Is there life on other planets?
Hans Bodlaender
There are many science fiction movies, television series and books about creatures from other planets. In most of these books and movies, aliens have spaceships that allow them to travel between different star systems, and on planets in these other systems, intelligent creatures live and look like people, but are different. We all know that reality is different from books. Physics tells us that strange things happen when we travel with a speed somewhat close to the speed of light - and, if modern physics is correct, it is impossible for humans to travel between star systems. If other creatures live on other planets, then they have to face the same type of problems, so it seems impossible for them to travel from their planets to ours. If there are intelligent creatures living on planets in other star systems, it seems, according to modern science, that we won’t meet them.
If there is life on other planets, how did it originate? I see three hypotheses:
1) On the other planet, life started in the same way as the evolution theory says that it started here. Apart from the fact that the evolution theory is not the well-rounded and totally scientifically proven theory that people want us to believe, in general, followers of the theory tell that the chance of life starting on a planet is rather small. A term sometimes used is: A magnificent accident. I believe the probability is even smaller than they say, too small to assume that it actually can have happened by accident, but even if you believe life on earth was such a magnificent accident, the chances that this has happened more than once are too small to assume that it may have happened.
2) Life on different planets has a common origin. Say, some very primitive form of life originated somewhere travels to another planet, developing there into an intelligent form of life. There are quite a lot of questions to be asked of such a theory, and, again, calculating the probabilities seems to make it unlikely.
3) Life on earth has been created by God. Possibly, God has also created life on other planets. If God has created life on earth, he may have created life on other planets too. As far as I can tell, the Bible does not say anything about this, so this remains possible. If there are intelligent beings on other planets, I would assume they would know God. Would they also have a fall to sin, like the humans? Would we meet them in heaven? Would there be atheists and religious extraterrestrials? We cannot know.
So, if there are extra-terrestrial intelligent beings, or, even, other types of life on planets outside our solar system, then to me, that would be a new proof of the existence of God. But I cannot understand atheists that sincerely state they follow standard evolution theory and are at the same moment on a search for intelligent life on other planets.
Finally, is there life on other planets in our solar system? Well, I guess, yes: probably on Mars, there now will be bacteria brought to the planet from earth by one of the Mars-expeditions that were recently carried out.
(http://people.cs.uu.nl/hansb/religion. Adaptado.)
QUESTÃO 21
De acordo com a primeira hipótese do texto sobre vida em outros planetas,
a) Há grande possibilidade de que a vida tenha se iniciado em diversos planetas por acidente.
b) Segundo a teoria da evolução, a possibilidade de haver vida em outros planetas é pequena.
c) Segundo a teoria da evolução, a vida na Terra pode ter se iniciado repetidas vezes.
d) Segundo a teoria da evolução, a possibilidade de haver vida em outros planetas é grande.
e) Segundo os cientistas, há pouca possibilidade de que a teoria da evolução esteja correta.
QUESTÃO 22
Com base na segunda hipótese sobre vida em outros planetas, entende-se que
a) Formas de vida inteligente viajam de um planeta a outro.
b) Seja comum haver formas de vida inteligente em diversos planetas.
c) Formas de vida inteligente também originaram a vida.
d) Uma forma de vida primitiva não poderia evoluir em outro planeta.
e) Uma forma de vida primitiva possa ter originado a vida.
QUESTÃO 23
Na terceira hipótese sobre vida em outros planetas, afirma-se que,
a) Se a vida na Terra foi criada por Deus, a criação da vida em outros planetas provavelmente também foi criação divina.
b) Se há seres em outros planetas, eles provavelmente não acreditam na existência de Deus.
c) Se a vida na Terra foi criada por Deus, provavelmente não existem seres inteligentes em outros planetas.
d) Se há seres inteligentes em outros planetas, eles provavelmente não gostam dos pecados cometidos pelos seres humanos.
e) Se há vida inteligente em outros planetas, não sabemos porque a Bíblia não faz nenhuma menção a essa possibilidade.
QUESTÃO 24
A terceira hipótese sobre vida em outros planetas
a) Baseia-se em afirmações bíblicas sobre seres extraterrestres.
b) Descarta a possibilidade de Deus ter criado vida em outros planetas.
c) Baseia-se em contradições bíblicas sobre seres extraterrestres.
d) Sugere que seres extraterrestres também acreditem em Deus.
e) Sugere a possibilidade de vida humana em outros planetas.
QUESTÃO 25
Qual dos fatos listados constitui, segundo o texto, uma experiência científica sobre a possibilidade de vida em outros planetas?
a) Bactérias trazidas de Marte à Terra por uma expedição espacial.
b) Seres humanos viajarem a uma velocidade superior à da luz.
c) Bactérias levadas da Terra a Marte por uma expedição espacial.
d) Seres humanos viajarem a uma velocidade inferior à da luz.
e) Fatos estranhos ocorrem quando extraterrestres viajam pelo espaço.
Calling occupants of interplanetary craft
In your mind you have capacities you know
To telepath messages through the vast unknown
Please close your eyes and concentrate
With every thought you think
Upon the recitation we’re about to sing
Calling occupants of interplanetary craft
Calling occupants of interplanetary most extraordinary craft
Calling occupants of interplanetary craft
Calling occupants of interplanetary craft
Calling occupants of interplanetary, most extraordinary craft
You’ve been observing our earth
And we’d like to make a contact with you
We are your friends
Calling occupants of interplanetary craft
Calling occupants of interplanetary ultra-emissaries
We’ve been observing your earth
And one night we’ll make a contact with you
We are your friends
Calling occupants of interplanetary quite extraordinary craft
And please come in peace, we beseech you
Only a landing will teach them
Our earth may never survive
So do come, we beg you
Please interstellar policeman
Oh won’t you give us a sign
Give us a sign that we’ve reached you
With your mind you have ability to form
And transmit thought energy far beyond the norm
You close your eyes, you concentrate
Together that’s the way
To send the message
We declare world contact day
Calling occupants
Calling occupants
Calling occupants of interplanetary, anti-adversary craft
We are your friends
(http://www.lyricsfreak.com)
De acordo com a primeira hipótese do texto sobre vida em outros planetas,