Exoplanets , Exo-worlds - "destroy Christianity?" really?

[BobRyan]

Many today who express great interest in exo-planets that give hope of exo-world and intelligent life.... claim that this will utterly destroy Christianity once the truth of it is more fully known.

NASA says it's "mission" is to find an exo-world that humans can live on.

7 planets in the habitable zone of one star about 40 light years away was the "big news" of the week a few days ago.

how much of the Bible can "be wrong" and your Christianity still be "just fine"?

How much of your Christianity depends on the Bible? On how much of the Bible?

Are angels created by God in your view? Not created on "Earth" in your view? Does their existence challenge Bible truth?

In your view - Would the Bible be "At risk" if the "myriads and myriads" mentioned in Daniel 7:9-10 included "intelligent life" that is not just limited to "Angels"??

Hebrews 1
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

Hebrews 11
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

====================================

Many have rightly concluded that popular sci-fi "narratives" about horrific aliens - a "Fallen universe - not just a fallen planet earth" - is not at all consistent with the Bible.

Yet it cannot be denied that Satan and his angels are indeed 'fallen' and "horrific" so while we reject the sci-fi "spin" on that ancient Bible truth - we need not reject the existence of Satan and his presence on earth to deceive.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Jack Isaacks]

It's only been about 30 years since the first exoplanet was discovered. Most of the others since then have not actually been seen, but their existence only deduced.

Whether intelligent beings capable of spiritual life and moral choices like us exist elsewhere, I neither accept as an axiom, or reject out of hand.

But what if they did? The Bible concerns itself solely with God's interaction with the people of THIS planet.

Glory to Jesus Christ!

 

[PollyJetix]

New Age thought is that when their Messiah (the Antichrist) comes to earth, his coming will be dramatically accompanied by extra-terrestrials.

Of course, we who are Christians know this would be demonic manifestation.

 

[BobRyan]

New Age thought is that when their Messiah (the Antichrist) comes to earth, his coming will be dramatically accompanied by extra-terrestrials.

Of course, we who are Christians know this would be demonic manifestation.

Good point -- notice this -- something significant is coming.

1 Tim 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,

Revelation 16
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

Rev 13
3 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

2 Thess 2
9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,

Matt 24
24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand.

 

[BobRyan]

But what if they did? The Bible concerns itself solely with God's interaction with the people of THIS planet.

Well it does speak of other "worlds".

But here is an interesting scenario -
Job 1 -
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7 And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?”
So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”

Ephesians 6
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

 

[Archie the Preacher]

There are many 'things' we use every day which were mentioned in the Bible, and weren't even invented at the time. So what?

Should Christians eschew contact with electric lights, indoor plumbing and brownies (the pastry) because the Bible doesn't mention them?

Quantum mechanics, quarks and exo-planets don't bother me at all.

And may I note, the ONLY way for exo-planets - or little green men - to justify inaccuracy in the Bible is for some nitwit Christian to claim the Bible is comprehensive and all encompassing about EVERYTHING!

 

[Philip_B]

7 planets in the habitable zone of one star about 40 light years away was the "big news" of the week a few days ago.

Hopefully it is far enough away for us not to want to go and make that one uninhabitable as well.

 

[JacksBratt]

Many today who express great interest in exo-planets that give hope of exo-world and intelligent life.... claim that this will utterly destroy Christianity once the truth of it is more fully known.

NASA says it's "mission" is to find an exo-world that humans can live on.

7 planets in the habitable zone of one star about 40 light years away was the "big news" of the week a few days ago.

how much of the Bible can "be wrong" and your Christianity still be "just fine"?

How much of your Christianity depends on the Bible? On how much of the Bible?

Are angels created by God in your view? Not created on "Earth" in your view? Does their existence challenge Bible truth?

In your view - Would the Bible be "At risk" if the "myriads and myriads" mentioned in Daniel 7:9-10 included "intelligent life" that is not just limited to "Angels"??

