Are solar eclipses proof of God?
On Monday something will happen in the U.S. that should startle — or at least perplex — anyone who gives it any thought. I am referring to the full solar eclipse you may already be anticipating. To be clear, thinking about what is about to happen has little to do with the sheer visceral experience of being amazed by it, as we must be. Before thinking about it, we should perhaps first simply goggle at it, at the monumental majesty of these monstrously large heavenly orbs, both of which we typically take mostly for granted.
Is it not remarkable that these ever-present objects — though separated by nearly one hundred million miles — should once in a very great while perform this curiously perfect dance? But to what end?
So this sort of thing doesn’t happen anywhere else in our solar system. But our planet has just one moon that happens to be just the right size and just the right distance from Earth.
But what might make us start to think a bit about this event is that this celestial pas de deux is being performed only for us. Anywhere but here on this planet on Monday, the view of these two objects is nothing special. It is only what we see from our terrestrial vantage point that is special. It’s almost as though what we will marvel at was artfully arranged specifically for our benefit. Which brings us to the curious and startling part of the story.
About fifteen years ago an odd idea popped into my head. Google was just a gurgling infant. But I happened to have a sturdy Brittanica nearby and I pulled out a dusty volume and quickly discovered the diameter of the sun. It is precisely 864,576 miles. The diameter of the moon was listed at 2,159 miles. I then looked up the distance from Earth to the sun, which varies slightly, but is generally given as 93 million miles. And then I found the distance from Earth to the moon. That varies slightly too, so the average is given as 239,000 miles.
Armed with these four figures, I did some simple math. I divided the sun’s diameter (864,576) by the moon’s (2,159) and got 400.452. If my strange hunch was correct, dividing the distance from the Earth to the sun (93,000,000) by the distance from the Earth to the moon (239,000) should give me something similar. It certainly did. My calculations yielded 389.121. And there it was. I stared at the numbers, amazed. Was the correlation in these ratios mere coincidence?
Of course what this all meant was simply that these immemorially ancient and vast objects, though as different in size as a single BB and a super gigantic beach ball — one that was over six feet in diameter — would from our perspective here on Earth seem almost precisely the same size. So if they ever just happened to align in the sky, they would match up perfectly. Not almost perfectly. But perfectly, and bizarrely so.
What might be the odds of this just happening randomly? Almost all the planets in our solar system have no moons or many moons (Jupiter has 60) of incredibly varying sizes. So this sort of thing doesn’t happen anywhere else in our solar system. But our planet has just one moon that happens to be just the right size and just the right distance from Earth.
I found the precision necessary for all of this unbelievable. The more I thought about it, the more I knew that there was no way this could be a mere coincidence. It seemed almost planned. In fact, it seemed utterly planned, as all things of such precision must be.
To bring this closer to home, imagine holding a BB twelve inches from our face and then asking a friend to carry the six-foot diameter beach ball as far down the beach as necessary — until it appeared precisely the same size from our perspective as the tiny BB. Keep in mind our beach ball is six-feet in diameter while a normal large beach ball is less than two feet in diameter. Our friend would have to hike 400 feet before the giant beach ball and the tiny BB matched up in size. That’s about the distance from home plate to the centerfield fence in most major league baseball stadiums.
So can the sun’s and moon’s diameters — and distances from Earth — be merely coincidentally matched up this perfectly? Everything about it makes that seem ridiculous. But of course you can decide for yourself.
Three thousand years ago a man in Israel wrote: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” That man didn’t have a telescope or a Brittanica, but he saw something many of us today still do not see. He saw a God behind it all. It may be true that seeing a Grand Designer behind these breath-taking events requires what we call a leap of faith; but it may also be true that seeing mere coincidence behind them requires an even greater leap of faith. In my mind, much greater. But on Monday, you may be the judge. http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2017/08/20/are-solar-eclipses-proof-god.html
Is it not remarkable that these ever-present objects — though separated by nearly one hundred million miles — should once in a very great while perform this curiously perfect dance? But to what end?
So this sort of thing doesn’t happen anywhere else in our solar system. But our planet has just one moon that happens to be just the right size and just the right distance from Earth.
But what might make us start to think a bit about this event is that this celestial pas de deux is being performed only for us. Anywhere but here on this planet on Monday, the view of these two objects is nothing special. It is only what we see from our terrestrial vantage point that is special. It’s almost as though what we will marvel at was artfully arranged specifically for our benefit. Which brings us to the curious and startling part of the story.
