A serious question...

Liber8or

We are on the precipice of the resolving the great question as to whether life exists elsewhere in the universe, besides Earth. The methane test results could lead to the discovery of organisms living under the surface of Mars, surviving in adverse conditions, and yet, producing life.

My question is, to the devout Christian community, what is the religious response to this?

If we are given clearly recognisable and verifiable proof that life on another planet exists, what does religion hold as a response?

- Will it been seen as a new territory to spread the word of God? Example: Africa.
- Will you refute all evidence no matter what?
- Will you say God also created those organisms? And if so, I thought man was the only resemblance to God, so why create some inferior and somewhat pointless lifeform? For the craic?
- Will you say it is the will of God for us to discover new planets full of life and pursue our great crusade to spread the word of God to other areas? However, I do not remember any references to Mars in the Bible.

- Or will you finally accept that God did not infact create the Universe and everything in it?

Otherwise he would have told us about the lads on Mars and their blasphemy by not conforming to his will. Is there a plan to deal with such discoveries? Or will there be another reversal of policy on what the Bible stands for? Will they finally dig out those other gospels and maybe throw in a few quotes from them to deal with this predicament?

I know there are a lot of questions to be answered here, but i would just like an answer for the main one; what is the Christian response to life on other planets?

philologos

Just to pose a counter question, what would atheists do if they figured out that if there are other intelligent species such as ourselves, and if they have received a divine revelation which is very similar or identical to ours, will this cause people to doubt their atheism?

Why would anyone refute evidence? If something is factual then it is indeed factual, anything else is just willful ignorance.

Why would other life in the universe cause us to doubt that God created it?

By the by the verse in Genesis you speak of Genesis 1:26-27 whereby we are in the likeness of God, this is discussing of all on the face of the earth rather than in the universe in it's entirety so I think that would be subject to a different look given the light of new evidence if it were to happen.

Fanny Cradock

Sorry, did I miss the 'Life Discovered On Mars' headlines, or are you just pre-empting the result? 'Horse before the cart' and all that. Why I ask is because your post seems to be based on many presuppositions.

For instance, Christianity isn't a homogeneous group. There are billions of people who consider themselves Christian, and no one person or denomination can speak for all of them. On a personal level, if ET life is found then I personally don't see it affecting my faith greatly. This may well cause others to lose theirs, however. I would have much more difficulty reconciling the discovery of some intelligent life. Much would hang on whether they had the same concept of a Christian God or not.

Liber8or wrote: »

- Will it been seen as a new territory to spread the word of God? Example: Africa.

I'm not sure that Christians have to worry about spreading the Good News to any hypothetical life (or the remains of life) on Mars. This is because I think we should concentrate on preaching the Good News to all bacteria on this planet first. When that's done we can can then begin bombarding Mars with The God Channel before the conversion invasion!

- Will you refute all evidence no matter what?

Nope

- Will you say God also created those organisms? And if so, I thought man was the only resemblance to God, so why create some inferior and somewhat pointless lifeform? For the craic?

Not all Christians believe in a literal reading of Genesis. In fact, most mainstream Christian denominations (RCC, for example) fully accept evolution and think of the 'image of God' not in terms of morphology, rather it refers to our spiritual likeness to God.

- Will you say it is the will of God for us to discover new planets full of life and pursue our great crusade to spread the word of God to other areas? However, I do not remember any references to Mars in the Bible.

Whatever about Mars, I think that our chances of discovering life on other planets is remote to say the least. This is not to say that it doesn't exist, it's just that the task would be impossible given our current level of technology and scientific knowledge. (I don't put much hope in SETI). Unless they have plans to roll out the Starship Enterprise any time soon, Voyager 1 is about as far as we will get. I would imaging that interstellar space travel is an exponentially more difficult task than a jaunt to any celestial body in our solar system. Similar problems would face any other intelligent life out there.

- Or will you finally accept that God did not infact create the Universe and everything in it?

'In fact'? The bias of your wording seems designed to give an answer that agrees with yours. With regards to life, there is no 'fact' as of yet.

Otherwise he would have told us about the lads on Mars and their blasphemy by not conforming to his will. Is there a plan to deal with such discoveries? Or will there be another reversal of policy on what the Bible stands for? Will they finally dig out those other gospels and maybe throw in a few quotes from them to deal with this predicament?