Hebrews 1
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

Hebrews 11
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

====================================

Many have rightly concluded that popular sci-fi "narratives" about horrific aliens - a "Fallen universe - not just a fallen planet earth" - is not at all consistent with the Bible.

Yet it cannot be denied that Satan and his angels are indeed 'fallen' and "horrific" so while we reject the sci-fi "spin" on that ancient Bible truth - we need not reject the existence of Satan and his presence on earth to deceive.

What are your thoughts?

Far as I'm concerned, NASA has this thing all fabricated. I don't believe for one minute that they have found anything of any sort of planet. They cannot even get a good picture of Pluto, let alone any planet, the size of earth, that is 40 light years away.

The whole thing is a hoax. It is timed due to the exploding number of people investigating the flat earth, geocentric model.

The old photos information that NASA has given over the years was never meant to be held to the scrutiny of High def monitors and video devices. Now people are finding mistakes and lies all over the place.

There are eight so called pictures of the earth from space. On each one the continents are different sizes, clouds are photo shopped in numerous times and in one case the clouds form the word "sex"

NASA has been giving computer generated pictures of planets, moons satellites and other celestial bodies for so long that we are programmed to believe they are real just because we see it on TV or a computer screen.

The reports say things like "may" be able to hold water or "possibly" have an atmosphere.... They know squat....

They are grasping at straws because their flaws are exposed and they have to do something to get the peoples mind off of the fact that they went to Antarctica in 1959... found something that they won't tell us. Then they came back and fired numerous nuclear bombs in high altitude... Guess what the operations were called....... "Operation High Jump" was going over the ice wall in Antarctica.

However, the best of the best is the nukes.... It was called... wait for it... Operation Dominique and Operation "fish Bowl"

Now... Dominique is translated as "OF THE LORD" SO... the high altitude nukes was Operation "FISH BOWL OF THE LORD"

You cannot make this up.

I do not know what is going on today. But, there is something strange happening with all the investigations of the Moon being it's own light source. It's light is cooler than it's shade. There being some other planet called NIBIRU.

Total lunar eclipses with the sun still visible in the sky.

Amateur rockets that are launched and go from high speed to a dead stop and stop rotating with in seconds...

People, the Bible said that in the last days knowledge would increase... Could this be what we are seeing??

NASA cannot be trusted. I don't believe a word of it.

 

[cre8id]

Many today who express great interest in exo-planets that give hope of exo-world and intelligent life.... claim that this will utterly destroy Christianity once the truth of it is more fully known.

Well, finding true intelligent biological life (vs. the created 'angelic' beings) would seem to pose theological problems for any sort of conservative reading of the Biblical text dealing with creation and the redemptive work of Jesus the Christ upon the cross to redeem man (not alien beings). God certainly could have created "lower" life forms to inhabit niches in His creations like He created life forms on earth in extreme niches of the ocean depths, etc. that man has only recently found out existed. These earth-bound examples were apparently made for His reasons and pleasure that have nothing practical to do directly with man's survival. So could God have created other life forms on other planets than our own, I don't see why not. I believe the only intelligent life forms that were specially created other than man (God directly 'breathed' His breath of life into Adam and he became a living soul... somehow different from all the other animals and creatures and plants and microbes that God had created) was the angelic beings in the heavenly realm (one third of which rebelled against God and were kicked out of heaven to earth).

God, the Father, had to send His Son to earth as a child, born of the Holy Spirit to a virgin human being (Mary) to be born as a unique sinless human being in order to live as a sinless human man (the Word made flesh) in order to be offered to God as THE sin offering to redeem not only man but all of God's creation under the curse of sin (because of Adam's original sin). By that, I mean we are told that the present Cosmos will be destroyed by fire and a new Cosmos will replace this one after the resurrection.

God did not become an ET alien in order to redeem aliens. Even the angels that sinned are not redeemed by Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection. We are told that Hades (the present place of the unsaved dead souls) will be delivered up to the final judgement in Hell, which we are told was created, initially, as a place for the Devil and his angels... so they are NOT redeemed.

So, again, we are left with a theological dilemma if there are intelligent ET aliens "out there".

