Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Consistent Thinker · 10-10-2003, 12:34 AM

Theists, what implications would the discovery of extraterrestrial intelligence have for you and your beliefs? More specifically, would you attempt a reconciliation, would you ignore it, or would you attempt to rebut the findings in some manner? If the intelligence was vastly greater than ours, would you become depressed over this further demotion of mankind? If you adhere to an "abrahamic" religion, would the apparent lack of uniqueness of mankind make you lose faith in the accounts of us being created in god's image? If you are a christian, would you lose faith, ignore the findings, or claim that the son of god underwent multiple sacrifices?

seebs · 10-10-2003, 12:48 AM

Well, first off, I'd have to know more about this life form. For instance, I'd be very interested to find out what, if anything, they had for philosophy, metaphysics, and epistemology.

That said, I have a hard time imaging that any information from them apart from "here's K'Bob pretending to be a Jew until someone nailed him to a tree" would have much of an impact on my beliefs.

contracycle · 10-10-2003, 01:21 AM

Lets assume that they have a religion which is recognisably such, but which does NOT feature a messiah to save them. Are they damned?

Lets say they DO have a messiah myth: does that mean that jesus was not gods only son, or that both were jesus?

ACow · 10-10-2003, 01:40 AM

<assumes fundy christian persona>

Well, IF there was other life out there, there's always the chance that they avoideed the fall that adam brought forth upon the world, and so don't need a messiah to wash away their sins.

Otherwise, i'd try to get them to see the light, since they've been put their by god, and if they're sinful, they need a sacrifice to wash away their sins. Think of the joy of introducing jesus to these people! He could wash away all their sins for them!

Or maybe Jesus only died for those of us on earth, and these aliens have another covenant/relationship with god.

</fundy>

See now here's the thing...

I didn't actually make any of those up :banghead:

Worldtraveller · 10-10-2003, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ACow
<assumes fundy christian persona>

Well, IF there was other life out there, there's always the chance that they avoideed the fall that adam brought forth upon the world, and so don't need a messiah to wash away their sins.

Otherwise, i'd try to get them to see the light, since they've been put their by god, and if they're sinful, they need a sacrifice to wash away their sins. Think of the joy of introducing jesus to these people! He could wash away all their sins for them!

Or maybe Jesus only died for those of us on earth, and these aliens have another covenant/relationship with god.

</fundy>

See now here's the thing...

I didn't actually make any of those up :banghead:

I hate to tell you this Acow, but you really don't do a very good impression of a fundy. Way too many words spelled correctly in that little rant....

Back to the topic.

Cheers,
Lane

Marduk · 10-11-2003, 07:19 AM

You left out the possibility that these aliens ARE God!

right Kosh

seebs · 10-11-2003, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by contracycle
Lets assume that they have a religion which is recognisably such, but which does NOT feature a messiah to save them. Are they damned?

How should I know?

Quote:

Lets say they DO have a messiah myth: does that mean that jesus was not gods only son, or that both were jesus?

I dunno. I'd need to know more about the details. If they were very similar, I'd assume it was the same thing.

rfwu · 10-11-2003, 12:05 PM

I think they did that once in a South Park episode. The fundies in there just saw the aliens as another group to convert.

Kassiana · 10-11-2003, 01:37 PM

Theists, what implications would the discovery of extraterrestrial intelligence have for you and your beliefs?
--None.

More specifically, would you attempt a reconciliation, would you ignore it, or would you attempt to rebut the findings in some manner?
--Why should I rebut it? I wouldn't, unless it was obviously nutty...but then, it shouldn't have gotten to a point where I'd hear of it. Right?

Why should I ignore it? If there really is extraterrestrial intelligence, good for them. Maybe they could give us some pointers, because there's precious little terrestrial intelligence.

Why do I need to "reconcile" it? My faith is not based on intelligence only being found on this planet. I don't deny that there may be other intelligences out there.

If the intelligence was vastly greater than ours, would you become depressed over this further demotion of mankind?
--No, I'd try to get them to help us remove the more stupid and harmful people in power in countries around the world and to help us achieve greater intelligence ourselves.

Consistent Thinker · 10-13-2003, 08:06 AM

Does anyone think that such a discovery would result in the long term decline of any world religions?

10-10-2003, 12:34 AM	#1
Consistent Thinker Banned Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 811	Theism and the potential discovery of extraterrestrial intelligence Theists, what implications would the discovery of extraterrestrial intelligence have for you and your beliefs? More specifically, would you attempt a reconciliation, would you ignore it, or would you attempt to rebut the findings in some manner? If the intelligence was vastly greater than ours, would you become depressed over this further demotion of mankind? If you adhere to an "abrahamic" religion, would the apparent lack of uniqueness of mankind make you lose faith in the accounts of us being created in god's image? If you are a christian, would you lose faith, ignore the findings, or claim that the son of god underwent multiple sacrifices?

10-11-2003, 01:37 PM	#9
Kassiana Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: USA Posts: 5,046	Response Theists, what implications would the discovery of extraterrestrial intelligence have for you and your beliefs? --None. More specifically, would you attempt a reconciliation, would you ignore it, or would you attempt to rebut the findings in some manner? --Why should I rebut it? I wouldn't, unless it was obviously nutty...but then, it shouldn't have gotten to a point where I'd hear of it. Right? Why should I ignore it? If there really is extraterrestrial intelligence, good for them. Maybe they could give us some pointers, because there's precious little terrestrial intelligence. Why do I need to "reconcile" it? My faith is not based on intelligence only being found on this planet. I don't deny that there may be other intelligences out there. If the intelligence was vastly greater than ours, would you become depressed over this further demotion of mankind? --No, I'd try to get them to help us remove the more stupid and harmful people in power in countries around the world and to help us achieve greater intelligence ourselves.

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10-10-2003, 12:48 AM	#2
seebs Contributor Join Date: May 2002 Location: Saint Paul, MN Posts: 24,524	Well, first off, I'd have to know more about this life form. For instance, I'd be very interested to find out what, if anything, they had for philosophy, metaphysics, and epistemology. That said, I have a hard time imaging that any information from them apart from "here's K'Bob pretending to be a Jew until someone nailed him to a tree" would have much of an impact on my beliefs.

10-10-2003, 01:21 AM	#3
contracycle Banned Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: London Posts: 1,425	Lets assume that they have a religion which is recognisably such, but which does NOT feature a messiah to save them. Are they damned? Lets say they DO have a messiah myth: does that mean that jesus was not gods only son, or that both were jesus?

10-10-2003, 01:40 AM	#4
ACow Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Canberra, Australia Posts: 14	<assumes fundy christian persona> Well, IF there was other life out there, there's always the chance that they avoideed the fall that adam brought forth upon the world, and so don't need a messiah to wash away their sins. Otherwise, i'd try to get them to see the light, since they've been put their by god, and if they're sinful, they need a sacrifice to wash away their sins. Think of the joy of introducing jesus to these people! He could wash away all their sins for them! Or maybe Jesus only died for those of us on earth, and these aliens have another covenant/relationship with god. </fundy> See now here's the thing... I didn't actually make any of those up :banghead:

10-11-2003, 07:19 AM	#6
Marduk Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: the 10th planet Posts: 5,065	You left out the possibility that these aliens ARE God! right Kosh

10-11-2003, 12:05 PM	#8
rfwu Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Sunny California Posts: 1,336	I think they did that once in a South Park episode. The fundies in there just saw the aliens as another group to convert.

10-13-2003, 08:06 AM	#10
Consistent Thinker Banned Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 811	Does anyone think that such a discovery would result in the long term decline of any world religions?

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