Why would an all-powerful God work only on a local (and recent) project like the Earth when there is a vast, 15-billion-year-old universe out there, with countless galaxies containing countless stars and the possibility of countless worlds?
Why didn't God let us know about quantum mechanics and natural selection and cosmology from the get-go?
And why would theologians insist on such a provincial version of the creation and God's imagination?
2007-11-12 09:46:25 · 29 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
WOW, what nice ways to say "I have no idea"....
Which makes me wonder if you have any idea about most other stuff....
2007-11-12 10:39:58 · update #1
Ahhh! It's the Protectorate!
*Defenestrates self*
Nice thinking, there.
2007-11-12 09:49:22 · answer #1 · answered by ǝɔnɐs ǝɯosǝʍɐ Lazarus'd- DEI 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
There is a hidden assumption in your question that you haven't expressed and may not be aware of. That is that the universe is 15 billion years old. This assumption is based on a rather long string of reasoning. But there are potential flaws. For one thing, it has been observed that the speed of light may not be a constant, but that at one time, it traveled much faster than it does today. This would greatly shorten the age of the universe.
There is also the assumption that theologians insist on a provincial version of the creation.
You rightly say that God is all powerful. For this reason, He can do it however He wants. If He wants to create the universe and let it sit for a few billion years, He certainly can. But the Bible tells us the earth was created first. The purpose of God's creative act was to create beings who can love Him. If God had created the universe a very long time ago, and if you assume evolution (which I think you are doing), then it follows that death is not an enemy when we instinctively know it is. Death is simply a way to improve species, and thus, something that causes untold suffering is simply part of God's plan, which to my mind makes God evil.
I think just about everyone accepts natural selection. Natural selection is the result of less fit organisms dying, and less fit species becoming extinct. In order for evolution to happen, new information must be added to the genetic code. Natural selection can only operate on the information already there.
My husband has a PhD in electrical engineering. He rejected the theory of evolution shortly after we started going together, based on the scientific evidence. One summer, he went to New York and studied under the famous astronomer, Robert Jastrow. While he was there, a cosmologist came and spoke. My husband says that the presentation of the cosmologist was a house of cards. People tend to assume that cosmology is rock solid. In reality, it's based on a bunch of unproven assumptions.
Keep your eyes and ears open. God loves us, and created us to love Him. Being the all-powerful God He is, He could have created the entire universe in an instant. He DID call many things into being just by the might of His voice. However, if you believe in the Bible, you have to make a choice. Either all of it can be relied on, or none of it can. We don't have the knowledge to say this part is true and that part is false. If we say part of the Bible is false, we cannot even trust it when it says God exists!
Think about it!
2007-11-12 23:17:53 · answer #2 · answered by Pat G 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why do you assume that God is not at work in other parts of the Universe? Maybe the rest of the Universe is precisely as it is for the good of the Earth and the rest of Earth's creatures. Studies have shown that if Earth's orbit was just slightly different, or it were slight closer to or further away from the Sun, life would not be possible on Earth.
Don't forget that a 1,000 years pass in an instant in God's eyes. In time, humans will unlock the mystery of the Universe.
2007-11-12 17:57:45 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Earth is part of the universe you're talking about. Why would God work on the whole universe and not work on the Earth as well?
Learning about God's laws of nature is part of the process of evolution. You can't discuss the vastness of the universe with a dog - it's brain just wouldn't comprehend. Likewise, human intelligence must evolve through God's process of discovery.
As for theologians, they are part of the system that seeks to control and are therefore limited in their scope of thought by dogma and governance.
2007-11-12 17:54:10 · answer #4 · answered by Elmer R 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The way I understand it, is that we do not know when the Earth was created by God. But for what ever reason, His quality of Love, he formed the Earth for life. Created and put plants, animals, humans and the ability to sustain all life. We do know know what other life is out there in the vast universe. Could be he has a perfect world or worlds out there. All we can go by is what God chooses to tell us when he tells us.
2007-11-12 17:54:39 · answer #5 · answered by Antdak 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God is the Creator of all things. He made this Universe, (and all the others if the Super-String Theory M-Theory Origin of the Universe" is correct. Why do you think that God is so small. Just curious do you think that you can understand all about quantum mechanics....how would a shepherd in 6,000 BC
2007-11-12 17:53:56 · answer #6 · answered by PROBLEM 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because God thinks this planet is much more special than any other, and this one needs work and he wants a challenge.
What point is knowledge when someone just tells you all the answers? Its better to learn things on your own, in your own private study. I learned more in the college library than I ever did by any teacher.
Whats so provincial about it? I have two birds, having them as my pets is not provincial. You do not say, "Why just have two birds when there are millions of birds?". Because only these two have real meaning for me.
2007-11-12 17:56:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Maybe earth is only the proving ground and the beginning ("replenish the earth"). Once evil is eradicated, all of creation will be new. Eternity is a long time, and outerspace is a big place to replenish, a big place to explore.
Concerning knowledge, we are fortunate that we have not blown each other up with the knowlege we already possess. You need love, wisdom and courage to go along with scientific knowledge.
2007-11-12 17:55:44 · answer #8 · answered by ignoramus_the_great 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are some sound biblical teachings that share that the Earth is actually much older from Adam to now..
There was the Pre-Adamic age.. it was during this age that there was the "rebellion"
Its referred to as " the Gap" in some theological circles.
A detailed study is given in a Life Study of the Bible in Genesis. I think it'll be an interesting read for you.
http://www.ministrybooks.org/life-studies.cfm
Everything that is shared here has the word to back it up.
Hope it was as much a help to you as it was to me
A believer in Christ Jesus
sandy
2007-11-12 18:03:12 · answer #9 · answered by Broken Alabaster Flask 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He didn't. What makes you think that life only exists on this planet? Who do you think directed the creation of that vast, 15 billion year old universe?
God doesn't let us know about alot of things. He isn't Wikipedia. He wants us to work and learn things for ourselves sometimes.
Because theologians are people and they have their own interpretations of things, just like you and I do. And just like the scientists who are constantly revising their understanding of the cosmos are.
2007-11-12 17:52:00 · answer #10 · answered by Open Heart Searchery 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
look God made everything. this question u ask is someone with little faith would ask. U NEVER QUESTION GOD!!! people always ask well if God is real then y doesn't he prove it and all this other ****. but the thing is a true believer doesn't have to because it doesn't matter to them.i just pray for ur soul and hope that someone reaches out to u where ever u live
2007-11-12 17:57:33 · answer #11 · answered by Zack M 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