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Alien Ideas: Christianity and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life
CRISIS magazine via CERC ^ | BENJAMIN D. WIKER

Posted on 12/17/2002 2:21:52 PM PST by Polycarp

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To: yendu bwam
You assume that God wants everyone to be a Christian, I don't, that is why I don't think He actually did those things.
561 posted on 12/24/2002 8:43:50 AM PST by stuartcr
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To: stuartcr
You pose things in a funny way. God isn't trying to have everyone be a club member (which is the perpsective you appear to have on Christianity). God would that no one perish, no one be left outside of His presence when the next phase of human development is realized, but some, in fact many, will choose to be separated rather than bow to the Lordship of Jesus and accept the gift of salvation that comes only through Him in His cross and resurrection. You are free to choose, accept or reject. ... Is that what's got you so flustered at God?... He isn't forcing you to be saved?
562 posted on 12/24/2002 8:50:42 AM PST by MHGinTN
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To: MHGinTN
If that is the image I'm projecting, sorry. I have no idea what God wants. To me, it appears that Christians are convinced that they are the only ones that know what God wants, and that is that everyone should be Christians. I merely believe that one should believe what one wants, without trying to convince other that they are correct. I ask these questions, because I try to understand why people believe what they do, and the majority of people on freerepublic just happen to be Christians.
563 posted on 12/24/2002 9:00:17 AM PST by stuartcr
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To: stuartcr
You assume that God wants everyone to be a Christian, I don't, that is why I don't think He actually did those things.

I do believe that God became man in the person of Jesus Christ. Have a great holiday, stuartcr! yendu b.

564 posted on 12/24/2002 9:29:21 AM PST by yendu bwam
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To: yendu bwam
Thank you, Merry Christmes, and a prosperous new year also.
565 posted on 12/24/2002 9:31:07 AM PST by stuartcr
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To: stuartcr
A happy and safe Christmas to you too, Stuartcr. See you on the threads, later this year.
566 posted on 12/24/2002 1:13:23 PM PST by MHGinTN
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To: galt-jw
Considering that the universe is without limit, to say that life evolved only here is beyond reason, and odds, for that matter.

Considering that the universe isn't without limits, to say that life evolved here, or anywhere in the universe is beyond reason, and odds, for that matter.

567 posted on 12/24/2002 1:24:36 PM PST by GSHastings
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To: Quix; yendu bwam; Polycarp; carpio
CULTURED TRASH by Boston Man

Ode To The Carp

.

Carp, Carp the noble fish,

A trusty friend, a tasty dish.

The lessons of the carp are two,

For mind of man and tummy too!

.

First we have carp, a healthful food,

Prepared to fit our every mood.

Broiled carp, fried carp, carp a la mode,

Breaded carp cake, le carp avec toad.

.

Carpburger, carp bernaise, carp on the rocks,

Steamed carp, carp chowder, carpels and lox.

To name just a few of the recipes on hand,

Which have made the carp  the toast of the land.

.

But a lovely meal's not his only gift,

That noblest of fish teaches that if,

We copy him and his muddy way,

We shall find peace in every day.

.

He shows that worrying and scurrying around,

Will get us a home in the solid ground.

But by finding peace and showing love,

We will end our days in the soft warm mud.

.

So be like the carp, this feast of kings,

And share all the gifts he freely brings.

His tasty flesh, that perfect food,

His actions, example of all that is good.

.

   

568 posted on 12/26/2002 7:09:12 AM PST by carpio
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To: carpio
A carpamzing ode, if I ever saw one!

All best carpishes to you this holiday season,

yendu b.
569 posted on 12/26/2002 8:34:06 AM PST by yendu bwam
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To: carpio
Marvelously said.

But what do you do with all those bones?
570 posted on 12/26/2002 10:45:20 AM PST by Quix
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To: Polycarp
Just remember folks, the Bible says that the Earth is round not flat.
571 posted on 12/26/2002 10:51:29 AM PST by ColdSteelTalon
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To: GSHastings
Believe whatever you want. The amount of evidence from past cultures, specifically the Sumerians, which appeared with a fully intact society out of NOWHERE and spoke of the "gods" who came down in special "chariots" suggest that something entirely different happened. The incredible amount of information from so very many sources of about "the watchers", a Biblical translation, actually, and of contemporary sources should be enough to convince any reasonable person that the earth-centric arrogance of humans is about as relevant today as it was in the time of Galileo, when he dared suggest the earth WAS NOT at the center of the solar system. And, here we are again.