NASA says it's "mission" is to find an exo-world that humans can live on.

7 planets in the habitable zone of one star about 40 light years away was the "big news" of the week a few days ago.

40 light years is still a very, very long ways away... and space travel at speeds even approaching half of light speed is a dream right now... and looking less practical all the time (space is NOT a vacuum, there are lots of small high speed particles of dust, etc. inhabiting that "empty" space... which would "sand blast" apart any space ship traveling through space at anything close to the speeds indicated).

how much of the Bible can "be wrong" and your Christianity still be "just fine"?

The question sounds a little like "How much can a woman be pregnant before she's pregnant?"

I would say that the Biblical texts would have to be corrupted to some much greater degree than can be shown since it is all supposed to have been God inspired (God "breathed").

Of course, liberals and cultists always find ways of twisting scripture to make it somehow appear to not say what it plainly says.

How much of your Christianity depends on the Bible? On how much of the Bible?

Are angels created by God in your view? Not created on "Earth" in your view? Does their existence challenge Bible truth?

Addressed, I believe, mostly in my first answer in this post. Yes, angels were created by God in heaven, not on earth.

The Godly angels still reside in the heavenly "realm" or "dimension" (or however you prefer to conceive of the the invisible reality that exists along side ours).

Since the Bible talks about the existence and even interaction of angels with humans in both the Old and New Testaments, I cannot see how their existence in any way challenges Biblical truth.

In your view - Would the Bible be "At risk" if the "myriads and myriads" mentioned in Daniel 7:9-10 included "intelligent life" that is not just limited to "Angels"??

In my opinion, yes. I do not at all believe in intelligent ET life.

On the other hand, it would not surprise me at all to see UFO's land and intelligent beings come out and tell us we are totally backwards in our religion based in our Bibe.
This whole scenario, I believe, would actually be a strong deception staged by fallen angels and their cohorts, the demons (I do not believe the two, fallen angels and demons, are the same, though many fine Christians do).

Hebrews 1
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

Hebrews 11
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

====================================

Many have rightly concluded that popular sci-fi "narratives" about horrific aliens - a "Fallen universe - not just a fallen planet earth" - is not at all consistent with the Bible.

Yet it cannot be denied that Satan and his angels are indeed 'fallen' and "horrific" so while we reject the sci-fi "spin" on that ancient Bible truth - we need not reject the existence of Satan and his presence on earth to deceive.

What are your thoughts?

The creation of other "world's" does not mean or even imply there is intelligent life inhabiting those world's. Our solar system has "other worlds" found on our moon and neighboring planets... but they are not inhabited by intelligent ET's.

 

[timewerx]

Many today who express great interest in exo-planets that give hope of exo-world and intelligent life.... claim that this will utterly destroy Christianity once the truth of it is more fully known.

NASA says it's "mission" is to find an exo-world that humans can live on.

7 planets in the habitable zone of one star about 40 light years away was the "big news" of the week a few days ago.

how much of the Bible can "be wrong" and your Christianity still be "just fine"?

How much of your Christianity depends on the Bible? On how much of the Bible?

Are angels created by God in your view? Not created on "Earth" in your view? Does their existence challenge Bible truth?

In your view - Would the Bible be "At risk" if the "myriads and myriads" mentioned in Daniel 7:9-10 included "intelligent life" that is not just limited to "Angels"??

Hebrews 1
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

Hebrews 11
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

====================================

Many have rightly concluded that popular sci-fi "narratives" about horrific aliens - a "Fallen universe - not just a fallen planet earth" - is not at all consistent with the Bible.

Yet it cannot be denied that Satan and his angels are indeed 'fallen' and "horrific" so while we reject the sci-fi "spin" on that ancient Bible truth - we need not reject the existence of Satan and his presence on earth to deceive.

What are your thoughts?

"To the ends of the Earth.." what does it tell you?

"A third of the stars fell to Earth?" It doesn't happen on a planet.

The Earth has no "end" it is a sphere. Our galaxy has an end though because it's flat.
"Four winds" or the "four arms of the galaxy"?

