That is, it is dogmatically held that life must either have started on Earth through the natural process of abiogenesis or it otherwise had no choice but be created by God ...
Other than the creationists in their god delusion I do not think any of the rest of us have limited abiogenesis to this one occurrence on this one planet. Chemistry being what it is there appear to be few restrictions on the proposed hypotheses. Indeed indirect evidence from chemistry, organics in interstellar clouds, etc., support the speculation (and it is still yet speculation) that abiogenic events have occurred, are occurring and will occur, maybe by the millions, all across this galaxy. A long long time ago in a thread far far away I even speculated that such abiogenic events continue to occur on this planet.
If we treat this subject seriously and do away with the religious nonsense then there is only one venue. Abiogenesis happened.
Whether the event that precipitated life on this specific planet was home grown or was imported (panspermia) is an interesting question. But regardless, the specific abiogenic event that gave us beautiful women, fine wine and Halyomorpha halys does not preclude other such events, in abundance, in other areas of this galaxy.
There are other avenues to explore for f's sake!
Like what?
Lately I see some awakening of interest in the panspermia ideas exemplified by the Journal of Cosmology and so on yet that is not enough to which this thread is a good demonstration.
Then help enlighten us. What is your favorite hypothesis or speculation?
Edited by AZPaul3, : the usual
Edited by AZPaul3, : heaven forbid I should forgot a subtitle