Comments on: UFOs and Christian belief http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/25/ufos-and-christian-belief/ A forum for discussion of news that arises at the intersection of Christianity and culture. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:46:58 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: rdean http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/25/ufos-and-christian-belief/comment-page-1/#comment-267489 rdean Tue, 29 Jan 2008 02:22:39 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/25/ufos-and-christian-belief/#comment-267489 #38: in 10 to 20 years we might be seeing earth-sized planets in other solar systems and may even be able to measure them for water, oxygen, carbon dioxide and other signatures for life. If we can see them, we can measure them. It all comes down the "band of life". This band could be much closer to a cool red star and much farther away from a hot giant. #38: in 10 to 20 years we might be seeing earth-sized planets in other solar systems and may even be able to measure them for water, oxygen, carbon dioxide and other signatures for life.

If we can see them, we can measure them. It all comes down the “band of life”. This band could be much closer to a cool red star and much farther away from a hot giant.

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]]> By: Mark http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/25/ufos-and-christian-belief/comment-page-1/#comment-267398 Mark Mon, 28 Jan 2008 22:55:01 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/25/ufos-and-christian-belief/#comment-267398 "Did anybody get the impression that I was referring to little green men?" No--not you personally, nor in your comments here, which are frankly astute and very interesting. My point is that there's not a lot of separation between the belief in alien spaceships and the belief in aliens that fly them. Meaner, I agree that the Bible describes a wide range of phenomena that defies human understanding and explanation, atmospheric and otherwise. My belief, as stated above, is founded on the Biblical message as a whole. That is, of God's creation of the human race, which was initially sinless; man's fall into sin and the subsequent devotion of God's inspired revelation of our need for a Savior. The Bible is God's word to *all* humanity, created by Him on one planet, Earth. With that said, the existance of intelligent life elsewhere in the universe (other humans or beings capable of worshiping God) is inconsistent with God's message to us on this particular planet. "But that then begs the question, Why is all of the rest of the universe even there, if our individual 80 year existance on earth, is the only thing that concerns the creator of the universe?" I don't know, but I do suspect the following: God loves us individually beyond our ability to grasp it. I think each of us is more valuable to Him than the entirety of the universe, in all of its unfathomable, boundless eternity. Perhaps the rest of the universe is there for the same reason the rest of creation exists: to speak of His awesome power, glory and sovereignty. “Did anybody get the impression that I was referring to little green men?”

No–not you personally, nor in your comments here, which are frankly astute and very interesting. My point is that there’s not a lot of separation between the belief in alien spaceships and the belief in aliens that fly them.

Meaner, I agree that the Bible describes a wide range of phenomena that defies human understanding and explanation, atmospheric and otherwise. My belief, as stated above, is founded on the Biblical message as a whole. That is, of God’s creation of the human race, which was initially sinless; man’s fall into sin and the subsequent devotion of God’s inspired revelation of our need for a Savior. The Bible is God’s word to *all* humanity, created by Him on one planet, Earth. With that said, the existance of intelligent life elsewhere in the universe (other humans or beings capable of worshiping God) is inconsistent with God’s message to us on this particular planet.

“But that then begs the question, Why is all of the rest of the universe even there, if our individual 80 year existance on earth, is the only thing that concerns the creator of the universe?”

I don’t know, but I do suspect the following: God loves us individually beyond our ability to grasp it. I think each of us is more valuable to Him than the entirety of the universe, in all of its unfathomable, boundless eternity. Perhaps the rest of the universe is there for the same reason the rest of creation exists: to speak of His awesome power, glory and sovereignty.

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]]> By: Mr_Meaner http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/25/ufos-and-christian-belief/comment-page-1/#comment-267005 Mr_Meaner Mon, 28 Jan 2008 01:39:21 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/25/ufos-and-christian-belief/#comment-267005 Did anybody get the impression that I was referring to little green men? I hope not. But the fact remains that these things are discussed in Bible text. It has nothing to do with alien life-forms or any thing like that. It just seems like common sense that if any of the the things we believe happened are true, (like creation, divine intervention ( sometimes via angelic messengers) then all of that has to have a point of origin. I can almost buy the notion that it is just a dimensional thing, and all of those arch-angels, annointed chrubs, divine are really here always...unperceivable by natural senses to us. But that then begs the question, Why is all of the rest of the universe even there, if our individual 80 year existance on earth, is the only thing that concerns the creator of the universe? Did anybody get the impression that I was referring to little green men?
I hope not. But the fact remains that these things are discussed in Bible text.
It has nothing to do with alien life-forms or any thing like that. It just seems like common sense that if any of the the things we believe happened are true, (like creation, divine intervention ( sometimes via angelic messengers) then all of that has to have a point of origin.
I can almost buy the notion that it is just a dimensional thing, and all of those arch-angels, annointed chrubs, divine are really here always…unperceivable by natural senses to us.
But that then begs the question, Why is all of the rest of the universe even there, if our individual 80 year existance on earth, is the only thing that concerns the creator of the universe?

