Dominion Over Space?

[FR7 Baptist]

This is one thing I've wondered about- It's clear that the Bible gives man dominion over the Earth, but says nothing about dominion over other planets. So I'll pose the question: does man have dominion over other planets and space?

 

[Revmitchell]

If you are convinced that it says nothing then why would it be necessary to ask the question?

 

[FR7 Baptist]

If you are convinced that it says nothing then why would it be necessary to ask the question?

I'm not "convinced" it says nothing. It states that the planets and stars are for the keeping of times and seasons. With that said, do we have dominion over them in the same sense that we do over Earth?

 

[Aaron]

You don't believe man has dominion over the earth. You believe men are subservient to it.

 

[Revmitchell]

I'm not "convinced" it says nothing.

That is what you said in the op

 

[Johnv]

The scriptural implication is that humankind has dominion over all of creation. That would, presumably, include parts of creation other than the physical earth.

 

[stilllearning]

Here is what the Bible actually says...........
Psalms 115:16
“The heaven, [even] the heavens, [are] the LORD’S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.”

We have no business, in outer space.

 

[exscentric]

"does man have dominion over other planets and space? " Depends on whether they got nukes in greater numbers than us :laugh:

 

[Marcia]

This is one thing I've wondered about- It's clear that the Bible gives man dominion over the Earth, but says nothing about dominion over other planets. So I'll pose the question: does man have dominion over other planets and space?

Man's dominion over the earth was tainted by sin, so now we suffer the consequences of that in the form of pollution, earthquakes, storms, hurricanes, animals that kill us, etc.

I don't think dominion over earth included dominion over planets or space, which reflect the glory and vastness of God (and are there as timing devices or physical pointers in travel, such as using the stars for seafaring, especially in the ancient world).

 

[KenH]

Depends on whether they got nukes in greater numbers than us :laugh:

+1 :thumbs:

 

[KenH]

So I'll pose the question: does man have dominion over other planets and space?

I see no reason why we cannot use the resources on other planets for mankind's benefits. We may certainly need them when we have manned travel to Mars and beyond.

 

[windcatcher]

Here is what the Bible actually says...........
Psalms 115:16
“The heaven, [even] the heavens, [are] the LORD’S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.”

We have no business, in outer space.

That's enough for me.:thumbsup:

 

[FR7 Baptist]

You don't believe man has dominion over the earth. You believe men are subservient to it.

Aaron, with all due respect, I know what I believe.

To all the other people, thanks for your input. I'm really torn over this issue. I'll probably ask my pastor what he thinks, but I'll probably not get a chance to talk to him until next Wednesday.

 

[Aaron]

Aaron: Man was not made for the earth. The earth was made for man. We are not it's stewards, we are its lords. We subdue it to meet our needs.

Paul3144: This is not a very Christian way to think.

http://www.baptistboard.com/showthread.php?t=62531&page=3

 

[Crabtownboy]

It seems a bit of an academic issue to me. There are very few places it is conceivable that mankind will ever visit, the moon, perhaps Mars. Venus and Mercury are inhospitable and other planets are too far. True, if we ever developed the capability to travel at the speed of light we might orbit some of our outer planets and perhaps even land on one or two or their moons. However, even at that speed the planets orbiting other stars are simply too far away for us to consider visiting. It would simply be impossible IMHO. I do not believe anyone should lose sleep over this question.

 

[just-want-peace]

It seems a bit of an academic issue to me. There are very few places it is conceivable that mankind will ever visit, the moon, perhaps Mars. Venus and Mercury are inhospitable and other planets are too far. True, if we ever developed the capability to travel at the speed of light we might orbit some of our outer planets and perhaps even land on one or two or their moons. However, even at that speed the planets orbiting other stars are simply too far away for us to consider visiting. It would simply be impossible IMHO. I do not believe anyone should lose sleep over this question.

This reminds me of a quip I read once about a US Patent Office employee who, in pre-1900, resigned to seek other employment.

Why?? He believed that everything that COULD be invented, HAD been invented, so his job would soon be eliminated.

Also Genesis 11:6-7
The LORD said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other."

Now this is questionable to me whether it is to be taken literally, but it most definitely (IMHO) refers to the extreme inventiveness and capabilities of the human intellect - even though twisted and mutilated by sin!

Which brings up another point - just think how productive the human mind will be when restored to it's original state by the regeneration effected by His return!!!!!!!!

 

[Thinkingstuff]

Aaron, with all due respect, I know what I believe.

To all the other people, thanks for your input. I'm really torn over this issue. I'll probably ask my pastor what he thinks, but I'll probably not get a chance to talk to him until next Wednesday.

I don't think you should be torn. The scriptures doesn't speak of other planets or Alien life. The bible speaks to only what men knew at the time which was this sphere we live on. I believe if we can go to space then there's no issue we should go. If we come across alien life ( I highly doubt it) then we should make a treaty with it or take it over by spreading disease, killing them, converting them to Christianity (by force if necissary), If subdued force them on a march half way around their planet to waste land the we will mercifully give them to live out their lives apart from the fertail areas we aquired be cause its our Manifest destiny to take over the universe. If they are agreeable we can create a Federation of Planets and to "go boldly where no man has gone before" whether it splits our infinitives or not. If they are not agreeable we will simply enslave them, take all their resources, until a lobby of alien lovers will force us to treat them better than we do other humans. I see the whole thing pretty simply.

 

[FR7 Baptist]

Aaron: Man was not made for the earth. The earth was made for man. We are not it's [sic] stewards, we are its lords. We subdue it to meet our needs.

Paul3144: This is not a very Christian way to think.

http://www.baptistboard.com/showthread.php?t=62531&page=3

Aaron, I was responding to your entire post, not just the first line. :BangHead: Please don't take quotes out of context to make me look bad.

 

[Johnv]

We are ABSOLUTELY stewards of the earth. We have been endowed by God with the responsibility for its care.

 

[Thinkingstuff]

We are ABSOLUTELY stewards of the earth. We have been endowed by God with the responsibility for its care.

But are we stewards of other planets? Can't we just abuse and use those planets while still being stewards of the one God gave us?