The Earth, God, scientific theory...Earth is too perfect?

Question

My mother has always said how can the earth be so perfect without the hand of God? The perfect distance from the sun, a few million in and we would fry a few million out we would freeze. The gravity and the atmosphere are ideal for life. I say that is exactly WHY there is life...because this planet evolved in such a perfect condition and life developed BECAUSE it was perfect. Life certainly isn't as common as Star Trek implies, and a Class "M" (Earth-like) planet is probably extremely rare. Maybe we are "it" (that would be a bummer), because this planet was such an astronomically odd occurance. Maybe life was accidental, and out of 12 billion light years of expanding space...Earth is unique. What do you think?

You're still alive aren't you Howard? Try a few minutes on the moon...yeah I'd say perfect.

cbirch: The universe is not 98 billion light years across, or it would have to be that AGE too, and it is NOT!

Amanss:
I was trying to show both sides, and obviously I don't believe both. As for class "M", I said that there probably aren't any READ. And that class is more than atmosphere (EARTH-LIKE MEANS ALL OF EARTH'S PROPERTIES)

TO ALL YOU SAYING EARTH IS HARDLY PERFECT: IT IS RELATIVELY PERFECT COMPARED TO ANY KNOWN PLANET OR SPACE FOR THAT MATTER!!

Answer 1

The Earth is perfect for our form of life because we evolved on this Earth in this environment.

But there is no rule or law that says we are the only life in the universe. Life on another planet or on a moon could thrive as well, but in an environment we would consider hostile or deadly.

Right here on Earth, there are lifeforms that live and thrive in the superheated ocean water around volcanic "black smokers". There are other lifeforms that live in environments with no oxygen at all (and in fact oxygen would kill them).

They have found over 264 planets around other stars in our galaxy already, so planets are not uncommon. While we haven't found any "Earths" yet, doesn't mean they don't exist (we wouldn't be able to see our Earth if we were observing from one of those distant planets).

Answer 2

I am dissappointed to hear so many people ragging on your mothers age old questoin. I don't see any hostility in the question you pose, and i dont see why you deserve to get a few hostile anti god answers.

There are quite a few good answers but i will mention a few points some people did not mention.

Habitable Zone (HZ) and Galactic Habitable Zone (GHZ) play an obvoius major role in our lifes. The habitable zone is a region of space where conditions are favorable for life as it can be found on Earth. We are have found a few planets that exist within habitable zones of other stars, such as Gliese 581c, HD something somethings, and recently we have discovered a solar system around 55 Cancri which should have a planet in the hz zone.

Our area in the galaxy also happens to be very habitable (galactictic habitable zone). Towards the center of our galaxy it is much more chaotic with gamma ray bursts, black hole, etc. We are on teh left arm of our spiral galaxy and things seem to be rather peaceful in comparison to our surrounds.

"The gravity and the atmosphere are ideal for life." It is ideal for life as we know it. Which are carbon based, and oxygen breathing proteins. (Carbon Dioxide for plant cells). Even some critters living of sulferic acid. In terms of gravity, our bodies (and all critters of earth) can withstand the gravity of earth without floating away or being crushed. Just because we can not stand on Venus does not mean extraterristrial living things can not do this.

Our planet didn't evolve in such a perfect condition. The heavy bombardment period was not a perfect time. Look at the moons surface and mercery. Our planet was also being pelted with astroids and debris.

To be honest, there are alot of theories of how and why life emerged on this planet. Amino acids could have arrived from the outer solar system via meteorites seem plausible. There are countless theories, to many to get involved with here.

"Life isn't as common as Star Trek implies...." we do not know that. That is a science fiction movie. Unfortunetly we do not have the technology to travel the extreme distances needed to travel in a sufficient amount of time needed to discover these planets and beings. Even if we were capable of traveling at the speed of light (186000 mps) these voyages would still be very long for the human lifespan.

"Class M" planets are popping up in these habitable zones we are looking for.

I highly doubt we are "it." the human species has literally just bagan space exporation. You have to remember for 1800 years many many many great minds were silenced by religion not being alound to speak out about what tthey thought and observed in the stars. For 1800 years mankind was pretty much stagnant and held down by the churches.

Do i think Earth is unique? No.

Answer 3

Look here! Somebody is showing off the pros and cons of religious home schooling, again. It is hard to make a better argument against it than this one.

Enough said. To waste another line on creationist nonsense would be irresponsible.

Oh, well, maybe one thing: "class M planets" only exist in SciFi. Scientists do not broadly classify planets according to their atmospheric composition. Why would they? We have much better tools at our disposal than "A, B, C, D...". But then, it must be great to be able to abstract everything to the level of a first grader learning his ABCs.

And it is funny how religious feelings and SciFi nomenclature seem to mind-meld so seamlessly into anti-intellectualism of such devotion.

PS: don't flame me. YOU asked me what I think. That was what I think. That and a few things which would certainly violate Yahoo rules.

:-)

Answer 4

The Earth is perfect? There's only about 10% or less of the Earth we can survive on for very long without modern technology.

The Earth isn't perfectly adapted to us - we adapted to fit what we had, namely the Earth.

Actually, Earth-sized planets may be plentiful. We just don't have the technology to see them yet. Give us a few more years.

Answer 5

The weak anthropic principle says if there weren't at least one planet in the universe suitable for life, we wouldn't be here wondering about it. I think the sheer size of the universe is a pretty good argument against any concept of special creation. To think some God created all this just so we could sit here and sing hymns raises the question of why it took Him/Her/It/Them/Us a few sextillion tries to get it right.

Life evolved here because conditions were good enough for long enough. "Perfect" is probably a bit too optimistic, given ice ages, asteroid impacts, and what not.

Answer 6

Funnily sufficient, i've got often theory that if God does exist, that he'd reward the atheists maximum of thinking serious theory and actual taking a 2d to question the ideals that a huge proportion of the international inhabitants believes. perhaps he encourages technological awareness, yet human beings have misinterpreted him?? it rather isn't in all probability an answer, yet oh nicely.

Answer 7

we are here because of those things they are not here because of us.

o and as far as we can tell its more like 98 billion light years of space (across). with much more beyond that. and as far as we know earth isnt unique. weve found many other planets that could be similar to earth. the problem with finding an exactly earth like planet is that earth is fairly small and it doesnt produce light. so its hard to see from lightyears away.

Answer 8

Perfect? Volcanoes, earthquakes, droughts, floods, blizzards. Summer is too hot, winter is too cold. Sunshine causes wrinkles, cataracts, skin cancer. Poisonous plants. Killer asteroids. Radioactive rocks. Radon gas in our basements. Predators. Perfect?

Answer 9

Hi. This is a perfect example of the anthropic theory, we are here BECAUSE of the conditions. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropic_principle

Answer 10

What an amazing fact it is that the nose is perfectly designed to support the spectacles.