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.
There is no hidden science that will propel us to the stars.
That is almost certainly a fact.
If we had black ops space programs amateur astronomers would catch them real fast.
The only things that go into space are launched and the public know about.
“Earth’s cosmic habitat, history, and natural resources reflect the needs of its inhabitants.”
Hugh sounds a lot like Pangloss.
(Voltaire: “Observe: noses were made to support spectacles, hence we have spectacles. Legs, as anyone can plainly see, were made to be breeched, and so we have breeches.”)
And God made the space between them all but impossible to traverse...
The law of averages says we shouldn't exist except for so dang many things going exactly right on a cosmic scale. Changes seemingly equal to a grain of sand on a beach and we wouldn't exist.
Organisms adapt to their environment (so far as its possible), not the other way around.
Trillions of stars? There are 100s of trillions of galaxies - each with 300 million or more stars - you do the math. More over those galaxies span more than 13 billion years or life coming and going on more stars than you could could in a lifetime of counting. Again you do the math.
*** “Even here on life friendly Earth, the ratio of biomass to mass is about 3 parts in 10 billion” ***
And all of that mass is 99.9% empty space.
I feel spiritual just knowing I am 99.9% empty space (maybe even less between my ears ;^)
Believe what you want.
bkmk
You’ll laugh. >>
tried it and I didn’t laugh, my mind hasn’t changed.
in just six twenty-four hour days. >>
that’s what I believe.
In the final chapters of the book of Job 38-42 God and Job converse and God lists a number of things in his creation which man can have no control over and had no part in when they were made. Some stars like the Pleiades the constellation of Orion, Arturus and perhaps Mazzaroth meaning the zodiacal constellations are mentioned. God is aware of how man made patterns of the universe he created. This conversation is fascinating because God is offering the cosmological argument for his existence.
Well not really - all He's doing is pointing out that no one but He can do any of those things.
Job is also the oldest book in the Bible. A lifetime of study and a person could not begin to understand the Book of Job.
Great thread placemark.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.