"I told him to explain as kindly as possible that they’re wrong," Carr says with a chuckle. "There is no Biblical or scientific evidence that the world ends when the planets align. It’s simply bad theology and bad science."
 
 

New and old Earthers

Like any organization, CASE is not without disagreements among its members. Some believe God created the universe in six days, a strict Biblical interpretation that makes Earth only 6,000 years old. Others believe modern cosmology, which says this planet has been around 4.5 billion years in a universe that is approximately 12 billion to 15 billion years old.

Carr uses the terms "new Earthers" and "old Earthers" to describe the different beliefs.

Founding member Michael J. Peterson is a new Earther. "I realize the Bible often uses poetry and figurative language to make a point, but when it records actual events, I tend to take it literally," says Peterson. "I have nothing against science, but science often finds out that it is wrong."

Peterson says the Bible has even predated science with certain predictions. "The Old Testament Book of Job actually supports the idea that the Earth revolves around the sun," claims Peterson. Copernicus did not make that a scientific theory until 1543.
 
 

Although one might overhear a new versus old Earth debate at a star party, Carr insists CASE is an astronomy club, not a theology club. "Nobody brings a Bible to meetings," says Carr. Founding member Dr. David A. Cater adds, "We value members of the club as human beings over their ideas or beliefs."

What the future holds

While Carr says CASE would be happy to affiliate with other organizations, it’s too early to say whether the club will expand nationwide. Right now, the group wants to focus on local teaching, which its members do two to three times each month. Eventually, CASE would like to get a grant to build a small planetarium or observatory, or even a nature center to incorporate other sciences into its teaching activities.

Until then, CASE members will continue to spread the good news of astronomy under clear night skies, marveling at God’s glorious creation. "Astronomy is God’s way of revealing himself to us," says Carr.

One has to believe Galileo would agree.