The Religion of Aliens

starbelgrade

It strikes me as quite odd that some are absolutely certain that there is no God, but seem to be very open to the fact (or totally believe that) aliens exist.

I mean there is no proof that either exist. The retort that there "must be more intelligent life" is as convincing to me as "there must be a God".

So is the belief in aliens just like a religion for the science fiction enthusiasts or is there more to it than that?

Guill

starbelgrade wrote: »

It strikes me as quite odd that some are absolutely certain that there is no God, but seem to be very open to the fact (or totally believe that) aliens exist.

I mean there is no proof that either exist. The retort that there "must be more intelligent life" is as convincing to me as "there must be a God".

So is the belief in aliens just like a religion for the science fiction enthusiasts or is there more to it than that?

No, it's a statisical certainty.

Logical Fallacy

Life doesn't need to be "intelligent" as most people understand the word.

So yes, i believe that there is a high likelihood that in an big universe of which we known very little about there is a good chance that on another planet a single cell organism or better exists.

I do not believe some dude with a beard exists and he made the Universe.

Occam's Razor.

Amirani

Anyone who claims to be certain there is no God is just as wrong as anyone who claims they're certain there is one.

paddy kerins

Billions and billions and billions of stars and even more planets rotating around them and there's no other life in the universe? I highly doubt that

pokertalk

aliens seems more plausible tbh

starbelgrade

paddy kerins wrote: »

Billions and billions and billions of stars and even more planets rotating around them and there's no other life in the universe? I highly doubt that

But surely the fact that it's based on doubting other than the fact, makes the belief the same in it's reasoning as the same as the belief in a God or Gods?

KeithAFC

God is just unpopular now. He will rise again..

DrumSteve

I thought this was going to be about what sort of religion aliens would have. I am disappoint.

im invisible

They'd be Jehovas Witnesses, here to spread the good news...

pokertalk

its hard to tell ders so many people that have seen ufos aliens in the world well claim to have seen them and who knows what goes on in area 51 .i think the bilble is just a good story

conor.hogan.2

There is life here, I have not seen god yet.
I base my belief in life on other planets on what scientists say.

Guill

DrumSteve wrote: »

I thought this was going to be about what sort of religion aliens would have. I an disappoint.

Catholic obviously, cause of God 'n' all.

Chuck Stone

starbelgrade wrote: »

It strikes me as quite odd that some are absolutely certain that there is no God, but seem to be very open to the fact (or totally believe that) aliens exist.

I mean there is no proof that either exist. The retort that there "must be more intelligent life" is as convincing to me as "there must be a God".

So is the belief in aliens just like a religion for the science fiction enthusiasts or is there more to it than that?

There's more to it.

We already have an example that intelligent life can develop i.e. Human Beings on planet Earth.

It would be a statistical improbability that life hasn't developed somewhere else in the universe.

tigger123

Although it's not proven, science and statistical probability leans strongly in favour of some sort of life existing elsewhere in the universe.

However, a belief in God(s) is a leap of faith with little or nothing to back it up.

While neither is proven, logic, and the universe as we currently understand it, leans heavily in one direction only.

starbelgrade

Logical Fallacy wrote: »

Life doesn't need to be "intelligent" as most people understand the word.

So yes, i believe that there is a high likelihood that in an big universe of which we known very little about there is a good chance that on another planet a single cell organism or better exists.

I do not believe some dude with a beard exists and he made the Universe.

Occam's Razor.

Fair enough. But that doesn't negate the possibility that if life were discovered on another planet, that the life could be itself a God of sorts.

7Sins

I think it's absurd to think that planet Earth is the only planet in the Universe with life. All it takes is the discovery of one tiny microbe on another planet to prove there's life out there! and it will happen.

Chuck Stone

starbelgrade wrote: »

Fair enough. But that doesn't negate the possibility that if life were discovered on another planet, that the life could be itself a God of sorts.

It would cease to be a god if it were detectable. It would then become just another scientific fact.

Solair

Well, to those of us who take a scientific view of how life is most likely to have started, it seems quite plausible that there could be life elsewhere.

If you consider that life started due to a combination of factors on Earth that allowed the whole process to kick off, it would be reasonable to assume that similar events could have happened elsewhere.

Given that there are countless other planets and solar systems, it's possible that some of that possible life evolved along parallel paths to ourselves and is intelligent and self-aware.

It's most unlikely that it would be like StarTrek where everyone goes around speaking English with an American accent and that they all look human other than for very minor tweaks.

In fact, it could be more like trying to have a conversation with a Jellyfish or an Octopus.

It's likely that any aliens could be radically different from any life on Earth.

The God theory however does not seem to have any basis in science at all. It seems to me to be something we used to fill in blanks in our knowledge and explain the inexplicable.

The human brain likes explanations for absolutely everything. We need answers! So, when we do not have an answer, we postulate something based on the available knowledge at the time and extrapolate some kind of an answer.

