[allmendream]

Life that didn't metabolize would break down irreparably. Life that didn't replicate would eventually become extinct.

A necessary condition of life is that it is organized.

A necessary condition of being organized is the need to consume energy to maintain that organization.

And yes, the definition for life I used is the solid basis that others would use as the launch pad for their flights of fancy.

[Alamo-Girl]

allmendream's definition of life:

An organization of molecules that consumes energy in order to maintain and replicate its molecular organization.

By your definition, I do not believe the blessed virgin Mary would be considered alive.

Alamo-Girl's definition of life:

Information (Shannon, successful communication): the reduction of uncertainty (Shannon entropy) in the receiver (or molecular machine) as it goes from a before state to an after state.

Living things communicate. Non-living and dead things do not communicate. And that distinction applies at all hierarchies from molecular machinery to organism to collectives to here and there, to physical and non-physical. It is universal because it is math.

By the Shannon definition, the blessed virgin Mary is alive even though she is not in the flesh. Ditto for our spirits even while in the flesh.

So also [is] the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [was made] a quickening spirit. – I Cor 15:42-45

To me, the unreasonable effectiveness of math (Wigner) is like God's copyright notice on the cosmos.

Jesus' Name is Word.

[hosepipe]

[ Life that didn't metabolize would break down irreparably. / Life that didn't replicate would eventually become extinct. ]

Jesus said the same thing..
"You MUST be born again"- Jesus.. i.e. John ch 6..
Basically, organic life is not eternal life..

An organic machine can exist and mask as life..
but is and was not life at all... the package is not the contents..
But merely the packageing.. of Life..

[hosepipe]

John ch 6........
http://www.awitness.org/biblehtm/joh/joh6.htm