Is Earth our only home? As a Christian, what should we think about space travel, colonizing planets, and transforming the universe? Could other life be out there? One of my long-term goals is to think through these issues a bit from a Christian standpoint. Some of my foundational assumptions are (not in order of priority):
[1] Postmillenialism
[2] Creation
[3] Human uniqueness
[4] Endurance of the Earth
[5] Inspiration of Scripture
Postmillenialism means that we may be here for 200,000 years more before the return of Christ. James Jordan addresses this a bit in his essay, “An Antidote for Yuppie Postmillenialism.”, He writes:
…does the Bible anywhere say that planet earth is our only project? If God has given us the ability to travel to other planets, perhaps they also are to be developed and glorified as part of his universal plan – all before Christ returns. This could take hundreds of thousands of years. (One reason I enjoy the marvellous science fiction stories of Cordwainer Smith, a devout Christian, is because they communicate a feel for such a universal development and glorification.)
So I hope to dig into this from time to time, both in private and on this blog.
It would be interesting to know how many Star Trek fans are post millenialists.
Probably quite a few!
Funny, and scary how some minds work alike.
I’ve pondered these questions from time to time, arriving at a personal position.
Our ability to leave earth and travel beyound the orbital zone (earth/moon) is and will be controlled by the providential hand of the Almighty. Should He permit interplanetary, interstellar or even intergalactic travel, he’ll be there with us as he can hold the entire gameboard in the palm of his hand.
Other worlds and other life? The God who created us also created the angelic host If he were inclined, it would certainly be within his perogative to create other sentient beings. Too, if these exist, they are equally fallen and in need of redemption. I don’t see an “enlightened” aquarian race that will bring us up to the next level.
The earth is durable home, and has proven this in the face of all types of cataclysmic events that range from space object impacts to the super quake at Banda Aceh, which actually impacted the earth’s rotation. I’m confident that it’ll endure until the end. But this said, it could endure as either maintained and balanced biosphere, or a seething, teeming 3rd world slum. This brings home the need for stewardship as, like the psalmist declares: “The Earth is the Lord’s…”
Good thoughts Andy. I hope to add more to them in the future. C.S. Lewis addressed some of these questions in his essay, “Religion and Rocketry” and there are other resources out there as well.
[…] 22, 2010 by Scott Kistler Joel recently mused a bit about the theological implications of space travel and settlement. In his post, he linked to an article written by James Jordan in 1989: “An Antidote to […]
I’m really looking forward to reading your thoughts on this, Joel! And the JBJ article was really good.
I’m glad you liked that article Scott!