Again, have I missed something? Has life on Mars been discovered? Is it intelligent?

I know there are a lot of questions to be answered here, but i would just like an answer for the main one; what is the Christian response to life on other planets?

I am excited by the possibility.

AtomicHorror

Liber8or wrote: »

We are on the precipice of the resolving the great question as to whether life exists elsewhere in the universe, besides Earth. The methane test results could lead to the discovery of organisms living under the surface of Mars, surviving in adverse conditions, and yet, producing life.

There's a good chance that we'll have a definitive answer on this matter in the next 10-15 years, but if you're referring to the NASA announcement yesterday, it is merely the first conclusive report of methane production on Mars. It can reasonably be only one (or both) of two things, active volcanism or life. But the source is still not clear. We're just certain that it's there now.

Liber8or wrote: »

My question is, to the devout Christian community, what is the religious response to this?

Well, only the creationists are likely to find issue with the matter, especially if the life turned out to be genetically unrelated to Earth life. That would suggest a second creation event, which is not in Genesis. It would also suggest that abiogenesis is not at all as unlikely as some of them would like to make out.

Liber8or wrote: »

- Will it been seen as a new territory to spread the word of God? Example: Africa.

I guess you're expanding the question now to question what it would mean if we became aware of intelligent life. I can't see anyone bothering to bring The Word to a colony of cyanobacteria 3 kilometers beneath the Martian surface. If we do contact intelligent life, it's very unlikely to be close enough to us for it to visit.

Liber8or wrote: »

Otherwise he would have told us about the lads on Mars and their blasphemy by not conforming to his will. Is there a plan to deal with such discoveries? Or will there be another reversal of policy on what the Bible stands for? Will they finally dig out those other gospels and maybe throw in a few quotes from them to deal with this predicament?

You're getting way ahead of yourself. If there's life there, it's unlikely to be complex and almost certainly will not be intelligent in a manner comparable to humans.

Liber8or

My concluding paragraph was written in jest and humour at the concept of religion scrambling to deal with this discovery. However my point remains, regarding the discovery of possible micro-organisms. What is the Christian response to this?

I am well aware that scientists believe the methane gas could be from volcano's exerting this into the atmosphere, but if it is from a particular organism, what can Christians say to answer this.

What is the answer for the existence of micro-organisms on Mars, should they be proven?

Did God create them? Did man create them? Surely God, in his infinite wisdom, was well aware of what he created when he created it.

I know the most common response to this would be Science doesn't know everything and maybe God has yet to reveal his full plan for the universe, but I am sorry, ignorance doesn't cut it. At least Science is trying to work things out and discover reasons for such anomalies, rather than refer to some book written thousands of years ago in an age where it was believed the Earth was the centre of the Universe, which has since then been proved wrong.

I would also like to hear from devout and unflinching Christians about this. Not the Christians who sit on the fence and want to be regarded as loyal, for when they meet the "big guy", but switch when Science provides an answer to a question, with evidence, that contradicts the Bible. A.k.a Christian, whilst retaining some common sense, but not enough to anger God.

Fanny Cradock

There is no Christian response. There are only the diverse responses from Christians. Get it?

AtomicHorror

Liber8or wrote: »

My concluding paragraph was written in jest and humour at the concept of religion scrambling to deal with this discovery. However my point remains, regarding the discovery of possible micro-organisms. What is the Christian response to this?

I am well aware that scientists believe the methane gas could be from volcano's exerting this into the atmosphere, but if it is from a particular organism, what can Christians say to answer this.

What is the answer for the existence of micro-organisms on Mars, should they be proven?

Did God create them? Did man create them? Surely God, in his infinite wisdom, was well aware of what he created when he created it.

I know the most common response to this would be Science doesn't know everything and maybe God has yet to reveal his full plan for the universe, but I am sorry, ignorance doesn't cut it. At least Science is trying to work things out and discover reasons for such anomalies, rather than refer to some book written thousands of years ago in an age where it was believed the Earth was the centre of the Universe, which has since then been proved wrong.