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]]> By: Mark http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/25/ufos-and-christian-belief/comment-page-1/#comment-266960 Mark Sun, 27 Jan 2008 22:14:49 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/25/ufos-and-christian-belief/#comment-266960 The concept--or belief--in UFO's is inextricably linked to the concept--or belief--of intelligent life outside our own planet. I reject the idea not on any one scripture, but on the Biblical message as a whole. The concept–or belief–in UFO’s is inextricably linked to the concept–or belief–of intelligent life outside our own planet. I reject the idea not on any one scripture, but on the Biblical message as a whole.

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]]> By: Make it Man http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/25/ufos-and-christian-belief/comment-page-1/#comment-266848 Make it Man Sun, 27 Jan 2008 01:38:47 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/25/ufos-and-christian-belief/#comment-266848 <I>"And then there’s “cloaking” technology."</i> I assume you're talking about recent developments... I read somewhere that they are actually making progress on this. “And then there’s “cloaking” technology.”

I assume you’re talking about recent developments…

I read somewhere that they are actually making progress on this.

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]]> By: RRBar http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/25/ufos-and-christian-belief/comment-page-1/#comment-266838 RRBar Sun, 27 Jan 2008 00:24:29 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/25/ufos-and-christian-belief/#comment-266838 Mr. Meaner, Thanks for bringing up the "Marfa Lights". I've seen them and you described them well. I don't think it's a hoax, because it's been going on for at least a couple of centuries, and probably much longer. For those who don't know, Marfa is in far west Texas in a semi-desert mountainous area that is very sparsely populated. I assume it is some kind of natural phenomenon. I've heard several explanations, but nothing that sounds all that convincing. Mr. Meaner,
Thanks for bringing up the “Marfa Lights”. I’ve seen them and you described them well. I don’t think it’s a hoax, because it’s been going on for at least a couple of centuries, and probably much longer.

For those who don’t know, Marfa is in far west Texas in a semi-desert mountainous area that is very sparsely populated.

I assume it is some kind of natural phenomenon. I’ve heard several explanations, but nothing that sounds all that convincing.

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]]> By: NJLawyer http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/25/ufos-and-christian-belief/comment-page-1/#comment-266766 NJLawyer Sat, 26 Jan 2008 19:00:40 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/25/ufos-and-christian-belief/#comment-266766 Theo writes: "The Star Wars program hasn’t been nearly as successful though." As far as we know. There are many reasons why our government wouldn't tell the world if they have achieved success. (Putin comes to mind.) Theo writes: “The Star Wars program hasn’t been nearly as successful though.”

As far as we know. There are many reasons why our government wouldn’t tell the world if they have achieved success. (Putin comes to mind.)

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]]> By: Theo Godwyn http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/25/ufos-and-christian-belief/comment-page-1/#comment-266747 Theo Godwyn Sat, 26 Jan 2008 18:04:30 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/25/ufos-and-christian-belief/#comment-266747 Military pilots were flying the Stealth back in the early 80's. No other nation has even been able to duplicate that technology and that is now 2 decades past. The Star Wars program hasn't been nearly as successful though. With cuts in research and military though, who knows how advanced we are now. Perhaps we have maintained our lead, extended it, or possibly even lost some of it. Military pilots were flying the Stealth back in the early 80’s. No other nation has even been able to duplicate that technology and that is now 2 decades past.

The Star Wars program hasn’t been nearly as successful though.

With cuts in research and military though, who knows how advanced we are now. Perhaps we have maintained our lead, extended it, or possibly even lost some of it.

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]]> By: Norm P. http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/25/ufos-and-christian-belief/comment-page-1/#comment-266730 Norm P. Sat, 26 Jan 2008 17:14:09 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/25/ufos-and-christian-belief/#comment-266730 Before he died, Kelly Johnson -who headed Lockheed’s Skunk works -admitted that they were working on technology that was 50 year ahead of what is now public. Think about the technology gap between now and 50 years ago then project what we may have 50 years from now. Before he died, Kelly Johnson -who headed Lockheed’s Skunk works -admitted that they were working on technology that was 50 year ahead of what is now public. Think about the technology gap between now and 50 years ago then project what we may have 50 years from now.

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]]> By: NJLawyer http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/25/ufos-and-christian-belief/comment-page-1/#comment-266713 NJLawyer Sat, 26 Jan 2008 16:17:41 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/25/ufos-and-christian-belief/#comment-266713 50 miles isn't all that far for a fast-moving technologically advanced "something" being developed by the government. I have a tendency to strongly agree with Theo's "Astronomers don’t believe in UFOs from outerspace because they stare at the sky every night and see no evidence." If an astronomer actually saw something, he'd be making his career to report it. 50 miles isn’t all that far for a fast-moving technologically advanced “something” being developed by the government.

I have a tendency to strongly agree with Theo’s “Astronomers don’t believe in UFOs from outerspace because they stare at the sky every night and see no evidence.”

If an astronomer actually saw something, he’d be making his career to report it.

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