The heavens declare ...

One of the great things about having evenings free is that I get to watch some of the TV programmes I would normally miss. Plus, some wise heads at the Beeb have realised that it's worth putting good stuff on more than once.

So last night, Joel and I watched a double bill of science programmes: 'Wonders of the solar system' (repeated from Sunday night) and 'Horizon' (we also finished watching 'Airplane 2' - but that's a different story!).

Both programmes were concerned with cosmology - the study of the universe. The first programme was all about the sun and its role within the universe; and Horizon looked at some recent theories regarding the nature and origins of the universe itself. At times, it all gets a bit mind-blowing, when we try to get our heads round vast distances and time frames.

What struck me (yet again) was just how little we know about the universe we inhabit. Theories about dark matter suggest that there may be 5 times more of it than the regular stuff - but we don't know what it is. Dark energy is proposed as a means of explaining the continuing expansion of the universe - but again, we don't know what it is (there is apparently more to 'nothing' than meets the eye!). There still seems to be plenty of room for the reality and activity of God within these scientific frameworks.

'Wonders of the solar system' was more about setting out what we already know rather than exploring new theories. The title of the series is apt - not only are we presented with lots of 'wow' moments but the presenter Brian Cox seems genuinely bowled over by his subject.

Three Scriptures come to mind:

'The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands' (Ps 19:1)

'Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens you are there' (Ps 139:7-8)

'For God so loved the cosmos that he sent his only Son' (John 3:16)