I have often read that most scientists believe planet Earth is
nothing special, and that there are millions of other Earth-like planets
in the universe, as many as 19 sextillion. (That’s 19 followed by 21 zeroes!) Many
of these scientists believe several million of these planets surely
contain complex life as we know it – with intelligent human-like beings,
animals, plants, birds, etc.
But last week came a breath of fresh air when I read a report that at least three brilliant scientists believe Earth is likely to be the only planet with sentient life (i.e. feel, see, hear, smell or taste) on it. About a month ago, Dr. K. Eric Drexler, Dr. Anders Sandberg and Dr. Toby Ord, released a fascinating study on the “Fermi Paradox.”
The Fermi Paradox is simple: “If complex life is so common in the universe, then why haven’t we made contact with others like us?” For thousands of years, we’ve made no contact with millions of other supposed societies. Why not? At least three scientists say because it’s probably not out there. Drexler, Sandberg and Ord are nobody’s fools. Neither is Enrico Fermi, “the architect of the nuclear age” and a man central to the success of the discovery of atomic power.
The study of these three great thinkers concludes that complex life, if it exists elsewhere else at all, isn’t nearly as likely as scientists used to think. Their final estimates hold there is a 50% to 100% chance that humans are alone in our Milky Way Galaxy, and an even greater chance that we are alone in the entire universe!
But wait! Back in the 1970s, Dr. Carl Sagan told us the Earth was an insignificant pale blue dot among millions more like it. Now at least three eminent experts believe he was wrong. They estimate that Earth is probably the only one with life as we know it. Who is right? My vote goes to the Big Three.
For most all of human history, people have thought we are alone. Genesis 1:26 says, “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and the livestock, and over all the earth itself and every of creature that crawls upon it.'” This is one of the oldest writings in human history, and it says God made us. Not millions of other planets with people, just us! Earth is not an insignificant blue dot surrounded by millions of others. It’s where God did His work.
As one of the earliest writings of mankind, the Bible says God made Earth and all that’s in it. We would do well not to ignore these words. We humans need to consider God’s Earth as a gift and therefore be its grateful caretakers. We ought to give God thanks for planet Earth, and worship Him through His Son Jesus. Besides gratitude, it should be our duty to protect sentient life, and to try to ensure it goes on.
God speaks to us through people. I thank Jonah Gottschalk who wrote an article in The Federalist on August 17, 2018, which gives clarity to a belief I’ve held during my life.
But last week came a breath of fresh air when I read a report that at least three brilliant scientists believe Earth is likely to be the only planet with sentient life (i.e. feel, see, hear, smell or taste) on it. About a month ago, Dr. K. Eric Drexler, Dr. Anders Sandberg and Dr. Toby Ord, released a fascinating study on the “Fermi Paradox.”
The Fermi Paradox is simple: “If complex life is so common in the universe, then why haven’t we made contact with others like us?” For thousands of years, we’ve made no contact with millions of other supposed societies. Why not? At least three scientists say because it’s probably not out there. Drexler, Sandberg and Ord are nobody’s fools. Neither is Enrico Fermi, “the architect of the nuclear age” and a man central to the success of the discovery of atomic power.
The study of these three great thinkers concludes that complex life, if it exists elsewhere else at all, isn’t nearly as likely as scientists used to think. Their final estimates hold there is a 50% to 100% chance that humans are alone in our Milky Way Galaxy, and an even greater chance that we are alone in the entire universe!
But wait! Back in the 1970s, Dr. Carl Sagan told us the Earth was an insignificant pale blue dot among millions more like it. Now at least three eminent experts believe he was wrong. They estimate that Earth is probably the only one with life as we know it. Who is right? My vote goes to the Big Three.
For most all of human history, people have thought we are alone. Genesis 1:26 says, “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and the livestock, and over all the earth itself and every of creature that crawls upon it.'” This is one of the oldest writings in human history, and it says God made us. Not millions of other planets with people, just us! Earth is not an insignificant blue dot surrounded by millions of others. It’s where God did His work.
As one of the earliest writings of mankind, the Bible says God made Earth and all that’s in it. We would do well not to ignore these words. We humans need to consider God’s Earth as a gift and therefore be its grateful caretakers. We ought to give God thanks for planet Earth, and worship Him through His Son Jesus. Besides gratitude, it should be our duty to protect sentient life, and to try to ensure it goes on.
God speaks to us through people. I thank Jonah Gottschalk who wrote an article in The Federalist on August 17, 2018, which gives clarity to a belief I’ve held during my life.
Thank You, O Father God, for giving us life on Earth. Help us protect it. Help us also to trust in Your Son, Jesus. Amen
Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com
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