huckelberry wrote:spotlight, I enjoyed the article and the picture is nice. However I do not really follow how this has some sort of baring on whether the universe was created by God (which is what I presume you mean by intelligent design) Does creation mean small simple and with little change? You do not need to look this far to find that things bump into each other with little regard for us.
You have me wondering how Nipper views the problem of accidents.
In recent general conference the Big Bang has been mocked by the prophets. This is another support for the idea that God did not create the universe per LDS theology. In fact most LDS probably believe the universe has been around forever.
But as "many worlds have gone before and many more will come hereafter" the idea of creation is one where Gods organize elements to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. So these are mortal spheres of existence.
The example given of galaxies becoming lethal habitats for all life poses a problem for the LDS theology of creation in that you have entire galaxies going to waste, our galaxy not excepted. Are the Gods able to organize the elements on the scale of planets but not on the scale of galaxies?
Of course the Universe can't have been around forever, not just from the fact of its ongoing expansion, but from the fact that after stars fuse lighter elements eventually to Iron all of the available energy has been extracted and the fuel has been used up. It would require the same energy to return the iron back to lighter elements as was gotten from the fusion to begin with. Not a very elegant use of fusion energy as the vast majority of star light flies off into space and is lost.
If the LDS God could convert that Iron back to Hydrogen and Helium that would be an act of creation ex nihilo as he would be creating energy ex nihilo and if God could do that then he could create element ex nihilo as well. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matter_creation
Otherwise He is using available energy just as we do and entropy increase is involved with this normal usage of available energy.
So consistent with the idea that the LDS God cannot create ex nihilo and in consideration of the law of entropy increase we arrive at a time when it is no longer possible to extract useful work from the heat energy of the universe which is referred to as the heat death of the universe. At this point in time the LDS God becomes powerless to do anything. Organizing elements requires work.
Neither the Big Bang nor the Steady State universe is part of LDS Theology. You'll find proponents of both.
The CCC wrote:The Flood in the Bible never happened.
sez you. The Bible may well have the details not to your liking, but it is impossible for you to prove that a biblical flood never happened or how it may have happened.
Seek freedom and become captive of your desires...seek discipline and find your liberty I can tell if a person is judgmental just by looking at them what is chaos to the fly is normal to the spider - morticia addams If you're not upsetting idiots, you might be an idiot. - Ted Nugent
The CCC wrote:The Flood in the Bible never happened.
sez you. The Bible may well have the details not to your liking, but it is impossible for you to prove that a biblical flood never happened or how it may have happened.
The whole story can be dismissed as a series of supernatural miracles. There is no way to contradict such an argument. However, one must wonder about a God who reportedly does one thing and then arranges every bit of evidence to make it look like something else happened. It's entirely possible that a global flood occurred 4000 years ago or even last Thursday, and that God subsequently erased all the evidence, including our memories of it. But even if such stories are true, what's the point?
LittleNipper wrote: And "Climate Change" is demonstrating a different explanation. Change can happen very, very, very, quickly ---- so the Flood would have a large impact on climate, as well as, topography and geography and fossil formation and species obliteration. That is why I do no fret over the doom and gloom pronouncements coming from evolution indoctrinated politicians. They do not fathom that GOD and NOT US is technically in control.
Little Nipper, There is something else troubling me about this proposal.
Suppose you were driving down a two lane country rode, windows rolled down doing about 55 and upon topping a rise you see a group of five cows standing in the road. Do you observe that God is technically in control and not us and take no self centered action like applying the breaks? You could choose to trust the cows to move aside enough for you to pass.
It sounds like this is the sort of trust you are recommending for our approach to climate change.
Or are you trying to say that because God is in control bad things do not happen? Or perhaps all bad things that are headed our way are punishments for sin in Gods control that we must humbly accept as part of repentance.
Bad things NOW occur because there is sin throughout the world. God does turn bad into good for those who He has a personal relationship with (saved individuals). This however, does not mean that disappointments, sorrow and calamity will not come their way. It means that God will use these things to shape the believer into something better. Yes, we will still reap what we sow. And this is a learning process that causes the believer to realize that God and not ourselves know what is the best course of action.
The driver in the car should follow the speed limit. The driver could then safely slow down to a stop, beep the horn and very slowly proceed among the cows. They will move. God has given us authorities who install signage. Unless that signage is contrary to God's Holy Word, there is no honest reason we should not abide by the regulations.
The CCC wrote:Neither the Big Bang nor the Steady State universe is part of LDS Theology. You'll find proponents of both.
Not taking a stand gives the illusion that science is not a threat to doctrine. But either model does not really support LDS theology. If BB, then heat death of the universe. If SS, then increase in entropy poses a contradiction.
Kolob’s set time is “one thousand years according to the time appointed unto that whereon thou standest” (Abraham 3:4). I take this as a round number. - Gee