# Christians: What if prior life is found on Mars? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 3, 2004, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christians-what-if-prior-life-is-found-on-mars/232239 "2004-03-03T04:28:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christians-what-if-prior-life-is-found-on-mars/232239/21 "2004-03-03T15:29:07Z")
> [@Bakhesh](#): > > I’m not a christian, but doesn’t the book of genesis make it pretty difficult to fit martian life into the bible? “Earth” can mean “soil”. ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christians-what-if-prior-life-is-found-on-mars/232239/22 "2004-03-03T15:30:14Z")
> [@Bakhesh](#): > > If thats the case then isn’t genesis proved wrong by the existence of seagulls? > > Genesis 1:20 > "…and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. " > > What about fowl that may fly above the sea? This is mere intentional obtuseness. ---
**Author:** ![Bakhesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Bakhesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bakhesh)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christians-what-if-prior-life-is-found-on-mars/232239/23 "2004-03-03T15:32:58Z")
> [@Dogface](#): > > This is mere intentional obtuseness. Yeah, I know. Its only the Bible. Its not supposed to be taken as Gospel… ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christians-what-if-prior-life-is-found-on-mars/232239/24 "2004-03-03T15:43:19Z")
> [@Bakhesh](#): > > Yeah, I know. Its only the Bible. Its not supposed to be taken as Gospel… No, you are merely intentionally being obtuse. Please prove that all Christians must be _Sola Scriptura_ literalists. Until you do so, juvenile jabs over the use of the term “earth” are as sensible as the “arguments” put forth by a two-year-old. ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christians-what-if-prior-life-is-found-on-mars/232239/25 "2004-03-03T15:51:57Z")
> [@Bakhesh](#): > > Yeah, I know. Its only the Bible. Its not supposed to be taken as Gospel… Being “taken as Gospel” and being taken as the literal truth are two very different things. I’m not a fundamentalist, but I still think there’s truth in first chapter of Genesis: Thousands of years ago, someone looked around, recognized the majesty in what he knew of the Earth, and attributed it to God using language that I still find beautiful after many years and at least one translation. Thousands of years later, I know a lot more about the universe then he but I still feel the same sense of wonder that led him to feel what he did. It’s the emotion that transcends the years, not the literal story. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christians-what-if-prior-life-is-found-on-mars/232239/26 "2004-03-03T16:03:08Z")
Gospel just means “good news”, so I have no idea what Bakhesh is getting at. In any case, the Genesis account is as good as any. It doesn’t give a date, so we might be the tenth incarnation of man in a multi-billion year history of rises and falls. Who knows? No one. And no one ever will. Besides, before science can find life anywhere, it might want to stop and define it. [http://www.space.com/searchforlife/seti\_shostak\_020829.html](http://www.space.com/searchforlife/seti_shostak_020829.html) ---
**Author:** ![SnoopyFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@SnoopyFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnoopyFan)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christians-what-if-prior-life-is-found-on-mars/232239/27 "2004-03-03T16:04:24Z")
I can’t remember ever reading in the Bible that there is, or isn’t, life on other planets. What difference does it make if God created other people in other places? How does that in any way discredit the message of the Gospel here on earth? ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christians-what-if-prior-life-is-found-on-mars/232239/28 "2004-03-03T16:35:04Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > Darn it, **Shodan** , _I_ wanted to be the first one to recommend Lewis’ _Space Trilogy_ in this context. Not only _Out of the Silent Planet_, which specifically explores the question of life on Mars (and their understanding of God) but also _Perelandra_ which is about life on Venus and the temptation of a Venusian Adam and Eve. Darn the pair of you. _I_ should’ve got there first! _Urendi Maleldil_, **Malacandra-Oyarsa** , archon of Mars 😛 ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christians-what-if-prior-life-is-found-on-mars/232239/29 "2004-03-03T16:35:55Z")
It would definitely be interesting. As a weak atheist (I don’t rule out the existence of God, but I’ve seen nothing that convinces me of it), such an occurence would indeed cause me to question my beliefs. If, however, said life were unfamiliar with Christianity, but _were_ familiar with, say, Buddism, would you agree that would also be interesting? Would it cause you to question you beliefs? > [@Shodan](#): > > (snip) > > The really challenging thing would be to discover other intelligent life elsewhere in the universe, and find that they were completely familiar with Christianity. > > (snip) ---
**Author:** ![Renob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8c91f0/32.png) [@Renob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renob)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christians-what-if-prior-life-is-found-on-mars/232239/30 "2004-03-03T16:36:57Z")
One, having grown up amongst fundamentalists, I have _never_ heard the notion that there were no dinosaurs. In fact, it was much more common for them to claim that humans and dinosaurs existed at the same time. Two, as a Christian who is no longer fundamentalist (though I’m quite conservative theologically), I don’t think there is any way the Bible can be read to exclude the possibility of life elsewhere in the galaxy. True, maybe it doesn’t directly address it, but it doesn’t say no life elsewhere exists. And while Christians have built a theology around the Bible that basically assumes Man is alone in the universe, that is merely theology, which is just philosophy that attempts to explain the Bible in the light of human reason. If other life would be found, our theology would certainly have to change. That, however, does not change the actual Bible, it merely changes our understanding of the Bible. Three, as many have pointed out, there is a wide diversity in Christian thought about the literalness of the Bible. Where before I used to think it was the inerrant word of God, now I lean much more to the thought that the Bible is authoritative on matters of faith and how to live one’s life; it is not authoritative on science and history. The Bible wasn’t written as a science or history book and we should not treat it as such. And, frankly, while I’m certainly willing to believe many of the historical events recorded in the Bible, such as the parting of the Red Sea or manna falling from Heaven, if these events didn’t actually happen, that wouldn’t affect my faith one bit. I’m not a believer because God did the miraculous things mentioned in the Bible, and my faith does not rest on every single event recorded there being true. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christians-what-if-prior-life-is-found-on-mars/232239/31 "2004-03-03T16:57:38Z")
