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I received a question regarding the expanse of the universe and about galaxies moving away from each other. Here is the question:

Why are the galaxies moving away from each other ? What does the Bible have to say about this ? Thank you

-Steven

Thank you for your question Steven. First, just let me point out that I never claim to be a scientist or astronomer. While I do occasionally reference science on this blog, this is a “religion blog,” and not a “science blog.”

I hope the title of the blog hasn’t somehow confused you, as it is a little ambiguous and I can see how some could mistake this for a strictly scientific blog (relax, I am just joking with you). But seriously, thanks so much for your question, and it is interesting to consider.

Why Are the Galaxies Moving Away From Each Other?

Some scientific evidence suggests most galaxies are moving away from each other. Notice I said “most,” because sometimes galaxies actually collide (and the only collisions I know about are when objects are racing towards  each other, not away). These collisions are due to the gravitational attraction between two proximal galaxies.

So why are some galaxies moving away from each other? The most obvious explanation is that the universe itself is expanding. Since the universe is expanding, it makes sense that the objects within an expanding universe may expand with it. Since galaxies are embedded in the fabric of the universe, they too tend to move in motions of general expansion (moving away from each other). Energy, gravity, and all of these factors come into play with the rate of expansion, potential for collisions, and so forth.

What Does the Bible Say About an Expanding Universe & Galaxies Moving Away From Each Other?

The bible is no science book. It is concerned with “why” we are here, and not so much the “how” processes involved. That is why it is great we have science. Science explains the “how” and God explains the “why.” That being said, the bible does not attempt to make strict scientific verses regarding scientific principles. You won’t find a verse that says, “Thou sayist the Lord: The universe is expanding at X rate and this is a scientific truth you must understand.”

Even so, the bible does actually have several verses which indicate an expansion and expanding universe. This is fascinating because for a long time scientists believe the universe was static (and uncreated). Scientists now believe that not only is the universe expanding, but it had a fundamental creation point (where the laws of physics would have broken down into a singularity).

What are some scriptures that indicate there is an “expanse” of the universe? Here are some:

1. Genesis 1:6-7:   And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.

This passage indicates a firmament (or expanse). This “expanse” is what we know of as the universe itself (which is also called heaven, space, etc.).

Notice that God doesn’t say for this expanse to be fixed or finite. He simply calls for an expanse, and continues to create other things. Below is another verse by Isaiah:

he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof [are] as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
- Isaiah 40:22

This verse in Isaiah shows again God actually spreading something out. It says he “stretcheth out the heavens.” Heaven in this context is talking of space and the expanse of the universe. Not the spiritual realm where God is attributed to dwell. It is interesting how he not only says that God “spreadeth” out the heavens, but he also uses the imagery of a tent (or curtain). Even today, scientists continue to use similar examples such as an expanding balloon.

Here is another verse by Job:

Hast thou with him spread out the sky, [which is] strong, [and] as a molten looking glass?
Job 37:18

Again, we continue to see this expression (in both literal and poetic books of the Bible) which seem to indicate an expansion, and an expanding or “spreading out” of the universe.

Again, this is repeated by Jeremiah:

He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.
Jeremiah 10:12

So we can see several verses by several of the biblical prophets and writers that God indeed has created an expanding universe. Again, the word “heaven, sky, expanse, and so forth are all talking of the area we now call space (or the universe).

Why Would God Create An Expanding Universe?

So why would God bother creating an expanding universe as opposed to a static universe? That is for God to know, and for us to only speculate.

Many astronomers and scientists have commented that if indeed the universe was static, the gravitational pull among the galaxies could be rather nasty, and the most likely outcome would be eventual collapse (among other things).

So while we can speculate as to why the universe is expanding, we should be happy it is, and place our trust in God’s wisdom.

Thanks again for the question!

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Posted under Ask a Question, science

One topic of interest to people is the good old question, “Do Aliens Exist.” Of course, they are not talking about illegal aliens (the type that cross borders to countries). They mean beings or organisms from another planet (or outer space).

This is a great question, and people have often claimed stories of sightings, UFO crashes, alien abductions, and more. People sometimes have videos, pictures, scrap metal (supposedly from spaceships), and other “evidence.” However, there is no known evidence that shows us that aliens do 100% for sure exist. That doesn’t mean they don’t exist. They could exist. After all, we do have an estimated 100 Billion galaxies in the HUGE universe. We live in 1 galaxy (the Milky Way). That is a large space to fill up, and we can’t even imagine how large that really is.

