A. Overall Lesson Objective

B. Learning Competencies

C. Lesson

Prehistoric man and aliens are subjects that are both based on the effects of a naturalistic world view. It supposedly explains human origins and the origin of other intelligent life in the universe. The only difference is that one touches the earth and the other touches the heavens. Both notions (prehistoric man and aliens) are heavily broadcast by media, popular magazines (like National Geographic), and the internet. Prehistoric man is mentioned in textbooks for children; they take those references as fact. While aliens are not generally treated as a subject in educational institutions, children are heavily affected by media about them. How much? The author of this curriculum has had more questions about aliens than most other possible topics when the heavens are the subject. Suffice it to say, these two topics are linked by a common thread: life started everywhere in the naturalistic view, and we are the best ‘local’ product of that evolution process.

Prehistoric man is roughly defined as the predecessor to man. Textbooks are full of pictures that show some sort of bent-over ape that eventually, in succeeding pictures gets more upright and looks more like a man. The image is strong, but purely fictitious. Such transitions to people are not to be found in the fossil record. This has been covered in previous lessons. Furthermore, fossil transitions from anything to apes cannot be found, either. Regardless, the search for the links continues. There are media sensations every time any such possible discovery is made, yet they have been subsequently proven to be false. In a biblical context and world view, a soul-less half-human will not be found. God was very specific about Day 6 of creation and the Garden Account in Genesis 2—from the beginning we were made male and female, with complete communication and cognitive capabilities. More importantly, we were made in His image, and God did not conduct a millions-of-years experiment to make it happen.

Unit 2 Lesson 11 generally states that mankind had problems of its own with changing conditions in the centuries that followed the Genesis Flood. Cave dwellings were a safe-haven during this period but caves were not usually permanent settlements. The stormy weather at mid-latitudes after the Flood and the Ice Age introduced harsh conditions that lasted several normal lifetimes, so many populations were probably transient. Archeological investigations, however, show the cave dwellers were smart and innovative. They had to be, because their lives depended on it. There is enough information on ‘cavemen’ archeological sites to show they had art, tools, culture, and burial techniques that are all typical of humankind. Dwellings were frequently abandoned because the climate was still changing.

There are quite a few archaeological finds of early man, but they fall into three categories that either makes them part of the human race or some sort of primate—not in between. None of them comprise the missing link that is so sought after. One of those groups is the Neandertals, but DNA studies show they were fully human. The other human category is Homo erectus. Discoveries regarding their culture have shown they are human; their physical characteristics are well within the human range.

A third group are the Australopiths. Examination of various pieces of evidence and a technical comparison to the preceding two categories shows them to be an extinct primate. The reason for the push to label these as pre-man is enforced by the supposed ‘deep time’ assessments (on the order of millions of years). Rather than considering that the biblical young earth time line might be true, the search is on for ‘deep-time’ candidates of the missing link. They won’t find one, because God made things according to kinds. ‘Kinds’ won’t change. Humans stay human and apes stay apes.

[Research note: multivariate analysis]

The majority of earth’s population now believes in aliens. They must be somewhere! After all, we hear about them and see lots of media with them (such as movies, video games, and TV) with them included. However, the belief is driven by media, and the media is driven by the dominant world view, which is naturalistic. With a naturalistic belief system, life MUST be able to start anywhere, just like it did on earth. After decades of searching, aliens cannot be found. No communications get returned. Other types of hard evidence have not been found. They won’t find any.

Using naturalistic ‘deep-time’ line and the relatively short timeline for man in the same world view, the universe should be overrun with aliens. Speculations abound why they cannot be detected or found. Now, some serious scientists and specialists discuss such things as aliens planting earth life, aliens so advanced they don’t regard us, and fears about aliens because we are supposedly so far behind. Even multi-universes are discussed. In short, some types of science (not real operational science) now extend to metaphysical ideas that are not scientific at all. Discussions of cosmology (explanations and philosophies about origins) are getting very interesting and increasingly non-scientific.

Things have changed a lot in several decades. For instance, Dr. Werner von Braun, regarded as the father of NASA, was a believing Christian. He believed the universe displayed the glory of God. The NASA of today has changed: the agency appears enraptured with the thought of finding life on other planets and the keys to the origin of the universe. It is an example of a dramatic change in thinking in less than a century to a naturalistic world view. Scientific measurements are usually interpreted according to that world view, which enforces a very long timeline, and the search for life and aliens elsewhere persists. Any notion of God as Creator, acting with purpose a few thousand years ago as recorded in Genesis, is given no place. Do not underestimate the power of a world view like naturalism, especially if it is singularly taught as fact for multiple generations. It shapes thinking, imagination, and a sense of history. Slowly but surely, it has shifted almost all educational institutions as well as the focus of some scientific endeavors.

🦕 CT? Regardless of the dominant naturalistic view, there is a body of historical evidence in the Bible that speaks of a type of being that is not human. These beings are powerful, have a history with mankind, and can present themselves in several ways. What are they? Using a concordance at the back of most Bibles, find a reference to ‘angels’ and a reference to ‘demons’. At the direction of the teacher, list a few instances of their appearance and discuss them. What is their power? Were they acting on the side of God or against Him? How did they appear? What did they do?