Without any scientific facts available, it's not unreasonable that people came to the conclusion that someone designed everything i.e. God. Since, that's how we made things i.e. by design, that made logical sense so it was accepted.

It's just that since pre-history, we have acquired vast amounts of technology and knowledge of how things really work and we have discovered that our original religious theories don't fit with scientific reality. Hence, the idea of creationism is no longer accepted by the mainstream.

That's not to deny anyone's spirituality in other areas.

However, logic would seem to point towards the *possible* existence of aliens.

starbelgrade

Solair wrote: »

It's most unlikely that it would be like StarTrek where everyone goes around speaking English with an American accent and that they all look human other than for very minor tweaks.

If there's no possibility of a Captain Kirk & a Spock, then the aliens can go & fuck themselves as far as I'm concerned.

Solair

starbelgrade wrote: »

If there's no possibility of a Captain Kirk & a Spock, then the aliens can go &

---

themselves as far as I'm concerned.

For all we know, they probably do! Particularly those that reproduce asexually!

Dont be at yourself

NiallSparky wrote: »

Anyone who claims to be certain there is no God is just as wrong as anyone who claims they're certain there is one.

Depends on what you mean by God. I'm certain that there is no Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Shinto, Buddhist, Norse, Roman or Greek Gods. Just the same as I'm certain there's no Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus or Boogieman.

starbelgrade

Solair wrote: »

For all we know, they probably do! Particularly those that reproduce asexually!

Are you saying Kirk doesn't have a cock?

Jesus man, you're bordering on the sacreligious here.

Chuck Stone

There is one thing that is a bit puzzling though.

Astronomers have been listening to the skies for decades and haven't detected one vestige of radio waves transmitted by alien life forms.

These waves could be reaching here from any time in the last couple of billion years so it is a little strange that we're not picking up anything.

Spooky.

conor.hogan.2

Chuck Stone wrote: »

Spooky.

Not really we can only detect so far, and who knows if we are listening for the right things or if they are transmitting anymore or are capable of transmitting.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermi_paradox

7Sins

Solair wrote: »

It's most unlikely that it would be like StarTrek where everyone goes around speaking English with an American accent and that they all look human other than for very minor tweaks.

In fact, it could be more like trying to have a conversation with a Jellyfish or an Octopus.

It's likely that any aliens could be radically different from any life on Earth.

There's also the possibility of life in the 4th, 5th, 6th etc dimensions, but those of course are so incomprehensible to us that we can't even fathom their existence in our wildest dreams...but Stephen Hawking can

starbelgrade

I'm still not convinced. I mean, "statistical probability" really isn't a very convincing argument.

conor.hogan.2

starbelgrade wrote: »

I'm still not convinced. I mean, "statistical probability" really isn't a very convincing argument.

Give a better argument for god/s?

jpm4

starbelgrade wrote: »

I'm still not convinced. I mean, "statistical probability" really isn't a very convincing argument.

Not convinced of what exactly? You are comparing two entirely different things seems pointless to me.

Solair

starbelgrade wrote: »

I'm still not convinced. I mean, "statistical probability" really isn't a very convincing argument.

Eh, there are about 50 billion planets in the Milky Way...
So, there's a fair old chance at least 2 of them contain life.

starbelgrade

conor.hogan.2 wrote: »

Give a better argument for god/s?

The existence or not of a God is not really that relevant to the debate.

pokertalk

starbelgrade wrote: »

I'm still not convinced. I mean, "statistical probability" really isn't a very convincing argument.

its scientifically possible which is as close as its going to get without me knocking around to your gaff with ALF

efb

DrumSteve wrote: »

I thought this was going to be about what sort of religion aliens would have. I an disappoint.

If there is intelligent life out there- they'll be atheist tbf

pokertalk

i have dibbs on 7 of 9 btw

starbelgrade

7Sins wrote: »

There's also the possibility of life in the 4th, 5th, 6th etc dimensions, but those of course are so incomprehensible to us that we can't even fathom their existence in our wildest dreams...but Stephen Hawking can

Stephen Hawking can do a lot of things.

But he can't wipe his own arse. I know who I'd rather be.

pokertalk

starbelgrade wrote: »

Stephen Hawking can do a lot of things.

But he can't wipe his own arse. I know who I'd rather be.

ye me too .id rather be stephen hawlking;)

efb

starbelgrade wrote: »

Stephen Hawking can do a lot of things.

But he can't wipe his own arse. I know who I'd rather be.

i rather have his brain power. some numpty can wipe me hole.

BrokenArrows

starbelgrade wrote: »

It strikes me as quite odd that some are absolutely certain that there is no God, but seem to be very open to the fact (or totally believe that) aliens exist.

I mean there is no proof that either exist. The retort that there "must be more intelligent life" is as convincing to me as "there must be a God".

So is the belief in aliens just like a religion for the science fiction enthusiasts or is there more to it than that?

No.

Belief in aliens is based on the fact that we a tiny planet that exists in the infinity of space and the chances are that there is more life out there.

