A group of researchers from Oxford University’s Future of Humanity Institute recently released a paper telling people to quit hoping and looking for life on other planets because what happened on earth was so rare, so impossible and required so much luck, it basically could not be repeated. Of course, they were speaking from an evolutionary perspective.

They described the chances of life forming on another planet as “exceptionally rare” because it required a series of events and transitions that were so complicated, it is basically impossible to repeat.

The group was addressing those who believe with an estimated 400 billions stars and 100 billion planets in our galaxy alone, there must be millions of civilizations similar to us in the universe.

According to an article in the Daily Mail, the biological statisticians from Oxford used a technique called “Bayesian analysis” to statistically calculate what the chances were of life emerging on other planets from non-organic matter, evolving the ability to sexually reproduce and to develop intelligence. Their conclusion, quit looking.

They added that the statistical impossibility of evolution was further complicated by finding a perfect planet like earth for it to happen.

But these were not the first scientists to suggest what happened on earth was so impossible it essentially could not be repeated.

In 1950, physicist Enrico Fermi developed what came to be called the Fermi Paradox that basically stated with billions of planets, the fact we have not found examples of alien life is proof there must be barriers that prevent the formation of advanced alien races.

In 2014, Brian Cox, a physicist from the University of Manchester, hosted a documentary entitled “Human Universe.” Cox, who still holds to the theory of evolution, basically said what happened on earth was so impossible, he described it as “miraculous.”

“There is only one advance technological civilization in this galaxy and there has only ever been one– and that’s us. We are unique,” Cox said.

He added there are many roadblocks in evolution but added, “humanity miraculously overcame them in a chance binding of two single cells merging somewhere in the mists of time.”

But nevertheless the belief in alien life persists. I know those holding to the theory of evolution love to mock Christians for our belief in God, but according to a survey conducted by professor David Weintraub from Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, 55% of atheists believe in aliens despite no evidence for their existence.

Sure there are YouTube videos of people who claimed to have been captured by aliens for scientific experimentation, but that hardly counts as evidence.

But not to be undone, atheists have subsequently developed theories to explain why we can’t find these advanced civilizations. This includes a theory called “Zoo hypothesis” that holds advanced civilizations are purposefully avoiding contact with our world.

The Star Trek movie, First Contact, proposed a similar idea stating that advanced alien civilizations like the Vulcans were purposefully avoided making contact with earth until we develop warp drive. In the movie, the Star Trek Enterprise had to travel back in time to stop the Borg, who had also gone back in time, from interrupting earth’s development of warp drive. In its description of the movie, Wikipedia noted it was “science fiction.”

But that is not the only theory. Speaking to the 2014 annual meeting of the American Physical Society, physicist Dr. John Brandenburg provided evidence of an advanced civilization on Mars that had been wiped out by another more-advanced alien race. I think that idea was first proposed in a science fiction novel written by H. G. Wells in 1897 entitled, War of the Worlds.

Of course, what is missing in this discussion is this: If it is basically impossible for life to evolve on other planets, then the same applies to earth.

Which is why the Apostle Paul says at the time of judgment, God’s miraculous creation will ultimately leave us without excuse.

²⁰ For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, being understood by what has been made, so that they are without excuse. (Romans 1:20 NASV)

READ: Humans are as good as it gets: Scientists say evolution of intelligent life is ‘exceptionally rare’ and even our own existence is the result of a series of lucky ‘transitions’ AND We are alone in the universe: Professor Brian Cox says alien life is all but impossible and humanity is unique AND Believe in Aliens? Then you’re probably an atheist or Muslim: Study reveals how religion affects your likelihood of believing in ET AND Ancient martian civilization was wiped out by nuclear bomb-wielding aliens — and they could attack Earth next, claims physicist