Aliens/UFO's etc.

Hercule Poirot

Would I be right in thinking that if one day it is proved (absolutely) that there is alien life out there, then all modern religions will become completely moot (except maybe scientology)?

While I'm not an expert on all religions I do know that the majority of worldwide religions are all based on the thoery of a God creating the Earth and all the people - no mention of E.T.

super_furry

Well I'd imagine that Catholicism would go back to the 'god created the heavens and the earth' line, and fine room for non-earth based life in their dogma.

Hercule Poirot

I get what you mean. But the ol' Bible is incredibly specific when it talks about the creation of man in his own image, which in their theory explains why we all are the same species - I suppose the arguement would depend on whether or not they looked similar to us?

Robert ninja

I forget which, but once read that some church publically announced that they would baptise any aliens if they show up and provide them with bibles.

Dades

Hercule Poirot wrote: »

I suppose the arguement would depend on whether or not they looked similar to us?

I don't think the religious have anything to worry in that regard. If they did look like us that would be an argument for God. :pac:

Anyway, I don't think aliens would make any shift on religious thinking. The bible doesn't mention dinosaurs either, let's face it, and it's shifty, vague and inconsistent enough to swallow any new developments.

MrPudding

Dades wrote: »

I don't think the religious have anything to worry in that regard. If they did look like us that would be an argument for God. :pac:

Anyway, I don't think aliens would make any shift on religious thinking. The bible doesn't mention dinosaurs either, let's face it, and it's shifty, vague and inconsistent enough to swallow any new developments.

Agreed. it has been asked a couple of time on the other side, and the general consensus is it would do nothing to their beliefs. Some delusions are just too ingrained to be removed by anything.

MrP

The Quadratic Equation

Hercule Poirot wrote: »

Would I be right in thinking that if one day it is proved (absolutely) that there is alien life out there

Define Alien ? Anything not of this world ?

Not many religions claim there is nothing beyond this world.

It's a big universe / multiverse / dimensions / reality / space / time / spirit / matter / energy out there.

Infinity is a big place.

Mark Hamill

Hercule Poirot wrote: »

Would I be right in thinking that if one day it is proved (absolutely) that there is alien life out there, then all modern religions will become completely moot (except maybe scientology)?

While I'm not an expert on all religions I do know that the majority of worldwide religions are all based on the thoery of a God creating the Earth and all the people - no mention of E.T.

You are assuming that this wouldn't be teh case:

Galvasean

Hmm.......

Zombrex

Hercule Poirot wrote: »

Would I be right in thinking that if one day it is proved (absolutely) that there is alien life out there, then all modern religions will become completely moot (except maybe scientology)?

While I'm not an expert on all religions I do know that the majority of worldwide religions are all based on the thoery of a God creating the Earth and all the people - no mention of E.T.

I think like most scientific discoveries that contradict a particular line of thinking in religious circles they will just push religion out further (God made the Earth => God made the solar system => God made the universe => God made the multiverse) and continuing believing what they believe.

Since when as facts and figures ever got in the way of a religious doctrine?

Liamario

It's very hard to convince people that a fairy tale which they believe in is actually a lie.
To be honest, it really shouldn't take being from another planet for people to realise that what they believe in is complete bull. Theists need a god. It's not about evidence or facts, but about filling a hole.

Mistress 69

Dades wrote: »

The bible doesn't mention dinosaurs either, let's face it, and it's shifty, vague and inconsistent enough to swallow any new developments.

So it was written with forward planning for possible future modifications in mind..........Smart! :pac:

recedite

I'll be adopting the alien's religion. No sense in antagonising them.

Stercus Accidit

recedite wrote: »

I'll be adopting the alien's religion. No sense in antagonising them.

Zarlak be praised!

theoneeyedman

Hercule Poirot wrote: »

Would I be right in thinking that if one day it is proved (absolutely) that there is alien life out there, then all modern religions will become completely moot (except maybe scientology)?

While I'm not an expert on all religions I do know that the majority of worldwide religions are all based on the thoery of a God creating the Earth and all the people - no mention of E.T.

ET. You do know that the ET movie is a parable of the Easter story!

Mickeroo

They'd just try to convert the aliens.

Beruthiel

Only the brave and strong get into Sto'Vo'Kor. Praise be.

Wibbs

Beruthiel wrote: »

Only the brave and strong get into Sto'Vo'Kor. Praise be.

