Portland Oregon United Church of God Mini Study Index

Understanding the Universe

The universe is a massive place. We occupy a mere microcosm of our solar system. With advances in science and technology, where do we fit in? Do you believe in evolution? Have you ever looked into a telescope or a microscope? These studies help you to understand about the creation. Click on a title below...

A Blast From the Past: How destructive could an asteroid strike be? What would it be like? Bill McGuire, an expert on natural catastrophes and professor of geohazards at University College London, describes the events that created the Chicxulub crater, buried deep beneath the Yucatan Peninsula and Gulf of Mexico and discovered only recently.
A Colossal Testimony to God: For many decades, Noah witnessed to the world by building his huge ship away from the water. Many Bible scholars estimate the cubit at approximately 18 inches. At 300 cubits long, 50 cubits across and 30 cubits high (Genesis 6:15), the ark would have measured some 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet--three stories--high. By some estimates the cubit was a bit longer, which would have made the ark even larger.
A God Not Bound by Space and Time: Science cannot perform a test for God so God must not exist. There are many things that we cannot see yet exist. Read why science has failed to understand God.
A Planet Perfect for Life: Our beautiful jewel of a planet is perfect for the life-forms found on it. Consider the tiniest of creatures all the way up to man. Our planet is well designed.
Ancient Near-Eastern Concepts of Creation: Is the Genesis account only an ancient myth, no better than tales originating in other cultures over the millennia? Many people obviously think so. Is the Genesis record a fairy tale little different from those of other ancient cultures?
Blood Clotting: A Biological Miracle: One relatively simple process necessary for animal life is the ability for blood to clot to seal a wound and prevent an injured animal (or person) from bleeding to death. Yet the only way this intricate system works is when many complicated chemical substances interact. If only one ingredient is missing or doesn't function in the right way, as in the genetic blood disorder hemophilia, the process fails, and the victim bleeds to death.
Conclusions from the information found in DNA: In his book In the Beginning Was Information, Dr Werner Gitt, an expert in information systems, deduces certain conclusions from the information found in DNA. It is hard to fathom, but the amount of information in human DNA is roughly equivalent to 12 sets of the Encyclopaedia Britannica-- an incredible 384 volumes' worth of detailed information that would fill 48 feet of library shelves!
Cooperation or Competition: Symbiosis vs. Evolution: According to the theory of evolution, all animal life on earth has evolved from a common ancestor. This process has supposedly occurred over an immense time and followed a step-by-step sequence from primitive to advanced forms of life. This would mean plant life first appeared and developed, followed much later by the appearance of animal life.
Does It Really Matter What You Believe?: The facts about the pillars used to support evolution-the fossil record, natural selection and random mutation-in reality fail to support the theory at all. We've seen that evolution cannot explain many of the facts we see in the world around us. We've seen that the book of Genesis doesn't conflict with science, but, when we consider all the evidence, it actually offers a better, sounder explanation.
Earths Age: Does Genesis 1 Indicate a Time Interval?: We are introduced to the account of the creation of the earth in Genesis 1:1-2: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep." The original Hebrew wording, compared with other passages of Scripture, has led some to conclude that a considerable time interval is indicated between these two verses. If such an interval is indeed intended, there is no discrepancy between the Bible record and scientific discoveries that indicate that the earth could be much older than a few thousand years. If, on the other hand, there is no such gap, then the earth itself must be only around 6,000 years old-which most scientists consider an impossibility.
Evidence of a Worldwide Flood: One of the most fascinating scientific discoveries in recent times regarding a universal flood came from some scientists who were not searching for any evidence of the Flood. It came from oceanographers in the Gulf of Mexico who were doing some rather routine research on coral and sediments of the ocean floor.
Genesis 1 and the Days of Creation: During the last 150 years or so, no part of the Bible has come under more rigorous attack than the creation account in the first chapter of Genesis. Darwinists have made much of evidence that the earth could be anywhere from five to 15 billion years old. Yet a careful genealogical study of the biblical record combined with history suggests to some people that the earth has existed for a mere 6,000 years.
