Extraterrestrial life and world religions...

[princeether]

What, do you think, would be the effect on world religions if extraterrestrial life were proven to exist?
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[Infinite Grey]

What, do you think, would be the effect on world religions if extraterrestrial life were proven to exist?
I'm not talking single celled amoebas, I mean advanced civilizations,
although, I think both ends of the spectrum would be hugely significant...

What's wrong with single celled? A extraterrestrial single celled organism would be the biggest event in human history... admittedly, discovering intelligent life would eclipse it - but I would be stoked for fossilized single celled organism.

As to the effect? Well maybe humanity will get over itself and actually act like human beings (as the term is used in contemporary rhetoric)

[Shanti]

Depends on the religion. Some would loose face. Some would create an explanation and some would be happy campers!:toofless:

[princeether]

What's wrong with single celled? A extraterrestrial single celled organism would be the biggest event in human history... admittedly, discovering intelligent life would eclipse it - but I would be stoked for fossilized single celled organism.

As to the effect? Well maybe humanity will get over itself and actually act like human beings (as the term is used in contemporary rhetoric)

I did say that both ends of the spectrum, meaning a single celled organism right through to an intelligent civilization would be hugely significant, I edited that comment out so as not to be confusing...

[WokeUpDead]

They'd send their missionaries out to convert them and we wouldn't have to deal with the door to door bible hander outers anymore.

[Toby Stimpson]

This is a really interesting question and could be related to the religion,. but more importantly to the individual.

What I would find fascinating is the affect of alien religion on earth religions, if these aliens had religion comparable or equivalent. If they believed in one god, it would certainly be a win for monotheism... if they believed in polytheism, likewise for polytheism. In a lot of science fiction we see athiest or 'humanist' (although I guess they wouldnt call it that) aliens who believe strongly in science... but would that be true?

On the issue of their mere existence on our religions, I can certainly think that it would vary. Some religions hold in their cosmology the idea of different planes of existence and different worlds. Others might view the religion as being entirely an earth based revelation. Others may view them as spirits from their mythologies, while others may view them as merely different creations.

[Xander67]

What, do you think, would be the effect on world religions if extraterrestrial life were proven to exist?
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ET have already proved to exisit, Many countries no no longer enforce the information embargo on their people like america does.. stay tuned :)

[DoktorSick]

Some people would just incorporate into there particular religioius mythology.But to the most part it wouldn't have to much effect at all.

[Nicholas]

Sacredsin's father, uncle, and I had a discussion about this which made the best religious sense to me from their perspective. They think if intelligent alien life were to exist and these aliens had a an almost parallel belief system... (their example being Christianity) that it would prove a Christian god. I can see how people would see it that way although I feel it wouldn't do much to sway me from my atheism.

I believe fossil evidence would be enough to turn the world upside down, and I'm looking forward to hopefully be living in a time where this is a possible find via mars.

[princeether]

What would be the connotation for religions that consider Humanity to be Gods only creation?
For example, I think it would be difficult for Christianity to reconcile the idea of Extraterrestrial life, with the Earth-focused view of the Bible. I am not talking about individuals, as I am aware that many Christians believe in Extraterrestrial life.

[Xander67]

Well, interestingly enough, Pope Benedict said just last year that it is OK to believe life could exist outside earth... wonder if it had anything to do with whatever they are trying to keep hush about that they discovered at MT GRAHM, the vatican owns a huge observatory on top of a mountain in Arizona.

Christianity as a whole? well I think many are open to the possibility but do not believe what the Government is telling them..

The European Space agency is not holding anything back, and I think this troubles Nasa...

[Druchii]

What, do you think, would be the effect on world religions if extraterrestrial life were proven to exist?
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One big fat oven baked batch of denial. But ONLY if it were sentient, reasoning, communicative, possibly humanoid extra-terrestrials. Anything less, and to be honest, no one would make that big a deal about it.

[Doodlebug]

I am not sure what the effect on other world religions would be but I think that many Christians would be shocked. Either that or many Christians would be in denial and would claim that they were demons or something. But what if they were shown to be friendly? Would they still think of them as demons?

