Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Ted Hoffman · 09-07-2002, 04:59 AM

After studying of the solar nebular theory of the formation of planets and the solar system, can one still beleive in God having created the earth and the sun?

beausoleil · 09-07-2002, 06:12 AM

I know several astronomers who are Christians. I expect the proportion is about the same as the educated community as a whole.

[ September 07, 2002: Message edited by: beausoleil ]</p>

Starboy · 09-07-2002, 06:14 AM

What about exploring our galaxy the Milky way, our local group of galaxies, the super cluster of galaxies our local group is part of and the thread our super cluster is part of, and then the nexus of threads our thread connects to and then the enormous network of nexus and threads that form the known universe? I would think that would have much greater ramifications to one's view of the world.

Starboy

Infinity Lover · 09-07-2002, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Intensity:
<strong>After studying of the solar nebular theory of the formation of planets and the solar system, can one still beleive in God having created the earth and the sun?</strong>

I think it would (in the majority of cases) only lead to a recallibration of ignorance.
With pantheism as the final resort.

Ever heard the "there could be a higher logic beyond our comprehension, that ours is based on"- argument?

Jesse · 09-07-2002, 07:41 AM

Intensity:
After studying of the solar nebular theory of the formation of planets and the solar system, can one still beleive in God having created the earth and the sun?

Many theists would just say that God created the earth and sun through natural laws rather than miraculously. It's mainly the creationists who would have a problem with the nebular theory.

eh · 09-07-2002, 07:46 AM

I'm sure there are, but it would be only be in the 10 percent range. This came from the same poll that found about 40% of scientists as a whole to have a deity belief of some kind, but I don't know how reliable you can expect a poll to be.

Ernest Sparks · 09-07-2002, 04:42 PM

There is always this good old number:

Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Michael Shermer of skeptic.org offered this interesting opinion in the current special issue of Scientific American:

(wording mine)
Smart people (like scientists) are subject to accepting strange beliefs because they are experienced at defending ideas they never arrived at rationally in the first place.

wade-w · 09-08-2002, 12:43 AM

And then there's this <a href="http://www.geocentricity.com/biblicalastro.htm" target="_blank">nutcase</a>, who actually has a Ph.D. in astronomy from an accredited university, but believes in geocentrism.

echidna · 09-08-2002, 06:49 PM

If he�s basing that on the quantisation of red-shifted light from quasars, I haven�t seen much non-anecdotal material to refute it yet.

Albion · 09-09-2002, 10:33 AM

A lot of my husband's colleagues (astrophysicists) are evangelical Christians. Probably thre are more atheists and pagans in the group than among the general population, but there's at least one young-Earth creationist (although she refuses to talk about her YEC beliefs with her colleagues, so nobody know how she manages to carry on believing in the 10,000-year-old universe).

09-07-2002, 04:59 AM	#1
Ted Hoffman Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: "" Posts: 3,863	Are there Astronomers who are theists? After studying of the solar nebular theory of the formation of planets and the solar system, can one still beleive in God having created the earth and the sun?

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09-07-2002, 06:12 AM	#2
beausoleil Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: US and UK Posts: 846	I know several astronomers who are Christians. I expect the proportion is about the same as the educated community as a whole. [ September 07, 2002: Message edited by: beausoleil ]</p>

09-07-2002, 06:14 AM	#3
Starboy Banned Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Tallahassee, FL Reality Adventurer Posts: 5,276	What about exploring our galaxy the Milky way, our local group of galaxies, the super cluster of galaxies our local group is part of and the thread our super cluster is part of, and then the nexus of threads our thread connects to and then the enormous network of nexus and threads that form the known universe? I would think that would have much greater ramifications to one's view of the world. Starboy

09-07-2002, 07:41 AM	#5
Jesse Moderator - Science Discussions Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Providence, RI, USA Posts: 9,908	Intensity: After studying of the solar nebular theory of the formation of planets and the solar system, can one still beleive in God having created the earth and the sun? Many theists would just say that God created the earth and sun through natural laws rather than miraculously. It's mainly the creationists who would have a problem with the nebular theory.

09-07-2002, 07:46 AM	#6
eh Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Canada Posts: 624	I'm sure there are, but it would be only be in the 10 percent range. This came from the same poll that found about 40% of scientists as a whole to have a deity belief of some kind, but I don't know how reliable you can expect a poll to be.

09-07-2002, 04:42 PM	#7
Ernest Sparks Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Portland, OR USA Posts: 1,248	There is always this good old number: Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Michael Shermer of skeptic.org offered this interesting opinion in the current special issue of Scientific American: (wording mine) Smart people (like scientists) are subject to accepting strange beliefs because they are experienced at defending ideas they never arrived at rationally in the first place.

09-08-2002, 12:43 AM	#8
wade-w Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Silver City, New Mexico Posts: 1,872	And then there's this <a href="http://www.geocentricity.com/biblicalastro.htm" target="_blank">nutcase</a>, who actually has a Ph.D. in astronomy from an accredited university, but believes in geocentrism.

09-08-2002, 06:49 PM	#9
echidna Veteran Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 2,832	If he�s basing that on the quantisation of red-shifted light from quasars, I haven�t seen much non-anecdotal material to refute it yet.

09-09-2002, 10:33 AM	#10
Albion Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: US east coast. And www.theroyalforums.com Posts: 2,829	A lot of my husband's colleagues (astrophysicists) are evangelical Christians. Probably thre are more atheists and pagans in the group than among the general population, but there's at least one young-Earth creationist (although she refuses to talk about her YEC beliefs with her colleagues, so nobody know how she manages to carry on believing in the 10,000-year-old universe).

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