Christ I was about to point and yell NEEEERRRRRRD!! at you, then I realised I knew exactly what your reference was. Beam me up... :eek::D

b318isp

BTW, did you not know that Jesus is doing tours of alien civilisations on other planets? I'm not sure if he is on commission, but when he was finished his 33 (or so) years here on earth he went back to base for a debrief, and a new assignment to Zyklor 23 near Riga.

Edit: he has a nifty spaceship (a present from his Dad apparently), easily identifiable by the graphics saying "God & Son Ltd., Psychologists" on the side.

Sarky

Mistress 69 wrote: »

So it was written with forward planning for possible future modifications in mind..........Smart! :pac:

Vague threats and platitudes are ridiculously easy to fit around anything. Doomsayers are so focused on bad things happening that they latch onto the negative event as vindication, completely ignoring the trillion good things that happen all around them until that point, and continue happening afterwards.

Same thing with any holy book you care to mention. When whatever few specifics in the bible fail to be true, people fall back on the fuzzy ambiguous stuff, read their own specifics into it, and latch onto it until THAT fails to happen, and instead of anyone thinking "Hey, the bible hasn't been very reliable at ALL, maybe it's just inherently unreliable..." the depressing cycle repeats.

It's all dreadfully illogical.

Blowfish

Given that the definition of 'extra terrestrial' is life that didn't originate from Earth, doesn't that mean that technically God, Jesus, angels etc. are themselves aliens anyway?

nozzferrahhtoo

Hercule Poirot wrote: »

Would I be right in thinking that if one day it is proved (absolutely) that there is alien life out there, then all modern religions will become completely moot

Not at all. The one thing we can certainly say about religion is that it is adaptable. There would be a flurry of activity as the various clergies in the various religions reinterpret scripture to fit the new facts, and then all will be back to "normal".

Mickeroo wrote: »

They'd just try to convert the aliens.

If anyone is a reader I would recommend as a slightly above average read (I hesitate to say "good read". I enjoyed it anyway but....) called "The Sparrow" by Mary Doria Russell which is essentially about this very thing.

Alien life is discovered and due to a mix of luck, good financing and contacts the Jesuits are the first to be able to send a ship with the intention of bringing them the word of god. The narrative shifts back and forth between their time on the planet and the Vatican inquest into how it later went horribly wrong.

I believe there is a sequal but I have not read it yet.

Liamario

There is nothing I would like more than for aliens to come down and tell us they planted our seed on earth. That they are the "angels" and that they bring anyone who wants back in time and to see what happened 2000+ years ago.

recedite

Not so good if they have come back to harvest us, though.

Live long and prosper.

Liamario

I've purposefully *cough* put on weight to make myself less appetising to our new celestial overlords ;-)

Mistress 69

Liamario wrote: »

There is nothing I would like more than for aliens to come down and tell us they planted our seed on earth. That they are the "angels" and that they bring anyone who wants back in time and to see what happened 2000+ years ago.

If they are that advanced maybe they could bring me forward a few days so I can see the winning lotto numbers and then drop me back here!



Sans the usual alien probes etc:eek:

Mistress 69

Liamario wrote: »

I've purposefully *cough* put on weight to make myself less appetising to our new celestial overlords ;-)

I find it easier to qoute Beggars Banquet and the Prodigal Son, specifically the line '' kill the fatted calf '' than try to remember the parable I heard in junior school!:)

recedite

Come to think of it, if they are that advanced why do they need to keep probing people? Surely when you've seen the inside of one persons orifice.....

nozzferrahhtoo

not so sure recedite, even some of the most advanced of our species, when it came down to basics, spent most of their time trying to get inside the orifices of others

Galvasean

recedite wrote: »

Come to think of it, if they are that advanced why do they need to keep probing people? Surely when you've seen the inside of one persons orifice.....

You see, the aliens who abduct and probe people are in fact intergalactic hillbillies - think bestiality in terms of humans. It is generally frowned upon among the galactic federation of enlightened planets and punishable under pain of community service.

Mistress 69

Galvasean wrote: »

You see, the aliens who abduct and probe people are in fact intergalactic hillbillies - think bestiality in terms of humans. It is generally frowned upon among the galactic federation of enlightened planets and punishable under pain of community service.

or you could end up as an orion slave girl !

Galvasean

Or a slave girl in Jabba's Palace...

Mistress 69

Vanilla or Lime..... And it's off to bed for me as Zebedee said to Florence