Belief in God is that there is life out there that created everything else.

Solair

You'd really wonder about our species' suicidal and self-destructive tendencies though and how they are compatible with intelligence.

We put vast resources into building devices that could destroy all life on Earth i.e. Nuclear Weapons.

We spend the rest of our time gambling on ridiculous things (stock markets), fighting over utter nonsense and ensuring half of our population lives in dire circumstances.

So, I'm not entirely sure that you could define our lot as all that intelligent.

We can discuss things abstractly, but we're a bit loopers!

pokertalk

this is my impression of stephen hawlking ...... hello im stephrn hawlking

Logical Fallacy

starbelgrade wrote: »

Fair enough. But that doesn't negate the possibility that if life were discovered on another planet, that the life could be itself a God of sorts.

Yeah. I always liked that line as well. I wouldn't doubt the chance of something existing which , when compared to me, is a God, as i am effectively a god when compared to a paramecium.

However, the chance of that thing actually being a God as described by any of the hundred of religions that have existed during the course of human history would be pretty much slim to none.

Context is really the key here.

We can either discuss the probability of a highly complex and developed organism existing that might, just might, be close to Deity status when compared with the abilities of a human or we can talk about the conscious bringing into existence of everything that ever was and every will be.

I would be willing, and literally have, bet the possibility of eternal suffering on the later not being the case.

BrokenArrows wrote: »

Belief in aliens is based on the fact that we a tiny planet that exists in the infinity of space and the chances are that there is more life out there.

Exactly. Even then, it's not "believe" in aliens, it's acquiescence to the statistical likelihood of them having occurred as we have occurred.

If you want prove of life just hold your hand in front of your face. Tying that in to some kind of desire to feel special and created instead of embracing the basic randomness of your existence is a character flaw in my opinion.

pokertalk

Solair wrote: »

You'd really wonder about our species' suicidal and self-destructive tendencies though and how they are compatible with intelligence.

We put vast resources into building devices that could destroy all life on Earth i.e. Nuclear Weapons.

We spend the rest of our time gambling on ridiculous things (stock markets), fighting over utter nonsense and ensuring half of our population lives in dire circumstances.

So, I'm not entirely sure that you could define our lot as all that intelligent.

We can discuss things abstractly, but we're a bit loopers!

+1million

Rhys Essien

Dont be at yourself wrote: »

Depends on what you mean by God. I'm certain that there is no Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Shinto, Buddhist, Norse, Roman or Greek Gods. Just the same as I'm certain there's no Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus or Boogieman.

What,who will deliver the toys I asked for so.

starbelgrade

BrokenArrows wrote: »

No.

Belief in aliens is based on the fact that we a tiny planet that exists in the infinity of space and the chances are that there is more life out there.

Belief in God is that there is life out there that created everything else.

I realise that there are great differences between belief in God & belief in aliens, but there are also still similarities, one of them being that it's still just a belief without any proof whatsoever.

born2bwild

starbelgrade wrote: »

Are you saying Kirk doesn't have a cock?

Jesus man, you're bordering on the sacreligious here.

Took a screenshot of this a few years back. Knew it would come in handy.

conor.hogan.2

starbelgrade wrote: »

I realise that there are great differences between belief in God & belief in aliens, but there are also still similarities, one of them being that it's still just a belief without any proof whatsoever.

Look up scientific proof, it is different to what you think of as "proof" and is a hell of a lot better than blind faith.

Chuck Stone

Solair wrote: »

You'd really wonder about our species' suicidal and self-destructive tendencies though and how they are compatible with intelligence.

We put vast resources into building devices that could destroy all life on Earth i.e. Nuclear Weapons.

We spend the rest of our time gambling on ridiculous things (stock markets), fighting over utter nonsense and ensuring half of our population lives in dire circumstances.

So, I'm not entirely sure that you could define our lot as all that intelligent.

We can discuss things abstractly, but we're a bit loopers!

This is true.

There is no evidence that intelligence adds to survivability.

pokertalk

i think most religions are just chinese whispers of the same thing .if ya look into it their stories are simular in ways

jpm4

starbelgrade wrote: »

I realise that there are great differences between belief in God & belief in aliens, but there are also still similarities, one of them being that it's still just a belief without any proof whatsoever.

The belief in the latter based on reasoning, statistics and logic (note: this is not the same as saying there definitely is alien life out there, of course we can't know that), the former based on nothing in particular that I can figure out.

Logical Fallacy

Chuck Stone wrote: »

This is true.

There is no evidence that intelligence adds to survivability.

Precisely, if anything it diminishes it as there appears to be a direct correlation between human's concept of advancement and a removal of oneself from the actual environment in which we live and a lessening of the prevalence of the skills needed to survive in it.

We got smart enough to get soft.

starbelgrade

conor.hogan.2 wrote: »

Look up scientific proof, it is different to what you think of as "proof" and is a hell of a lot better than blind faith.

No. I don't respond well to orders - especially when they come from someone trying to be condescending.