In ancient religions, we have "mother Earth", "World Tree"

Non-canon scriptures by Enoch who was taken to distant places in outer space, beyond the stars tells the "Earth" is flat (in the overall sense) and saw features that is quite unlike you see on Earth. He is definitely not talking about our planet.

He is talking about our Galaxy with its innumerable stars in it. He went as far to the center and saw the "abyss" the giant black hole at the center of our Galaxy.

Enoch mentioned about the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge. His description matches that of a galaxy. The "World Tree" of Norse Myths also implies a galaxy.

The Garden of Eden may be the entire Universe or a parallel Universe inaccessible from this one.

Originally, Adam and Eve is meant to tend the "garden" and populate the entire world (entire Galaxy or Universe?). The entire narrative of creation right up to Eve and the fall maybe entire figure of speech

But after the "fall of man" we became forbidden to enter the Garden of Eden. It could either mean we are free to explore the Earth only or our entire Galaxy only but not beyond the galaxy.

There are differences between the accounts in the Book of Enoch and between the accounts of Genesis. Needless to say, many of accounts in the Book of Enoch are supported by scientific facts especially the accounts described by Enoch when he was taken up by an Angel of God.

At least we maybe free to roam within the "Tree of Knowledge" (our Milky Way Galaxy). Enoch referred the "Tree of Life" as possibly a distant galaxy apart from our own.

Other accounts are told in the "Apocryphon of John" which are possibly accounts of ancient galactic phenomenon turned into myths.

 

[cre8id]

"To the ends of the Earth.." what does it tell you?

"A third of the stars fell to Earth?" It doesn't happen on a planet.

The Earth has no "end" it is a sphere. Our galaxy has an end though because it's flat.
"Four winds" or the "four arms of the galaxy"?

In ancient religions, we have "mother Earth", "World Tree"

Non-canon scriptures by Enoch who was taken to distant places in outer space, beyond the stars tells the "Earth" is flat (in the overall sense) and saw features that is quite unlike you see on Earth. He is definitely not talking about our planet.

He is talking about our Galaxy with its innumerable stars in it. He went as far to the center and saw the "abyss" the giant black hole at the center of our Galaxy.

Enoch mentioned about the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge. His description matches that of a galaxy. The "World Tree" of Norse Myths also implies a galaxy.

The Garden of Eden may be the entire Universe or a parallel Universe inaccessible from this one.

Originally, Adam and Eve is meant to tend the "garden" and populate the entire world (entire Galaxy or Universe?). The entire narrative of creation right up to Eve and the fall maybe entire figure of speech

But after the "fall of man" we became forbidden to enter the Garden of Eden. It could either mean we are free to explore the Earth only or our entire Galaxy only but not beyond the galaxy.

There are differences between the accounts in the Book of Enoch and between the accounts of Genesis. Needless to say, many of accounts in the Book of Enoch are supported by scientific facts especially the accounts described by Enoch when he was taken up by an Angel of God.

At least we maybe free to roam within the "Tree of Knowledge" (our Milky Way Galaxy). Enoch referred the "Tree of Life" as possibly a distant galaxy apart from our own.

Other accounts are told in the "Apocryphon of John" which are possibly accounts of ancient galactic phenomenon turned into myths.

I see a lot of wild speculation without much substance trying to be "shoe horned" into the Biblical text.

People, I have noticed, tend to twist and re-interpret what the Bible says to match their ideas or experiences rather than testing and judging their ideas and experiences against the Bible.

 

[Grandpa2390]

Many today who express great interest in exo-planets that give hope of exo-world and intelligent life.... claim that this will utterly destroy Christianity once the truth of it is more fully known.

NASA says it's "mission" is to find an exo-world that humans can live on.

7 planets in the habitable zone of one star about 40 light years away was the "big news" of the week a few days ago.

how much of the Bible can "be wrong" and your Christianity still be "just fine"?

How much of your Christianity depends on the Bible? On how much of the Bible?

