First of all, I’d just like to say that I’ve really been enjoying the religious debates on this board. All of the Christians and atheists have presented very well thought out arguments, some of which I’d never considered before. It’s very nice to see people defending their beliefs through rational, civilized debate rather than hellfire-and-brimstone preaching. So, here’s a new question for you to debate:
What does your religion believe about the possibility of intelligent life on other planets?
Hmmm, well I don’t know what the scripture is but it’s something to the effect of “I have created many worlds.”
I have the feeling it’s not in the Bible though, it’s probably in Doctrine and Covenants or Pearl of Great Price. I guess I will go look it up now.
To the fiery pits of Hades with you for even suggesting our beloved Creator would bring into existance intelligent life other than humanity, created in His/Her/It’s own image.
Just kidding of course, but I figured I’d give you a taste of what might be coming.
Actually I lean toward deism, which I am not sure you would consider to be a religion, per se. More of a religious philosophy. But deism doesn’t say much of anything about intelligent extraterrestrial life, except “Yup, there might be some, might not.”
I find the idea highly unlikely, but on scientific grounds, not religious. I think someone recently came out with a book on that “Rare Earth” or something like that.
Sorry Carl (Sagan) gotta disagree with you here.
Ok, this is what the Mormon Church believes. This is from the Pearl of Great Price. It implies we are not alone in the universe
I don’t have a religion but for that reason some people would argue that my non-religion is a religion . :rolleyes:
I do however think that there is a very good chance of ET’s being out there . I don’t think proof of their existence is around the corner . Considering the distances involved and the seemingly unbreakable top speed of approaching light speed , I don’t think we’ll be seeing or hearing from them anytime soon.
But wouldn’t it be cool though. Assuming they’d be like the Federation and not like the Empire .
Let’s see.
Scenario 1: We can’t send a probe out of the system without bumping into some other sapient beings. Cool, God delights in all manifestations of Life, and abhors the waste of space that would otherwise be the case.
Scenario 2: Life (or at least intelligent life) is not detected anywhere we search except for Earth and those worlds we colonise. Cool, we are unique, and thus a proof of God’s love for us, and He has provided us with an uninhabited cosmos to “be fruitful” in.
Scenario 3: Intelligent life isn’t non-existant, but rare. Cool, God has provided us with a few companions to learn from or to teach.
Conclusion: Any outcome is possible when you include the will of an omnipotent being in the equation, and/or the clever interpretations of His believers.
I speak for no religion, but I personally think there probably is life out there, somewhere.
A book I would recommend on the subject is Probability 1, by Amir Aczel.
Another more recent one is Here Be Dragons: The Scientific Quest for Extraterrestrial Life, by David Koerner and Simon LeVay.
You can read about the second one at: http://www.sj-r.com/news/00/04/16/o.htm
David B:
Interesting stuff, I might have to check that one out.
I don’t think my church has really ever addressed the issue–that I know of. I don’t think they’ve ruled out the possibility, though. Me, personally, I think it’s possible. But, who really knows, and who really cares? Okay, obviously some people care. But I don’t. I highly doubt that any contact will be established–ever. It’s nice to fantasize, but so far I believe all our conceptions of ET life is purely that–fantastical. Maybe ETs are purely spirit forms (i.e., no physical bodies, but spirit-like intelligences). Maybe they really don’t exist. Either way, the prospect of contacting aliens has never interested me enough to dig into the subject much.
SETI? Heck, I’m still waiting for terrestrial intelligence!
Anyway: yeah,they might be out there. What about it? Do we really need to meet them?
What if ET already came? Maybe around the Cretaceous period. They get off the ship, see a bunch of idiot dinosaurs so they bail.
I bet they’re out there space surfing around a supernova now because they are done exploring.
Oh, we’re here, right enough. We disguised ourselves as the most advanced, intelligent and compassionate members of your species. That’s right, we’re the hippies! (We figured you’d have caught on by now). Anyway, thanks for the groovy music, weed, and your daughters. It was really cool!
Oh, almost forgot. Nixon was a Klingon. You were lucky to survive. Don’t push your luck again, OK?
I thought so …
That makes Bill Clinton … Hmm 
James T Kirk :eek: … Hey Green chicks … Paula Jones … Monic LEWDinski… makes sense now 
Well, Pepper already got the Mormon piece in (the POV that I’m most familiar with), but I also know that Hari Krishna’s firmly believe in extraterrestrial life. When I asked one it was possible to have been an “alien” on a different world in a past life, he answered in the affirmative.
I’ve often speculated that perhaps Jesus has siblings, one for each inhabited planet, so there are extraterrestrials out there who worship the “daughter of God” etc.
The Learning Channel had several programs on yesterday about UFOs. The first one “UFO; Then and Now” was interesting. It showed numerous paintings with religious themes and in the background there were objects in the air that looked much like flying saucers. There was also always figures shown looking up at these objects. There were cave paintings in Europe supposedly done by ancient cave peoples that depicted objects that looked like UFOs. Fun program.
Ask the Mormon Gal…I think there is some kind of doctrine about life on other planets and earth men becoming Gods and rulers of their own planet after Jesus returns built into the LDS doctrine. Then we had a thread about Scientology that some folks claimed had some kind of space alien doctrine.
My religious beliefs don’t have any kind of life on other planets doctrine. My rational mind says well…maybe, if we’re the most intelligent thing out here then…
Need2know
What I’ve been wondering is how Christian fundamentalists and the like would take the discovery of extra-terrestrial life (any kind, not necessarily intelligent life). If in their eyes a reading of Genesis that allows for evolution is not permissible, then what of ET?
Obviously, people have already suggested that some verse would be reinterpreted to miraculously apply to the new discovery. Any other ideas? Any fundamentalists want to weigh in? I get the feeling that alien life isn’t supported by a literalist interpretation of Genesis.
Say, that’s a really tiny cow.
–Tim