If you believe in a supreme being, good for you. But go ahead, unless you happen to fear a threat to your belief system, and see what you can find out. The information is out there.

Since it's not my job or interest to convince you or anyone else, do as you wish, and believe what you will, despite the evidence to the contrary.

The alternative is ridiculous: ALL the reports, throughout ALL of history, are false, including: a large number of eyewitnesses whose only reward was ridicule, video tape of events and clearly definable craft from MULTIPLE independent sources AND angles with and without radar confirmation and fighter intercept, reports from "credible" (mainstream) news sources, the actual physical presence of unidentifiable material retreived from those who claim to be abducted, material which has filaments so fine our current technology cannot begin to approach anything remotely the same, and more. Again, all this stuff is available, and lots of the eyewitnesses are very credible, highly proficient sources, such as: pilots, police officers and emergency personell, engineers, teachers, and virtually every segment of society, over an extended period of time.

572 posted on 12/28/2002 10:25:13 AM PST by galt-jw
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To: Quix
NOT TRUE AT ALL.

I know plenty of Blood-bought, repented up, Spirit-led Evangelical Christians who at least allow the possibility for ET's if not are convinced strongly of their existence.

And one of the Christians who I've known who most lived closest to God of all I've known--she knew from a very early age from her awareness from God that there are many vast other cultures, worlds etc. . . . and also evil in other places of the universe.

Knowing her as I did, I believed her. Nothing in the Bible would prevent anything she said. Besides if she was adamant that God said something was definnitely going to happen. It always happened.

I'm sorry you believe this. I hope you read the bible more and believe more of what you read. That middle paragraph is really something. First it's hard to read and second it's just sad.

573 posted on 01/02/2003 7:10:20 AM PST by biblewonk
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To: biblewonk
Thanks for your reply Biblewonk,
----------

NOT TRUE AT ALL.
. . .
I know plenty of Blood-bought, repented up, Spirit-led Evangelical Christians who at least allow the possibility for ET's if not are convinced strongly of their existence. . . .
I've known maybe 8-24 or so Christians who've lived closest to God of all the Christians I've known in 55 years. At or near the top of that group in closesness to God was a woman who's lived close to God mostly all her life since earliest memories--Judy.
. . .
She loves Native Americans. She has often gone to Reservations to minister to them. 3 different times in 3 different Reservations, she prayed in tongues in a circle at the end of the ministry time.
. . .
Each of those times, an elderly member of the tribe who'd stood nearby, came up to her and asked her where she'd learned to speak the more ancient, more eloquent dialect of their language. They further explained each time that she'd given a beautiful summary of the Gospel story as she thought she was merely praying in tongues.
. . .
Judy has known virtually all her life that there were other intelligent critters of God's creation in other galaxies & dimensions. Further, that there was even evil beyond earth.

Knowing her as I did, I believed her. Nothing in the Bible would prevent anything she said. Besides if she was adamant that God said something was definnitely going to happen. It always happened.
. . .

I'm sorry you believe this. I hope you read the bible more and believe more of what you read. That middle paragraph is really something. First it's hard to read and second it's just sad. --Biblewonk

PERHAPS You'd be willing to show me the Scriptures you assert affirm your position.

Have read The Word through a number of times. Slept with it like a teddy bear in Jr High, High school & University. . . . it would be interesting to see something I haven't seen before.

Has never been anything in The Word I haven't believed (to the best of my faith and rational ability to believe anything). I believe The Word far more than I believe "normal" reality. The Word has rescued me from death in more ways than one multiple times. I believe the entire Word as the infallible Word of God [in the original documents]--more than sufficient guide and Life for this life as well as sufficient Light on The Way to the next. It would be very hard to imagine that you or anyone else believed The Word more fully; at a higher level; more faithfully; more emphatically, more acceptingly . . . than I do. . . . Perhaps with the exception of Kenneth Hagin--perhaps.

