So, today I was talking to one of my friends over a delicious peanut butter & jelly sandwich and our dialogue turned to the newest exoplanet that has been discovered as of late.
Well, we are both Bible teachers, so you can imagine where the conversation started to float...
We started talking about the possibility of another planet being discovered that supports sentient, soul-possessing beings. What kind of implications does this have for Christians? My friend holds the position (though we both admit it is nothing more than speculation lacking any biblical evidence whatsoever - but hey, it's fun to talk about) that because of the nature of who God is, it is no doubt possible that he could have created other "worlds." I mean, He can do whatever pleases Him. I then mentioned what this might mean about an Incarnation of the Son of God, redemptive history, etc. My friend noted that it is possible for this/these other world(s) to be sinless and to have never experienced a Fall.
To me, this seems to raise all sorts of questions about the nature of God's revelation - but I guess Edwards' ideas of how "proper and excellent" it is to behold God's "awful majesty" through moral and natural evil in order to better know who God is wouldn't be too applicable to Zaxquod and Numbio in the Garden of Yexherti137 that never were tempted by the evil unicorn and didn't partake of the moon fruit from the forbidden tree.
But what if they did sin? What does this mean for their redemption? I could type for WAY longer, but I have to head to class, but have fun chewing on this.
Live Long and Prosper,
Brandon
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Oh, the Possibilities...
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4 comments:
What if they did sin? That is an important question to ask when thinking about the whole "extra-terrestrial" life on another planet. Yes, God could make and create planets with life and people but then we start getting into the whole "asking unknown questions" and basically hypothesizing blabber. But if God did create more life on other planets, don't you think that we might know about it in scriptures? My thing is why would he? He created us perfectly in His image and it is not like God has a planet that is full of perfect people. Maybe he does, but that is just another hypothetical opinion. But if there is life then redemption would have to take place again, unless they are perfect. Thanks for the read, hope mine makes sense....
Aaron
If they are without sin and hadn't experienced a fall, I think the likelihood is that God also dwells there, among them. Like in Eden. If that is the case, I think it's doubtful we'll find them. If we do, and God is there, we'd probably die if we went there.
I think it's more likely, if there are "sentient", humanoid beings, that they don't have souls and are more like incredibly advanced animals.
In which case we really need to worry.
does the atonement cover other planets? Or would there have to be another incarnation and new atonement?
Conclusion: more Christians should be astronauts... so we can get the gospel to them asap!
Also is inter-planetary marriage ok?
I think you have entered into the realm of "Can God create a rock so big he can't move it" type of discussion.
:)
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