The days of creation in Genesis describe the physical universe and more. Why more? It is because we are more than physical beings; we have a soul. Genesis 2 provides additional information by changing the viewpoint of creation: man and God are present together in the Garden. The third chapter is the first introduction to Lucifer, who is in the form of a serpent, though not a normal serpent. Other parts of the Bible record provide much more detail of this being and his followers, who are aligned against the purposes of God. The Word also records the presence and activity of angels, who are aligned with God. For the person unfamiliar with the biblical world view, all these spiritual things seem farfetched, but the Word is serious, and it is accurate. The activity of these beings is a matter of record in the Bible, and the biblical world view embraces them. The bottom line is this: we live in a physical and spiritual world.

It takes a biblical world view and a thorough study to understand the category of spiritual beings like those portrayed in the Bible. Unlike the media concepts of angels or demons that are often laced with fiction or non-biblical sources, the Bible can be treated as technically accurate on what it touches. Why the discussion here? Research of aliens is heavily based on an evolutionary or naturalistic world view. There have been studies by creation scientists and specialists that demonstrate that much of the activity of demons (especially) and angels is misconstrued as ‘alien.’ Indeed, these beings are alien to human kind, but not the kind of ‘alien’ as in the development of life in other worlds. Rather, the activity, if it is evil, is the activity of demons. Other activity that is in alignment or agreement with God is angelic.

Why is this a subject part of a creation course? The activities of Lucifer or the Devil, and subsequently his followers, began in Genesis. The attributes of this being are consistent—being centered around deception and lying. Lucifer and his followers have a plain purpose: discredit God and His followers. They seek to devour and destroy. Some of the activities of alleged aliens have the same attributes, although experiences record they are often introduced as benevolent. They don’t stay that way.

In regard to God’s angels, Genesis records the first activity. One guarded the approach to the tree of life (3:24). In other parts of the Bible they serve God as well to execute judgement, deliver messages, conduct spiritual battle, and defend those who are God’s people.

The creation record in Genesis describes the basic intent of God in the world and the universe. As covered in Unit 1, man is the crown of God’s creation; we were meant to walk with Him. But, man (Adam and Eve) sinned; all of creation was put into subjection due to the penalty associated with sin that is carried throughout man’s history. This context, as presented in other lessons, is the basis for the need of salvation from our condition. That is the reason why Jesus Christ, as the last Adam, died once for all men—that we might be redeemed. He is our ‘kinsman redeemer’. He made the earth habitable from the beginning; the celestial sphere to show His glory; and various aspects of creation to display His unmeasurable wisdom to us, so that we might choose to reach out to Him. Then, it is not a surprise that the move is so strong to discredit the truth of Genesis from a biblical world view by the position that the universe came about by itself, life (including aliens) can begin anywhere in the universe (also by itself), and things are getting better as we go. Are they? In some circles of UFO believers, the naturalistic view goes a step further, where the aliens end up being the expectant deliverers from our flawed condition in this world. It is a complete reversal of a biblical world view.

One might ask, ‘Why, then, is the universe so big?’ The innumerable number of stars have a primary purpose: to show God’s glory (Psalm 19:1) to us. Stars are not the seed bed for other life. And, that is why aliens cannot and will not be found. One might ask, ‘Why are we so small?’ Are we? He made us the object of His creation—both intelligent and with His image from the beginning. Which is more astounding—that He made such a large universe or that He made very small people the object of His attention within it? That is why prehistoric less-than-human people will not be found any more than aliens will be found.

[Research note: What about apemen? What about aliens?]

Using the results of the assignment for this class, review the results. With the bottle-neck of the population at the time of the Genesis Flood, a gross population projection shows that the current population is approximately right. If the naturalistic time line were true, then where are the billions and trillions of people, whose burial evidence should be around the world in a prominent way?

🦕 CT? If aliens cannot be found with the universe’s ‘deep time’ line (in a naturalistic view) and cavemen are found to be fully human with evidence of burial over eons of time, then is a long timeline (in terms of millions of years) questionable? Why or why not?

D. Assignment

The next lesson will deal with unusual activity where God is the Author of it. Write a definition for a miracle in your own words, and describe in two paragraphs what you believe is an example of one. Provide the reference for your example.

E. Learning Activity

Divide into teams. Each team represents the perfect Mom and Dad who want to build a sand box and play area that will completely astound their son and give him years of things to investigate and learn. They want to impress the son with how much they love him by what they build, so they include detailed things that impress the son with their attention to very small things. Make a plan for the play area and define why things are put into it for the son. Last, what will you do to the play area to make sure your son has the choice to reach out to you—the builder and designer of the play area? Will you give him free choice to reach out to you? Why or why not?

🦕 CT? Comment on this question: Is this what God has done for us?

F. Concluding Assessment

God made people in His image from the beginning to inhabit the earth and see the universe around them to draw them to himself. This is in direct contrast to the naturalistic world view, where people develop from something less than human—just like aliens can develop from non-life to intelligent life anywhere in the universe.