I think the Lord wish for us to look upon the night sky and be reminded of his greatness.
Posted on 11/07/2016 8:46:21 PM PST by Coleus
HISTORY OF OUR PLANET
Our Earth has been dubbed by some as the “Goldilocks Planet” with a just-right sun and a just-right moon in a just-right galaxy. What most people do not realize is how radically Earth has changed since it first formed and what kinds of physical steps transformed the lifeless ball into our home today. Earth has the capacity to support more than 7 billon people and even more billions of other creatures. Many suggest that Earth’s life sustaining features are “amazing coincidences” that just fell into place. Hugh says evidence and logic compel him to challenge such a notion based on the following:
We live on an amazing planet; a world like no other we know. “The world that we know and enjoy is the result of a very long history of astronomical, physical, geological, chemical, and biological events. Without that long, complex history we would not have our present-day world,” shares Hugh. As researchers continue to investigate the history of our planet, the more astonishing the story of our existence becomes. The earth was created for habitability for redemption of billions of humans within thousands of years.
WHY WE ARE HERE
Hugh says, “The Bible tells us that the more we investigate the record of nature, the more evidence we will find for God’s existence, for his handiwork in preparing the natural realm for our benefit, and for his purposeful involvement in our lives.” God planned our His works of redemption before he started His works of creation. Therefore, all of creation makes sense in the context of a real world beyond the one we now occupy. According to Hugh, “The purpose of our existence on Earth is to know our good God and to make Him known. In addition to the organization of cosmic, planetary, and life history of our existence, the direction and human history also fits this redemptive plan and purpose.”
“If bacterial life or some other less environmentally sensitive life-form exists beyond Earth, it may simply reflect the Creator’s enjoyment in creating,” shares Hugh. The Bible speaks of angels and spiritual beings God created to serve His purposes. Some of them joined Lucifer’s rebellion, but most remained loyal to their Maker. “God has given them access to our earthly realm and a capacity to interact with humans, to some degree. Given their presence and his, I can say we humans are not alone,” reveals Hugh.
Hugh wants to “equip Christians to engage, rather than withdraw from or attack, educated non-Christians. One of the approaches I’ve developed, with the help of my RTB colleagues, is a biblical creation model that is testable, falsifiable, and predictive.” He integrates all 66 books of the Bible with all the science disciplines as a way to discover and apply deeper truths. 1 Peter 3:15*–16 sets his ministry goal, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience."
FINDING GOD
Hugh found Christ in college. His study of the Big Bang Theory led him to believe in the existence of a creator, but he didn’t know which of the “holy texts” was historically and scientifically accurate. After reading the Bible, he was persuaded of the truth of its words. He was convinced the discoveries of science supported the truth of the Bible. He eventually founded Reasons to Believe in 1986 to bring the scientific evidence for Christianity to light. Hugh leads a team of scholars who keep tabs on the frontiers of scientific research with the goal of demonstrating that sound reason and scientific discoveries support rather than erode confidence in the God of the Bible.
Life on a grain of sand? Depending on its size and irregularly, there could be hundreds of thousands of bacteria living (quite comfortably) on a grain of sand.
Fine thoughts, all.
I suggest reading Job. The battle between God and evil is here on this planet. We, as humans, are caught in the middle of it. One venue. One battle. Existence is finite and limited to this venue so God can demonstrate His saving grace through His son Jesus. This battle can’t play out in multiple venues because it can’t have different results in different places. Its here. God beat Satan here. We come to faith here. or not...
Yes. And that grain of sand and that bacteria are here. Not somewhere else. The battle is here. Not there.
There are many ways to argue this issue with you, but I think I found one that will give you heart.
The military black ops programs.
We know they exist. But what people don't realize is that the military doesn't just steal and hide the inventions for military use - it also hides the science.
So, there's hidden science. Paid for with tax dollars, kept under lock and key.
To put it simply, I believe someday that that secret science will take us to the stars. Because its precisely the type of science the military would be interested in stealing.
See, doesn't that cheer you up?
A close look at DNA will hint that a finger was on the scale.
I've believed a similar theory all my life, except for his purpose in our lives. God/he/she/them have NO purpose other than to watch their creation as it unfolds. It's a being that our human minds can't comprehend who threw the cosmic physics out simply to see what would happen. I've never believed in the "singularity" that appeared out of nowhere. Physicists can't explain where the "singularity" (basketball supermass) came from. They never will.
There was a book called, "Conversation With God". The first one made sense about a being wanting to share his/their existence and created the Universe. Unfortunately, his sequel books were gobbly-gook.
My bigger question is if there is consciousness after the body dies. What is it? And if it does go on in some form, when did this consciousness develop? At fertilization? At 3 months? At six months? While traveling through the vagina at birth? Is it when children become sentient around the age of 10 or so?
The problem with all my questions above is NOBODY knows. All religions like to think they have the answer. As an agnostic, I have two thoughts: 1. When you die you don't know you're even dead like you didn't know a sperm was going to hit an egg before you were created or you don't know you're in REM sleep. 2. After so much time in this roulette wheel of the Universe, you develop a mind that can transcend the body's death.
I believe it takes a lifetime of trial and error and wanting to transcend to reach that plane after bodily death. I don't believe everyone reaches it. IMHO.
That said, I adhere to Christian/Judea ethics because they are built on compassion, empathy, sympathy, and the better of human emotions. Simply put, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". Yeah, I know it's Biblical. Still, it works if all practice same, with a little reasoning thrown in.
There are that many stars?
I will. It’s so unfathomable. If everything has an answer then why are there so many stars?
It hurts my head.
Job is the zen book of the bible. Really read it carefully, and you find it to be solid rock, with your feet left hanging in space. On the one hand it allows no wiggle room, on the other hand your mind can't do anything but try to wiggle out of it - just like Job tries to do. It is literally an existential struggle.
Also, this planet and humanity may well be a bubble in the universe like you described. Something very unusual is going on here - very, very rare. I think there are many ETs here (both angels and demons) watching our struggle, as a race, across history, in amazement and profound respect. Jesus marked out the playing field - no one is here who's not a part of the game. Denial is rampant, but no one gets to sit on the sidelines.
Well that would do it!!
This is a logical fallacy, the idea that our planet is perfectly tuned to our existence in numerous ways so this proves a creator. But the problem is that if we came from nothing, the planet would still be perfectly tuned to our existence simply because we _could not exist_ anywhere BUT a place like this.
Also, this is another effort to use science to “prove” faith. Faith stands alone and does not need this sort of assistance.
Yep, out of the likely trillions of stars there are some that harbor life, on those, the inhabitants are bound to think “Gee, I must be special.”
It’s just a matter of probability.
...
Well then, go ahead and work it out.
Even here on life friendly Earth, the ratio of biomass to mass is about 3 parts in 10 billion, and it took 4.5 billion years for modern humans to appear.
Yes, conservatively that many. And then for extra fun, as many stars in the universe as there are, you get that many H2O molecules in 10 drops of water.
And also, a human brain has far more neuron connections than either of those numbers.
We are very complicated.
“That’s the thing about faith. If you don’t have it you can’t understand it. And if you do, no explanation is necessary.”
While the probability of life as we know it is extremely low according to the available evidence, atheists can counter with something like the many worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics. In other words, all possible universes exist, and we are naturally conscious in the one where life evolved.
You’ve brought my thoughts to words. Thanks.
Good Lord!
Good Lord!
“Everything has two explanations; One scientific, one divine, and its up to each of us to choose the one we believe.”
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