I do try and avoid treating INFERENCES from/about The Word as emphatic, crystal clear declarations OF The Word. All kinds of people and denominations have taken INFERENCES sky-west-and-crooked through the centuries.

But I have been wrong about some things before. Perhaps you could enlighten me.

Blessings,

574 posted on 01/02/2003 11:53:18 AM PST by Quix
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To: Quix
PERHAPS You'd be willing to show me the Scriptures you assert affirm your position.

Have read The Word through a number of times. Slept with it like a teddy bear in Jr High, High school & University. . . . it would be interesting to see something I haven't seen before.

Has never been anything in The Word I haven't believed (to the best of my faith and rational ability to believe anything). I believe The Word far more than I believe "normal" reality. The Word has rescued me from death in more ways than one multiple times. I believe the entire Word as the infallible Word of God [in the original documents]--more than sufficient guide and Life for this life as well as sufficient Light on The Way to the next. It would be very hard to imagine that you or anyone else believed The Word more fully; at a higher level; more faithfully; more emphatically, more acceptingly . . . than I do. . . . Perhaps with the exception of Kenneth Hagin--perhaps.

I do try and avoid treating INFERENCES from/about The Word as emphatic, crystal clear declarations OF The Word. All kinds of people and denominations have taken INFERENCES sky-west-and-crooked through the centuries.

But I have been wrong about some things before. Perhaps you could enlighten me.

Countless Catholics have almost the same bible I have and claim to believe it as well as I do yet they have no problem with Marian doctrine. That proves to me that I can't prove anything to anyone when it comes to the bible. If you are a person that reads Genesis and still believes the world is billions of years old and maybe the big bang is true and maybe a day is millions of years and maybe evolution is Gods plan, then I wouldn't even try to argue anything about UFO's.

575 posted on 01/02/2003 12:24:25 PM PST by biblewonk
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To: biblewonk
I don't believe in evolution per se. I used to.

I think it's a deception of satan. He has had a long time to concoct a lot of deceptions.

I believe post Adam, we are dealing with a whole new setup.

I don't know what the world was BEFORE it was "formless and void." It's evidently not an important thing for God to enlighten us on.

I would assume that for you to hold such a strong position on the topic starting our exchange, that you'd be prepared to offer "to every man an answer"--particularly when it was a Brother honestly interested in where you get your perspective from. Because I'm honestly at a loss even trying to guess about that.

If you are not in the habit of being charitable in discussions with Christian Brothers, then I don't know what I can say that would encourage you to be candid and forthcoming with the Scriptural foundations for your convictions on the matter.

I'm authentically curious. I'm authentically fascinated with your position though it's not the first time I've come across it. It is the first time I've felt like looking into it further in a decade or more.

The Marian thing is also a deception from the pit--clearly in my mind. The Bible is quite clear about Christ's half-siblings. No inferences involved there at all.

Blessings,
576 posted on 01/02/2003 12:30:50 PM PST by Quix
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To: Quix
Please forgive my Freeper cynicism. I've been smashed like a bug dozens of times when I was trying to open up. Lately I've got a Freeper wall around me.

I believe that the universe is as old as Genesis implies, ie about 6000 years old. In the days of creation we see that the stars were created on the 4th day and yet painfully little mention. This means a lot to me because I used to be an athiest evolutionist amature astronomer sci fi nut. When I got saved I was so disappointed to see that God was not near as impressed with the cosmos as I and Carl Sagan were. How trivial the cosmos it to the Lord. It amazed me.

When we see that God made the stars as if they are only window dressings for the earth we see that spiritually the earth really is the center of the universe. When we read that "All creation groans" due to the fall of man we see the same thing. Aliens work in an evolution model of the universe and they are as badly needed as a missing link. The discovery of live on another planet would be as important to a Godless world and a carl sagan as actual proof that evolution happened. They are almost one and the same.

577 posted on 01/02/2003 12:42:49 PM PST by biblewonk
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