Freethought & Rationalism Archive

MrFrosty · 03-20-2003, 07:42 PM

Firstly, a warm hello to everybody on this forum. I have lurked here for about a month and now look upon II as almost a second home. To my shame, it never dawned on me that atheist forums would exist but thankfully I was proven wrong.

To the topic at hand: if there was absolute and irrefutable proof of an extraterrestrial intelligence, what effect would this have on the major world religions? Specifically, their present and future membership and influence. Please share your thoughts on the matter.

With respect to the type of evidence, it could be anything from a clearly artificial construct discovered -- as in 2001's Tycho Monolith -- to an actual spacecraft landing on the Whitehouse lawn.

I would also be interested to hear what the religious members among us think of the idea of ET intelligence. If they highly doubt that there is any such intelligence, what effect would a future discovery of the type listed have on their faith?

Incidentally, the topic was inspired from another thread that asked the question of what would it take for Christians (?) to question their faith.

ju'iblex · 03-20-2003, 08:14 PM

eh, they'd just twist and turn like they already do with carbon dating, dinosaurs, evolution etc. i cant imagine it would make much difference.

Hedwig · 03-20-2003, 09:24 PM

I've pondered that question on Xtian forums in the past. I've only met one guy to date who has said that it would absolutely be the death of his faith. I expect ju'iblex would be correct here.

fando · 03-20-2003, 11:46 PM

Sagan explores this issue in his novel, Contact. The movie glosses over it.

I think the fundies will do what jub said. The moderates would simply adopt/evolve their current set of beliefs to accomodate the new reality. This is how religion survives.

Debbie T · 03-21-2003, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fando
Sagan explores this issue in his novel, Contact. The movie glosses over it.

I think the fundies will do what jub said. The moderates would simply adopt/evolve their current set of beliefs to accomodate the new reality. This is how religion survives.

I can hear them now, "I guess we are going to have to win them Aliens over to Christ. Build us a spaceship so we can send missionaries to the heathens in the new world."

RodTodThisIsGod · 03-21-2003, 01:16 AM

I see some people say they're demons and they're completely evil
and will steal your souls.

Carrie · 03-21-2003, 10:19 AM

It would DESTROY Christianity. If the people on other planets never had a Jesus, it would be quite confusing to the Christians. Jesus is supposed to be the only Son of God. He would have to go to every planet. If he did not go to every planet, then that would mean that either 1. Christians have to evangelize the universe, or 2. Jesus' death is not necessary.

Of course the Christians would at first try to find out just how the aliens get saved on their planet. They'd think, "well maybe God has another plan for them." Then the Christians would look for a similar Jesus figure. Even if there was just animal sacrifice on that planet, the Christians would probably say that's good enough.

They would try to find ways around the problem, but eventually they'd just have to give it up and admit that Jesus is not the only way.

I am really hoping that we find out about life on other planets, and soon. Maybe aliens will come here and try to convert us to their religion.

Craig · 03-21-2003, 10:51 AM

Religions have had plenty of tenets disproved by science over the last 10,000 years. Yet, religion still exists. I think it willl just evolve into something new.

Christianity of today, for example, bears little resemblance to what it must have been like in 1503, or 1003, or 503.

braces_for_impact · 03-21-2003, 11:02 AM

I've discussed this before. I don't think it would make much difference. I can see the pope issuing an edict that the aliens have souls and are capable of salvation.

Even if the other planet had an entirely different religious system, or none at all, I'm sure many people would claim it was part of 'god's plan' for them to meet us so they can be saved.

Taffer · 03-21-2003, 11:03 AM

Has anyone here read Orson Scott Card's Ender series? It's about the discovery of a sentient alien species on a planet that's been colonized by a devoutly catholic community (among other things, of course).
After reading that book, the question I asked myself was: how would the aliens accept Christianity? The book's so-called "piggie's" life cycle depended on a virus that is incredibly lethal to humans; Some of them (after being converted to Christianity) decided that this virus was the incarnation of the Holy Ghost, and being subjected to it was the second baptism through fire. Anybody who doesn't survive this baptism was "rejected by God" and therefore unworthy; These piggies then went on to deprive a human of his protection from the virus and found their faith in this new theory strengthened when he died a feverish death.

I really hope any aliens we might encounter don't have anything resembling the more violent aspects of the Christian religion. Communication would be hard enough (assuming the aliens are sentient or even willing to communicate), but immediate hostile feelings would pretty much doom peaceful interaction from the start.

