You: What would you say about fire? It can move, it can grow and spreading or sending out sparks seems like a form of reproduction. Would you say that fire is alive?

Aaron: No. I might agree that fire can move and grow — although it does not do these things in the same way that a living thing would — but it does not reproduce. Throwing sparks into the air is different than spreading seeds or pollen because there is no genetic material involved.

You: Genetic material is a feature of life on earth, a part of our makeup, but I couldn't say that it is part of what defines us as living. At least, I don't remember you saying anything about it in your definition.

Aaron: Well, I am willing to make it part of my definition.

You: Are you saying that, if science discovered a completely alien form of life, in another solar system perhaps, which had no genetic material you would not say that it is alive?

Aaron: If I found a living thing elsewhere I would change my definition to accommodate it, that is part of science.

You: On the contrary, the fact that you would have to change your definition to accommodate creatures without genetic material tells me that the definition you have given me for life is not the one you are really using. If you really believed in your definition, you would say that creatures without genetic material are not alive.

Aaron: This whole line of reasoning is a waste of time. I am confident about including genetic material in my definition of life because there are no living things on earth without it, and the Bible teaches us that there is no life other than that on Earth.

You: That is a rather dogmatic statement, isn't it? If I were you, I'd be careful not to use the Bible as part of a proof before we've even proven that it's supposed inspiration exists.

Aaron: The Bible is the word of the Lord, his simplest means of communicating with us. Without it, we are nothing but blind men in a forest of lies.

You: Can I assume that you've given up on the while "life" argument?

Aaron: You were hopelessly unable to see my point, so there is nothing I can do but drop that line of reasoning, but our discussion of the Bible reminds me of another fact. See if you can follow me this time.