> [@](#): > > _Shodan said:_ > The really challenging thing would be to discover other intelligent life elsewhere in the universe, and find that they were completely familiar with Christianity. Actually the really challenging thing would be a planet full of Jesus clones. 😉 Seriously though, if we found another intelligent species that was radically different from us then it brings up the whole “made in God’s image” thing. I doubt that potential fossilized bacteria is going to bring on many crises of faith out there. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christians-what-if-prior-life-is-found-on-mars/232239/32 "2004-03-03T17:14:18Z")
> [@F. U. Shakespeare](#): > > It would definitely be interesting. > > As a weak atheist (I don’t rule out the existence of God, but I’ve seen nothing that convinces me of it), such an occurence would indeed cause me to question my beliefs. > > If, however, said life were unfamiliar with Christianity, but _were_ familiar with, say, Buddism, would you agree that would also be interesting? > > Would it cause you to question you beliefs? There is a good sci-fi short story that deals with this. A Roman Catholic priest has been sent to the first known inhabited city on Mars to evangelize them. No contact has been made with the inhabitants yet. As the priest approaches the city, he hears a voice calling out from a tower inside the city. “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammed is His prophet…” Regards, Shodan Actually, I would assume that any alien civilization who was familiar with earth religions had been listening to our radio and television transmissions. My worst nightmare would be finding life on Mars, and it had big hair, expensive suits, called itself “Zorak Robertson”, and was peddling Jack Chick pamphlets for a donation of $19.95. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christians-what-if-prior-life-is-found-on-mars/232239/33 "2004-03-03T17:28:41Z")
**Shodan** , comments like that footnote guarantee that as different as your beliefs are from mine, I will always have a lot of respect for them. ---
**Author:** ![Balle\_M](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/13edae/32.png) [@Balle\_M](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balle_M)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christians-what-if-prior-life-is-found-on-mars/232239/34 "2004-03-03T20:20:44Z")
No, it wouldn’t make me question my faith at all. The Bible is God’s plan for Earth…He might have a totally different plan for Mars. Just picture the bumber sticker…“Azzxljmnk got Kill-O-Zapped for YOUR sins.” ---
**Author:** ![Jpeg\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4bbf92/32.png) [@Jpeg\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jpeg_Jones)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christians-what-if-prior-life-is-found-on-mars/232239/35 "2004-03-03T23:08:31Z")
> [@Balle\_M](#): > > Azzxljmnk got Kill-O-Zapped for YOUR sins. There’s a great signature if I ever saw one. ---
**Author:** ![Buran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Buran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buran)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2004, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christians-what-if-prior-life-is-found-on-mars/232239/36 "2004-03-04T01:10:23Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Seriously though, if we found another intelligent species that was radically different from us then it brings up the whole “made in God’s image” thing. I always thought that meant “made in God’s spiritual image” not literally physical. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2004, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christians-what-if-prior-life-is-found-on-mars/232239/37 "2004-03-04T02:28:15Z")
> [@Midwinter](#): > > I always thought that meant “made in God’s spiritual image” not literally physical. So I was taught as well. “Made in God’s image” means that we are moral agents, and capable both of sin and virtue. It does not mean that God looks like us in any physical sense. The Bible does speak of non-human intelligences, which are called angels and archangels and so forth. The cherubim of the Old Testament are very far from human in shape - more like sphinxes, IIRC. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2004, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christians-what-if-prior-life-is-found-on-mars/232239/38 "2004-03-04T13:14:12Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Seriously though, if we found another intelligent species that was radically different from us then it brings up the whole “made in God’s image” thing. Not in the least–at least not for the Orthodox Church. We distinguish between “image” (potential) and “likeness” (bearing direct and perceivable resemblance). ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2004, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christians-what-if-prior-life-is-found-on-mars/232239/39 "2004-03-04T16:53:01Z")
Come on guys. I said “radically different”, I don’t mean three eyes. What if we met a grouping of intelligent hive minds? How about a species with 7 distinct competing sexes? How about two semi-intelligent species that in symbiosis create a civilization building society? What if their moral compass is utterly unfathomable? Their language unlearnable? Would all these have been made in “God’s image”? ---
**Author:** ![Buran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Buran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buran)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2004, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christians-what-if-prior-life-is-found-on-mars/232239/40 "2004-03-04T23:44:13Z")
Yes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christians-what-if-prior-life-is-found-on-mars/232239.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christians-what-if-prior-life-is-found-on-mars/232239.md?page=3)