Physicist here J

My Christianity and (therefore my world (or Universe) view) depends on the Bible. The entire Bible.

Earth-like exoplanets are not new, but I did see that about the 7 planets a couple weeks ago. I don't see how this makes any of the Bible "wrong".

Let's assume that there is life on other planets (let alone intelligent life), and these are legitimate questions.
Where in the Bible does it say that God created Humans alone? Where in the Bible does it say that God only created life on Earth?

For what reason should we assume that we are the only ones created. If we are to discuss sin and death (the only repercussions I can think of...) the Bible says man brought sin into the world. I assume that the world refers to Earth, if the Greek word there is cosmos. It could refer to the universe, but it doesn't have to. not to my knowledge anyway.

Discoveries in science do often affect the way we interpret the Bible. One often cited example is the fountains of the great deep spoken of in Genesis during the Flood. Up until a hundred or so years ago, no one knew there was actually such a thing under the ocean. Science changed the way we thought of that verse.

The circle of the earth. There was a time when people thought the Earth was flat (some still do). upon discovering that the earth was round, it forced us to realize that the word translated to circle there actually referred to earth as round not a flat circle. I think I have even heard that the Jews never considered the Earth to be flat... not sure how true that is.

My point here is that, the word kosmos has many definitions, it is translated as world, and maybe that is the correct definition. Sin entered this world (Earth) by the first created man, Adam. No prehuman civilizations or anything. Perhaps with the exception of the stars moon and sun in the sky, the Bible is given to Earthlings.

Are angels created by God in your view? Not created on "Earth" in your view? Does their existence challenge Bible truth?

no, angels do not challenge biblical truth. They are in the Bible...

In your view - Would the Bible be "At risk" if the "myriads and myriads" mentioned in Daniel 7:9-10 included "intelligent life" that is not just limited to "Angels"??

depends on the consequences. I mean, refer to my questions above. Noah's Flood was not a universal flood, it was a flood that covered the Earth. Sin could have just caused the fall of man on Earth, there isn't any reason to believe that there can't be intelligent life who worship God as well

Hebrews 1
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

Hebrews 11
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

====================================

Right, if there is intelligent life out there, it worships the same God as we do. No exceptions, there is only one God. Every world was framed by him through/by his Son.

Many have rightly concluded that popular sci-fi "narratives" about horrific aliens - a "Fallen universe - not just a fallen planet earth" - is not at all consistent with the Bible.

Yet it cannot be denied that Satan and his angels are indeed 'fallen' and "horrific" so while we reject the sci-fi "spin" on that ancient Bible truth - we need not reject the existence of Satan and his presence on earth to deceive.

What are your thoughts?

I don't equate angels/demons with alien races. When I think of alien races, I think of physical beings. I don't understand why the presence of aliens has to be against scripture.
I do recognize that shows like Star Trek are atheistic though. You only have to watch 20 minutes before Picard or some other character talks about how humans used to foolishly believe in fake all-powerful beings but have evolved since.

I am not a proponent of extraterrestrial life. I'm just not bothered by it. Maybe I just haven't put enough thought into it.

 

[Grandpa2390]

"To the ends of the Earth.." what does it tell you?

"A third of the stars fell to Earth?" It doesn't happen on a planet.

The Earth has no "end" it is a sphere. Our galaxy has an end though because it's flat.
"Four winds" or the "four arms of the galaxy"?

In ancient religions, we have "mother Earth", "World Tree"

Non-canon scriptures by Enoch who was taken to distant places in outer space, beyond the stars tells the "Earth" is flat (in the overall sense) and saw features that is quite unlike you see on Earth. He is definitely not talking about our planet.

He is talking about our Galaxy with its innumerable stars in it. He went as far to the center and saw the "abyss" the giant black hole at the center of our Galaxy.

Enoch mentioned about the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge. His description matches that of a galaxy. The "World Tree" of Norse Myths also implies a galaxy.

The Garden of Eden may be the entire Universe or a parallel Universe inaccessible from this one.