About fifteen years ago an odd idea popped into my head. Google was just a gurgling infant. But I happened to have a sturdy Brittanica nearby and I pulled out a dusty volume and quickly discovered the diameter of the sun. It is precisely 864,576 miles. The diameter of the moon was listed at 2,159 miles. I then looked up the distance from Earth to the sun, which varies slightly, but is generally given as 93 million miles. And then I found the distance from Earth to the moon. That varies slightly too, so the average is given as 239,000 miles.
Armed with these four figures, I did some simple math. I divided the sun’s diameter (864,576) by the moon’s (2,159) and got 400.452. If my strange hunch was correct, dividing the distance from the Earth to the sun (93,000,000) by the distance from the Earth to the moon (239,000) should give me something similar. It certainly did. My calculations yielded 389.121. And there it was. I stared at the numbers, amazed. Was the correlation in these ratios mere coincidence?
Of course what this all meant was simply that these immemorially ancient and vast objects, though as different in size as a single BB and a super gigantic beach ball — one that was over six feet in diameter — would from our perspective here on Earth seem almost precisely the same size. So if they ever just happened to align in the sky, they would match up perfectly. Not almost perfectly. But perfectly, and bizarrely so.
What might be the odds of this just happening randomly? Almost all the planets in our solar system have no moons or many moons (Jupiter has 60) of incredibly varying sizes. So this sort of thing doesn’t happen anywhere else in our solar system. But our planet has just one moon that happens to be just the right size and just the right distance from Earth.
I found the precision necessary for all of this unbelievable. The more I thought about it, the more I knew that there was no way this could be a mere coincidence. It seemed almost planned. In fact, it seemed utterly planned, as all things of such precision must be.
To bring this closer to home, imagine holding a BB twelve inches from our face and then asking a friend to carry the six-foot diameter beach ball as far down the beach as necessary — until it appeared precisely the same size from our perspective as the tiny BB. Keep in mind our beach ball is six-feet in diameter while a normal large beach ball is less than two feet in diameter. Our friend would have to hike 400 feet before the giant beach ball and the tiny BB matched up in size. That’s about the distance from home plate to the centerfield fence in most major league baseball stadiums.
So can the sun’s and moon’s diameters — and distances from Earth — be merely coincidentally matched up this perfectly? Everything about it makes that seem ridiculous. But of course you can decide for yourself.
Three thousand years ago a man in Israel wrote: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” That man didn’t have a telescope or a Brittanica, but he saw something many of us today still do not see. He saw a God behind it all. It may be true that seeing a Grand Designer behind these breath-taking events requires what we call a leap of faith; but it may also be true that seeing mere coincidence behind them requires an even greater leap of faith. In my mind, much greater. But on Monday, you may be the judge. http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2017/08/20/are-solar-eclipses-proof-god.html
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yes xx, they are "proof of god"
Fake, Fake, FAKE! They're not wearing their medically approved eclipse glasses!
Wow, really compelling stuff here.
Sure - there's a god, and it cares more about planetary diameters than starving children.
If earth had 15 moons , and only one of them lined up with the sun, what would be proved then?
The "question' posed in the article is like asking why do we breathe oxygen instead of nitrogen. It is what it is.
It's like saying that the fact that water is wet is proof of god. Or like saying that we have free will, and since the bible says god gave it to us then our free will proves god exists.
Or like saying that we have free will, and since the bible says god gave it to us then our free will proves god exists.
I've heard that argument before too. Don't you just love circular logic?
Sure - there's a god, and it cares more about planetary diameters than starving children.
Just an observation Hal-- I could be wromng. it seems that everything elicits a judgemental reaction from you-- that you place a judgement on everyhting-- judging whether or not it is politically correct (by your standards) or not.
Not that there's anything wrong with that..
But perhaps a cigar isn't always a phallic symbol.. perhaps sometimes its merely a damn good smoke!
GOD to me is the power/ the force/ the being/ the whatever that arranged all the atoms to be the sky, the earth, the rocks, the sun, the animals, us, and everything we can think of to be what they are and to work together the way they do. Everything is (made up of atoms) Whatever arranged the atoms to be what they are is what I call my GOD.
I dont need a eclipse to appreciate the creation or the creator.
**Enoch - please do NOT READ - skip over this comment**
The only way I would consider that God exists is if Trump is impeached. Then and only then would you hear me say "There is a God after all".
Good one PJ.
That would only bring me around to the believe that common sense exists.
Not looking for proof that God exists, since I feel that he does. I really like watching stuff like this, though-- it makes me feel a kinship with all of humanity that's gone before. It just is. A celestial event. I can't change it, fix it, move it, or do anything with it, other than enjoy it. It doesn't take a larger meaning for me to be in awe of it...
I for one don't need an eclipse to make me think there is a Creator, all I have to do is look around me every day. (smile)
I like you.
