A Christian Astrobiologist

Bilogos conducted a fascinating and uplifting interview with astrobiologist Stephen Freeland.  It’s definitely worth reading.  He speaks about how his faith is bolstered by his scientific discoveries.  Here’s an excerpt:

What’s the most fascinating thing about God’s creation that you’ve learned throughout your scientific studies? What a good question! I could talk easily about my joy at discovering odd species and interesting behaviors, about the harmonies and patterns that link nature or, more philosophically, about the wonder of a universe that is, to a significant extent, understandable. But honestly, when I really think through this question, the answer is that I think I have learned through science how human understanding is finite. I have learned some spiritual humility (and I am sure more is needed). During my teenage years, I gravitated to what some might call “fundamentalism” – a version of Christianity that was confident about what every part of the Bible meant. I think science taught me humility about what we don’t know and what we cannot know — and how much of what seems certain today is turned on its head by something we discover tomorrow.

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Do Christians Want To Live Forever?

Aubrey De Grey of the SENS Research Foundation photographed by Peter Searle for Newsweek

I see articles every few months about scientists pursuing the holy grail of immortality.  Here’s a recent one by Newsweek about a researcher named Aubrey De Grey who hopes to cure aging so that we can live forever.  A fellow anti-aging researcher in the story had a different take than De Grey on immortality.  Walter Bortz, who teaches medicine at Stanford, had this opinion about people over 110 years old: “We know there are about 80 supercentenarians out there. And my take-home from seeing photos of them recently was this: you don’t want to be a supercentenarian.”

My question is: Do Christians want to live forever?  I don’t know about y’all but I’m looking forward to going home to Jesus one day.  I think 100 years on this earth is plenty.  I would, however, like those 80 or 90 or 100 years of mine to be healthy and productive.  So I guess I’m all for doing research on living well, but I can’t get behind the desire to live forever.  Am I alone in this?  What do you think?

Kid Who Went to Heaven

Colton Burpo, small boy who went to heaven as a child

Colton Burpo almost died when he was four years old from a burst appendix. His parents admit they should have gotten a second opinion on the kid’s condition and sought treatment for him more quickly when he didn’t recover from his “flu.” Instead of dying, Colton got to spend a little time with Jesus in Heaven. That’s a sweet deal. His dad wrote a best-selling book about Colton’s encounter called Heaven is For Real. I didn’t find anything in Colton’s account that contradicts the Bible whatsoever.

Prince of Peace painting by Akiane Kramarik

Prince of Peace by Akiane Kramarik

This painting of Jesus by a young girl is so inspiring, I can’t get enough of it. This young lady, Akiane Kramarik, had a vision of heaven when she was four and began painting a few years later. She made this painting when she was 8.