The Speed of Light (revisited)

Response to comment [from other]:  "Is there any evidence that c (which is both the speed of light in a vacuum and the conversion factor when matter is converted to energy) can be exceeded?"

Noguru, you are not gay as some have suggested here (or at least I hope not).  I have no clue to answer your question.  But if you are interested in traveling faster in space Henry M. Morris had something interesting to say (it sounds like there could be worm holes out there if I read Morris right based on an interpretation of Ge 1:14-19):  "[T]here is no assurance of the uniformity of the speed of light at such tremendous distances. There exist respectable models of relativity and space curvature, for example, which yield light motions such that light would reach the earth even from infinite distances in only a few years. Finally, there is no reason why God could not, if He had so willed, created “pulses” in the trails of some of the light waves created traversing space in the beginning.

Morris, Henry M.: The Genesis Record : A Scientific and Devotional Commentary on the Book of Beginnings. Grand Rapids, MI : Baker Books, 1976, S. 66

"When it says, "Let there be light", God is talking about the same thing we are..."  "I disagree. In my view Genesis was written by the first man to make this realization [light is used in the Bible as a metaphor for understanding] [and write it down."

I think God meant literal light.  Later, he used light as a metaphor Glory of God. Ps 104:2; 1Ti 6:16.  Purity of God. 1Jo 1:5. c. Wisdom of God. Da 2:22. Whatever makes manifest. Joh 3:21; Eph 5:13.  Christ the source of all wisdom. Lu 2:32; Joh 1:4,9; 8:12; 12:46, etc.

I also think that Adam, Eve, Moses, etc. were a lot smarter than people of today (Entropy [or Negentropy]--things get worse not better due to the effect of sin on the world).  Moses may have known under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that light demonstrated righteousness.    

Response to comment [from an atheist]:  "If God did it then why doesn't He do it again, these days? I think it would be obvious as light from very distant galaxies would be arriving every day. The sky at night would probably be infinitely bright. Also, we would be able to see galaxies flash into existence and obliterated in a few days because effect would precede cause. Although that would shut astrologists up (I certainly wouldn't mind that).

Plus this is more of a Genesis problem rather than a "Relativity is not true" problem..."

God's handiwork is obvious (Ps 19:1).  The best argument secular scientists have is a singularity containing a mass of goo.  You don't get our mass so you'll have to come up with your own goo.  

Star light arrives from stars everyday.  Our planet was likely created with light already having arrived.  God created a daylight and a dimmer night light.  Dr Morris says:

Ge 1:1-2: 

[T]he initial creation was of basic elements rather than of a completed system...
...The idea that God, being Light, could not create a world in darkness is invalid, God Himself said: “I form the light, and create darkness … (Isaiah 45:7). The physical universe, though created, was as yet neither formed nor energized, and light is a form of energy. The absence of physical light means darkness, just as the absence of form and inhabitants means a universe in elemental form, not yet completed.
(pg. 49).

Ge 1:3-5: 

      "[I]t is obvious that visible light is primarily meant, since it was set in contrast to darkness. At the same time, the presence of visible light waves necessarily involves the entire electromagnetic spectrum.

Morris, Henry M.: The Genesis Record : A Scientific and Devotional Commentary on the Book of Beginnings. Grand Rapids, MI : Baker Books, 1976, S. 56.

"Give twelve (12) examples that support this assertion of the Psalmist (Ps 19:1).

I'll start with ten--ten little fingers and ten little toes that you did not thank him for today.  From an intricate fingerprint to the stars above, God is clearly seen. 

Now, here are thirty-six more examples of "twelves" that you won't pay attention to:

Angels     Rev. 21:12
Apostles     Rev. 21:14
Baskets     John 6:13
Bronze bulls     Jer. 52:20
Brothers     Gen. 42:32
Cakes     Lev. 24:5
Cities     1 Chr. 6:63
Cubits     1 Kin. 7:15
Foundations     Rev. 21:14
Fruits     Rev. 22:2
Gates     Rev. 21:12
Golden pans     Num. 7:86
Governors     1 Kin. 4:7
Hours     John 11:9
Legions of angels     Matt. 26:53
Lions     1 Kin. 10:20
Male goats     Ezra 8:35
Men     Josh 3:12
Months     Dan. 4:29
Officers     1 Kin. 4:7
Oxen     2 Chr. 4:15
Patriarchs     Acts 7:8
Pieces     1 Kin. 11:30
Pillars     Ex. 24:4
Princes     Gen. 17:20
Rods     Num. 17:2
Silver bowls     Num. 7:84
Sons of Jacob     Gen. 35:22
Springs     Num. 33:9
Stars     Rev. 12:1
Stones     1 Kin. 18:31
Thousand     2 Sam. 17:1
Thrones     Matt. 19:28
Tribes     Luke 22:30
Wells     Ex. 15:27
Years of age     Luke 2:42
Thomas Nelson Publishers: Nelson's Quick Reference Topical Bible Index. Nashville, Tenn. : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995 (Nelson's Quick Reference), S. 627