The galaxy is flat, but the Universe is round and has no end.
No, I don't think so. I do believe though that spiritual being (angels/demons) exist in a higher geometric dimension. It would explain much.

Originally, Adam and Eve is meant to tend the "garden" and populate the entire world (entire Galaxy or Universe?). The entire narrative of creation right up to Eve and the fall maybe entire figure of speech

no I don't think so. The Garden was on Earth and was real. When you start talking about a story like the fall of man being a figurative narrative, you start walking on a slippery slope. Before you know it, Jesus and God are just metaphors themselves... I have a coworker who is trying everyday to convince me that I am God...

But after the "fall of man" we became forbidden to enter the Garden of Eden. It could either mean we are free to explore the Earth only or our entire Galaxy only but not beyond the galaxy.

There are differences between the accounts in the Book of Enoch and between the accounts of Genesis. Needless to say, many of accounts in the Book of Enoch are supported by scientific facts especially the accounts described by Enoch when he was taken up by an Angel of God.

many of the accounts in Genesis are supported by scientific facts. Stuff that we didn't even know until the last century was in Genesis for thousands of years.

At least we maybe free to roam within the "Tree of Knowledge" (our Milky Way Galaxy). Enoch referred the "Tree of Life" as possibly a distant galaxy apart from our own.

Other accounts are told in the "Apocryphon of John" which are possibly accounts of ancient galactic phenomenon turned into myths.

I've read the book of enoch because it gives, in my mind, a good idea of what the contemporary jews thought around before the arrival of christ. I did not get the tree of life as a galaxy reference. When he described it in the Garden of Eden, it was a tree.

Can you quote the passages that turn the tree of life into a galaxy.
Once again, you start questioning the Genesis account of creation, you are stepping on dangerous ground. The tree of life was a fruit bearing tree. it is pretty concrete. Don't try and spiritualize everything.

 

[timewerx]

I see a lot of wild speculation without much substance trying to be "shoe horned" into the Biblical text.

People, I have noticed, tend to twist and re-interpret what the Bible says to match their ideas or experiences rather than testing and judging their ideas and experiences against the Bible.

The Bible is not perfect.

If it is perfect, there will only be one denomination and no disagreements between Christians because the context will be clear and free of contradictions.

 

[Armoured]

Many today who express great interest in exo-planets that give hope of exo-world and intelligent life.... claim that this will utterly destroy Christianity once the truth of it is more fully known.

Who? who claims this?

 

[cre8id]

The Bible is not perfect.

If it is perfect, there will only be one denomination and no disagreements between Christians because the context will be clear and free of contradictions.

Or...
The Bible is perfect for what it is designed to do.... and we flawed sinful humans have a very imperfect understanding.

Most divisions in Christianity as to denominations have to do with secondary issues and doctrines (unessential to one's salvation), not the primary issues and doctrines (which are essential to one's salvation).

If you actually lookup in books (or in the internet) many of the Christian apologetics written about the "apparent" contradictions in the Bible, you will find that many (but not all) of them are easily answered. The remaining few "contradictions" are, I believe, answerable even if the answer is not apparent.

In contrast, many of the skeptics' criticisms have been shown to be either completely false, or were based on faulty assumptions... which later discoveries would show their claims/criticisms need major revision if not outright trashing.

 

[timewerx]

Or...
The Bible is perfect for what it is designed to do.... and we flawed sinful humans have a very imperfect understanding.

If you actually lookup in books (or in the internet) many of the Christian apologetics written about the "apparent" contradictions in the Bible, you will find that many (but not all) of them are easily answered. The remaining few "contradictions" are, I believe, answerable even if the answer is not apparent.

In contrast, many of the skeptics' criticisms have been shown to be either completely false, or were based on faulty assumptions... which later discoveries would show their claims/criticisms need major revision if not outright trashing.

If I were to join a denomination which one will you recommend and more importantly, why would you recommend that denomination to me?

My question is to test you if you really mean what you said. If most Christians have figured it out then it's okay for me to join any of the mainstream denominations right? The differences in theology wouldn't matter a lot.

