What would it mean to the Christian faith if NASA's Spirit and Opportunity rovers discover evidence of life on Mars? What if they (or other future missions) offer proof for the many water-and-warmth theories of Martian history?
Some considerations :
1. Life on other planets is not mentioned, nor is it denied, in the Bible. There is no Biblical reason to assume life may not have existed on Mars.
2. There is of course no limit to the abilities of God to create life wherever He chooses. Judging from the endless array of creative life forms on earth, we conclude that God enjoys creating life, and thus it would not be inconsistent with His character to have made life in other places.
3. Life on other planets would not lend any more credibility to faith-based evolutionary theories or postulates. In fact, statistically speaking, the chances of life evolving here are unfathomably slight; thus finding life in another world would make belief in evolution even more absurd.
4. The rovers are said to be on a quest to unlock the planet's geologic past, supposedly stretching back billions of years. This old-age assumption is based on faith in a philosophical/religious framework, not on testable scientific facts. Even the most popular dating methods are founded on assumptions, not evidence. So, while we take great interest in the findings of the rovers, we recognize that the “age” attached by scientists to the specimens examined is up for debate, and is based on the religious beliefs of the scientist controlling the experiments.
5. The chances of discovering a form of intelligent, self-conscious life on another planet are extremely remote, in that the Bible seems to indicate that mankind occupies the center of God's plan for creation (Genesis 1). This of course does not totally rule out the possibility that God could have made such life elsewhere.
Our thirst for exploration and discovery has led us to deploy some of the most sophisticated technologies ever conceived — and these doubtless can bring much glory to our Creator.
As a father takes pride in the achievements of his son, God is honored by our progress and innovation. In the midst of great advances, however, let us make sure we continue to give honor where it is due — for God not only gave us life, He gave us the ability to explore these vast wonders; marvels of creative genius that until now, have remained unseen.
Challenge: Do I honor the Creator by taking interest in the study of His creation? Is He glorified by the way I interact with the world, and people, He has made?
Meditation: Psalm 8
Here's an exciting recent development in the ongoing effort to study Mars.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,358027,00.html
Posted by: Dan | May 25, 2008 at 02:40 PM