It seems highly likely, given the number of planets potentially capable of supporting life, that we are not alone in the universe. Â For the first time scientists have found evidence to suggest that extra-terrestrial life does indeed exist. Â The story posted at The Times Online talks of evidence within martian rock of bacteria having once existed and fossilised.
It showed that microscopic worm-like structures found in a Martian meteorite that hit the Earth 13,000 years ago are almost certainly fossilised bacteria. The so-called bio-morphs are embedded beneath the surface layers of the rock, suggesting that they were already present when the meteorite arrived, rather than being the result of subsequent contamination by Earthly bacteria.
This is being described by the scientists involved as “strong” evidence for Martian life.
Whilst clearly fascinating from a scientific point of view, I’ve always wondered what impact the discovery of extra-terrestrial life would have on religion (just for the sake of clarity, I’m not claiming this is a discovery of extra-terrestrial life).
In particular, how does the existence of extra-terrestrial life fit in with the Genesis account of creation? Â It could be interpreted such that “earth” refers to any solid land mass, regardless of planet (how else would the existence of planets be described?) or that everything extra-terrestrial could be considered to be part of “heaven”. Â Of course, these are questions on the literal interpretation of the Bible, which, as we all know, is not quite as popular as it used to be (Genesis in particular).
The question is pertinent for scientists as well. Â What impact would the discovery of extra-terrestrial life have on modern day science? Â I suspect the answer to both questions would be dependant on the stage of development that life is in. Â If the discovered life forms had developed faculties such as cognitive reasoning, would we look to them for guidance? Â What if they had no concept of a God? What if they could accurately explain the origin of the universe, beyond doubt? Â Or what if they did believe in Gods, and what if they were different to the popular “earth” Gods? What if they weren’t?
We live in such exciting times.
Alien image by Mujitra. Â Picture is not of Martian bacteria, in case you hadn’t guessed.
That’s pretty cool. Indeed, some very pertinent questions. Of course apologetics will modify their apologies.
Finding life on other planet would be a minor issue for religion. Finding intelligent life with technological capabilities would generate fear, mistrust, bigotry and outrage at inter-terrestrial marriage issues. It would be even more intolerable if theses aliens had religions of their own.
Now imagine we find intelligent extraterrestrial life with the same Bible as we have! I’d like to know whether Jesus was crucified on every such planet (ouch!).
Frankly I don’t really see the theological problem with extraterrestrial life on other planets, even intelligent life. Recently the Vatican held a colloquium on the issue and came to the same harldly-surprising conclusion: http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0905002.htm
Clearly a believer thinks that God created everything, and that would therefore include these beings. The only thorny issue would be if these creatures had also fallen (commit sins). Would Jesus’s death on the cross also have been for them (I don’t see why not)? All in all, it seems like a rather far-fetched question at the moment, since at most we have evidence of possible bacterial life, which is certainly a non-issue theologically either way.
Speculation about life on other planets is not new in either theological or scientific circles. It does lead me, however, to note that this is a legitimate way in which theology develops. New findings in science will raise new questions that will impact our understanding of God and the Bible. It can serve as a reminder that science and theology are not mutually incompatible but can serve each other. It perhaps helps us understand the fallacy of the so-called “God-of-the-gaps” argument that science increasingly “takes over” with knowledge what used to be ignorance explained by theological myth. In fact, we are all right now ignorant of what is “out there” and read our culture and understanding of life itself in terms purely of what we know – we can do no other. Life on other planets/solar systems might be very different from the DNA-based life we have here. We simply don’t know yet, and when we do, we will all have to adjust our assumptions. Scientific and theological thought may well be advanced. Still, the basic creed will remain as unchanged as it has from the beginning….
It´s not difficult to notice, that The Bible was written in an epoch, when everyone thouht The Earth to be the only place of the Universe with life, and the human being, as the only intelligent one; that´s why “Jesus Christ came to Earth in order to clean human sin”. One of two: Either there is “one Jesus” for each planet, or the coming to earth of Jesus, is Universal; but that last statement would mean that The Earth is the most important planet in the Universe; and I´m afraid that our blue planet is just one among billions.
I think the possibility of life intelligent or otherwise on other planets is definite.I also believe that it will open a whole new realm in critical thinking when it is found. Religion may have some issues to resolve when it is found but as far as God the father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are concerned this will mean nothing. Nowhere can you find it written that all the answers are in the Bible, only that all the answers one needs to live their life morally is in the book. A movie not long ago had a quotation along the lines of “If there is not life out there, it would be an awful waste of space”. I would have to agree
I think finding life in other planet is a very important issue, through which we will be able to visit life in other planet. If God creats us in the planet earth, I think God also creats intelligent life in other planet also, because we should remember omnipresent.
So, we no need to fear about the religious faith. We have to gain knowladge from the universe and have to make friendship with other intelligent life.
Study on extra terrestrial life brings to us
a vast information about the outer univers.
I hope life may be exeist in other planet and they also try to make friendship with us.
i don’t feel it likely that there are e.t. lifeforms, i think that is a mathematical certainty that there’s a variety of intelligent lifeforms perhaps as close as the next galaxy that humans may find threatening or shockingly different.
our world has many vested interests who wouldn’t be pleased if these extraterrestrials revealed themselves in a positive way.
I was watching telly one night my angel said come sit out side I will show you a wonder look into the night sky.I will show you DARK MATTER what is dark matter i asked that is the next wonder for scientist.In Summer about 2 am i go and look into the night sky at dark matter but it is still a mystery to me.
i truley belive alliens excist since i was abducted by them last night it was a horrible experiance they asked me lots of questions…. please write back…..
I personally am struggling with life on this planet but there as been some strange reports on telly.We do have some very powerful radar because of the cold war and we are putting satellite up.We get no help from governments I spoke to a lorry driver he works regular nights for 30 years between England Scotland.He told me he had seen a lot of flying objects but never reported them did not want people thinking he was a nutter.Another friend was park with his girlfriend down south at pool when he saw lights over pool flying it was on telly but he kept quiet to I have only seen one but not sure but it change direction unusual.I ham interested innerspace not outer space.
From a christian point of view, extraterrestrial intelligent beings, would be a great contradiction, because the christian dogma says that Jesus came to Earth, in order to “wash” the “Original Sin” of humans. One could argue, that the coming of Jesus Christ to earth “is for all the Universe”, but it would be a terrible nosense, as it would mean that we humans, “are the center fo The Cosmos”; and it´s obvious that we are not.
Regarding Jesus’ death and alleged resurrection, why would it be on this planet only? What would make earthly life so special? Also – the theory that perhaps ET’s would have no need of salvation is absurd to the nth degree, since supposedly death “is the wages of sin” — if they were sinless, they’d never die. Living forever? Nowhere in THIS universe! Everything that is born dies at some point. So ET’s would indeed need a “savior”.