I would also like to hear from devout and unflinching Christians about this. Not the Christians who sit on the fence and want to be regarded as loyal, for when they meet the "big guy", but switch when Science provides an answer to a question, with evidence, that contradicts the Bible. A.k.a Christian, whilst retaining some common sense, but not enough to anger God.

I dunno, sounds like you're asking a whole load of questions there, whilst making a lot of generalisations about the expected responses. Sorta reads like you're trying to goad the locals a bit. I have to tell you that I doubt many of the Christians here would be all that bothered by such a discovery. I mean, they'll be bothered inasmuch as everyone else will- it'll be an historic and incredibly exciting moment- but I think the kinda drama you're fishing for is likely to only explode on the creationism thread and its ilk.

Fanny Cradock

AtomicHorror wrote: »

I dunno, sounds like you're asking a whole load of questions there, whilst making a lot of generalisations about the expected responses. Sorta reads like you're trying to goad the locals a bit.

It is certainly coming across that way, but I'm sure that it wasn't intended.



*Reaches for modstick*

keane2097

I'm an atheist but I still fail to see how God not including a chapter in Genesis on the microorganisms He created on Mars breaks Christianity tbh...

Soul Winner

I think Atomichorror dealt with your questions pretty well but I’ll give it a shot too.

Liber8or wrote: »

We are on the precipice of the resolving the great question as to whether life exists elsewhere in the universe, besides Earth. The methane test results could lead to the discovery of organisms living under the surface of Mars, surviving in adverse conditions, and yet, producing life.

My question is, to the devout Christian community, what is the religious response to this?

You mean what would be the response to this if it were to turn out to be true? I'd say that it was really interseting, astounding even. But to doubt my faith over it my response would be, eh, should I have a response to this? They found microbes on Mars big deal. What do you think the response should be?

Liber8or wrote: »

If we are given clearly recognisable and verifiable proof that life on another planet exists, what does religion hold as a response?

On a whole I'd say the response would be: "Well done lads, you found life on another planet." or something, what??

Liber8or wrote: »

- Will it been seen as a new territory to spread the word of God? Example: Africa.

We are commissioned only to go to every nation on the Earth and proclaim the Gospel not to other planets, so that would be a no.

Liber8or wrote: »

- Will you refute all evidence no matter what?

No, why should we? What’s the big deal with life on other planets?

Liber8or wrote: »

- Will you say God also created those organisms?

Yes.

Liber8or wrote: »

And if so, I thought man was the only resemblance to God

Will they be man like creatures?

Liber8or wrote: »

so why create some inferior and somewhat pointless lifeform?

Don't know. Pointless to who?

Liber8or wrote: »

For the craic?

Don't know. It’s possible I suppose.

Liber8or wrote: »

- Will you say it is the will of God for us to discover new planets full of life and pursue our great crusade to spread the word of God to other areas?

No, see answer to Africa above.

Liber8or wrote: »

However, I do not remember any references to Mars in the Bible.

Either do I. Point being?

Liber8or wrote: »

- Or will you finally accept that God did not infact create the Universe and everything in it?

Based on finding microbes on Mars? No.

Liber8or wrote: »

Otherwise he would have told us about the lads on Mars and their blasphemy by not conforming to his will.

Why should He? There might be Martian missionaries in microbe form there for all we know. He could send them to sort them out.

Liber8or wrote: »

Is there a plan to deal with such discoveries?

No. Should there be? If so, then why?

Liber8or wrote: »

Or will there be another reversal of policy on what the Bible stands for?

When was the last reversal?

Liber8or wrote: »

Will they finally dig out those other gospels and maybe throw in a few quotes from them to deal with this predicament?

What are you talking about?

Liber8or wrote: »

I know there are a lot of questions to be answered here, but i would just like an answer for the main one; what is the Christian response to life on other planets?

That's wonderful news, well done lads.

If they found a Bible on Mars would you stop asking silly questions? Questions not tending toward edification?

Seriously though, you do know that it is quite possible for life to have gotten to Mars from Earth don't you? During the many cataclysmic collisions Earth has had in its past it is not unreasonable to suppose that maybe a bit of life ejected from Earth and was preserved in debris made its way to Mars and either died off pretty quickly on arrival or managed to get a foothold somehow and continue in its microbial form for some time. Similar to the theory of how life might have started on Earth except the other way around.

