What happens to all faiths when scientist finds intelligent life?
By uncanny70
@uncanny70 (7)
September 9, 2008 4:54pm CST
Ever since the scientific revolution, religion has adapted and changed to the evermore secular consensus so that it could convince more innocent people to their faith.
However, how would religion change now, if scientist finds intelligent life on other planets? How drastically would a church change? How would any faith approach the innocent victim of their conviction of God? Would the bible be re-interpreted or merely changed?
2 people like this
3 responses
@RevSkull (271)
• Tokelau
9 Sep 08
I like where you started but you went off the tracks pretty quickly. Obviously you don't know too many people of faith or the answer would be self evident.
Since you chose the bible as a focus, can you tell me where it says there are no other planets let alone that there's no life on other planets? For those who believe, that is all they need. If the bible doesn't preclude it, then it can be.
The same holds for other faiths...even the most fundamentalist Jews and Muslims can accept life on other planets without damaging their faith. Hindus pretty much already believe it to some extent.
What you need to do, if you want to be a confirmed atheist (as I am) is to study the faiths of the world and come to terms with them. Then you want to seek out the faithful and get to understand them. Most are just normal every day people who feel that they know the truth and everyone else is wrong...just like an atheist but with a different truth.
1 person likes this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
9 Sep 08
Actually, Rev, I don't feel that I know the truth and that everyone else is wrong. I believe what I believe and leave other people's beliefs to them. If it turns out that I am wrong I at least I was able to take comfort from my beliefs for a time.
@Latrivia (2878)
• United States
11 Sep 08
I don't know many Christians that do not believe that life can only be possible on this small, insignificant planet. Those that do, however, would merely shrug and claim that God would have created all life in the universe if they were presented with proof of life on other planets. It's easy to change belief and religious doctrine to interpret modern day scientific knowledge. They do it all the time.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
9 Sep 08
How would religion change if this intelligent life form also believes? I have never believed that we are alone in the vastness of space. I may not be up on my Bible passages but I don't recall reading anyplace that the humans on earth were the only beings created anywhere.
By the way, am I not innocent because I believe?