- Series:Philosophy, Transcript English
Romans 1:21
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke once said “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic”. I guess it is true that the concept of having all the information of the Internet on my pocket cellphone would have seemed like magic to me, during my teenage years in the 1970s. The quote has often been used to suggest that super-intelligent alien lifeforms would appear to us like deities, if they ever visited us. Astrobiologist Caleb Scharf has now suggested that some super-advanced alien technology might not appear to us like magic, but like physics.
The concept that the universe looks so well designed that it must, in fact, be designed, has been acknowledged by many unbelievers for quite some time. As they cannot attribute such design to a deity, there are many who attribute it to the work of alien intelligence. Scharf has gone a step further, proposing that the entire universe is a sort-of alien laboratory. In support of his position, he cites the existence of dark matter – the supposed “extra” matter, required to make the gravitational forces of the universe work in a Big Bang scenario, despite the fact that, by definition, no one can detect this dark matter.
It is noteworthy that creationist cosmogonies do not require the supposition of dark matter. And, once again, we see that certain scientists accept the inevitability of evidence for design, without ascribing the honor for that design where it is deserved. This reminds us of Romans 1:21 – “Although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him”.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, when we look at the Heavens, the work of Your fingers, we stand in awe of You, and ascribe to You all the praise and glory. Amen.
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