God Is Our Creator: God is the Supreme Creator of everything. Yet in the last century and a half the theory of evolution has become a big barrier to belief in God as Creator. This atheistic line of thought dominates the thinking of the world's intelligentsia. In fact, much of modern higher education is based on an irrational belief in a series of lucky accidents-mindless evolution.
God is the Ultimate Planner: All human beings are important in God?s eyes. The first man and woman were the crown of His physical creation. After all, He made them in His own image (Genesis 1:26-27), and we are their offspring.
Grasping the Vastness of Our Universe: How vast is our universe? The distances in space are so great that we can only use the speed of light (186,000 miles per second) traveling for one whole year (a light year, about 5,879,000,000,000 miles) to measure them!
How Big is Big?: The size of our solar system alone (not to mention the Milky Way galaxy) is so large that it defies imagination. Let's try to visualize it on a scale we can begin to comprehend.
How Does God Reveal Himself?: If God is real, why doesn't He reveal Himself to us in a manner that should erase any doubt of His existence? In reality, He has done this many times. Eyewitness accounts of human interaction and conversations with Him have been duly recorded and preserved for us in the Bible. But does such documented testimony satisfy skeptics and scoffers - It never has, and it never will.
King David's Existence Verified by Inscription: For many years some critics have asserted that many biblical figures, including King David, are nothing more than myth. But in 1993 a dramatic find forced Bible critics to retreat. A team of archaeologists digging in northern Galilee "found a remarkable inscription from the ninth century B.C.E. [Before the Common Era] that refers both to the 'House of David' and to the the 'King of Israel'".
Out-of-Place Fossils: The geologic column depicted in many science textbooks and museums supposedly shows which life forms existed at any particular time in the history of our planet. Trilobites, for example, are thought to have lived during the Cambrian period and later became extinct. Dinosaurs walked the earth during what are called the Jurassic and Triassic periods and likewise later became extinct.
Peacock's feather displays defy evolutionist explanations: "The sight of a feather in a peacock's tail, whenever I gaze at it, makes me sick!" wrote Charles Darwin to botanist Asa Gray on April 3, 1860. His comments aren't surprising. After all, the stunning colors of the peacock's feathers are hard for evolutionists to explain. According to Darwinian evolution, natural selection is supposed to explain features in animals that give them a distinct advantage in their struggle for survival.
Points to Ponder: These questions are intended as a study aid, to spur further thought on humanity's future and to help your understanding on a more personal level. We suggest you take the time to write out your answers to these questions and compare them to the scriptures given.
Science and Discomfiting Discoveries: Robert Jastrow is the founder and former director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies and former professor of astronomy and geology at Columbia University, New York, and professor of earth sciences at Dartmouth College. He was a recipient of the Arthur Flemming Award for Outstanding Service in the U.S. Government, the Columbia University Medal for Excellence and the NASA Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement. His comments speak volumes about the attitudes-and at times outright bias-some scientists hold against the possibility of a Creator. Although personally an agnostic, he notes that scientific discoveries and the book of Genesis have much more in common than many of his colleagues are willing to admit (emphasis added throughout the following quotes).
Scientists Thundering Silence: The more deeply scientists delve into the mysteries of the universe, the more their discoveries support the existence of God. But all too often they are remarkably silent about this aspect of their findings.
Scientists, Creation and Evolution: No one should assume that scientists uniformly agree that there is no God and that the world around us is the product of a mindless evolutionary process. Consider what some scientist have to say about creation and evolution.
The Bible Under the Microscope: "There is this great difference between the works of men and the works of God-that the same minute and searching investigation which displays the defects and imperfections of the one, brings out also the beauties of the other" - Alexander Hislop.
The Biblical Authors: Men of God and Science: Many of the men who wrote parts of the Bible were also quite adept in the sciences. Their insight into Earth Science as well as the intellectual concepts of their time. This Mini Study reveals some of their understanding.
The Biblical Authors: Men of God and Science: Many of the men who wrote parts of the Bible were also quite adept in the sciences. Their insight into Earth Science as well as the intellectual concepts of their time. This Mini Study reveals some of their understanding.
