# How would the Churches react on ET public contact? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 29, 2012, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-churches-react-on-et-public-contact/620308 "2012-04-29T08:20:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2012, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-churches-react-on-et-public-contact/620308/21 "2012-04-29T19:16:10Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > It would be cool if they had a prophecy that they would come across a world with orbiting a sun with our spectral bands, and it would bring to them the new covenant for their religion. So when they get here, they look at the numbers of various religions and decide that since Catholicism has the highest number of adherents, they all convert. But would the Catholic church accept them? For the sake of discussion, imagine the following scenarios. The aliens reproduce by laying eggs. The typical clutch consists of 4. The aliens always choose the two biggest (or shiniest, or bluest, or whatever) to incubate and raise, and consume the other two. This is a biological imperative on their part, as strong a part of procreation as any other, and the females aren’t even able to nurture more than two. Or perhaps during the non-breeding season the males maintain homosexual relationships, this is also biologically based and not something that can be changed. One can come up with a number of scenarios that would simply be unacceptable to at least some Earth religions. ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2012, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-churches-react-on-et-public-contact/620308/22 "2012-04-29T20:13:55Z")
The Church of 4chan will be furiously creating new porn. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2012, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-churches-react-on-et-public-contact/620308/23 "2012-04-29T21:07:15Z")
“Jesus? Let me check our files. Oh, yes; he was a religious fraud in the era of your Roman Empire; survey team 4296/9B got some excellent recordings of him. Clever fellow; he actually managed to fake his execution and lived the rest of his life incognito with a harem. Would you like to see the records?” ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2012, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-churches-react-on-et-public-contact/620308/24 "2012-04-29T21:16:53Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > There is a possibility that a great number of people will join up with whatever religions the aliens adhere to. Valentine Michael Smith lives! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Understander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3da27b/32.png) [@The\_Understander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Understander)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2012, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-churches-react-on-et-public-contact/620308/25 "2012-04-29T21:26:24Z")
They generally make the sign of the cross and throw me out. That might be because of the wailing and ominous death metal that starts playing every time I walk into one. I really gotta change my ringtone. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2012, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-churches-react-on-et-public-contact/620308/26 "2012-04-29T23:45:08Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > It would be cool if they had a prophecy that they would come across a world with orbiting a sun with our spectral bands, and it would bring to them the new covenant for their religion. Which would make me very suspicious of said prophecies, may the shade of Frank Herbert help me… ---
**Author:** ![coffeecat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coffeecat/32/3405_2.png) [@coffeecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coffeecat)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-churches-react-on-et-public-contact/620308/27 "2012-04-30T00:07:00Z")
[QUOTE=Legends of the Jews by Louis Ginsburg] Corresponding to the seven heavens, God created seven earths, each separated from the next by five layers. Over the lowest earth, the seventh, called Erez, lie in succession the abyss, the Tohu, the Bohu, a sea, and waters. Then the sixth earth is reached, the Adamah, the scene of the magnificence of God. In the same way the Adamah is separated from the fifth earth, the Arka, which contains Gehenna, and Sha’are Mawet, and Sha’are Zalmawet, and Beer Shahat, and Tit ha-Yawen, and Abaddon, and Sheol, and there the souls of the wicked are guarded by the Angels of Destruction. In the same way Arka is followed by Harabah, the dry, the place of brooks and streams in spite of its name, as the next, called Yabbashah, the mainland, contains the rivers and the springs. Tebel, the second earth, is the first mainland inhabited by living creatures, three hundred and sixty-five species, all essentially different from those of our own earth. Some have human heads set on the body of a lion, or a serpent, or an ox; others have human bodies topped by the head of one of these animals. Besides, Tebel is inhabited by human beings with two heads and four hands and feet, in fact with all their organs doubled excepting only the trunk. It happens sometimes that the parts of these double persons quarrel with each other, especially while eating and drinking, when each claims the best and largest portions for himself. This species of mankind is distinguished for great piety, another difference between it and the inhabitants of our earth. . . . When God made our present heavens and our present earth, “the new heavens and the new earth” were also brought forth, yea, and the hundred and ninety-six thousand worlds which God created unto His Own glory. [/quote] The Jews already have it covered. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-churches-react-on-et-public-contact/620308/28 "2012-04-30T00:07:29Z")
