Sunday, April 18, 2004
God, the universe and YOU
The Book of Genesis describes how God created man in his own image, made the stars and set them in "the firmament of the sky" to cast light on the Earth.
Humankind's exclusively cozy relationship with God is a hallmark of religions practiced by billions of people.
But what happens should one day science discover that life is not unique to Earth?
University of Arizona astronomer Christopher Impey beat out applicants at 200 other universities for a three-year $275,000 Templeton Foundation grant to host a dialogue in Tucson about how life elsewhere would challenge human spirituality on the third planet from the sun.
The lecture series, "Astrobiology and the Sacred: Implications of Life Beyond Earth," will include up to five keynote lectures by "Nobel-Prize-level" speakers and up to 10 other speakers.
No dates have been set, and Impey is working to secure lecturers.
The topic is intellectually fertile because scientific discovery and religious doctrine have clashed over subjects like evolution, a sun-centered solar system and the origins of the cosmos, Impey said.
"The discovery of life on a planet other than Earth will confront us dramatically because we will have to come to grips with the fact that we are not special," Impey said.
He predicts that within five to 10 years, proof of microbial life existing or having existed on other worlds will be discovered.
Extraterrestrial microbes would prove life is not exclusively earthbound. But the prospect of discovering complex or intelligent life in the heavens, although more remote, is loaded with ramifications humanity might find troubling, Impey said.
Christianity has unnecessarily tussled with science, said Roger Barrier, chief pastor at Casas Adobes Baptist Church.
"What I found fascinating is that the discovery of science seems to challenge a lot of believers," Barrier said. "When science doesn't fit the Bible, it blows the faith away."
Such a reaction is unnecessary, said Barrier, who himself believes "there's life all over the universe."
While religious leaders may have little trouble adapting to a universe where humankind is not alone, they may be called upon for some heavy-duty spiritual guidance to convince the rank and file, said Barrier.
He once thought of science as a threat to his faith but has come to see science as a way to describe how God works.
Impey, a sworn agnostic with a photo in his office of himself meeting the pope, said "science and reason can co-exist."
But he warns the shock to human consciousness would likely depend on what kind of life is discovered, Impey said.
Human beings are a relatively new species and are brand new to technology. Intelligent life would almost certainly be more advanced than Homo sapiens, Impey said.
"The things we have declared different we have declared lesser," Impey said. "It's extremely unlikely that if we were to discover a civilization or entity that was not from this planet, that they would not be far beyond where we are technologically."
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