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Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2000 13:13:58 -0500 (EST)
From: Russell Hendel <  rhendel@mcs.drexel.edu>
Subject: Re: The Universe: Why Did G-d Create It?

Shoshan writes in Bais Medrash Volume 2 Number 10 about an 11 year old girl
who wants to know WHY G-d created such a vast universe.

I have previously (on Torah Forum) cited a study by the RAND corporation
published in book form entitled HABITABLE PLANETS. This book studies the
feasability of finding intelligent life on other planets.

(To give a taste of HOW such a question can be answered let me point out
that the book notes that all life is based on the cell and the cell is
based on a water based solution---hence temperatures on the planet would
have to be between 50-100 degrees farenheight--other inferences about what
is needed for life can similarly be made).

The bottom line of the book is that we should expect on the average one
habitable planet (with intelligent life) about once every 4 light years.

In a previous Torah Forum posting I suggested that it is reasonable that
other planets have tyrannical empires like Egypt, people of Great Faith
like Abraham and because of G-d's fairness, G-d would prophesy people like
Moses to overthrow the Egyptian type empires. It is reasonable that the
'laws' gives to prophets on other planets are similar to the laws in our
Torah (eg the need for abstention in the dietary and family spheres).

Thus the bottom line is that G-d created so many galaxies in order to
populate them with a cosmic variety of people and this is part of G-d's
honor that His Dominion is Cosmic and Galactic

Hope this satisfies the 11 year old who asked the question. Please have her
read the book by the Rand corporation...it is quite good.

Russell Jay Hendel; Phd ASA; Professor of Mathematics; Towson University
RHendel@Towson.Edu, Moderator Rashi is Simple; http://www.shamash.org/rashi/

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