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[Texas]

If Earth is cursed by sin, does that apply to the whole universe?

According to the Bible Earth is cursed by sin, does this apply off planet ? Say we get to Mars or If there is life off planet, does the curse apply to there as well to other beings if they exist ?

[jimwalton]

According to Genesis 3.17, the ground is cursed because of Adam's sin. That wouldn't particularly apply to the planet (Earth) as such. The implication for Adam is that from now on farming would be more difficult (vv. 17-18). It's speaking of agriculture, not cosmology, agriculture, not something pertaining to all aspects of the geosphere.

In addition to that, we read in Romans 8.20 that "the creation was subject to frustration." The Greek term is ματαιότητι (mataioteti), meaning “Vanity; frustration; empty; failing to achieve a goal or telos (consummation; completeness; wholeness).” Interpretations of the verse vary.

Doug Moo writes, "This word suggests that creation has been unable to attain the purpose for which it was created."

From a book called Understanding Scientific Theories of Origins (pp. 56-57: "The creation was made incomplete to begin with, rather than perfect. Just as the redemption of humanity is linked with the redemption of creation, the frustration of creation is linked with our sin. For instance, the emergence of epidemic and pandemic diseases is facilitated by uncontrolled urbanization, poverty, and climate change, factors that are directly related to human fallenness. Paul is echoing Deuteronomy’s linking of human sin with the suffering and frustration of creation. Deuteronomy also forms the grounds on which Israel’s prophets preached against sin and its devastating consequences for the land (cf. also Hosea 4.1-3, where human sin and the land are associated.) This OT linking of sin and creation’s wellbeing was not lost on Paul.

"There is obviously something that happened to humanity in the fall, and certainly there are ways in which creation is adversely affected by human sinfulness (abuse of raw materials, environmental irresponsibility, etc.).

John Walton adds, "The result of Adam’s sin (putting humanity as the sourse and center of wisdom) was not order centered on humanity, but rather disorder. This disorder extended to all people of all time as well as to the cosmos. When we stepped out of harmony with God’s purposes, we also stepped out of harmony with the rest of His creation. Now all creation groans, not because it suffered damage but because it is no longer in harmonious relationship with us. We changed; it did not."

Also from Understanding Scientific Theories of Origins: "It is sometimes mistakenly thought that this verse refers to a fall of creation from Genesis 3, that nature was somehow substantively changed, and that the second law of thermodynamics and other deleterious physical effects came into play. But this is a rather questionable interpretation. For one thing, it presupposes that this text has some kind of scientific reference point and implications, but this has to be read into the text. Such an interpretation is not an implication from the text or its context. Furthermore, nowhere does Paul indicate that he is identifying such frustration with the fallenness of inanimate creation. Such an interpretation requires that physics, chemistry, biology, and geology were radically different pre- vs. post-fall. There is no warrant for this implication in either the biblical texts or a comprehensive doctrine of creation. A substantial set of philosophical and scientific assumptions have to be added for such an interpretation to appear plausible.In the context of Romans 8, Paul’s point is not physics but rather the Spirit’s work in redeeming all of creation."