But even if life were found on Mars which was indigenous to Mars it wouldn’t bother me in the least. Does it say in the Bible that there is no life on Mars or anywhere else in the universe except Earth?

JimiTime

The OP is IMO a case in point for 'The uber-smart trendy* atheist'. So as to mock those silly folk who hold a differing view. Christianity is so 33AD, get with the times man:pac:

*=Trendy in view point not appearence. We know all of you are nerds:)

PDN

Liber8or wrote: »

My concluding paragraph was written in jest and humour at the concept of religion scrambling to deal with this discovery. However my point remains, regarding the discovery of possible micro-organisms. What is the Christian response to this?

Let me see, what should the Christian response be to some hot air?

I am well aware that scientists believe the methane gas could be from volcano's exerting this into the atmosphere, but if it is from a particular organism, what can Christians say to answer this.

There's no need for an answer since the discovery wouldn't ask any questions.

What is the answer for the existence of micro-organisms on Mars, should they be proven?

Again, such proof doesn't ask any questions of Christians, so why on earth should there be an answer?

Did God create them? Did man create them? Surely God, in his infinite wisdom, was well aware of what he created when he created it.

Everything is ultimately created by God, including all the rocks on Mars - so life would be no different in that respect. I'm quite sure God is well aware of everything He has created, be it on earth, on Mars, or 50 million light years away. Again, I don't see where any question is coming from. The discovery on Mars is to do with that mankind is aware of, it doesn't affect what God is aware of.

I know the most common response to this would be Science doesn't know everything and maybe God has yet to reveal his full plan for the universe, but I am sorry, ignorance doesn't cut it.

Yes, it is true that Science (I like the capital letter and personification of Science - very primary schoolish) doesn't know everything. Therefore, to some degree, science is ignorant. In fact we are all ignorant of most of the stuff in the universe. You can say that doesn't cut it - but it's the facts.

At least Science is trying to work things out and discover reasons for such anomalies, rather than refer to some book written thousands of years ago in an age where it was believed the Earth was the centre of the Universe, which has since then been proved wrong

Well of course we all expect 'Science' to try to work things out. 'Science' literally means 'knowledge' - so of course it should try to increase our store of knowledge. As for looking in the Bible - of course they shouldn't refer to the Bible for answers about life on Mars, nor should they refer to the Constitution, to a Dictionary, or to any other book or document that deals with issues other than science. Why mention such a silly idea?

The people who refer to the Bible for their answers are called theologians, not scientists, they look for spiritual truth not scientific facts, and they are not so ignorant as to falsely think that the Bible makes any claims as to the location of the centre of the universe. :rolleyes:

I would also like to hear from devout and unflinching Christians about this. Not the Christians who sit on the fence and want to be regarded as loyal, for when they meet the "big guy", but switch when Science provides an answer to a question, with evidence, that contradicts the Bible. A.k.a Christian, whilst retaining some common sense, but not enough to anger God.

That might be considered witty in whatever juvenile company you normally keep, but as a moderator of this forum let me warn you that if you troll that stupidly again then you will receive a ban or an infraction.

Now toddle off and play with your toy microscope and fantasise about coming up with discoveries that demand an answer from Christians.

robindch

PDN wrote: »

whatever juvenile company you normally keep

Hmmm... point (1) here?

PDN

robindch wrote: »

Hmmm... point (1) here?

Robin, I appreciate your bias as an atheist prevents you from doing the necessary exegesis to properly understand my words, but I think even you should be able to realise that there is a difference between calling someone childish purely because they hold a different opinion on a particular subject (eg eternal life) and a moderator assessing someone as being juvenile because their entire post displays the cognitive ability and maturity of a twelve year old.

Now, if you wish to engage in discussion on any of the topics on this board, including this thread, then feel free to do so.

If you wish to comment on my moderating then send me a PM or take it to Feedback. Thanks.

philologos

Liber8or wrote: »

I would also like to hear from devout and unflinching Christians about this. Not the Christians who sit on the fence and want to be regarded as loyal, for when they meet the "big guy", but switch when Science provides an answer to a question, with evidence, that contradicts the Bible. A.k.a Christian, whilst retaining some common sense, but not enough to anger God.

