Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Secular Elation · 08-23-2002, 07:16 PM

In so far as I know, the Bible (or most other holy texts from other religions) do not say much, if anything, about extraterrestrial life.

Do you think if we discovered some sort of life form on other planets would develop a sour stomach for the religious? To me, it seems, if there was some sort of intelligent life on another planet (or even a basic form of life for that matter) then that would simply raise far more questions on religion than there all ready are. Comments?

Abacus · 08-23-2002, 07:28 PM

I think it would depend on if that life is intelligent or not. If not, I don't think it would phase the theists very much. But if intelligent life is found ... imagine the damage done to their conceits.

One might raise the case of when the Europeans began "discovering" other lands with other peoples. Obviously, these other peoples were intelligent life, but the Europeans still felt a sense of superiority over them.

I don't think this would the case in the discovery of intelligent alien life. In all likelihood, if it is intelligent, it is probably much more advanced technologically and ethically than we humans are. We would be the barbarians, contrary to what certain religions teach.

[ August 23, 2002: Message edited by: Abacus ]</p>

Secular Elation · 08-23-2002, 07:34 PM

It would be interesting if the aliens had their own religion.

But if they would be more advanced than humans are, as you would suggest, then perhaps they would know better.

[ August 23, 2002: Message edited by: Secular Elation ]</p>

Abacus · 08-23-2002, 07:39 PM

Or maybe they would send missionaries and try to convert us:

"Zortog died for your sins! Repent, you heathens, or we shall vaporize you with our plasma blasters!"

Secular Elation · 08-23-2002, 07:42 PM

LOL.

elwoodblues · 08-23-2002, 07:47 PM

My guess, as a shot in the dark (as are all thoughts on ET's, no matter how well thought out):

Short term, it'd only create a bigger rift between secularism and the religious.

Long term, it'd probably help secularism and hurt religion. With aliens in the world, 'god' is pretty damned mundane.

Bible Humper · 08-23-2002, 07:47 PM

Quote:

I don't think this would the case in the discovery of intelligent alien life. In all likelihood, if it is intelligent, it is probably much more advanced technologically and ethically than we humans are. We would be the barbarians, contrary to what certain religions teach.

Why is it more probable that the aliens would be more advanced?

Does anyone remember when the Catholic church declared that if aliens were found that they would be suffering from original sin and need to be saved?

What an embarrassment it would be if the aliens were indeed much more advanced to have these jokers witnessing at them!

B. H. Manners · 08-23-2002, 09:10 PM

Aliens would not necessarily have to be more advanced technologically to harm religion, they just need to have been better record keepers than we were in our past. If they had coherent, clear, and concise written histories spanning back several thousands of years they could do a lot of damage to Biblical chronology.

ashibaka · 08-23-2002, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Secular Elation:
<strong>To me, it seems, if there was some sort of intelligent life on another planet (or even a basic form of life for that matter) then that would simply raise far more questions on religion than there all ready are. Comments?</strong>

There's always a smaller gap.

Answerer · 08-24-2002, 03:55 AM

Things will even be better if those ailens are anti-monotheists or maybe to make things worse, those human theists will classify them(ailens) as demons.

08-23-2002, 07:16 PM	#1
Secular Elation Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: California Posts: 6,196	Would the discovery of life on other planets harm religion? In so far as I know, the Bible (or most other holy texts from other religions) do not say much, if anything, about extraterrestrial life. Do you think if we discovered some sort of life form on other planets would develop a sour stomach for the religious? To me, it seems, if there was some sort of intelligent life on another planet (or even a basic form of life for that matter) then that would simply raise far more questions on religion than there all ready are. Comments?

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08-23-2002, 07:28 PM	#2
Abacus Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: South Dakota Posts: 2,214	I think it would depend on if that life is intelligent or not. If not, I don't think it would phase the theists very much. But if intelligent life is found ... imagine the damage done to their conceits. One might raise the case of when the Europeans began "discovering" other lands with other peoples. Obviously, these other peoples were intelligent life, but the Europeans still felt a sense of superiority over them. I don't think this would the case in the discovery of intelligent alien life. In all likelihood, if it is intelligent, it is probably much more advanced technologically and ethically than we humans are. We would be the barbarians, contrary to what certain religions teach. [ August 23, 2002: Message edited by: Abacus ]</p>

08-23-2002, 07:34 PM	#3
Secular Elation Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: California Posts: 6,196	It would be interesting if the aliens had their own religion. But if they would be more advanced than humans are, as you would suggest, then perhaps they would know better. [ August 23, 2002: Message edited by: Secular Elation ]</p>

08-23-2002, 07:39 PM	#4
Abacus Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: South Dakota Posts: 2,214	Or maybe they would send missionaries and try to convert us: "Zortog died for your sins! Repent, you heathens, or we shall vaporize you with our plasma blasters!"

08-23-2002, 07:42 PM	#5
Secular Elation Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: California Posts: 6,196	LOL.

08-23-2002, 07:47 PM	#6
elwoodblues Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Dunmanifestin, Discworld Posts: 4,836	My guess, as a shot in the dark (as are all thoughts on ET's, no matter how well thought out): Short term, it'd only create a bigger rift between secularism and the religious. Long term, it'd probably help secularism and hurt religion. With aliens in the world, 'god' is pretty damned mundane.

08-23-2002, 09:10 PM	#8
B. H. Manners Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 1,213	Aliens would not necessarily have to be more advanced technologically to harm religion, they just need to have been better record keepers than we were in our past. If they had coherent, clear, and concise written histories spanning back several thousands of years they could do a lot of damage to Biblical chronology.

08-24-2002, 03:55 AM	#10
Answerer Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Singapore Posts: 3,956	Things will even be better if those ailens are anti-monotheists or maybe to make things worse, those human theists will classify them(ailens) as demons.

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