I like you too, Magnoliaave. I enjoy our conversations. (smile)
Thank you. I have my moments, particularly, about the South and my belief in God. You just take of yourself and always keep a candle in the window.
Magnoliaave, I understand what you mean. We must all face that which is put before us. It is how we face it that defines who we are. Not the people who try to influence our life and/or our beliefs.
We are all connected.
Thank you. I have my moments, particularly, about the South and my belief in God. You just take of yourself and always keep a candle in the window.
Are solar eclipses proof of God?
In a word, no!
I'm sitting here at 10:19 am PST looking out my window and seeing it getting dimmer and dimmer outside. I live east of the Los Angeles area in So Calif so we will only get a partial 62% eclipse here. When I first woke this morning it was bright sunshine with clear skies, so what I am seeing is indeed a result of the partial eclipse effect. It will peak here in about 1 minute.
It is once again bright and sunny out. That didn't take long. (grin)
We had nothing, but rain.
Magnoliaave, according to the weather when I checked it mid-afternoon yesterday it was supposed to be cloudy here today, but, for some reason the sun was brightly shinning when I woke up this morning. Looks like the weatherman missed another one. (grin)
Funny, we were supposed to have had partly sunny.
LOL! Looks like our weathermen need to go back for a refresher course on predictions. (grin)
People in Chicago are going to be disappointed it appears. Overcast and the sun is not out. 80% eclipse occurs in a half an hour.
Definitely proof of the sun and moon.
I've always said that I have infinitely more respect for sun worshiping pagans than monotheists. At least they can see and feel what they are worshiping, and know for a fact that they wouldn't exist without it.
WGN tv coverage has shown weatherman Tom Skilling repeatedly looking up at the sun during the eclipse without his glasses on, lol.
Other people at his location in Carbondale Il also.
The eclipse 96% reached us at 1:14....Awesome.
No.
Solar are eclipses are not proof that God exists. In fact, since everything goes dark for a period, they are proof that the Son of Darkness exists-- yes, the Devil Himself! (Peace be Upon Him).
Good Lord......go away~
I watched the total eclipse on television from Carbondale Il and the coolest part about it was when the sun started to come back out. It looked like creation.
That part was awe inspiring.
That is a great picture.
08/21/17 08:44:42PM @peter-asks-for-no-more-cheetolini-would-like-a-revote:
Thank you that it is, and it fulfils Romans 1:18-26
Here is part of it .. 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse
Now, do you care to know what on Earth Makes it possible for OUR Sun, not to be a " Killer Sun "?
For the record, I will not ever give a shit about fake gods or their quaint mythology outside of being an abstract curiosity. You really couldn't just accept the compliment, ay?
08/21/17 09:15:07PM @peter-asks-for-no-more-cheetolini-would-like-a-revote:
LOL I see so you compliment without comprehension, nor a desire to look at the possibilities, and I am at Fault??
By The way. what is the TITTLE of the seed? does it have a postulation? a Question?
Yes. It was a simple compliment. You should simply have taken it. I'll know better in the future.
http://photobucket.com/gallery/http://s220.photobucket.com/user/Eagle_Averro/media/universeText.jpg.html?sort=6&o=12&ref=1
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6816EI20100902 So who would like to tell me " what went BANG when nothing existed? When did Gravity start.. before there was Nothing or after nothing came to be? How Do Protoplanets Form..with Gravity and without it? If NONE know the answers to the above questions... then is it not all a " mater of Faith" :-)
Jesus Fucking Christ.
Classic.
There is no such thing as something coming from nothing . It is not possible except as a supernatural event , which introduces God.
God of the gaps.
@Johnrussell : There is no such thing as something coming from nothing . It is not possible except as a supernatural event , which introduces God.
If it is a supernatural event then something did not actually come from nothing. The supernatural ' force ' would be something . Also, supernatural simply refers to that is beyond our understanding of natural. Over time, as our knowledge expands, that which was considered supernatural is now natural.
Generally speaking, if we are to hold to the meaning of English words, it is semantically (by definition) impossible for something to come from nothing.
08/21/17 10:56:10PM @johnrussell:
And to think that I mention Entropy!!!
Sir, do you know how much it means that you responded to me?
I miss him, oh, so much. I wish you could have known him. Fate plays such a hand in things or is it Fate? 20 years prior, I appeared as a guest on his noon day tv show in N.O. Lo and behold, we moved to AL and we met once, again, at a party. The four of us became instant friends.....he, his wife, my husband and I.
Three months ago, his wife died. Memories of the four of us who shared everything.
God Bless You.
"Are solar eclipses proof of God?"
