As a science educator one of my favorite subjects was astronomy. It was easy to generate student awe and respect for the natural world by teaching the divine wonders of our cosmic home. The faith/science connection was not difficult to establish.
Astronomy is primarily an observational science. In my classroom there were many activities involving observations of celestial objects such as the Sun, the Moon, planets, and stars. Astronomical knowledge can be acquired with systematic activities in the classroom, or at home. These activities proved challenging and enjoyable. Most students were fascinated by “homework assignments” involving study of celestial objects in the darkened sky. Some assignments involved telescopes; others were naked eye observations. There were many other instructional resources for astronomy instruction, such as outdoor evening and early morning star watches, films, museum and planetarium visits.
Instructional platforms for astronomy students take place from Planet Earth. Our view of the universe occurs from an Earth-bound perspective. Scripture passages such as Psalm 8 and 19 describe the glory of the cosmos while Psalm 147:4 and Isaiah 40:26 exult in the number and names of stars.
In modern times we have discovered ways to expand our viewing platform. Modern technology has enabled us to view distant objects using space vehicles as our viewing platform to gaze back upon our home planet. In 1968 and 1969 US astronauts first orbited and walked on the surface of Earth’s Moon. Four Artemis II astronauts looped around our lunar companion and looked back on the complete sphere of Planet Earth. According to space program statistics, only 10 humans have looked back at Planet Earth IN PERSON to view its complete sphere—six Apollo astronauts who are still living and four astronauts from the recent Artemis II flight. Hundreds of others have seen a portion of our planet from a high elevation airliner or from a space vehicle such as the International Space Station (ISS) in Low Earth Orbit. Millions of Earth residents have enjoyed photographs or television broadcasts showing our planet in its entirety.
Below is a link to a post from 2021: https://jasscience.blogspot.com/2021/04/mankinds-planet-earth-perspective.html (This link relates to our current post.)
We close with a discussion of a popular astronomer. This well-known science popularizer was active on the faculty at Cornell University at Ithaca, NY. Professional astronomer Carl E. Sagan (1934-1996) produced the science documentary Cosmos: A Personal Voyage. It was a popular program with the American public and became one of the most watched shows on public television four decades ago. Sagan offered substantial scientific truth about astronomy and the cosmos. In short, Sagan described Genesis 1:1-2—the production of order from chaos—from a secular perspective, but not from a theological perspective.
Sagan did not believe the Big Bang event was a manifestation of God’s creative power. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1) is a proclamation that God created everything that exists, including space, time, matter, and energy. The famous astronomer, instead, uttered a famous statement based on his naturalistic worldview: “The cosmos is all that is or was or ever will be.” He does not mention GOD as the Creator of “all that is or was or ever will be.” Scripture includes few details about the creation process. In our wisdom, we may desire many details.
I have spoken with two Christian friends who had personal contact with Carl Sagan. Hugh Ross, founder of Reasons to Believe, once took a college course with Sagan. My maternal cousin, also a professor at Cornell, spoke with him on at least one occasion. He offered to guide me to Professor Sagan’s burial venue at Lake View Cemetery in Ithaca, NY. There was nothing mystical about our visit to the modest gravestone. But it gave us an opportunity to ponder eternal thoughts…..
