History and future of life on Earth - a synthesis of natural science and theology

DIALOGO ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 233-251
Author(s):  
Andreas May
Keyword(s):  
Natural Sciences ◽  
Christian Faith ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Modern Natural ◽  
History Of ◽  
Science And Theology ◽  
Life On Earth ◽  
Different Cultures ◽  
The Universe ◽  
Intelligent Life

"A synthesis of research results of modern natural sciences and fundamental statements of the Christian faith is attempted. The creation of the universe is addressed. Four important events in the history of the Earth as well as the diversity of living beings are shortly discussed. There are good reasons to believe that the universe was created by a transcendent superior being, which we call God, and that this superior being intervened in evolution and Earth history to promote the development of intelligent life. Furthermore, it can be concluded that intelligent life is very rare in the universe. This is the explanation for the “Fermi paradox”. Intelligent life on planet Earth has cosmic significance. The overabundance of this universe inspires the hope for participating in the fulfilled eternity of the Creator in transcendence. Prehistoric humans had long had hope for life after biological death. While scientific speculation about the end of the universe prophesies scenarios of destruction, the Christian faith says that humanity is destined to be united with Jesus Christ. Furthermore, all evolution will be completed with the Creator in transcendence. Then the whole of creation will “obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God”. From the first primitive living cell, an abundance of the most diverse living beings has evolved. Comparably, humanity has differentiated into a plethora of different cultures. This entire abundance will find its unification and fulfilment in transcendence with the Creator of the universe, without its diversity being erased."

scholarly journals From cosmos to intelligent life: the four ages of astrobiology

2012 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 345-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcelo Gleiser
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Elements ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Big Bang ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
First Stars ◽  
History Of ◽  
Life On Earth ◽  
The Big Bang ◽  
The Universe ◽  
Intelligent Life

AbstractThe history of life on Earth and in other potential life-bearing planetary platforms is deeply linked to the history of the Universe. Since life, as we know, relies on chemical elements forged in dying heavy stars, the Universe needs to be old enough for stars to form and evolve. The current cosmological theory indicates that the Universe is 13.7 ± 0.13 billion years old and that the first stars formed hundreds of millions of years after the Big Bang. At least some stars formed with stable planetary systems wherein a set of biochemical reactions leading to life could have taken place. In this paper, I argue that we can divide cosmological history into four ages, from the Big Bang to intelligent life. The physical age describes the origin of the Universe, of matter, of cosmic nucleosynthesis, as well as the formation of the first stars and Galaxies. The chemical age began when heavy stars provided the raw ingredients for life through stellar nucleosynthesis and describes how heavier chemical elements collected in nascent planets and Moons gave rise to prebiotic biomolecules. The biological age describes the origin of early life, its evolution through Darwinian natural selection and the emergence of complex multicellular life forms. Finally, the cognitive age describes how complex life evolved into intelligent life capable of self-awareness and of developing technology through the directed manipulation of energy and materials. I conclude discussing whether we are the rule or the exception.

scholarly journals WHAT CAN EARTH HISTORY AND EVOLUTION TELL ABOUT THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE?

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (8) ◽  
pp. 19-41
Author(s):  
Andreas MAY
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Processes ◽  
Earth History ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Random Events ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Universe ◽  
Intelligent Life

Conclusions about the Creator of the universe are drawn from the evolution and diversity of living beings. Furthermore, four events of the Earth's history are addressed. From them, it can be concluded that the Creator actively intervened in the history of the Earth to promote the development of intelligent life. Following characteristics of the Creator are observed: He is patient, creates an exuberant fullness, and gives freedom to his creation. He uses causal links and seemingly random events to steer the course of his creation. The Creator is in constant dialogue with his creation to lead it into ever greater abundance and freedom. He uses evolutionary processes, which are not goal-oriented, to achieve his goals. The observed characteristics of the Creator fit very well with the Judeo-Christian God. The question is raised whether the Creator is timeless or not.