No more than the pimple on my ass.
Ummm....TMI?
Sorry, Peter, but I'm incompetent when it comes to decyphering acronyms.
TMI means Too Much Information.
In your case, TMI means "Too Much Imagination". LOL
Ha!
You're probably right about that.
NOTE:: Watch the " Baiters " that Trawl, not for knowledge nor communication, but only to Deride!!!!!
Watch how the same ones, time after time post seemingly " questions " about " God " to only show " what really shines within themselves "!!!
There is no knowledge to be gained here, unless it is knowledge of the depths to which some folks will sink to delude themselves and attempt to delude others.
The words are illegible.
08/21/17 11:05:32PM @johnrussell:
""
"" So who would like to tell me " what went BANG when nothing existed? When did Gravity start.. before there was Nothing or after nothing came to be? How Do Protoplanets Form..with Gravity and without it? If NONE know the answers to the above questions... then is it not all a " mater of Faith"
It also mentions " Energetica Eternalis " ie: Energy can never created Nor destroyed but only transform from one state to another " See Entropy and what meaning that has in THIS context
Three thousand years ago a man in Israel wrote: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” That man didn’t have a telescope or a Brittanica, but he saw something many of us today still do not see. He saw a God behind it all.
Like many things 3000 years ago, they didn't have the knowledge or technology we have today so many things were attributed to a god. Even going back farther the ancient Egyptians did the same with their, around 1500 different gods.
Good article nonetheless.
An interesting debate on God.
Just checked-- 184 comments.
And yet there are those over at NV who incessantly attempt to mock us...
I pity the fools!!!
Sure - there's a god, and it cares more about planetary diameters than starving children.
Just an observation Hal-- I could be wromng. it seems that everything elicits a judgemental reaction from you-- that you place a judgement on everyhting-- judging whether or not it is politically correct (by your standards) or not.
Not that there's anything wrong with that..
But perhaps a cigar isn't always a phallic symbol.. perhaps sometimes its merely a damn good smoke!
But perhaps a cigar isn't always a phallic symbol.. perhaps sometimes its merely a damn good smoke!
Damn skippy!
On the other hand, *note to self* Return the autographed box of cigars Bill Clinton sent me 'cause...yikes.
Sometimes it is far too moist before you smoke it though, and perhaps even with an unusual glaze coating it.
Ew.
And yet there are those over at NV who incessantly attempt to mock us...
Yes, the mocking only goes one way /s
And yet there are those over at NV who incessantly attempt to mock us...
Yes, the mocking only goes one way /s
No one said the mocking only goes one way!
I only see one person calling those at NV who criticize this site "fools".
What is the point of all this?
I wish they would close the thread.
When they go on and on like this only bad things happen.
I only see one person calling those at NV who criticize this site "fools".
That's because you need to expand your horizons. Go over to NV and you'll see several there calling those of us at NT..even worse things!
Oh-- the horror!
Is this relevant to the topic at all? Why did you feel it necessary to bash Newsvine out of the blue?
Also, this is more of the crap that we told you on NV is not helping your cause for recruiting members here.
Sandy, what is this in regards to? I have no reference point for this discussion.
Krishna's comment
Just checked-- 184 comments.
And yet there are those over at NV who incessantly attempt to mock us...
I pity the fools!!!
This setting up one against the other isn't showing NT's best face, Perrie. Frankly, this was an entirely off-topic bash on those that NT wants to recruit, or those who are reluctant to be recruited.
Beware of " ----- Bearing Gifts " :-)
What sort of Geeks are bringing gifts?
So, my 13-year-old son, who is home today sick with strep, walked by and read this headline over my shoulder and laughed. He said "That's stupid. It's like saying that hurricanes are proof of Poseidon."
There ya go.
Again, we have proof that the sun, moon and earth exist; and, sometimes they pass shadows.
Why does sacredness require divinity?
Why does purpose need the supernatural?
Everything we experience begins and ends with nature; and, we still know fully squat about our planet as evinced by the way we disrespect it and it's inhabitants. We believe that our superior intellect and ability to manipulate nature (technology) gives the green light to any desire; completely ignoring the truth behind the horrors created instead, failing to learn from our own history.
Let me hit you with that one question. Is it possible for purpose to exists without some sort of "god"?
This is one interesting tidbit that raises, at least imho, many more points about purpose,,,
The mystery, beauty, and sacredness of earth and the relationships of all it's beings is everything.
Langston's Aunt-- is that anything like Avogadros number?
Lol!
Similar yet not as tasty.
;^)
This vine is like the obsessive compulsive uncle that stops by and stays for days, every time you turn around here he is again. lol