A few days ago I was listening to a Christian radio station talk show and one of the callers asked the host about life on other planets. Out of curiosity I also looked at some discussions online by other modern biblical theologians. As to life forms other than angels, it seems they don't want to rule out the possibility. Since space is endless, and we see that planets abound as scientists explore the universe, it does seem reasonable to not say there is nothing out there.
The host didn't answer the question specifically but gave his opinion on the subject. He prefaced his thought by saying the Bible doesn't tell us about it, and if there was life anywhere in the universe, it would be from God, and information would come on a need to know basis. This doesn't really fit well with the orthodox or mainstream biblical teachers because say the Bible is the only word of God and it is a closed canon. In other words, no new information would be forthcoming.
Did it ever occur to them that any other life could be human or that they might be Christians?
While I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this content is my own opinion and in no way represents official Church positions or teachings.
I have observed that to some degree that as Christians we may tend to forget that Christ is not Jesus's last name. I see repeated in many online comments that "Jesus is all you need", maybe that is symbolic of simplifying a belief system.
Theological scholars understand that "Christ" is a title, meaning the "Anointed One" or Messiah. In any case, Jesus is the Redeemer and Savior of mankind to all Christian believers, both Latter-day Saint and traditional Orthodox Christianity with its various denominations and independent churches.
The Bible is the book accepted by all Christians as the word of God. Some claim it is without error and infallible, and yet men are prone to misunderstanding it. Others still accept it as God's word along with the errors and flaws that have been discovered in its content. To not acknowledge that it may be lacking in the knowledge of all truth would seem ignorant. From a logical standpoint, could all truth even be had in one book or series of books, and if so could anyone analyze or understand them?
In any case, some word of God has been preserved for mankind in order to have a testament of God's historical dealings with mankind. Its culminating witness after millennia of preparation tells us God sent his His Son to the earth to redeem us from sin and death. It is in this knowledge that we should contemplate the extent and on what basis this offering was made. Is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ limited by space or time?
I won't go into the doctrinal foundation of Christian salvation, or for Latter-day Saints, exaltation, but only cover some fundamental teachings to make my point.
With the Bible as the foundation of historical and modern Christianity over the last 2000 years or so, we see a limited understanding of the vast cosmos, the endless heavens that surround us, and the numberless galaxies, stars, solar systems, and planets.
There is no knowledge or declaration of other planets from a biblical standpoint with life on them. Many if not most Christian theologians and scholars limit their understanding as to the greatness of the works of God by claiming a single closed canon of scripture. It is a foundational declaration of mainstream Christianity that the Bible is the only word of God and it is a closed canon of scripture.
This coupled with a denial of additional communication from God to reveal previously unknown facts and truths obviously limits understanding about the mysteries of a never-ending universe or universes.
Science continues to open the windows of heaven with powerful telescopes, demonstrating the seemingly endless nature of creation. To what end do these galaxies and heavenly bodies exist? While they manifest a kind of endless beauty, but it is not readily observed by most people. The cosmic clouds, the inability to identify "dark matter" and the general contemplation of endlessness is pretty much beyond the comprehension of the human mind in many ways.
And yet, humans keep searching the cosmos. Traditional Christian theologians don't deny the existence of what is proven to be out there, they just don't seem to think it is essential to understanding God's creative nature. It is as if God was passing time until he decided to create this one particular world where he would plant humans and see what happened if he did so.
Without delving too deep into the subject of all power and all knowledge that God might possess, along with other characteristics of perfection, we should be aware that He or She or They are creators.
Traditional theology teaches that God is a triune being filling the roles of a father, a son, and a spirit. As a whole, they are described as a male in nature, yet without form or corporeality, which would imply that they would in fact be genderless. There is no description of a female counterpart making celibacy another aspect of their nature. This would seem to be a contradiction in traditional biblical theology regarding the claim that we are created in the image of God, male and female. The foundational creeds of Christendom teach that God has no image, neither is there mention of an eternal female person.
Latter-day Saint teachings are based on an eternal view of family relationships. We are created in the image of God, male and female. Our doctrine teaches that we have heavenly parents. Men are created in the image of our Heavenly Father and women in the image of our Heavenly Mother. They are exalted beings of unimaginable glory. Their love for their children is the force that drives creation. It is not limited.
This pattern establishes that the nature of God is based around real family relationships. Marriage between a man and a woman was not a new institution existing only on a temporary basis starting in Eden. This establishes a basis that supports Biblical understanding that men and women are not meant to be without each other and explains the reason why with eternal context.
The creative forces that exist in the world, whether one sees them as a God who is a solitary being or as a family centered creator, we see the result of creation manifest in this earth. Why would there just be one such earth?
How is it that the understanding in traditional Christianity that a single planet in the endless cosmos is the only place where a process of salvation has ever taken place and will only happen once? Doesn't this place a damper on God's creation of souls and having them live a glorious eternity with him? Doesn't this also mean that God's love would be limited to that quantity of souls that would be "saved" by this one-time occurrence?
What is salvation whereby the saved live as captive static beings in a limited fashion for all of eternity? Does living in a heavenly place that would logically support unlimited increase make sense? According to these doctrines and philosophies of men, there would no more need for Christianity anywhere else in the universe.
A much-expanded understanding of the Heavens and the doctrine of Christ was revealed to the prophet Joseph Smith. During his lifetime he was continuously slandered. Over the past 200 years to the current day, his critics in biblical apologetics continue to promote slanderous and inaccurate narratives regarding his character and teachings.
The revelations that were given to Joseph Smith demonstrate that the concept of a closed canon such as the Bible limits the effects of Christ's atonement.
Latter-day Saint teachings come from revelations that have been canonized in the Church for us to study and learn from. One such book is the Pearl of Great Price. It contains expanded revelation to the prophet Moses where God tells him about the nature of eternal creations. In Moses chapter one we learn that Moses was a Christian believer. The narrative can be read here
6 And I have a work for thee, Moses, my son; and thou art in the asimilitude of mine bOnly cBegotten; and mine Only Begotten is and shall be the dSavior, for he is full of egrace and ftruth; but there is gno God beside me, and all things are present with me, for I hknow them all.
7 And now, behold, this one thing I show unto thee, Moses, my son, for thou art in the world, and now I show it unto thee.
8 And it came to pass that Moses looked, and beheld the aworld upon which he was created; and Moses bbeheld the world and the ends thereof, and all the children of men which are, and which were created; of the same he greatly cmarveled and wondered.
31 And behold, the glory of the Lord was upon Moses, so that Moses stood in the presence of God, and talked with him aface to face. And the Lord God said unto Moses: For mine own bpurpose have I made these things. Here is cwisdom and it remaineth in me.
32 And by the aword of my power, have I created them, which is mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of bgrace and truth.
33 And aworlds without number have I bcreated; and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the cSon I dcreated them, which is mine eOnly Begotten.
35 But only an account of this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, give I unto you. For behold, there are many worlds that have passed away by the word of my power. And there are many that now stand, and innumerable are they unto man; but all things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I aknow them.
37 And the Lord God spake unto Moses, saying: The aheavens, they are many, and they cannot be numbered unto man; but they are numbered unto me, for they are mine.
38 And as one earth shall pass away, and the heavens thereof even so shall another come; and there is no aend to my works, neither to my words.
This narrative along with other modern scriptures helps us to understand that God is not limited to a one-time creation and that we are literally his children. Understanding more about the nature of our Heavenly Father, his Son, Jesus Christ, and our relationship to them can increase our faith in them and live to learn from and follow them.
Comments
Post a Comment