Sitting on the fence would make you an agnostic, not a Christian. This poses no challenge to Christianity and it doesn't contradict the Bible. Or if you are to suggest that it does provide references.

Morbert

At the moment, we are truly in the dark regarding the probability of intelligent life on other planets. But if new life was discovered on Mars, then the probability of intelligent life on one of the other billions of planets out there would dramatically increase. Although it's still all speculation.

AtomicHorror

Morbert wrote: »

At the moment, we are truly in the dark regarding the probability of intelligent life on other planets. But if new life was discovered on Mars, then the probability of intelligent life on one of the other billions of planets out there would dramatically increase. Although it's still all speculation.

The real test of the likelyhood of that will be the discovery of any form of life outside of our solar system. That's an exponentially bigger task than detecting it on Mars. It's also exponentially less likely to have arisen by panspermia in that case. But think of the practicalities of firmly identifying such life. Mars is in our cosmological back garden (just a handy two year round trip) and we'll still need to land there with a 3km core drill to get a definite answer on the life question. How are we going to deal with a world that we can barely detect, let alone image with the detail of Mars?

Of course we could get lucky in the next ten years and directly image a world with blue oceans and green continents, CO2, O2 and methane in the atmosphere and a global average temperature of about 30C. That'd probably seal the deal :pac:

Biro

Liber8or wrote: »

My concluding paragraph was written in jest and humour at the concept of religion scrambling to deal with this discovery. However my point remains, regarding the discovery of possible micro-organisms. What is the Christian response to this?

I am well aware that scientists believe the methane gas could be from volcano's exerting this into the atmosphere, but if it is from a particular organism, what can Christians say to answer this.

What is the answer for the existence of micro-organisms on Mars, should they be proven?

Did God create them? Did man create them? Surely God, in his infinite wisdom, was well aware of what he created when he created it.

I know the most common response to this would be Science doesn't know everything and maybe God has yet to reveal his full plan for the universe, but I am sorry, ignorance doesn't cut it. At least Science is trying to work things out and discover reasons for such anomalies, rather than refer to some book written thousands of years ago in an age where it was believed the Earth was the centre of the Universe, which has since then been proved wrong.

I would also like to hear from devout and unflinching Christians about this. Not the Christians who sit on the fence and want to be regarded as loyal, for when they meet the "big guy", but switch when Science provides an answer to a question, with evidence, that contradicts the Bible. A.k.a Christian, whilst retaining some common sense, but not enough to anger God.

Sing the highlighted part to yourself and come back when you're somewhat enlightened. Leave your tar brush behind next time too. :rolleyes:

Biro

Soul Winner wrote: »

Why should He? There might be Martian missionaries in microbe form there for all we know. He could send them to sort them out.

They're gonna be crappin it when they see us coming!!!

Jakkass

Jakkass wrote: »

Just to pose a counter question, what would atheists do if they figured out that if there are other intelligent species such as ourselves, and if they have received a divine revelation which is very similar or identical to ours, will this cause people to doubt their atheism?

If the life had a similar religion to Christianity; if their religion had similar stories of creation, end times etc.; Of Jesus and of heaven - then I couldn't not doubt my atheism. I believe I'd turn to Christianity almost immediately.

Húrin

It's funny how some atheists are building up this idea of the discovery of extraterrestrial life to be the silver bullet they feel the need for to eliminate Christianity. And all the while the actual Christians are shrugging their shoulders, and preparing the "well done" cards for the scientists who find the answer.

And why is there a presupposition that the scientists are not Christians? We simply do not know the religious affiliations of whatever individual scientists end up making the discovery.

PDN wrote: »

Robin, I appreciate your bias as an atheist prevents you from doing the necessary exegesis to properly understand my words

Haha, funniest internet forum in-joke evar.

-JammyDodger- wrote: »

If the life had a similar religion to Christianity; if their religion had similar stories of creation, end times etc.; Of Jesus and of heaven - then I couldn't not doubt my atheism. I believe I'd turn to Christianity almost immediately.

This is why I think it's unlikely that God would do the same thing for intelligent life elsewhere. It would be the kind of proof that would destroy the necessity for faith. God is more clever than that.