03-20-2003, 07:42 PM	#1
MrFrosty Moderator - Miscellaneous Discussions Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Shenzhen, S.E. China (UK ex-pat) Posts: 14,249	What impact would absolute proof of extraterrestrial life have on religions? Firstly, a warm hello to everybody on this forum. I have lurked here for about a month and now look upon II as almost a second home. To my shame, it never dawned on me that atheist forums would exist but thankfully I was proven wrong. To the topic at hand: if there was absolute and irrefutable proof of an extraterrestrial intelligence, what effect would this have on the major world religions? Specifically, their present and future membership and influence. Please share your thoughts on the matter. With respect to the type of evidence, it could be anything from a clearly artificial construct discovered -- as in 2001's Tycho Monolith -- to an actual spacecraft landing on the Whitehouse lawn. I would also be interested to hear what the religious members among us think of the idea of ET intelligence. If they highly doubt that there is any such intelligence, what effect would a future discovery of the type listed have on their faith? Incidentally, the topic was inspired from another thread that asked the question of what would it take for Christians (?) to question their faith.

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03-20-2003, 08:14 PM	#2
ju'iblex Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Sydney Australia and beyond the realms of Gehenna Posts: 6,035	eh, they'd just twist and turn like they already do with carbon dating, dinosaurs, evolution etc. i cant imagine it would make much difference.

03-20-2003, 09:24 PM	#3
Hedwig Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 3,921	I've pondered that question on Xtian forums in the past. I've only met one guy to date who has said that it would absolutely be the death of his faith. I expect ju'iblex would be correct here.

03-20-2003, 11:46 PM	#4
fando Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Los Angeles Area Posts: 1,372	Sagan explores this issue in his novel, Contact. The movie glosses over it. I think the fundies will do what jub said. The moderates would simply adopt/evolve their current set of beliefs to accomodate the new reality. This is how religion survives.

03-21-2003, 01:16 AM	#6
RodTodThisIsGod New Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 1	I see some people say they're demons and they're completely evil and will steal your souls.

03-21-2003, 10:19 AM	#7
Carrie Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Midwest Posts: 424	It would DESTROY Christianity. If the people on other planets never had a Jesus, it would be quite confusing to the Christians. Jesus is supposed to be the only Son of God. He would have to go to every planet. If he did not go to every planet, then that would mean that either 1. Christians have to evangelize the universe, or 2. Jesus' death is not necessary. Of course the Christians would at first try to find out just how the aliens get saved on their planet. They'd think, "well maybe God has another plan for them." Then the Christians would look for a similar Jesus figure. Even if there was just animal sacrifice on that planet, the Christians would probably say that's good enough. They would try to find ways around the problem, but eventually they'd just have to give it up and admit that Jesus is not the only way. I am really hoping that we find out about life on other planets, and soon. Maybe aliens will come here and try to convert us to their religion.

03-21-2003, 10:51 AM	#8
Craig Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,058	Religions have had plenty of tenets disproved by science over the last 10,000 years. Yet, religion still exists. I think it willl just evolve into something new. Christianity of today, for example, bears little resemblance to what it must have been like in 1503, or 1003, or 503.

03-21-2003, 11:02 AM	#9
braces_for_impact Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: In a nondescript, black helicopter. Posts: 6,637	I've discussed this before. I don't think it would make much difference. I can see the pope issuing an edict that the aliens have souls and are capable of salvation. Even if the other planet had an entirely different religious system, or none at all, I'm sure many people would claim it was part of 'god's plan' for them to meet us so they can be saved.

03-21-2003, 11:03 AM	#10
Taffer Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Bern, Switzerland Posts: 348	Has anyone here read Orson Scott Card's Ender series? It's about the discovery of a sentient alien species on a planet that's been colonized by a devoutly catholic community (among other things, of course). After reading that book, the question I asked myself was: how would the aliens accept Christianity? The book's so-called "piggie's" life cycle depended on a virus that is incredibly lethal to humans; Some of them (after being converted to Christianity) decided that this virus was the incarnation of the Holy Ghost, and being subjected to it was the second baptism through fire. Anybody who doesn't survive this baptism was "rejected by God" and therefore unworthy; These piggies then went on to deprive a human of his protection from the virus and found their faith in this new theory strengthened when he died a feverish death. I really hope any aliens we might encounter don't have anything resembling the more violent aspects of the Christian religion. Communication would be hard enough (assuming the aliens are sentient or even willing to communicate), but immediate hostile feelings would pretty much doom peaceful interaction from the start.

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