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December 1966-January 1967

Exchange with Dr. Oliver about "The Religious Implications of Extraterrestrial Life" and Academic Criticism (1966)

Torah & Science

1. Dr. Oliver to R. Lamm

1. Dr. Oliver to R. Lamm (Dec. 28, 1966)

1. Dr. Oliver to R. Lamm (Dec. 28, 1966)

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The Religious Implications of Extraterrestrial Life (1965)

The existence of rational, sentient beings on a planet other than earth is no longer a fantastic, remote possibility conjectured by imaginative and unrealistic minds. It is declared not a possibility but a probability by an ever-growing chorus of distinguished astronomers and eminent scientists in all fields. Already there has been established a new science — “exobiology.” the study of forms of extraterrestrial life — although neither specimens of such living matter nor definite proof of their existence is yet available. The speculation of these men of science is that in many corners of the universe life has developed to a degree far higher than here on earth, so that — in the words of Walter Sullivan at the beginning of his splendid volume on the subject, We Are Not Alone1 — “not only are we not central in the scheme of things, but we may be inferior, physically, mentally and spiritually, to more highly evolved beings elsewhere.” Almost all descriptions of the current attempts to discover such extraterrestrial life are accompanied by exhortations about the profound implications for humanity’s view of the universe and the need for theologians and philosophers to re-examine their doctrines. When the existence of life elsewhere is established, and especially if some contact is made with intelligent beings elsewhere, we will be confronted by as much of a challenge to our established way of thought as when the Copernican revolution displaced the earth from the center of the universe and set in motion a religious and philosophical upheaval that has but recently run its course. One of the most persistent advocates of a radically new philosophy is the famous Harvard astronomer, Harlow Shapley. who in 1918 located the center of our galaxy (the Milky Way) insome 50,000 light years away. Shapley finds in the probability of intelligent extraterrestrial life “the intimations of man’s inconsequentiality.” Vannevar Bush, one of the worldV most distinguished men of science, has a…
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Correspondence

Exchange with Dr. Shneour about His Scholarship on Extraterrestrial Life (1966)

Dear Dr. Schneour: Mr. Raymond A. Haeckel of the Public Relations Department of the University of Utah was kind enough to send me a copy of a news release and article in which you were interviewed concerning the question of life on other planets. Mr. Haeckel sent me this in response to an article which recently appeared in the New York Times, reporting on an article I had published in Tradition: A Journal of Orthodox Jewish Thought.As soon as reprints of my article become available, I will send one on to you. I hope you will do me the favor of reading it and letting me know your reactions.Permit me now to add a personal note. I may be mistaken, but I think that we once met many years ago. I had the pleasure of meeting, several years before his death, the distinguished Hebrew and Yiddish poet, Zalman Schneour, together with his wife, his son, and his daughter. In fact, he once did me the honor of reading and criticizing some Hebrew poetry which I wrote.I dimly recall hearing that this son was a biologist in Utah. That is why I believe that you are probably the man I met at that time. Perhaps it will help you to recall our association if I mention the name of my beloved aunt, Mrs. Sarah Wank. She and my late uncle Hyman were very friendly with the Schneour family.Finally, I would be very pleased to receive copies of any publications you may have on this theme that is of mutual interest to us.Sincerely yours,RABBI NORMAN LAMM
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Correspondence

Exchange with Michael Kaufman about "Religious Implications of Extraterrestrial Life" (1966)

Dear Rabbi Lamm, Just a fan letter to let you Know how much I appreciated your excellent, thought-provoking study, "The Religious Implications of Extraterrestrial Life" in the current issue of Tradition. The discussion was significant in exploring a Jewish approach to the eventual discovery of life on other worlds, and as such I nave no doubt that your study will be the source to which Jewish (and possibly Catholic) theologians will turn in 10, 50 or 100 years when, as is probable, contact will be made with extraterrestrial life.However, of at least equal or greater significance in my mind, was your treatment, in the course of your discussion, of a number of major concepts of Jewish theology from the Orthodox point of view which provided fresh, new insights into biblical exegesis and the story of the Creation, and the nature of G-d, and His relation to man. You have thus made available to the Orthodox Jewish intellectual, scientist and collegian a major contribution to their understanding of Judaism, and all three will find in your discussion a new source of strength for their faith as they delve into questions relating to G-d, man and the universe.May G-d grant you the strength and the means to continue in the footsteps of the Rambam and S.R. Hirsch.Sincerely,Michael KaufmanRabbi Norman Lamm 27 West 06th Street New York City
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