Is Life on Other Planets Probable?

Question of the week: Why isn’t the probability for life on other planets high?

My answer: It is possible that God enjoys creating so much that he may have created life on other planets. The only biblical constraint on extraterrestrial physical life is Hebrews 9:24–10:14 where the author of Hebrews declares that Jesus Christ was sacrificed at one time and one place to redeem all whom God intends to redeem. However, everywhere astronomers observe beyond Earth they see conditions that are hostile for life and especially for advanced life. Nevertheless, I have been on public record since the 1980s affirming that the remains of life will be found on several solar system bodies. Given how prolific microbial life is on Earth and how frequently Earth has been bombarded by large meteorites, thousands of tons of Earth soil containing the remains of quadrillions of microbes must exist on the surfaces of the Moon, Mars, and other solar system bodies.¹  

The gospel accounts seem to imply that God does not perform superfluous miracles. See, for example, John 6:1–70. Given that God’s goal is to eradicate evil while enhancing the free will capability of those humans who choose to be redeemed by God, the universe must be exactly as large and as massive as astronomers measure it to be, but only one planet possessing the features permitting the existence of physical, intelligent, spiritual beings is necessary. For details that explain all the reasons why see my book Why the Universe Is the Way It Is. Anyone can obtain a free chapter at reasons.org/ross.

Endnote

1. Hugh Ross, “Why We Need to Return to the Moon,” Today’s New Reason to Believe (May 28, 2007), https://reasons.org/explore/publications/articles/why-we-need-to-return-to-the-moon; Hugh Ross, “Where to Look for Earth’s First Life,” NRTB E-ZINE (January 1, 2009), https://reasons.org/explore/publications/nrtb-e-zine/read/nrtb-e-zine/2009/01/01/where-to-look-for-earth’s-first-life.