Continue with What Is the Origin of Life?

We should not think that this issue is rather remote from us and from our finding a more meaningful life. As already noted, one of the very fundamental questions humans have sought to answer is.  Where did we as living humans come from?

Most science courses focus on the adaptation and survival of life-forms instead of on the more central question of the very origin of life. You may have noted that attempts  to explain where life came from are usually presented in generalizations such as:  'Over millions of years, molecules in collusion somehow produced life,' Yet,is that really satisfying?  It would mean that in the presence of energy from the sun, lightning, or volcanoes, some lifeless matter moved, became organized, and eventually started living-all of this without directed assistance. What a huge leap that would have been!  From non-living matter to living!  Could it have occurred that way?

Back in the Middle Ages, accepting such a concept might not have seemed a problem because spontaneous generation-the notion that life could arise spontaneously from non-living matter-was a prevailing belief. Finally, in the 17th century, Italian physician Francesco Redi proved that maggots appeared in rotten meat only after flies had laid eggs on it. No maggots developed on meat that flies could not reach. If animals as big as flies did not appear on their own, what about the microbes that kept appearing in food-covered or  not? Although later experiments indicated that microbes did not arise spontaneously, the issue remained controversial.  Then came the work of Louis Pasteur.  

Next time: Continue with What Is the Origin of Life?

From the book Is There a Creator That Cares About You?