matter in the Universe. The behavior they are observing of wobbling stars is painting a picture most like our solar system. If a black hole was nearby pulling on the star, it would act differently, for example. Only large bodies moving around a star at high speed explains the wobbling effect.

At least that is the only reason stellar bodies have been observed wobbling. For example, the moon causes Earth to wobble some. Likewise the solar system planets including Earth going around the sun at high speed also causes the sun to wobble.

We've observed no other thing in the study of physics that would cause that particular kind of stellar movement, as is being seen in far off stars being closely observed with the most powerful instruments we have, which are recording that they are wobbling as if large bodies are traveling around them at high speed.

It is absurd when making assumptions of the Lord . He routinely does things that makes no sense to us humans . Something not making sense to you is not proof . Many things in life don't make sense until a greater picture is understood .

It is not absurd to expect God to be God. We are not speaking simply of actions here, but who one is - their character and personality. Once you know God's character and personality, there are plenty of actions that can be predicted. Once I got to know my wife's personality, I was able to know how she would typically respond to a situation. She is who she is. Who she is influences how she acts.

God is creative, the supreme creativity. God is life, the supreme source of life. These are core aspects of who God is. It is not absurd then to expect God will create life, consistently and regularly.

Again , I did not write that a lack of evidence of something is proof of nonexistance . But , look what you are doing ... you are using a lack of evidence *as* proof that it *does* exist . You even stated that it was absurd to think in a way that says that it *doesn't* exist .

No I'm not. I have not stated there is proof of life out there and such is fact. I have theorized that with the evidence we do have about life in the Universe and God, that life does exist out there. It is more likely than that it does not exist.

I prefer this and encourage it to everyone over the close-minded religious thinking that caused Christians to hold to a flat Earth model at one time, to only later look ignorant and foolish to the whole world, hurting the credibility of the Christian faith.

The only reason a Christian would have to say there cannot be life out there, to answer no on this poll, is because they are falling into that close-minded religious trap like those Catholics did several hundred years ago.

The greatest example of how this works today is the "young earth" Christians who are dogmatic about such and swear that Scripture teaches such. This hurts the credibility of Christianity among the intelligent educated people of the Earth. It is why many young people leave church, go to college, and decide Christianity is false. When Christian leaders are dogmatically teaching those young people that Earth is young, and they go off to be educated and all the evidence building facts teaches otherwise, they have a choice to make. Those who want to know what is true, and not just be religious will make the choice to go in the direction of the facts. But, those same young people then view Christianity like a fairytale.

If Christians would admit that Scripture does not actually teach that Earth is young (6,000-10,000 years old) but actually states from the first two verses in The Bible that the Earth was, and then faced global disaster, and then life was again created on the once destroyed Earth, we might not have so many young people going off to college and deciding The Bible is not accurate but science is. In truth, they don't contradict. The only contradiction is with how Christians interpret it to stick to religious dogma about such things that Scripture doesn't actually make dogmatic statements about.

Christians should not be afraid to be open-minded and let creation speak as it does as we explore it. God's Word is what holds creation together and as we explore creation we are actually getting to know the Word better. Athiestic scientists just don't realize this. And most Christians don't either.

 

[DavidPresently]

agreed.

this might stir controversial waters, but that is kind of inline with Scientology. No, you don't have to be a scientologist to believe there is life outside planet Earth, BUT they do. Will Smith, a celeb scientologist, was quoted saying scientology is 98% in-line with the Bible. I don't know the 98% that is and the 2 that isn't..

I think it is possible to have JESUS yet have scientology beliefs..i personally don't..but who are we to judge if they are right with God.

No idea - I'm completely ignorant about Scientology.

I know what I believe. Scripture is inspired for leading men to God in Christ. Creation is upheld by and thus filled with the Word of God. Creation contains the Word of God and exploring creation gives us more details than Scripture does. Scripture is not a book all about creation - it is to mankind specifically dealing with our fall and redemption. Those who believe Scripture is everything are misguided.