[John H K]

Is it a coincidence that the earth is in the precise distance from the sun to spark life? 10% closer (a mere 9 million miles) and water would boil off, 10% further out and water would be perpetually frozen.

Ever heard of the Anthropic Principle?

We're at a distance from the sun that could generate advanced life forms capable of thinking about and posting an internet message commenting on how far the earth is from the sun. Planets at the incorrect distance from the sun(and there may be trillions of those) will not generate advanced life forms posting on a message board commenting on their distance from the sun. And given our distance from the sun we're going to evolve life forms perfectly adapted to that distance from the sun.

Basically, our distance from the sun could very easily be dumb luck rather than divine intervention.

[BabsC]

Didn't Thomas Paine in his book "The Age of Reason", I think is his book say that the Laws of Physics and Nature were the "Word of God" and there for all men to learn and know? Just my 2 cents worth this morning.....

[RadioAstronomer]

Indeed. :-)

[Ophiucus]

Basically, our distance from the sun could very easily be dumb luck rather than divine intervention.

Plus there is some argument that the narrow band isn't as narrow as previously thought.