Organic matter found on Mars
- Thread starter GK4Herd
- Start date
We get it. You choose the science you like and don’t like depending on your politics.
I'm not sure he is here. BC relates to Christian conservativism and what makes this news exciting is what it potentially implies. And what it potentially implies isn't always supported by Christians. So BC saying he's interested is the opposite of confirmation bias. I'll take him at face value. He's interested because this is neat stuff. No politics in his statement at all.
I don't know that it contradicts Christianity. I think it's quite possible for some form of "life" to be on other planets while, at the same time, the God of the universe chose to create only one form of life (man) in his own image. I know there's many believers (like greed) who will insist the Bible is all inclusive, but that's just what man was aware of at the time and what was relevant for him to know/understand. But that's just my $0.02.
Says a guy who is pro-abortion.
No, I'm simply fascinated with outer space, and I always have been. If I had no remaining family, and only one month to live, I would want NASA to shoot me into outer space and see how far I could go before I died. I would love to see other planets and stars from a better vantage point. It's a phenomenal sight from here on earth. Imagine being up there in person. Wow.
I tried to word it so it wasn't all inclusive (isn't always supported by Christians). I agree with you. Not all Christians are threatened by the potential existence of life out there. If someday the knowledge of life outside of earth is validated, I suspect Christianity goes forward as usual. When a heliocentric viewpoint replaced a geocentric one religion kept moving forward. I don't even believe that finding human like being would topple Christianity. But then again from an evolutionary viewpoint I'd be surprised that the conditions that gave rise to sapiens could be duplicated exactly.
Also let me state that this finding is far from evidence of past life. But organic material certainly means it was possible.
With one month to live you'd get a good view of earth. But no way you get near even Venus or Mars with today's technology. Venus is the closest. It would take three month. If you're heading toward Mars you'd need to time your death. It is at its closest point every two years and even then you'd need 300 days. So my advice...ditch the family and go healthy.
But in all seriousness...the second closest star to our solar system is Alpha Centauri. Voyager 1 was launched in 1976 and just left the solar system last year. If it were heading in the right direction (it travels 17 kilometers per second), it would take about 70,000 years to reach it. Space is just unimaginably big.
BC is interested in this because he doesn't realize how it impacts his current belief in Christianity. It is no different than his refusal to acknowledge carbon dating, the history of Earth/the universe, etc.
He previously didn't acknowledge the accuracy of that science because it contradicted his religious beliefs. Then, when he was told that his religious beliefs could evolve to accept that part of science and change his view on what the Bible really meant, he suddenly accepted the science.
This will be no different. If any of this new science shows that the Bible is wrong, Christians like BC will simply go back to the drawing board and claim they had simply been misinterpreting what the Bible really intended to say. They will bounce back-and-forth between literal and metaphorical interpretations of the Bible depending on which parts have been shown to be false by accepted science.
It is the same ploy that has been used for hundreds upon hundreds of years by Christians and has even been witnessed on this very board over the last handful of years.
This is kind of the same as an old Dear Abby column for me. Someone wrote and asked her what she thought of all the hypocrites that go to church every Sunday. She said she couldn't think of a better place for them.
So using the same concept, I can't think of a better thing for a fundamentalist christian to discuss then the potential for life to exist (or have existed) outside of Earth.
I get your point, but I'm not sure every discussion needs to fall back on the same old ideological hatred that saturates the discussion here. He likes space. Cool by me.
You have a good chance at seeing Uranus when you're kissing your ass goodbye.
My original statement, him picking and choosing which parts of science he believes. If he believes the science of outer space, then he believes in the science of global warming.
I didn't mean to hijack this thread by simply stating my interest in this topic, but it's nice to know my legitimate curiosity riles so many of you up.
This has nothing to do with Christianity. The Bible says God created the heavens and the earth. Fine. What is contradictory about me wanting to see other planets, stars, and galaxies? The Bible doesnt address Mars, its age, or the possibility that life may have been there at some point.
As I have stated several times, the 6,000 year old earth theory is simply people tracing back lineage that is spoken about in the Bible. The Bible never says that the earth is 6,000 years old. It took me getting out of my childhood to realize that. Sue me. At least I can admit it.
Rifle, nobody has ever told me that my religious beliefs could evolve. I'm a grown man and can think for myself. As always, you're putting words into my mouth and saying a lot of things that I have never said nor implied. I believed certain things when I was young and have changed my mind on many things since. If it would help, you can write down a list of questions you want to ask me and can go back to it for clarification any time you need to.
This has nothing to do with Christianity. The Bible says God created the heavens and the earth. Fine. What is contradictory about me wanting to see other planets, stars, and galaxies? The Bible doesnt address Mars, its age, or the possibility that life may have been there at some point.
As I have stated several times, the 6,000 year old earth theory is simply people tracing back lineage that is spoken about in the Bible. The Bible never says that the earth is 6,000 years old. It took me getting out of my childhood to realize that. Sue me. At least I can admit it.
Rifle, nobody has ever told me that my religious beliefs could evolve. I'm a grown man and can think for myself. As always, you're putting words into my mouth and saying a lot of things that I have never said nor implied. I believed certain things when I was young and have changed my mind on many things since. If it would help, you can write down a list of questions you want to ask me and can go back to it for clarification any time you need to.
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