---------- Forwarded message ----------
It is good that the notion of life on Mars does not pose a threat to your
faith, nor does it to mine. However, because of the very high stakes that
God places on faith, we must still be concerned with its impact on others.
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Well, unfortunately, I must admit that I personally got a bad shake to my
faith yesterday when I heard about the Mars announcement. I was actually
rather surprising--I now realize that I had never before *truly* doubted
(although I thought I had).
Previously, I had logically thought about what could challenge my faith
and believed that only if scientists were able to create life would I
experience a *real* challenge (to be overcome of course). Much to my
surprise, yesterday I found myself asking:
'Why would God create life on Mars and then let it die out?'
I don't think that finding out that there was presently life on another
world would have led me to question faith, but thinking that there HAD
BEEN life that then died out didn't make ANY sense at all. It didn't mesh
with anything I believe and I couldn't incorporate it into my current
faith fast enough. Suddenly I found myself thinking, 'well, if its true
then maybe God isn't real.' And, I allowed myself to *feel* a world
without God.
I spent about three hours in a state that I can only describe as
'despair.' It wasn't that I didn't believe (to be honest, I couldn't make
myself focus on belief), it was just that for the first time in my life I
could imagine what it was like to NOT believe. It was as if I caught a
glimpse of something horrifying. It made me realize how much of my belief
in people, my life plan, my morality and *myself* is wrapped up in my
belief in God. I hope I don't go through another such period for many
years!
Needless to say, I'm feeling better now. I have read more about the study
and it looks pretty unconvincing. I still feel that I have to address my
basic question, however, in case scientists DO get more evidence of life
on Mars. Thus, I turn the question over to you, the forum, to help me
work through some answers.
'Why would God create and then destroy life on another planet?'