Freethought & Rationalism Archive

manhattan · 01-17-2002, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by butswana:
I've always wondered if astronaut/explorers, whether they be in space, on Mars or the Moon, would be caught up in The Rapture.

Caution, in case of rapture, this spaceship will be unmanned!

More seriously, maybe one of the theists can help me out here. I thought that most Christian sects teach that one must be exposed to the word of God and the good news in order for there to be a risk of going to hell for failing to accept Him. In other words, isolated cultures (and presumbably space aliens) got a free pass on the "accept Jesus" thing and would be judged by other criteria.

Is my belief mistaken?

ohwilleke · 01-17-2002, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DarkBronzePlant:
My take:

The hardcore Christians would say that there are no aliens. The bible doesn't say there are. But if there are aliens (maybe god just created their world separately, too, and gave them their own "bible") then god would try to communicate with them, too, and give them their own commandments, etc. Whether or not they are going to hell or not would depend on whether the first two aliens created (call them Xerxon and Trillion) ate the forbidden zurple, or whatever. If so, then Xerxon & Trillion's fate would probably be similar to ours.

Which leads to interesting questions, of course. 1. If Xerxon and Trillion didn't disobey god, then why was god's alien creation successful, but his earthly creation not? Leads us again to the omnipotent/benevolent discussion. 2. if Xerxon and Trillion did disobey god, then did he send Jesus to save them as well? If so, was it the same Jesus... who now presumably died, ascended into heaven, died again, ascended into heaven again? Or was it a different Jesus... thus making god, um, well not a trinity, but a quadity (or whatever you'd call a foursome)?

But I think your original question assumes the obvious... that if there are aliens, they wouldn't know about god, because god is a human, earthly invention, and unless they really are spying on us, there's no way they could've heard the story. Which, of course, is irrelevant, because there is no god, and no hell for the aliens to go to.

On a side note, I really hope extra-terrestrial life is discovered in my lifetime. I know the Xtains will find some way of explaining it and reconciling it with the bible, but it'll be funny to see how they do it!

Help! I feel like I'm trapped in a weird co-mingling of Mormonism and Scientology. Let me out!

Undercurrent · 01-17-2002, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by manhattan:

More seriously, maybe one of the theists can help me out here. I thought that most Christian sects teach that one must be exposed to the word of God and the good news in order for there to be a risk of going to hell for failing to accept Him. In other words, isolated cultures (and presumbably space aliens) got a free pass on the "accept Jesus" thing and would be judged by other criteria.

Missionary : Jesus Christ loves you and you have to accept him and stop sinning or you go it hell.

Native : If I didn't know about Jesus and I didn't accept him and died in sin, would I go to hell?

Missionary : Well, no.

Native : Then why did you tell me?

I'm wondering if we can convice Christians to keep Jesus a secret so we can all go to heaven because of the ignorance excuse. Seems like the only moral thing to do.

m.

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