Life on other planets

[LeedsRhinos]

What would happen to the religious world as we know it if it was proved beyond doubt that life existed on other planets and for that matter what would be the effect in the non religious world?

[bladski]

33. And worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten.

I think that the Christian God has created other worlds that have humans on them.... i don't believe we will ever come in contact with them or discover them because it is not part of His plan.... but I guess to answer your question I think there would be a lot more people who believed in science instead of God

[delboy3]

I read a short sci-fi story about a Christian missionary trying to bring the concept of religion to a primitive alien planet.

He taught them to believe everything in the bible, and that he was God's representative.

So they crucified him.

[jno]

if they turned out to be Christians, I think this would do a lot for the faith.

[Theland]

What a great opportunity for McDonalds!

[JockSporran]

Since God is the spirit of the universe, not merely the spirit of Man, it should make no difference at all to the religious community if there turned out to be extraterrestrial life.

[wildwood]

I really don't think it would make much difference to the (non)religious world. As bladski pointed out, other worlds have been in Men's mind for a few millennia already and is even covered in religious teachings.

[jake-the-peg]

Much, I'd imagine like Galileo's discovery that the heavens were imperfect and that moons wen't around Jupiter.

The religious folk would find passages as above that prove that that was always in their magic books.

The difference between a scientific proposal and a non-scientifc one is that it's possible to prove a scientific proposal wrong.

So it doesn't matter what you find, short of a blazing hand writing "I quit" across the heavens

[naomi24]

Mani, I'm surprised at what you've said, and frankly, pleased, because it seems far more sensible to me than what other Christians on AB have said. They tell us they believe there is no other intelligent life in the universe and that God made the heavens solely for our benefit - to glorify himself, and to enable us to tell the seasons. Can I ask, what makes you believe differently?

To answer the question, bearing in mind what I've said above, I presume the discovery of life on other planets would have a major impact on Christianity.

Where the rest of the world is concerned, if the life discovered was intelligent and technologically advanced, I imagine some of the more potty leaders on this planet (mentioning no names) would immediately see it as a threat and wage war. If that life was not technologically advanced, I imagine those same leaders would wish to conquer and rule the planet. Either way, I think our leaders would handle it badly.

Personally, I can't think of anything more exciting than discovering life in space. How fantastic that would be.

[Octavius]

I suppose it really would depend on what sort of that life was. If they were hostile, then we might have other things to consider. If they were nice and receptive, then I am sure that with the natural human ability to be belligerent, intolerant, full of greed, hatred and corruption, then they would soon turn hostile. It would have a major impact on EVRYONE�s life, not just Christians.

[jake-the-peg]

I think you can rest easy on that one.

The chances of finding intelligent life in our solar system are pretty slim and even if we were to find another civilisation around another star it's just too far.

It'd be the ultimate long distance relationship, send a message every decade, get a reply a decade later.

Of course that doesn't mean they wouldn't be a threat, the ability to communicate with an advanced civilisation would be a jealously guarded privilege between nations.

I could easily foresee a trade in technology and ideas without ever meeting, such ideas and technologies might very well upset all sorts of apple carts, and not just religous ones.

[luna-tic]

I'm sure there are many on this planet (religious or not )who would want any initial news of beings on other planets kept secret to protect the power leaders of this world hold over us all from every quarter: scientific, religious, military and so on.
I am non-religious but the discovery of life on other planets would make my day, unless they visit here and said, `Mmm...tasty humans'.
Isn't it strange how many early religious paintings depicted odd shaped craft flying overhead !

[Lonnie]

Lets just hope, if there is intelligent life out there, we don't find it. We (the worlds people) can't live together, so what hope of living in peace with an alien world.

[naomi24]

Thought-provoking, Luna. Just why are there so many depictions of flying craft in paintings created so long ago? And Lonnie, a valid observation - albeit very sad. What a pathetically motley bunch we earthlings are!!

Incidentally, Jake, the chances of finding life within our solar system are slim indeed, but that's not to say that distance will be an issue in the future should we discover alternative methods of travel.

I do hope we find intelligent life on another planet within my lifetime. I find the idea so very exciting.

[Oneeyedvic]

Actually Lonnie, I wonder if it would have the opposite effect - ie white & black ganging up on green!

[Lonnie]

Thats a thought Oneeyedvic.

[jake-the-peg]

I know naomi and I'd love to believe that too but we have no reason to believe that that is possible.

There might, just might, be the possibility of sending a signal faster than light but as for something human sized it's just not going to happen

Maybe it's just as well

[JockSporran]

From Monty Python's Galaxy Song:

Pray that there's intelligent life somewhere out in space, because there's b*gger all down here on Earth.

[naomi24]

Jake, I'm not so sure, so I have to say I don't know if it will ever happen, but it might. Who knows what breakthroughs science will make in years to come? Unimaginable to us right now, but we can't say what will happen the future. Beam me up Scottie!

[jake-the-peg]

Let's just say I see no reason to believe that it's possible and many reasons to believe that it's not.

Not least the fact that it equates to time travel and all the contradictions that that entails