So we've landed on Mars... again
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Or, more precisely put, something we built has landed on Mars. And it'll stay on Mars and send us information. We already know some information because there are already other things we built on and orbiting around Mars. We're pretty sure there's plenty of water there (in ice form). This time, we're looking for other elements that would have made Mars an environment for life in some past era of its history. It is important to note, however, that the current vessel (Curiosity) is not equipped to discover evidence of life (fossils and whatnot), only to provide evidence that life could have survived there.
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Inevitably, space exploration raises big questions. This is a good thing! Too often we don't ask the big questions in life. This mission tends to raise questions like whether or not we are alone in this universe, what are the origins of life, and why are we here to begin with?
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I thought I'd take a moment to give my thoughts on some of the questions most likely to be asked of a person, like me, that thinks in theological terms. Maybe some of these questions have gone through your mind. If so, I hope my thoughts are helpful in the sense that they stir up your imagination and lead you toward good answers.
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Q Would Christianity be proven false by the discovery of life on other planets?
A Certainly not. We know from Scripture that God is a relationship. God is Father, Son & Spirit. Because God is relationship, God loves to create the potential for more relationships. The Bible tells us about God's creation of life on our planet, but it is simply silent about whether or not God created life elsewhere. The existence of extra-terrestrial life is an open question for Christians.
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Q If curiosity finds the necessary elements for life to survive, does that prove anything?
A Certainly not. It is a MAJOR assumption that in a certain environment life simply emerges. This is not science, it is speculation. The best scientists admit that science can't really speak to the issue of the origin of life. It is quite possible that the emergence of life requires God's initiation and not simply ideal conditions. What's more, Mars could contain life that thrives in totally different conditions than we might expect.
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Q Isn't such a mission a colossal waste of time and money?
A Well, I don't actually think so. I think God built into us a desire to explore. Space is part of God's creation and, ultimately, learning more about it is an opportunity to learn more about the Creator. Of course, one can make a million arguments about how that money could be better spent. Many such arguments would be solid. But there are also a lot of worse ways to spend money.
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Q Just come out and say it... do you think life exists on other planets?
A I'm not dodging when I say I have no idea. I really don't. If you forced me to guess, I guess I'd say no. I think the concensus that there MUST be life on other planets is built on the faulty assumpetion (mentioned above) that life simply will emerge when environmental factors are in its favor. I disagree. I think life is initiated by God. But I certainly don't claim to know where God initiated life, except for that God did so here.
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Q So is space exploration a riskier experiment for atheism or for theism?
A I would boldly declare that space exploration is a riskier experiment for atheism. Christianity would not be shocked if life is found on other planets (since it posits a creative God who loves to make life). Nor would Christianity be shocked if we find ourselves alone (since the emergence of life requires God and God only told us about doing that once). But atheism would be fairly hard-pressed, it seems, to explain our aloneness. The more unique we are, the more the evidence would seem to point to special creation.