A DEFENSE OF THE CAROLINGIAN “DEFENSE OF MEDICINE”: INTRODUCTION, TRANSLATION, AND NOTES

Traditio ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 75 ◽  
pp. 87-125
Author(s):  
JOEL L. GAMBLE
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
English Translation ◽  
Natural Sciences ◽  
History Of Ideas ◽  
Christian Faith ◽  
Medical Texts ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Imitation Of Christ ◽  
History Of ◽  
As If

The “Defense of Medicine” prefaces the Codex Bambergensis Medicinalis 1, a Carolingian collection of medical texts. Some scholars have dismissed the Defense as an incoherent patchwork of quotations. Yet, missing from the literature is an adequate assessment of the Defense's arguments. This present study includes the first English translation accompanied by a complete source commentary, a prerequisite for valid content analysis. When read systematically and with attention to the author's use of sources, the Defense is limpid and cogent. Its first purpose is to defend the compatibility of Christian faith and secular medicine. Key propositions include the following: God made nature good, so the natural sciences are reconcilable with divine learning; scripture respects medicine; God expects the sick to avail of physicians and deserves honor for healings done through physicians. Counter-arguments used by the Defense's opponents, who rejected medicine on principle, can also be reconstructed from the text. Two further purposes of the Defense have hitherto been explored insufficiently. After justifying medicine, the Defense addresses sick patients. It encourages them that illness can be spiritually healthful, an instrument for curing their souls. The Defense then addresses caregivers. It tells them why they should succor the sick, even the poor: not for gain or fame, but in imitation of Christ and as if treating Christ himself, whose image the sick bear. The Defense thus contributes to the history of ideas on medicine, health, sickness, and the ethics of altruistic care.

INTERPRETATION OF SPACE AND TIME IN ONTOLOGICAL PHILOSOPHY NAVOI

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 80-87
Author(s):  
Toji Omonovich Norov ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Human Life ◽  
History Of Philosophy ◽  
Human Intelligence ◽  
Time And Space ◽  
Space And Time ◽  
History Of ◽  
Life On Earth ◽  
The Universe ◽  
Holy Book

The universe, the space that make up their basis planets in it, their creation, the main essence of their creation, form, composition, meaning, movements, interactions, their influence on human life and activities, the role of man in the universe and in life on Earth, life, the criteria of activity and processes occurring in time and space have long been of interest to humanity. One of the main problems in the history of philosophy is the question of space and time. This problem was defined in different ways in the great schools of thought by thinkers of different periods. One of these great thinkers is Alisher Navoi. Navoi's works, along with other socio-philosophical themes, uniquely express and analyze the problems of the firmament and time. Its main feature is that it is based on the divine (pantheistic) religion, Islam, its holy book, the Koran and other theological sources, as well as on the secrets of nature and the Universe, the main miracle of Allah - human intelligence, the power of enlightenment, they are the key revealing all these secrets.

The History of Physics: A Very Short Introduction

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Heilbron
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Revolution ◽  
18Th Century ◽  
Ancient Greece ◽  
History Of Physics ◽  
Short Introduction ◽  
History Of ◽  
Different Cultures ◽  
Century Science ◽  
The Universe ◽  
Medieval Scholar

How does today’s physics—highly professionalized; inextricably linked to government and industry—link back to its origins as a liberal art in ancient Greece? The History of Physics: A Very Short Introduction tells the 2,500-year story, exploring the changing place and purpose of physics in different cultures; highlighting the implications for humankind’s self-understanding. It introduces Islamic astronomers and mathematicians calculating the Earth’s size; medieval scholar-theologians investigating light; Galileo, Copernicus, Kepler, and Newton, measuring, and trying to explain, the universe. It visits: the House of Wisdom in 9th-century Baghdad; Europe’s first universities; the courts of the Renaissance; the Scientific Revolution and 18th-century academies; and the increasingly specialized world of 20th‒21st-century science.