The Case Against Evolution: Many excellent books have been published in recent years detailing scientific findings and conclusions that compellingly demonstrate the impossibility of evolution as an explanation for the existence of life on earth. It is helpful to remember that evolution cannot offer an explanation for the origin of our magnificent universe; evolution seeks to explain only how life might have begun in a universe that already existed.
The Case for a Creator: There are mounds of evidence for an intelligent Designer, Lawgiver and Creator of the universe. Many excellent books have been published in recent years detailing scientific findings and conclusions that point to a Creator.
The Greek Concept of Creation: The ancient Greeks had no shortage of creation myths, with many elements taken from the Babylonian model. Two poets, Homer and Hesiod, described the Greek religious system, with its national gods in charge, while living in a royal court full of intrigues and lusts.
The Miracle of the Eye: The human eye possesses 130 million light-sensitive rods and cones that convert light into chemical impulses. These signals travel at a rate of a billion per second to the brain. The essential problem for Darwinists is how so many intricate components could have independently evolved to work together perfectly when, if a single component didn't function perfectly, nothing would work at all.
The Scientific Evidence: A Critical Choice: Consider the powerful words of the apostle Paul: "Ever since the creation of the world [God's] eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made." Paul's words remind us that we can look at the miracles in the world around us and see compelling evidence of God's handiwork, understanding not only that He is the Creator but glimpsing some of His nature and character.
The Search for Alternatives to a Creator: By now you've probably realized that evolution as an explanation for the teeming varieties of life on earth-not to mention your existence as a thinking, rational human being-simply doesn't add up. Furthermore, we've only scratched the surface.
The Sun: The Great Yellow Orb: According to astronomers, compared with other stars, the sun is nothing to write home about. Yet the energy that animates living matter on planet earth - every flower, each tree, all living creatures - is derived from the heat and light of the sun. Move it a little closer or farther away and we find ourselves in deep trouble. Extinguish it and we are goners.
The Testimony of the New Testament: Many passages show us that Christ and the apostles fully accepted the Genesis account of the creation. Jesus Talked about "the beginning of the creation which God created".
Two Supposed Examples of Darwinian Evolution: Looking for proof of evolution? Biology textbooks frequently cite two examples to show that Darwinian evolution can take place in the real world. But is the evidence real?
Was There Enough Water?: Some critics of a universal flood have claimed that sufficient water simply wasn't available to cover the mountains as the Bible describes. "And the waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth, and all the high hills under the whole heaven were covered".
Weighty Evidence for the Bible: What is a pim? That is what translators asked themselves when they were finishing the King James Version of the Bible back in the 17th century. They had never heard of the term outside of the Bible and had to guess as to its meaning - which turned out to be wrong.
What About UFOs?: Some people believe earth has already been visited by extraterrestrial beings. They point to sightings of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) as supposed proof. "Recent polls show that approximately 57 percent of the public believes that UFOs are 'something real' as opposed to 'just people's imagination? . . .
What Does the Fossil Record Show?: Traditional evolutionary theory predicts a fossil record contains key items. The biblical account of creation specifies key items. What do the fossil records really show?
When the Bible Seems to Disagree With Science: What should we do when the Bible appears to disagree with science? Some people believe that much of recently acquired knowledge disagrees with the Bible, particularly in the areas of biology, anthropology, geology and astronomy. It is precisely this perception-of science contradicting Scripture-that has led many people to doubt the veracity and authority of the Bible.
Why Was I Put on this Planet?: A reader writes: I would like to know why I was put on this planet because I'm fed up with my life.
Why Were You Born?: The atheistic, evolutionary approach holds that life evolved by chance, with no ultimate purpose or plan. The Bible, however, tells us God created the earth and man with a specific (and awe-inspiring) purpose in mind. What is that purpose?
Why the Flat-Earth Effect?: We know the earth is a spinning sphere. But, to the untrained, naked eye, the earth appears flat. Our individual observational range is too limited to tell us otherwise. Of course, pictures taken from rockets and missiles from the late 1940s have proved the wisdom of the adage "Seeing is believing"; plane earth is spherical - as shown by photographs of our beautiful jewel-like orb taken from space since 1969.