[ninurta2008]

ET have already proved to exisit, Many countries no no longer enforce the information embargo on their people like america does.. stay tuned :)
Wait what? An american here in need of information. :lol:


The European Space agency is not holding anything back, and I think this troubles Nasa...
Not Nasa, just the people in the know. There is a reason the ESA doesn't want to cover it up, and the USA wants to, and has, and only released what they did a few times. The one covering it up knows what the secret is, and since you can't hide ET as he'll just come, the tech isn't ET, but T.

I'm guessing all UFO's are USA or Russian or Chinese Technology.

Or perhaps I am giving the 3 too much credit.

IMO, I think that it would have no effect. C'mon we're so anthropocentric that we painted the gods as humans and made stories of animals and animal-like gods anthropomorphic and behave like us. We're so deluded as a species, that only the ones who can get over themselves with aliens, are the ones that would get over themselves without seeing ET.

Not even science could affect their beliefs, think a new life form elsewhere will? I think not

[Galen]

I am not sure what the effect on other world religions would be but I think that many Christians would be shocked. Either that or many Christians would be in denial and would claim that they were demons or something. But what if they were shown to be friendly? Would they still think of them as demons?

I feel as thought it wouldn't be exclusive to Christianity. Perhaps even Pagans would try to point a finger and claim things to be evil...

...the gods know enough people do that with Christians already...

[C. Iulia Regilia]

I think Islam and Christianity would suffer a big ego blow. It would be hard to explain how these creatures could not know about Jesus aand Muhammad. Or arguements about whether aliens have souls or need the religion.

Me I think that they'd probably just be another creation of Anu in a large universe. It really doesn't change things for me.

[Twig]

The majority of the people on Earth would probably see them as Gods, or messengers thereof, and welcome them in Peace.

While the adherents of the "big 3" would see them as an enemy to the power that they hold over the people that pay them and therefore call for a war with them, as they could destroy their hold over the masses.

Peace,
Twig

[BryonMorrigan]

I think Islam and Christianity would suffer a big ego blow. It would be hard to explain how these creatures could not know about Jesus aand Muhammad.

Considering that exclusivist Christians and Muslims (i.e., the ones who believe that the only "true" religion is theirs and all others are "false"...) already believe that the other 2/3 of Humanity is going to "Hell" for not believing as they do...I don't see how it would change much.

OH HAI! MORE INFIDELZ!

[Vampiel]

As far as I'm aware the bible doesn't mention anything in regards to extraterrestial life forms which is what christians always reference when looking for answers and depending on their interpretation is how they percieve it.

Sine nothing is written about this, it would be a free for all to explain it from there already determined point of view.

Its not just christians but we all do this. Once we have a deep seated life viewpoint we take any new information and anaylze it then explain it in a way to fit our own bias.

Ultimately especially if they were intelligent life forms and were able to help teach us how to live in more productive societies it would have a negative effect on religion as far as converts and members because in poorer societies religion tends to thrive more than in wealthy ones because it helps to replace that organized structure and security that wealthier nations provide through the government.

Also it would allow more free flow of information which also has a negative effect especially on the larger religions simply because people are exposed to more information and aren't as relient on their rearing to determine what they truly believe. Also we tend to have strength in numbers so it makes it more acceptable in your own mind once you realize your not the only one that may view something a certain way. Which I credit the internet with some of the decline of christianity and increase of pagans, atheists and agnostics in the states.

So initially it won't have that large of an impact because they will simply explain it in a way to fit their bias, in fact it may even increase their numbers because people may feel threatened and religion gives us comfort and hope.

However over a period of time it would have a negative effect as far as numbers of converts and members.

[Selah]

When I was younger, a school teacher told us that if aliens or extraterrestrials existed, "God would have told us so!" I remember telling my mother (a devout Catholic) what my teacher said, and she said that the teacher was B'sing :p

In short, it may have an effect on certain people that practice certain faiths, but not on the faiths themselves.

[omar]

There is inteligent life out there. The religions was brought to earth thousands of years ago by these star people. The people that worship bulls, cows & calves got there Pagan beliefs from Taurus, Islam & Christianaty came from the twins,those that worship snake & serpents got theres from the Serpent Constilation. I read that the Serpent is supose to start growing what looks like feathers this year. For those who know where to look? Pagan beliefs from other planets.

[Selah]

It really wouldn't do much of anything, I think. *shrug*