This is really more of a poll than a debate. Off to IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-churches-react-on-et-public-contact/620308/29 "2012-04-30T01:13:14Z")
I wonder if any religion out there will just say “Shit, it looks like we were wrong and here’s the proof. Oh well, no reason to follow us anymore!” ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-churches-react-on-et-public-contact/620308/30 "2012-04-30T02:33:17Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > But would the Catholic church accept them? > For the sake of discussion, imagine the following scenarios. > The aliens reproduce by laying eggs. The typical clutch consists of 4. The aliens always choose the two biggest (or shiniest, or bluest, or whatever) to incubate and raise, and consume the other two. This is a biological imperative on their part, as strong a part of procreation as any other, and the females aren’t even able to nurture more than two. > Or perhaps during the non-breeding season the males maintain homosexual relationships, this is also biologically based and not something that can be changed. > One can come up with a number of scenarios that would simply be unacceptable to at least some Earth religions. Of course they would, they have accepted evolution etc what makes you think they won’t adapt to survive? ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-churches-react-on-et-public-contact/620308/31 "2012-04-30T03:04:43Z")
> [@sisu](#): > > Of course they would, they have accepted evolution etc what makes you think they won’t adapt to survive? It would touch on a couple of their major taboos. ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-churches-react-on-et-public-contact/620308/32 "2012-04-30T03:53:11Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > It would touch on a couple of their major taboos. Meh, the taboos are for humans… ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-churches-react-on-et-public-contact/620308/33 "2012-04-30T04:09:24Z")
Heavens Gate followers would say “I told you so”, if they weren’t already dead. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-churches-react-on-et-public-contact/620308/34 "2012-04-30T05:08:49Z")
> [@sisu](#): > > Meh, the taboos are for humans… Don’t you remember the uproar about the gay penguins? ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-churches-react-on-et-public-contact/620308/35 "2012-04-30T05:30:09Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Don’t you remember the uproar about the gay penguins? Don’t talk to me about the penguins, evil devil spawn that they are! ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-churches-react-on-et-public-contact/620308/36 "2012-04-30T19:16:57Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > It depends. > The aliens could say “Jesus told us to visit.” Or they could say, “When is Shabbos in this place, and we’d kill for a nice piece fish.” Or they could say “belief in gods? You still do that? Oy!” You’ve reminded me of a couple old jokes: A couple aliens are walking down a street in New York City, and come upon a vendor selling bagels. They each accept a bagel, and upon taking a bite, one alien turns to the other and says, “Wow, these would be great with cream cheese and lox!” A group of aliens appears as guests on the Tonight Show. As they all look and dress very much alike, Jay Leno asks, “So, are all of your people green-skinned?” “There are many shades, but yes, we’re all green.” “Hmm. Do you all wear jewels in your navels?” “Oh, of course. Very fashionable!” “All right, well, do you all wear those skullcaps?” “Of course not! Only the orthodox!” ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-churches-react-on-et-public-contact/620308/37 "2012-04-30T19:26:02Z")
time for a baptizing. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-churches-react-on-et-public-contact/620308/38 "2012-04-30T20:15:20Z")
I’d think that the Raëlists would have no problem. And SDMB, I’m disappointed in you. This is a great place to mention James Blish’s [A Case of Conscience](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Case_of_Conscience). I’m not sure it would be the most accurate outcome, however. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-churches-react-on-et-public-contact/620308/39 "2012-04-30T20:29:49Z")
Speaking as a Catholic who’s addressed this topic on the SDMB before… I don’t see how the discovery of intelligent life on Krypton or Tattooine would make any difference to my Church’s doctrines, any more than the discovery of previously unknown people in the Americas did 500 years ago. If we encounter Vulcans or Minbari or Wookiees, we’ll have the same moral obligations to them as we have toward our fellow humans. And everything Jesus said would be as applicable to them as to us. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-churches-react-on-et-public-contact/620308/40 "2012-04-30T20:44:28Z")
Yeah, I’m not sure what “taboos” the existence of alien life would touch on or why it would create some massive crisis of faith, at least for the Catholic/Orthodox/mainline Protestant churches. Christian authors (including St. Jack of Narnia [himself](http://www.amazon.com/Silent-Planet-Space-Trilogy-Book/dp/0743234901/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335818627&sr=8-1)) have speculated on the existence of alien life. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-churches-react-on-et-public-contact/620308.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-churches-react-on-et-public-contact/620308.md?page=3)