Re: [asa] [Asa] Rare Earth hypothesis (and it's theological implication)

I think a large, ...make that HUGE... clue to these questions lies in
the immensity of the universe as we know it.
If God wanted to achieve a very specific end "product', would it not be
reasonable that He would simply make it happen? And on a scale much
smaller than our universe?
On the other hand, a creation that embodies something about time and
chance (opportunity!) and evolution (of every sort) suggests that there
is something about those characteristics that are intrinsically
interesting to the Creator.
Let's just say - as is our (admittedly limited) experience - that the
rarest (most statistically unlikely) of possible outcomes of a Creation
like this might be of particular interest. A simple(?) way of countering
improbability of occurrence (enriching the range of possible outcomes)
is to enlarge the number of places in which things can happen by these
natural processes. Creating an enormous array of creative contexts
(reaction vessels, galactic gardens, - call it what you will) as a way
(the only way?) to make SURE that interesting stuff happens.
The key question is why the universe is enormous. The conditions on
Earth could presumeably be created one-off without all those other
galaxies and their suns and their planets and oceans and hot springs.
Can you think of another reason for its immensity and diversity? Of
course, the answer would have theological implications since this view
tilts toward a process theology perspective.

But really, can you think of another reason for its immensity and
diversity? JimA

Johan Jammart wrote:

> I need again your good scientific minds on a subject :-) Rare Earth
> hypothesis (and it's theological implication).
>
>
> I would like your advice first on the Rare Earth hypothesis:
>
>> In planetary astronomy and astrobiology, the Rare Earth hypothesis
>> asserts that the emergence of complex multicellular life (metazoa) on
>> Earth required an extremely unlikely combination of astrophysical and
>> geological events and circumstances. The Rare Earth hypothesis is
>> explained in detail in the book Rare Earth: Why Complex Life Is
>> Uncommon in the Universe, by Peter Ward, a geologist and
>> paleontologist, and Donald Brownlee, an astronomer and astrobiologist.
>>
>> The Rare Earth hypothesis is the contrary of the principle of
>> mediocrity (also called the Copernican principle), whose best known
>> recent advocates include Carl Sagan and Frank Drake. The principle of
>> mediocrity maintains that the Earth is a typical rocky planet in a
>> typical planetary system, located in an unexceptional region of a
>> large but conventional barred-spiral galaxy. Ward and Brownlee argue
>> to the contrary: planets, planetary systems, and galactic regions
>> that are as friendly to complex life as are the Earth, the solar
>> system, and our region of the Milky Way are probably extremely rare.
>> If so, the Earth could be the only place in the Milky Way, and
>> perhaps even in the entire universe, featuring complex life.
>>
>> If complex life can evolve only on an Earth-like planet, then the
>> Rare Earth hypothesis solves the Fermi paradox (Webb 2002): "If
>> extraterrestrial aliens exist, why aren't they obvious?"
>
>
> The rest of this article is available on wikipedia (yes I know
> wikipedia is not an optimal source of good informations but this
> article is well balanced)
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rare_Earth_hypothesis
>
> Do you agree or disagree with this hypothesis?
>
> Now i would like to enter the theological aspect of the Rare Earth
> hypothesis:
>
> Either
>
> 1) God have have let the planetary system evolve freely and our solar
> system is a product of randomness... as well the earth. Life and
> biological have adapted to the condition of our solar system and the
> earth. When God made the big bang He knew the entire Universe would be
> fertile and that due to necessity and chance life would finally developed.
>
> or
>
> 2) God had intervene in the formation of our solar system and the
> earth so life would naturally evolved on our planet (which is fertile)
>
> What do you think?
>
> I would like to express my gratitude to every person who had already
> answered some of my posts on the list. Thank you so much! Your help is
> really much appreciate!
>
> Blessings,
>
> Johan
>
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Received on Wed Jan 31 15:18:51 2007