What Does the Bible Say About UFO’s or Aliens? Do They Exist? Is There Life on Other Planets?

The bible never specifically mentions UFO’s or aliens, nor does it ever come out and say there is life on another planet. However, it does mention other beings (angels, demons, creatures). It also mentions a very strange event in the Book of Ezekiel, starting in chapter 1 verse 4. This is used as an argument very often for those that believe aliens exist:

Eze 1:14  And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.
 Eze 1:15  Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces.
 Eze 1:16  The appearance of the wheels and their work [was] like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work [was] as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel.
 Eze 1:17  When they went, they went upon their four sides: [and] they turned not when they went.
 Eze 1:18  As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings [were] full of eyes round about them four.
 Eze 1:19  And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.
 Eze 1:20  Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither [was their] spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature [was] in the wheels.
 Eze 1:21  When those went, [these] went; and when those stood, [these] stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature [was] in the wheels.
 Eze 1:22  And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature [was] as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.
 Eze 1:23  And under the firmament [were] their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies.
 Eze 1:24  And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings.

This section is very interesting, as they do seem to be describing alien creatures. However, they could be angels since it does mention wings. They could also have been halucinations given to them by God. Or perhaps God used some creatures? Who knows? The bible doesn’t really tell us for sure.

Possible Arguments Against the Existence of Aliens:

One argument against the existence of aliens is the fact that the Bible and God seem very focused on humans as if everything else was created only for us. It mentions, for example, in the creation story about how the moon and stars were created for seasons and signs for Earth.

The entire creation story never mentions any other beings or creatures. But then again, the creation story also doesn’t mention anything about angels or satan, or the creation of other things that could have existed before our universe.

Another argument against UFO’s or aliens is the book of Revelation. The book of Revelation clearly tell us that the entire earth and heavens will be destroyed, and it will be replaced by a new heaven and a new Earth. And that God will dwell with MAN on this new Earth.

So where does that leave the aliens? That is, I think, probably the best argument that aliens maybe don’t exist after all? Surely it would have mentioned them in this section if they live on another planet or in another galaxy. But then again, maybe aliens are nothing more than a form angels may take? Or perhaps they do exist, but in different dimension of space/time.

Another argument is that scientists recently released a statement saying recent research shows that it would be very unlikely that other galaxies or planets could sustain life due to the conditions during the big bang. They think Earth could be the only known planet or galaxy to sustain and grow life.

Possible Arguments For the Existence of Aliens:

Some possible arguments could be the verses mentioned above, that describe some sort of beings and spacecraft that sounds very alien-like. Again, these could have been halucinations or just angels.

Another argument is the vast number of sightings, reportings, pictures, and claimed abductions. But then again, many of these have been proven to be hoaxes. Perhaps some are real. Maybe some people truly believe they are real, but they are in fact just natural occurences (such as weather balloons or government experiments).

Another argument could be that the universe is so large, it isn’t likely that the Earth is the only planet or the Milky Way is the only galaxy with life. However, so far there are no real traces of life anywhere. And the galaxies and planets that could possibly sustain life are so far away, we could never survive the trip in space to try and find them.

Conclusion: Do Aliens Exist or Not?

The bible never mentions life on other planets, nor does it specifically mention aliens. So we can only guess whether there is life on other planets, or other beings created by God besides us.

This is very complicated and confusing. Could it be that aliens are nothing more than incarnations of angels or demons? That seems to give a good explanation since the same book mentioned above (Ezekiel) finishes talking about “wings” on these creatures. And we do know that angels are very often depicted having wings.

The bible does not ever mention other creatures existing on other planets. However, it does mention other creatures besides humans (angels, demons, beasts, etc.). So we can’t say with 100% certainty that aliens do not exist.

Maybe God manages other universes that we don’t know about? Maybe there are other creations we don’t know about? Only time will tell. But I try to make it a point not to pick one side or the other on complicated ideas in which the bible doesn’t specifically tell us one way or the other. I think there probably aren’t aliens, but at the same time, who knows? Perhaps aliens do exist.

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Posted under bible questions