“A long, long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…” No, this is not the introduction to another Star Wars saga. It is an introduction to the theory of Directed Panspermia that was once espoused by Dr. Francis Crick, the English molecular biologist, who along with James D. Watson co-discovered deoxyribonucleic acid known more commonly as DNA.
Dr. Crick theorized that the current complexity of human DNA could not have evolved from simpler forms of DNA in the 3.6 billion years life is believed to have existed here on earth. So, he hypothesized that more than 3.6 billion years ago (a long, long time ago) higher intelligent life forms elsewhere in the universe (in a galaxy far, far away) directed sperm pods to various planets capable of supporting life and earth was one of them.
That in a nutshell (pun intended) is the theory of Directed Panspermia. I have read that the theory of panspermia has been around since Ancient Greece.
Since there is no definitive evidence that life, much less intelligent life, exists anywhere else in the universe, this theory has fallen into disrepute. But the exogenic theory of life, that is, the belief that life began elsewhere in the universe and was transferred to earth, appears to have a life of its own.
A paper has been published in the peer-reviewed journal Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology titled Cause of the Cambrian Explosion – Terrestrial or Cosmic? It claims, “certain cephalopods like octopuses, squid, and others arrived on the planet by falling from space, frozen in a kind of stasis … the possibility that cryopreserved squid and/or octopus eggs, arrived in icy bolides several hundred million years ago should not be discounted.”
I am not following that science. I am fairly open-minded about some theories, but I am not so open-minded I let my brains fall out.
Some scientists scour the universe in search of intelligent alien life forms to explain life on earth, but they are just kicking the can down the road. The question would then be, What is the origin of those life forms?
I have never read any fact revealed by science that caused me to doubt the Bible and I have never read anything in the Bible that caused me to doubt the facts revealed by science. Science without religion is godless knowledge and religion without science is blind faith. Mankind can ill afford either.
The pictures from the Hubble Space Telescope’s exploration of the cosmos cause me to echo the words of the psalmist, “The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the peoples have seen His glory” (Psalm 97:6), and man’s unraveling of the microbiological mysteries of DNA’s complexity and exactitude cause me to declare, “I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14).
Of course, you do not have to believe in the intelligent Living Creator God. If you prefer you can believe, “A long, long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…”
This is the second article I’ve read on your site. While I would prefer you go into greater detail, bringing science and Biblical Truth into harmony, not that I care about “proving” anything in the Bible: I don’t, but I DO care about removing stumbling blocks from the lives of people.
Once again, thanks for reading and responding.
The papers I write for limit my articles to 500 words or less. Ergo, it is not possible to go into greater detail on the subjects I write about, though I could. I typically can only address one issue at a time. In the archives look at an article titled “Probably,” written February 15, 2014, where I take issue with the interpretation of the fossil record.
While there is much agreement between the Scriptures and observational science there is a vast disparity between scientific theories and what the Scriptures teach. That was my point in this article; I was showing the outlandish theories scientists come up with. Octopuses came to earth by falling from outer space? Really?
Like you, I am not about proving anything about the Scriptures, they must be embraced by faith. But also like you, I am all about removing supposedly scientific stumbling blocks such as ridiculous unproven theories.
Thanks again for responding.