Navigation Home Page About Us Beliefs Mini Studies Publications Youth Interests Pastor's Notes Ask Us Search Now with expanded search capabilities! Enter a word or phrase (case sensitive) to search this category... Clear keyword box to view all studies in the category...	Understanding the Universe The universe is a massive place. We occupy a mere microcosm of our solar system. With advances in science and technology, where do we fit in? Do you believe in evolution? Have you ever looked into a telescope or a microscope? These studies help you to understand about the creation. Click on a title below... A Blast From the Past How destructive could an asteroid strike be? What would it be like? Bill McGuire, an expert on natural catastrophes and professor of geohazards at University College London, describes the events that created the Chicxulub crater, buried deep beneath the Yucatan Peninsula and Gulf of Mexico and discovered only recently. A Colossal Testimony to God For many decades, Noah witnessed to the world by building his huge ship away from the water. Many Bible scholars estimate the cubit at approximately 18 inches. At 300 cubits long, 50 cubits across and 30 cubits high (Genesis 6:15), the ark would have measured some 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet--three stories--high. By some estimates the cubit was a bit longer, which would have made the ark even larger. A God Not Bound by Space and Time Science cannot perform a test for God so God must not exist. There are many things that we cannot see yet exist. Read why science has failed to understand God. A Planet Perfect for Life Our beautiful jewel of a planet is perfect for the life-forms found on it. Consider the tiniest of creatures all the way up to man. Our planet is well designed. Ancient Near-Eastern Concepts of Creation Is the Genesis account only an ancient myth, no better than tales originating in other cultures over the millennia? Many people obviously think so. Is the Genesis record a fairy tale little different from those of other ancient cultures? Blood Clotting: A Biological Miracle One relatively simple process necessary for animal life is the ability for blood to clot to seal a wound and prevent an injured animal (or person) from bleeding to death. Yet the only way this intricate system works is when many complicated chemical substances interact. If only one ingredient is missing or doesn't function in the right way, as in the genetic blood disorder hemophilia, the process fails, and the victim bleeds to death. Conclusions from the information found in DNA In his book In the Beginning Was Information, Dr Werner Gitt, an expert in information systems, deduces certain conclusions from the information found in DNA. It is hard to fathom, but the amount of information in human DNA is roughly equivalent to 12 sets of the Encyclopaedia Britannica-- an incredible 384 volumes' worth of detailed information that would fill 48 feet of library shelves! Cooperation or Competition: Symbiosis vs. Evolution According to the theory of evolution, all animal life on earth has evolved from a common ancestor. This process has supposedly occurred over an immense time and followed a step-by-step sequence from primitive to advanced forms of life. This would mean plant life first appeared and developed, followed much later by the appearance of animal life. Does It Really Matter What You Believe? The facts about the pillars used to support evolution-the fossil record, natural selection and random mutation-in reality fail to support the theory at all. We've seen that evolution cannot explain many of the facts we see in the world around us. We've seen that the book of Genesis doesn't conflict with science, but, when we consider all the evidence, it actually offers a better, sounder explanation. Earths Age: Does Genesis 1 Indicate a Time Interval? We are introduced to the account of the creation of the earth in Genesis 1:1-2: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep." The original Hebrew wording, compared with other passages of Scripture, has led some to conclude that a considerable time interval is indicated between these two verses. If such an interval is indeed intended, there is no discrepancy between the Bible record and scientific discoveries that indicate that the earth could be much older than a few thousand years. If, on the other hand, there is no such gap, then the earth itself must be only around 6,000 years old-which most scientists consider an impossibility. Evidence of a Worldwide Flood One of the most fascinating scientific discoveries in recent times regarding a universal flood came from some scientists who were not searching for any evidence of the Flood. It came from oceanographers in the Gulf of Mexico who were doing some rather routine research on coral and sediments of the ocean floor. Genesis 1 and the Days of Creation During the last 150 years or so, no part of the Bible has come under more rigorous attack than the creation account in the first chapter of Genesis. Darwinists have made much of evidence that the earth could be anywhere from five to 15 billion years old. Yet a careful genealogical study of the biblical record combined with history suggests to some people that the earth has existed for a mere 6,000 