The Bible definitely mentions Mars if you want it to. In fact, the Bible can say anything as long as you interpret it correctly.
Let this be your general rule of thumb:
If a Bible passage is feasible, then it is meant to be taken literally. If it contradicts itself, it’s a translation error. If a Bible story is proven historically inaccurate, then it was clearly intended to be a parable (not to be taken literally) or was perhaps another translation error.
Try to avoid interpreting the Bible to justify slavery and racism if you can. It has been done in the past but doesn’t fly very easily today.
This skill takes a little practice, but just keep in mind that the Bible was written by God through man, and literally is the word of God . . . so be careful to interpret it in ways that probably coincide with something that God probably wants.
MidWinter did you put some thought into that answer? If so could you post some of it? eg point out some linking spiritual factor. I’m sure many Christians would need a while to ponder such a discovery.
As to the OP, I see no reason why extraterrestrial life would influence my faith. Then again, maybe South Park is on to something when they say that Mormons are right. Maybe we have a different god than Mars does. I suspect it will be a while before we can know for sure.
Finding signs of life on Mars disproves Christianity about as much as not finding signs proves it. I am a literalist when it comes to the Bible and I beleive in Dinosaurs and possible life on other planets. I don’t see the contridiction of the subjects. At least my copy of the Bible dosen’t say there were never dinosuars or aliens. Maybe yours does.
First, define “image of God” in specific and concrete terms.
My own Church, to all of the above questions, would answer “We will see if it happens, until then, predetermining ‘answers’ is mere idleness that leads to destructive contention and distracts us from our personal struggles against our own selfishness and sin.”
Sorry, don’t remember the name or the author. I encountered it in a sci-fi class I took in college about cough cough years ago.
There is an Arthur C. Clarke short story called (I think) The Star in which a priest loses his faith upon finding that the Star of Bethlehem was actually a nova that destroyed a civilization.
There are lots of “missionary in space” stories out there, but I don’t want this thread to be moved to Cafe Society.
Well, I don’t believe in God so that’s your problem. I would think how one reflects God’s image would be central to a Christian belief system, but what do I know.
Well, I’m aware of many of the faithfuls aversion to hypotheticals and I actually appreciate your not giving a trite “yes”. I was not asking for concrete answers to my examples, I merely brought them up to illustrate my earlier post: finding radically different intelligence would open the “God’s image” can of worms.
Which it would.
ps to Shodan:
Wasn’t that spoiler from a Epic magazine running comic “the Sacred and the Profane” about a church run space expedition? Maybe that plot point was stolen, comic was mid-80s I believe.
It’s not my problem because I don’t feel any need at all to diddle around worrying about trivial things like “How can I tell if something that doesn’t exist is or isn’t in the image of God?” You’re the one who thinks it’s so all-fired important to pin down, so it’s your responsibility to come up with a comprehensive definition. In any case, it’s not a can of worms. We cannot know for certain what beings would or would not be in the Image of God, no more than we can know for certain whom He shall save. We have some rough ideas, but God is God, we are mortal. God is trans-finite, we are finite. God is transcendant. We are temporal. Thus, there may be aspects of His Image that are indiscernible and incomprehensible, even though we possess them.
Since you’re the one who’s all hot-and-bothered over the question and I’m not, I’d say that pinning down all the little details of God is more important to you than to me.
??? Since I pretty specifically said I’m not looking for concrete answers I can only assume you read my post in a haze. There is a word of dhamma a cartoon cat once said that you might reflect on: “Accusers are guilty”.
You and your Church may not know it but examining hypotheticals is useful for giving insight into your current feelings. Trusting everything is solid below the surface is a risky game. YMMV
Ah, yes, the inevitable smug, self-satisfied lecture. It was only a matter of time before that came up. Sorry, but we’re not Augustinians nor Thomists–go talk to the Westerners for that sort of stuff. Boatloads of idle speculation just isn’t in that whole Eastern gestalt we have.
Look Dogface, I merely proposed that what constitutes “made in God’s image” is a thoughtful question that would be brought into distinct focus, I believe, by finding another intelligent species of a completely different nature. You are the one trying to explode this into some christian bashing rant, save the martyrdom for someone who cares.
MidWinter did you put some thought into that answer? If so could you post some of it? eg point out some linking spiritual factor. I’m sure many Christians would need a while to ponder such a discovery.
