From Earth to the Universe: Life, Intelligence, and Evolution

In 2010, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society published a 32-page brochure, "The Origin of Life", with the intention of supporting its view that life was created by a divine source, as declared in the Hebrew Scriptures. The purpose of this Critique is to examine the manner in which the brochure employs information from scientists to support the Watchtower's position. Their brochure does not claim that any of the cited scientists supports its stance on Creation and indeed makes it very clear that the scientists are evolutionists. When the brochure provides information from a scientist, it appeals to the reader's subjective opinion, asking whether it is possible that unaided Nature could have resulted in the outcomes witnessed by scientists. This is the brochure's strategy and agenda. Truth would thus be determined through subjective opinion. However, this very same information is used by scientists in their support for evolution.

2021

Life itself is a mystery, the how and when of life’s origin constitute a serious challenge to both religion and science. To the reasoning mind, the origination of life is an intellectual problem that needs intellectual resolution especially in the domains of science and religion. To this extent, some scientific assumptions and postulations concerning the origin of life and the universe are found in a number of theories such as evolution, biogenesis, and abiogenesis among others. Obviously, all these theories pose serious challenges to most religious beliefs including the notion of creationism. In this paper, the historical and critical analytic methods were used to document and evaluate the various religious responses on the subject. The paper posits that religious adherents should acquit themselves with authentic religious beliefs and integrate them with authentic scientific knowledge.

2016

One chapter of the 2015 Lutheran University Press Festschrift for Ted Peters, this chapter looks at Ted Peters work on theology and ethics as it relates to astrobiology. It first considers possibilities for convergences and divergences between humans and other intelligent creatures (including ETIs), then considers some scenarios for possible contact with ETIs (including transhumanism, moral imperialism, and extinction), then considers the significance of these ideas for theology and ethics.

The Origin of Life, 2018

The current book is not about trying to prove the truth of this or that scientific or religious account about the origins of either human beings, in particular, or life, in general. ‘The Origin of Life' is about the problems surrounding the process of interpreting empirical evidence and subjecting that data to various methods of rigorous critical reflection.

Depending on the era: flat, the center of the universe, six-thousand years old, Ra (the sun) revolved around it, etc., were novel explanations of Earth, placed in the category of commonsense. As of today, abiogenesisnonliving matter evolving into primitive life formshas two standpoints: that of supernatural intervention, the other of natural chemical processes. Each will be discussed and critiqued.

International Astronautical Federation, IAC-18, 2018

Astrobiology can obtain inspiration from Philosophy. Julian Chela-Flores refers to Astrobiology as an interdisciplinary science that has inspired multiple philosophers and thinkers from a theoretical perspective. In this regard, personalities such as Pasteur, Darwin, and Wallace have brought immense knowledge to humankind. Humanity and astrobiology have found a common interest in the search for extraterrestrial forms of life and, why not, civilisations. One may question whether there is life in the universe or if our intelligence can be repeated elsewhere. The present work will treat how astrobiology and society have interacted from a philosophical perspective and which important questions have arisen in the latest years.

"The Origin of Life" -- Using Scientists, 2019

In 2010, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society published a 32-page brochure, "The Origin of Life", with the intention of supporting its view that life was created by a divine source, as declared in the Hebrew Scriptures. The purpose of this Critique is to examine the manner in which the brochure employs information from scientists to support the Watchtower's position. Their brochure does not claim that any of the cited scientists supports its stance on Creation and indeed makes it very clear that the scientists are evolutionists. When the brochure provides information from a scientist, it appeals to the reader's subjective opinion, asking whether it is possible that unaided Nature could have resulted in the outcomes witnessed by scientists. This is the brochure's strategy and agenda. Truth would thus be determined through subjective opinion. However, this very same information is used by scientists in their support for evolution. The brochure's focus is on the source of life and should thus be titled: "The Originator of Life", leading to its ultimate objective: join us. This Critique reports examines each of the brochure's 51 references to scientists. Are they accurately and honestly reported and cited? Is the brochure completely honest with its reader? The brochure claims that the reader needs to make their own decision and be open to all sides of the argument for and against its views: Examine the evidence for evolution and for creation and then decide for themselves which they will believe. 1

Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology, 2012

This chapter addresses two important questions that intersect the natural sciences and the humanities, specifically philosophy: firstly, what are the implications of a search for a 'second genesis' (defined herein as "the emergence of biological complexity elsewhere in the universe"), and secondly, what are the implications of an eventual discovery of such a phenomenon. Astrobiology is introduced as the transdisciplinary science that is most likely to contribute to not only the discovery of a second genesis elsewhere in the universe, but also the research effort that, due to its multi-faceted composition of scientists and philosophers, will be able to help the world adjust to a potential discovery of such a magnitude. We refer to the English physicist C.P. Snow's concept of the "two cultures" (i.e., the sciences and the humanities) and imply that the transdisciplinary science of Astrobiology is the key to bridging the gap between them, and also an excellent opportunity for promoting interest in science and technology in our society. We then review relevant evidence for why we might expect to find life, for instance on Europa, a typical biofriendly body such as those that could be found in exoplanets. These speculations are made all the more exciting and timely by the new discovery of over 1,200 new planets, some of which are hypothesized to be habitable-zone candidates. We further address the implications of the (possible) discovery of a second genesis which might be possible with the use of landers, rather than manned spacecrafts. We reject "biogeocentrism", namely the notion that life is exclusive to the Earth. We believe that if Darwinian principles hold here on Earth, they can be reasonably expected to hold elsewhere in the universe, and that, at the very least, discovery of eukaryotic life elsewhere in the universe would strengthen the case for the eventual discovery of intelligent life elsewhere in the universe too (since according to Darwinian evolution, simple life must precede more complex life). Discovery of intelligent life would have greater implications in the humanities than would the discovery of very simple microbial life on some distant planet.