"Are you whining about the genesis of the planet? And if so, is it the genesis of the earth or the genesis of the universe as those are too far different things.

Yes, light arrives from distant stars everyday. However, you say that in the beginning light traveled faster than light. Unfortunately this is not observed today. Thus, an old earth makes more sense because light from distance stars does not wildly arrive on earth and we know that light from a distant star won't arrive until the appropriate time."

Light could have been created already having traveled.  God created day light and night light.  The stars seem to be almost an after thought.  As if God tossed them in for good measure.  Morris writes: 

"The fact that both sun and moon are called “light-givers” does not suggest that they are of the same substance. One actually generates light, whereas the other only reflects light; but both “give light” as far as their functions relative to the earth are concerned.
It is interesting that the stars are mentioned as of only minor importance relative to the sun and moon. 'He made the stars also.' Even though stars are incomparably bigger than the earth, and many of them even larger than our sun, they are of much simpler structure than the earth. A star is mostly hydrogen and helium, essentially quite simple; whereas the structure of the earth is of great complexity, perfectly and uniquely designed for living creatures. Complexity and organization are much more meaningful measures of significance than mere size!"  Pg. 67.

You are correct.  We do not observe what happened.  We have only theories.  But one was there--God.  Our earth and universe came into existence just as he said it did.  No scientist has ever disproved the Bible.  Morris continues:     

"There is no need to try to correlate this simple record of the making of the stars with various modern theories of stellar and galactic evolution. It is sufficient to note that these are all at best only interesting speculations, none of which is generally accepted and all of which encounter important objections. On the other hand, there is no reason at all (other than naturalistic prejudice) not to believe that the stars were made just as they are now. No one has ever seen a star or galaxy evolve, or change at all."
Morris, Henry M.: The Genesis Record : A Scientific and Devotional Commentary on the Book of Beginnings. Grand Rapids, MI : Baker Books, 1976, S. 67

Response to comment [from an atheist]:  "All I ever see are fingerprints and stars. What am I missing?...How about showing that angels actually exist?"

Why should a Christian be concerned with showing you that angels exist (2 Thes 1:8)?   

Response to comment [from an atheist]:  "Well then forget it. If you're just gonna explain everything by saying God did it, I'm not gonna bother. It's a waste of both our time.  And I respect your professionalism with the citations and proper quotation but it somewhat unnecessary. I'm willing to accept most of what you say unless I ask for some cites. Very nice though. Just remember, a cite truth does not make [it true]."

I believe that the Bible.  It is the inspired word of God.  Christians are accused of dismissing science but that is not true.  We have the same data but we interpret it differently.  I think that the Bible has answers.  Of course it takes faith; but as one atheist said, it took more faith to maintain his atheism then it did to believe the Bible. 

"Except for the fact that matter would cease to exist or stars would cease to shine, or other bizarre things, if the speed changed much. It turns out that c is a key part of many physical constants...Magic will solve a lot of difficulties. But why even bother talking about the science, if you want to call up a handy miracle every time your theory has a problem?"

It will take a miracle for secular scientists to explain creation.  To prove something, you must be able to recreate it and scientists cannot do this.  So, they must give their next best guess.  God spoke and the universe came into existence.  Here is what you are looking for--"bara".  The word "created" means that God created something from nothing.  Scientists cannot duplicate this act (Ro 4:17, Heb 11:3).  Secular scientists are willing to consider everything except for God.  With that handicap, you will come up with all kinds of ridiculous explanations--like goo.  You come up with handy goo (which is matter and you cannot even claim that) and we believe the only evidence ever given to man in God's revealed word.         

The Speed of Light (revisited)