 

[cre8id]

If I were to join a denomination which one will you recommend and more importantly, why would you recommend that denomination to me?

My question is to test you if you really mean what you said. If most Christians have figured it out then it's okay for me to join any of the mainstream denominations right? The differences in theology wouldn't matter a lot.

I did not say the differences in theology does not matter. There are many secondary issues I feel strongly about and will argue for. That does not mean that I am completely correct in my views, in fact, I'm pretty sure I have some things wrong. I do not necessarily think that those that argue against my views are "heretics" however... they could be, but it would be because they deny essential beliefs of the Christian faith, not a secondary issue.

A list of Essential doctrines (beliefs) put out by one website that I agree with:
Essential Doctrines of Christianity | CARM Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry

I myself am officially a Southern Baptist. They are usually a very conservative denomination and, generally, do not seem to have abandoned the hermeneutics of reading the Bible plainly.
Generally, I would recommend some of the conservative churches remaining in the Protestant or Reformed group of denominations rather than a Catholic denomination... the Catholic Church has added a whole lot of tradition to what the Bible teaches and, I believe a lot of this additional tradition has become either unBiblical or even downright anti-Biblical (of course, they will deny that). The big traditional difference between the Catholic and Protestant Churches does have to do with salvation, grace, and works.

But we are straying way off topic here and I do not wish to go into this deeper here.

Liberal Churches, which can be either Protestant (even some Southern Baptist) or Catholic, that deny many parts of the Bible and sometimes essential doctrines are not good either. And, unfortunately, many churches have turned liberal... even denying essential doctrines.

 

[JacksBratt]

Either the Bible is perfect and man's knowledge is flawed,

Or

Man's knowledge is perfect and the Bible is flawed.


I'm betting my soul that:

Romans 3:4King James Version (KJV)

4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

The Bible is God's word. Someday we will all stand and account for why we didn't accept it as such.

 

[BobRyan]

Who? who claims this?

Steven Greer is at the head of a large group that makes such a claim.

The discussion point shows up a lot for those trying to find a way to have Christianity survive it.

Aliens & God: Would Finding Extraterrestrial Life Destroy Religion? | The Huffington Post

Would Discovery of Aliens Destroy Christianity?

Nations with high-percentage acceptance of evolution have the lowest acceptance of Christianity.

fact - When advanced culture of Europe reached north america - the animist religion of native Americans ceased to dominate and the new culture - new religion of Europe took over the continent.

Many conclude that the even more advanced-culture gap that humans would encounter from exo-world civilizations would have an even more pronounced result.

from Potential cultural impact of extraterrestrial contact - Wikipedia

Contact with extraterrestrial intelligence would not be completely inconsequential for religion. The Peters study showed that most non-religious people, and a significant majority of religious people, believe that the world could face a religious crisis, even if their own beliefs were unaffected.[69] Contact with extraterrestrial intelligence would be most likely to cause a problem for western religions, in particular traditionalist Christianity, because of the geocentric nature of western faiths.[72] The discovery of extraterrestrial life would not contradict basic conceptions of God, however, and seeing that science has challenged established dogma in the past, for example with the theory of evolution, it is likely that existing religions will adapt similarly to the new circumstances.[73] In the view of Musso, however, a global religious crisis would be unlikely even for Abrahamic faiths, as the studies of himself and others on Christianity, the most "anthropocentric" religion, see no conflict between that religion and the existence of extraterrestrial intelligence.[40] In addition, the cultural and religious values of extraterrestrial species would likely be shared over centuries if contact is to occur by radio, meaning that rather than causing a huge shock to humanity, such information would be viewed much as archaeologists and historians view ancient artifacts and texts

.

Would aliens even know about the Trinity or Jesus Christ? Or would they declare him to be "one of many" or would they declare earth religion to be primitive and uninformed? It is difficult to logically demand that there is no scenario that would mean a crisis or change for Christianity.

hint:
When Eve countered Satan at the tree of knowledge the first thing he did is alter her understanding of God's Word.

The "experiment" has been tried.