Testing the universality of biology: a review

2007 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 241-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Chela-Flores
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Common Ancestor ◽  
Seminal Contribution ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Molecular Events ◽  
The Origin Of Life ◽  
The Right ◽  
Life On Earth ◽  
Cosmic Convergence ◽  
The Universe

AbstractWe discuss whether it is possible to test the universality of biology, a quest that is of paramount relevance for one of its most recent branches, namely astrobiology. We review this topic in terms of the relative roles played on the Earth biota by contingency and evolutionary convergence. Following the seminal contribution of Darwin, it is reasonable to assume that all forms of life known to us so far are not only terrestrial, but are descendants of a common ancestor that evolved on this planet at the end of a process of chemical evolution. We also raise the related question of whether the molecular events that were precursors to the origin of life on Earth are bound to occur elsewhere in the Universe, wherever the environmental conditions are similar to the terrestrial ones. We refer to ‘cosmic convergence’ as the possible occurrence elsewhere in the Universe of Earth-like environmental conditions. We argue that cosmic convergence is already suggested by observational data. The set of hypotheses for addressing the question of the universality of biology can be tested by future experiments that are feasible with current technology. We focus on landing on Europa and the broader implications of selecting the specific example of the right landing location. We have previously discussed the corresponding miniaturized equipment that is already in existence. The significance of these crucial points needs to be put into a wider scientific perspective, which is one of the main objectives of this review.

scholarly journals Studi Kritik Teori Penciptaan Dalam Kejadian 1:1-2 (Suatu Kajian terhadap Argumentasi Teori Celah)

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-78
Author(s):  
Djonly J. R. Rosang
Keyword(s):  
The Earth ◽  
Genesis 1 ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Creation ◽  
Creatio Ex Nihilo ◽  
Ex Nihilo ◽  
Biblical Perspective ◽  
In The Beginning ◽  
The Universe ◽  
Philosophic Perspective

The creation of the universe, according to the Holy Bible has actually done as said in Genesis 1-2. However, there are some people who are still struggling in order to search for the reason to question the process of how is this universe actually began, so that they will look for scientific consideration to find the “theoretical justification” over the biblical truth. This writing aims to give an answer to the gap theory in Genesis 1:1-2. The author, through the study Genesis 1:1-2, the result of this study concluded as follows. First, there is no exegesis background that is strong enough for gap theory to give an assumption that there was an unmeasurably period of time or age in the creation of the universe. Second, a biblical statement, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth ... for in six days the LORD made heaven and the earth” (Gen. 1:1; Ex. 20:11) is an ultimate fact of God’s power and majesty in creating the earth from nothing to existence with His Word (creatio ex Nihilo). Third, the doctrine of world’s creation must be the foundation of faith that is tested in the authority of God’s words (2 Tim. 3:16) and the entire creation of God which become the medium of scientifical activity in the history of humanity must be according to the biblical perspective. Fourth, The statement of Genesis 1:1 appears to be refutation toward various scientific theories and human’s philosophic perspective that are opposite the biblical truth (Gen. 1-2, Ps. 33:4-9).Pernyataan Alkitab tentang penciptaan alam semesta sebenarnya sudah tuntas sebagaimana dikemukakan dalam Kejadian 1-2. Namun ada saja orang yang berusaha mencari alasan untuk mempertanyakan proses terjadinya alam semesta ini, sehingga mencoba mencari pertimbangan ilmiah untuk menemukan “pembenaran teoritis” atas kebenaran Alkitab. Tulisan ini bertujuan untuk memberi jawab terhadap teori celah (gap theory) dalam Kejadian 1:1-2, melalui studi biblika penulis mengemukakan argumentasi paham teori celah, dalam kajian metode induktif terhadap studi teks Kejadian 1:1-2. Hasil studi ini disimpulkan bahwa: Pertama, bahwa tidak ada dasar eksegesis yang kuat bagi teori celah untuk memberi ruang bagi asumsi adanya rentang waktu periode atau zaman yang tak terukur dalam proses penciptaan semesta. Kedua, pernyataan Alkitab, “Pada mulanya Allah menciptakan langit dan bumi ... dalam waktu enam hari lamanya” (Kej. 1:1, Kel. 20:11) adalah suatu fakta Alkitab yang tak terbantahkan sebagai tindakan kemahakuasaan dan keagungan Allah menciptakan dunia dari yang tidak ada menjadi ada dengan firman-Nya (creatio ex nihilo). Ketiga, doktrin penciptaan harus menjadi landasan iman Kristen yang  diuji dalam otoritas Firman Allah yang berkuasa (2 Tim. 3:16) serta dunia ciptaan Allah dan segala isinya menjadi arena kegiatan ilmiah dalam lintasan sejarah manusia haruslah berdasarkan perspektif Alkitab. Keempat,  pernyataan penciptaan Kejadian 1:1 merupakan sanggahan terhadap berbagai teori ilmu pengetahuan dan pandangan filsafat manusia yang bertentangan dengan kebenaran Alkitab (Kej. 1-2, Mzm. 33:4-9).

