Support First Things by turning your adblocker off or by making a  donation. Thanks!

Like most American boys who grew up in the late 1970s and early 1980s I was fascinated by space exploration. I drank Tang (even though it tasted horrible), took pilgrimages to Houston’s Johnson Space Center, and viewed Tom Wolfe’s The Right Stuff (both the book and the movie) as a New Journalism epic, the modern equivalent of Homer’s Odyssey . But by the time fo the Challenger disaster, my interest had aleready begun to wane. The exploits of NASA seemed less like the sagas of Star Trek and more like routine experiments in a zero-gravity laboratory—interesting to science geeks, maybe, but not something that would appeal to would-be adventurers. By the time I entered adulthood, my former love of space had turned to complete apathy.

My lack of interest would probably have continued unabated were it not for my FT colleagues. First Things is decidedly pro-space travel (see, for example, here and here ), and while I’m not fully sold on their reasons, its hard not to be infected by their enthusiasm for scouting the final frontier.

But it is my friend Dustin Steeve who raises a point that I find most compelling:

As a Christian, I believe that God has revealed himself, in part, through creation; Mars being no less a part of creation than earth. While I don’t believe that we have a moral obligation to explore Mars, shouldn’t we at least give strong consideration to the opportunity to know God more by exploring this mostly unknown work of His hands?

Steeve raises the question in response to a talk given by planetary scientist Joel Levine. Levine believes that we should go to Mars—and that taxpayer should pay for it.

Assuming that the expenditures could be justified (Levine mentions national security and economic considerations), would you be in favor of the government spending more money on visiting Mars?

00 Days
00 Hours
00 Minutes
00 Seconds
Dear Reader,

Time is short, so I’ll be direct: FIRST THINGS needs you. And we need you by December 31 at 11:59 p.m., when the clock will strike zero. Give now at supportfirstthings.com.

First Things does not hesitate to call out what is bad. Today, there is much to call out. Yet our editors, authors, and readers like you share a greater purpose. And we are guided by a deeper, more enduring hope.

Your gift of $50, $100, or even $250 or more will bring this message of hope to many more people in the new year.

Make your gift now at supportfirstthings.com..

First Things needs you. I’m confident you’ll answer the call.

Make My Gift

Comments are visible to subscribers only. Log in or subscribe to join the conversation.

Tags

Loading...

Filter First Thoughts Posts

Related Articles