This is a very interesting thread. However, my thinking is that the word 'catastrophe' implies chaos, or something uncontrolled and purely by chance. I am moving totally away from that mindset, of CHANCE being GOD. I am coming to the stunning conclusion that DNA/Molecular biology is 'informed' by an 'intelligent universe at large' - an EU event which guides, changes, 'informs' DNA may not be 'catastrophe' ... it may be an 'impulse of will' to change/grow.
Let's think in terms of the computer internet analogy for a moment ... with millions of personal computers connected electronically to a server. The server, in an act of will, sends a 'signal' to change the operating system of each personal computer. Each new 'copy' of the operating system will host the change.
something along the lines of the
Akashic Records, Books of Life etc? i like the example at the end. the word catastrophe has been used due to these changes resulting from a catastrophic event that has struck earth, from the view point of the humans who were victims to it and because the title sounds kinda sexy

you raise some very good ideas and thoughts
although these events caused disaster to the earths living lifeforms (those that perished or had to suffere hardship afterwards) the actual events themselves may have increased life on earth. even mainstream science notices that after a catastrophe event has struck earth life has exploded or radiated afterwards. One of the classic examples is the
Cambrian explosion or Cambrian radiation.
and i always wonder why is it called the "tree of life"? unless ...
similar to what you are saying that although supposedly bad things, only long term good has come out of these events
the next or new stage of life on earth? a continual development of life and humans to a higher state of being? the next phase of the earth and the solar system?
if god or an intelligent universe is partly a reflection of the universe then does god or the intelligent universe also increase or evolve itself every time the universe "improves" ?