scholarly journals The Melon Short paleobotanical and historical-linguistic review

2021 ◽  
pp. 69-83
Author(s):  
Guram Chikovani ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Cultivated Plants ◽  
Cattle Breeding ◽  
Origin And Evolution ◽  
The Earth ◽  
New Concepts ◽  
History Of ◽  
New Firm ◽  
Agricultural Plants ◽  
Land Farming ◽  
Life On Earth

Vegetation occupies a special place on the Earth. It was easily recognized by our remote ancestors who worshipped plants and animals together with the visible world. From the biblical viewpoint about the origin of the world and living organs and resulting from further scientific conceptions, origin and evolution of plants and their special function have always been given great importance. Plants are an unconditional source of life on earth. With their development, early humans changed their ideas about and relationship with the changing environment. After the formation of convenient natural conditions, in different regions of the earth humans started developing a new form of production – land farming and cattle breeding and began creating new firm settlements. Consequently, there emerged new concepts –cultivated plants and domesticated animals - in economic activity. Improved species of plants and animals were created by means of human interference, which is why their majority have preserved only the gene and some characteristics of their wild ancestors. One of such cultivated agricultural plants is the melon with its very interesting history of evolution.

WAJAH KERAHIMAN ALLAH DALAM PERJANJIAN LAMA

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 74-81
Author(s):  
Agustinus Supriyadi
Keyword(s):  
Everyday Life ◽  
Old Testament ◽  
Jesus Christ ◽  
The Earth ◽  
The People ◽  
God's Love ◽  
The Face ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Universe

The theme is taken for this Jubilee is "Compassionate like God - Like the Merciful Father" (Lk 6:36).God is essentially show mercy, even declared himself the Almighty through His mercy. We must realize that God's mercy was not a sign of weakness, but a sign of power. Since the Old Testament, God invites each individual to reflect on his mercy, as proclaimed by the prophet Zephaniah. God has to get rid of the punishment that fell upon His people (Zephaniah 3:15). God is also present in the midst of His people (Zephaniah 3:17) expressed his compassion and solidarity. Moreover, God refurbish the people with His love (Zephaniah 3:17). God's mercy is transformed and entered into the history of mankind, in the person of Jesus Christ. He is the perfect face of God's mercy. Finally, everyone is called to show the face of the compassion of God through everyday life. God's love is so great that it revealed first of the works of creation. His love for man revealed in action by creating the universe and it is all provided for humans. Because after all there (the earth and its contents) God created man in the image of Himself.

From Russian Icaria to Russian Cosmism

2021 ◽  
Vol 64 ◽  
pp. 361-368
Author(s):  
Fedor I. Girenok
Keyword(s):  
Space Flight ◽  
Human Being ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
The Earth ◽  
The World ◽  
Global Problems ◽  
History Of ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Universe

In the article the author analyzes the phenomenon of Russian cosmism and shows its difference from other possible varieties of cosmism. The author understands Russian cosmism as the idea of extending the definition of the universe by the human beings. A human being doesn’t simply have his place in history, on the Earth and in space, but also broadens it by means of his material and spiritual actions. The idea of the world broadening was popular among Russian naturalists in the 19th and the 20th centuries. The most prominent figures among the Russian cosmism followers were N.F. Fedorov and K. E. Tsiolkovsky. The author distinguishes three directions in the history of Russian cosmism – religious, natural-scientific and artistic-poetical. According to the author, only after Gagarin’s space flight the idea of Russian Icaria transferred itself into Russian cosmism. The article studies the sources of Russian cosmism and explains the meaning of anthropocosmism. The author arrives at the conclusion that Russian cosmism offers its own approach to solving modern global problems that differs from the ideas in the reports to the Roman club.

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