Why So Small?

[Ampatent]

Hello there, first post here at the Christian Forums. First of all I'd like to say that I am an atheist who has attempted to convert to Christianity, but my skeptical background and stubborn nature is preventing that from happening anytime soon.

One of the main problems I have with the idea of creation is this...

"Why would God only instill life upon one planet when we know there are potentially billions of planets in the universe?"

My answers for this question would be...

A) God does not exist and therefore evolutionary development is the only answer to how life began on Earth

B) The Bible is wrong and God actually created beings on other planets as well.

Would anyone care to explain something I might have missed?

P.S. I would prefer to not be given the simple answer of "Because it is His will", that really doesn't prove anything.

 

[vespasia]

B) The Bible is wrong and God actually created beings on other planets as well.

Why do you think this is what the bible says?

 

[tansy]

As far as I know the Bible does not say this....I think it is an assumption we tend to make. We really do not know for sure '

 

[drich0150]

B) The Bible is wrong and God actually created beings on other planets as well.
​

Why do you think this is what the bible says?

well?

 

[BobW188]

We don't know how many places in the universe God has created life. The Bible, both testaments, is directed to humans on Earth and the Incarnation, crucifixion and Resurrection occur there. (Though they may have had universal consequences.)

If you'd like to check out one possibility, get C. S. Lewis's Out of the Silent Planet trilogy. It's written just after World War Two so as science fiction it's somewhat quaint; but it's a good read nonetheless.

 

[Quaero]

Hello there, first post here at the Christian Forums. First of all I'd like to say that I am an atheist who has attempted to convert to Christianity, but my skeptical background and stubborn nature is preventing that from happening anytime soon.

I'm working on the same problem theologically and academically.

One of the main problems I have with the idea of creation is this...

"Why would God only instill life upon one planet when we know there are potentially billions of planets in the universe?"

My answers for this question would be...

A) God does not exist and therefore evolutionary development is the only answer to how life began on Earth

B) The Bible is wrong and God actually created beings on other planets as well.

As has already been pointed out, premise B is a fallacy as the bible does not say that life exists only on earth. Premise A is a statement utilising a flawed deduction. So since 'A' is flawed as an argument, I'll answer it with an analogy.

Orthodox evolutionists point to the fact that snakes have legs, we have appendix, and that if we were created perfectly why is there suffering (replace suffering with cancer, death, famine etc.). I asked the same question of a Christian friend at college. He came out with a metaphor that I'm rather fond of;

When I first built my PC, and installed the operating system everything worked perfectly, and the registry was pristine and uncorrupted. After 3 years however it has slowed down, crashed and the registry is full of useless, outdated and corrupted keys. I see evolution as such, God may have created us perfectly, but evolution is not a perfect force.

Hope I helped.

 

[Ampatent]

Well if God indeed did create life on other planets then why hide that fact?

 

[vespasia]

Would that be like the depths of the ocean and what may be there that we have never seen or the myriad of insects and plants that we do not know of that exist and are being discovered still?

Just because we have not seen it does not make something hidden just unseen.

Quero you may find the Journal of Science and Christian Belief (academic source rather than popularist) a useful resource. Evolution is okay as atheory but it has dead ends see this weeks New scientist article on same.

 

[Quaero]

Well if God indeed did create life on other planets then why hide that fact?

Why boast it? If Christianity had a doctrine where there was supposed life on other planets as revealed by God, would you believe it? No, it would just be another hole in the rhetoric of religion that atheists would pick apart.

Quero you may find the Journal of Science and Christian Belief (academic source rather than popularist) a useful resource. Evolution is okay as atheory but it has dead ends see this weeks New scientist article on same.

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll check them out

 

[salida]

Why does God have just one planet? I believe there are a variety of reasons. First, when one looks at the other galaxies scientifically they can't at all support life - so, its obvious therefore that God created life only on earth- so, its for His glory- and to show there is a Creator. Plus, our solar system is like a watch. Jupiter protects the earth from millions of astroids and other space debris; because of the moon we arn't drowning from are own oceans. Go to: www.reasons.org - its about scientists who are christians. For example, it will explain Noah's flood - the science behind it with biblical backing. (These scientists don't have to try to force a square in a round hole unlike darwinism). Who started science? Here is the list - www.adherents.com/people/100_scientists.html Many were christians and jews and this is the same for Nobel Prize winners to - http://adherents.com/people/100_Nobel.html

Darwinism isn't possible: http://www.creationworldview.org/articles_view.asp?id=53


I believe in some macroevolution and all microevolution. I'm a scientist. Plus, the bible isn't wrong but its the most true book in the world.

 

[salida]

Info about Bible:

Biblical Evidence – This is a very small amount of information
out of large amounts of information out there.

Internal Evidences-Prophesies that are confirmed with Bible;

mentioning only a few – but there are hundreds.

Life of Christ
The Tribe of Judah, Gen. 49:10, Luke 3:23-28
(Genesis was written 4004 BC to 1689 BC)
(Luke’s time period is 60-70 AD)

Royal Line of David, Jer 23:5, Matt 1:1
(Jeremiah 760 to 698 BC)/(Matthew 60-70 AD)

Born of a Virgin, Isaiah 7:14/Matt 1:18-23
(Isaiah 760 to 698 BC)/(60-70 AD)

Rise of Empires
In the book of Daniel, Chapter 2 – four kingdoms are described in the interpretation
of the dream of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greek – Daniel 8:21, 10:20/ and a fourth great kingdom to follow which was part iron and clay – which is the
Roman Empire – during this empire, Christ came and the church was established – Daniel 2:44.

Historical Accuracy

The Bible is loaded with historical statements concerning events of hundreds of years ago, yet
none of them has been proven to be incorrect.
(Bible compared to other ancient documents)
New Testament – starts at 25 years – between the original and surviving copies
Homer- starts at 500 years/Demosthenes – at 1400 years/Plato – at 1200 years/
Caesar – at 1000 years

Number of Manuscript Copies

New Testament – 5,686/Homer – 643/Demosthenes – 200/Plato – 7/Caesar – 10

Consistency – Written by 40 men over a period of time exceeding 1400 years, and has no
Internal inconsistencies.

Claim of Inspiration- It claims to be spoken by God, 2 Tim 3:16-17). No other religious book makes such claims.

External Evidences

(Prophesies Outside the Bible)
These cities were prophesied to be destroyed and never to be built again- and they haven’t.
Niveveh – Nahum 1:10, 3:7, 15, Zephaniah 2:13-14
Babylon – Isaiah 13:1-22
Tyre -Ezekiel 26:1-28

Bible before Science

He hangs the earth on nothing – Job 26:7
(Job was written at least 1000 years ago – some scholars think it could have been even 3000
years ago)
Note: Man only knew the above for 350 years.
Earth is a sphere – Isaiah 40:22/Air has weight – Job 28:25/
Gravity – Job 26:7, Job 38: 31-33/Winds blow in cyclones, Eccl 1:6

Documents that Prove Bible is True

Gilgamesh Epic, The Sumerian King List, Mari Tablets, Babylonian Chronicles

Archealogical Evidence (Still adding to this list today- it hasn’t stopped)
Excavations of Ur, Location of Zoar, Ziggurats and the foundation of Tower of Babel

***Have you heard of the book, The Evidence That Demands A Verdict, by Josh McDowell? (Its biblical evidence that would stand up in a court of law without a shadow of a doubt)