years. God Is Our Creator God is the Supreme Creator of everything. Yet in the last century and a half the theory of evolution has become a big barrier to belief in God as Creator. This atheistic line of thought dominates the thinking of the world's intelligentsia. In fact, much of modern higher education is based on an irrational belief in a series of lucky accidents-mindless evolution. God is the Ultimate Planner All human beings are important in God?s eyes. The first man and woman were the crown of His physical creation. After all, He made them in His own image (Genesis 1:26-27), and we are their offspring. Grasping the Vastness of Our Universe How vast is our universe? The distances in space are so great that we can only use the speed of light (186,000 miles per second) traveling for one whole year (a light year, about 5,879,000,000,000 miles) to measure them! How Big is Big? The size of our solar system alone (not to mention the Milky Way galaxy) is so large that it defies imagination. Let's try to visualize it on a scale we can begin to comprehend. How Does God Reveal Himself? If God is real, why doesn't He reveal Himself to us in a manner that should erase any doubt of His existence? In reality, He has done this many times. Eyewitness accounts of human interaction and conversations with Him have been duly recorded and preserved for us in the Bible. But does such documented testimony satisfy skeptics and scoffers - It never has, and it never will. King David's Existence Verified by Inscription For many years some critics have asserted that many biblical figures, including King David, are nothing more than myth. But in 1993 a dramatic find forced Bible critics to retreat. A team of archaeologists digging in northern Galilee "found a remarkable inscription from the ninth century B.C.E. [Before the Common Era] that refers both to the 'House of David' and to the the 'King of Israel'". Out-of-Place Fossils The geologic column depicted in many science textbooks and museums supposedly shows which life forms existed at any particular time in the history of our planet. Trilobites, for example, are thought to have lived during the Cambrian period and later became extinct. Dinosaurs walked the earth during what are called the Jurassic and Triassic periods and likewise later became extinct. Peacock's feather displays defy evolutionist explanations "The sight of a feather in a peacock's tail, whenever I gaze at it, makes me sick!" wrote Charles Darwin to botanist Asa Gray on April 3, 1860. His comments aren't surprising. After all, the stunning colors of the peacock's feathers are hard for evolutionists to explain. According to Darwinian evolution, natural selection is supposed to explain features in animals that give them a distinct advantage in their struggle for survival. Points to Ponder These questions are intended as a study aid, to spur further thought on humanity's future and to help your understanding on a more personal level. We suggest you take the time to write out your answers to these questions and compare them to the scriptures given. Science and Discomfiting Discoveries Robert Jastrow is the founder and former director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies and former professor of astronomy and geology at Columbia University, New York, and professor of earth sciences at Dartmouth College. He was a recipient of the Arthur Flemming Award for Outstanding Service in the U.S. Government, the Columbia University Medal for Excellence and the NASA Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement. His comments speak volumes about the attitudes-and at times outright bias-some scientists hold against the possibility of a Creator. Although personally an agnostic, he notes that scientific discoveries and the book of Genesis have much more in common than many of his colleagues are willing to admit (emphasis added throughout the following quotes). Scientists Thundering Silence The more deeply scientists delve into the mysteries of the universe, the more their discoveries support the existence of God. But all too often they are remarkably silent about this aspect of their findings. Scientists, Creation and Evolution No one should assume that scientists uniformly agree that there is no God and that the world around us is the product of a mindless evolutionary process. Consider what some scientist have to say about creation and evolution. The Bible Under the Microscope "There is this great difference between the works of men and the works of God-that the same minute and searching investigation which displays the defects and imperfections of the one, brings out also the beauties of the other" - Alexander Hislop. The Biblical Authors: Men of God and Science Many of the men who wrote parts of the Bible were also quite adept in the sciences. Their insight into Earth Science as well as the intellectual concepts of their time. This Mini Study reveals some of their understanding. The Biblical Authors: Men of God and Science Many of the men who wrote parts of the Bible were also quite adept in the sciences. Their insight into Earth Science as well as the intellectual concepts of their time. This Mini Study reveals some of their understanding. The Case Against Evolution Many excellent books have been