There’s quite a bit talk going around about how NASA’s latest mission to Mars could truly shake up the way we view the world and ourselves. It goes like this: what if the rovers find that there was once life on Mars? Suddenly, there’s proof that perhaps we’re not alone. This sort of talk scares some people, especially Christians, because hard scientific evidence of life on other planets seems to make them think the Bible might be a sham. But I don’t follow that logic.
Christians, especially those with a theological bent, like to talk about the mysteries of God — the Trinity, the virgin birth, etc. The most popular view of the creation narrative in Genesis is that while it tells a truth (God created the universe) it is not to be taken literally. This perspective allows Christians to hold to the theory of micro-evolution (though most still adamently oppose any scientific idea that is tied to Darwin). Most Christian theology portrays God as omnipotent, and while often theology attempts to paint God into a corner as far as His attributes go, realistically we can’t do that. We can only go on what He’s told us via the Bible.
So, why is the thought that Mars could have sustained life such an earth-shattering discovery? The Bible doesn’t seem to limit life to our planet (at least as far as I know). Aren’t Christians painting God into a corner again saying that there couldn’t be life on other planets? The only discovery on the red planet that could truly rattle the foundation of humanity would be an X-Files-esque discovery of an alien craft with the Bible and the human gene code etched in its shell. If the rovers find evidence of plant life, or water, well, that’s a great find for the scientific community, but let’s not rewrite our history just yet.
And a bike….
I finally got around to getting images to the owner of the Fixed Gear Gallery website, a fine collection of nearly 600 fixed gear bicycles (with pistas, trainers, classics, commuters, and everything in between). See my trusty steed here.
Posted on 4 January 2004