We have all probably wondered at some point if there is life in the universe outside of Earth. Our ability to land probes on distant worlds and send satellites outside our solar system, coupled with the over 5,000 exoplanets discovered since the early 2000s have inspired scientists to speculate more seriously about the possibility of extraterrestrial life. 

But even more fundamental than space probes, satellites and exoplanets in influencing many to consider the existence of life elsewhere in the cosmos is Charles Darwin's theory of evolution and natural selection in addition to the speculative field of abiogenesis (the study of the origin of life). If life arose and developed "naturally" here on Earth, apart from God creating life, then it is claimed, it seems reasonable to conclude, given the vastness of the cosmos itself, that life may have spontaneously arisen on many other planets. 

But is the idea of alien life, especially intelligent alien life, really science or just science fiction? 

Here on part one Wayne and Dan discuss some of the characteristics of what is known as a planetary habitable zone as well as how Darwin's evolutionary ideas have inspired science's quest to find extraterrestrial life. 

Check out our other episodes on extraterrestrials, comet abiogenesis, UFO's, and ancient aliens.

Watchman Fellowship Profiles on Alien Cults:

Heaven's Gate

https://www.watchman.org/profiles/pdf/heavensgateprofile.pdf

The Raelians

https://www.watchman.org/profiles/pdf/raelianprofile.pdf

Articles from UFO researcher Gary Bates

https://creation.com/did-god-create-life-on-other-planets

https://creation.com/et-needed-evolution

Wayne's Review of Gary Bates' book Alien Intrusion

https://creationanswers.net/answersblog/2012/08/11/the-alien-deception/

Our very talented narrator (and singer) Annemarie Smuts from South Africa:

https://annismuts.wixsite.com/listen2ava

Podbean enables our podcast to be on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms.  To support Good Heavens! on Podbean as a patron, you can use the Podbean app, or go to https://patron.podbean.com/goodheavens.  This goes to Wayne Spencer. If you would like to give to the ministry of Watchman Fellowship or to Daniel Ray, you can donate at https://www.watchman.org/daniel. Donations to Watchman are tax deductible.