published in recent years detailing scientific findings and conclusions that compellingly demonstrate the impossibility of evolution as an explanation for the existence of life on earth. It is helpful to remember that evolution cannot offer an explanation for the origin of our magnificent universe; evolution seeks to explain only how life might have begun in a universe that already existed. The Case for a Creator There are mounds of evidence for an intelligent Designer, Lawgiver and Creator of the universe. Many excellent books have been published in recent years detailing scientific findings and conclusions that point to a Creator. The Greek Concept of Creation The ancient Greeks had no shortage of creation myths, with many elements taken from the Babylonian model. Two poets, Homer and Hesiod, described the Greek religious system, with its national gods in charge, while living in a royal court full of intrigues and lusts. The Miracle of the Eye The human eye possesses 130 million light-sensitive rods and cones that convert light into chemical impulses. These signals travel at a rate of a billion per second to the brain. The essential problem for Darwinists is how so many intricate components could have independently evolved to work together perfectly when, if a single component didn't function perfectly, nothing would work at all. The Scientific Evidence: A Critical Choice Consider the powerful words of the apostle Paul: "Ever since the creation of the world [God's] eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made." Paul's words remind us that we can look at the miracles in the world around us and see compelling evidence of God's handiwork, understanding not only that He is the Creator but glimpsing some of His nature and character. The Search for Alternatives to a Creator By now you've probably realized that evolution as an explanation for the teeming varieties of life on earth-not to mention your existence as a thinking, rational human being-simply doesn't add up. Furthermore, we've only scratched the surface. The Sun: The Great Yellow Orb According to astronomers, compared with other stars, the sun is nothing to write home about. Yet the energy that animates living matter on planet earth - every flower, each tree, all living creatures - is derived from the heat and light of the sun. Move it a little closer or farther away and we find ourselves in deep trouble. Extinguish it and we are goners. The Testimony of the New Testament Many passages show us that Christ and the apostles fully accepted the Genesis account of the creation. Jesus Talked about "the beginning of the creation which God created". Two Supposed Examples of Darwinian Evolution Looking for proof of evolution? Biology textbooks frequently cite two examples to show that Darwinian evolution can take place in the real world. But is the evidence real? Was There Enough Water? Some critics of a universal flood have claimed that sufficient water simply wasn't available to cover the mountains as the Bible describes. "And the waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth, and all the high hills under the whole heaven were covered". Weighty Evidence for the Bible What is a pim? That is what translators asked themselves when they were finishing the King James Version of the Bible back in the 17th century. They had never heard of the term outside of the Bible and had to guess as to its meaning - which turned out to be wrong. What About UFOs? Some people believe earth has already been visited by extraterrestrial beings. They point to sightings of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) as supposed proof. "Recent polls show that approximately 57 percent of the public believes that UFOs are 'something real' as opposed to 'just people's imagination? . . . What Does the Fossil Record Show? Traditional evolutionary theory predicts a fossil record contains key items. The biblical account of creation specifies key items. What do the fossil records really show? When the Bible Seems to Disagree With Science What should we do when the Bible appears to disagree with science? Some people believe that much of recently acquired knowledge disagrees with the Bible, particularly in the areas of biology, anthropology, geology and astronomy. It is precisely this perception-of science contradicting Scripture-that has led many people to doubt the veracity and authority of the Bible. Why Was I Put on this Planet? A reader writes: I would like to know why I was put on this planet because I'm fed up with my life. Why Were You Born? The atheistic, evolutionary approach holds that life evolved by chance, with no ultimate purpose or plan. The Bible, however, tells us God created the earth and man with a specific (and awe-inspiring) purpose in mind. What is that purpose? Why the Flat-Earth Effect? We know the earth is a spinning sphere. But, to the untrained, naked eye, the earth appears flat. Our individual observational range is too limited to tell us otherwise. Of course, pictures taken from rockets and missiles from the late 1940s have proved the wisdom of the adage "Seeing is believing"; plane earth is spherical - as shown by photographs of our beautiful jewel-like orb taken from space since 1969.
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