Belief in Aliens does not contradict faith in God.

[Mole_J]

Cool, I could be a Catholic now if I choose to be

VATICAN CITY (AP) - The Vatican's chief astronomer says that believing in aliens does not contradict faith in God.

The Rev. Jose Gabriel Funes, the Jesuit director of the Vatican Observatory, says that the vastness of the universe means it is possible there could be other forms of life outside Earth, even intelligent ones.

In an interview published Tuesday by Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Funes says that such a notion "doesn't contradict our faith" because aliens would still be God's creatures.

The interview was headlined "The extraterrestrial is my brother." Funes said that ruling out the existence of aliens would be like "putting limits" on God's creative freedom.

[DeWayneTN]

I want to believe.

[crispfin]

Cool, I could be a Catholic now if I choose to be

Man, the robes, candles, and magisterium drew me in, but this seals the deal!

[dolfan]

In the late 80's in a Sunday night COGOP service, a lady in our church stood up and asked the pastor how we could reach people on other planets with the gospel if there were aliens?

He stood there for a second, trying not to laugh, and said, "Well, God has called me to preach in this world. I'll leave it up to Him to send missionaries to any other ones." I thought that was a good response.

[MacUser]

This is part of the leftist's scientific fever to learn of others outside our system. They want to have something solid to dump on the God theory. I guess the Catholics are just responding basically.

[jason]

This is part of the leftist's scientific fever to learn of others outside our system. They want to have something solid to dump on the God theory.

How would the discovery of life outside our planet "dump on" the God theory?

And are you saying that if extra-terrestrial life is found that it would be a solid argument against the existence of God?

I doubt you would become an atheist if extra-terrestrial life is found. You might modify the particulars of your faith but you wouldn't stop believing in God just because there's somebody else out there.

It seems to me that the idea of life outside our solar system is only a threat to a very rigid and limited understanding of God and the Universe.

[MacUser]

Let me clarify.

Microbe life outside wouldn't be such a huge issue - other than stuff for sci-fi.. but other advanced intelligent alien life would most definitely cause for immediate questioning of God as we know Him. Especially if they claim to have come and seeded life on our planet!.. or something else as radical etc.

This is a "what if " DREAM of these pointed headed cosmologists (insert Stephen Hawkings etc).

[RamboPreacher]

Let me clarify.

Microbe life outside wouldn't be such a huge issue - other than stuff for sci-fi.. but other advanced intelligent alien life would most definitely cause for immediate questioning of God as we know Him...

I disagree.

non-sentient life would have little or no challenges within a Biblical world-view and canonical contexts.

sentient life would also, in my opinion have little or no challenges within a Biblical world-view and canonical contexts.

Our Bible is based on this earth, our humankind and our relationship with God; including our fall, and the resurrected Jesus to fulfill the Law given to "us", and this physics. there is little mention of anything outside of that context, except for some sporadic cosmological references about stars, etc. lack of evidence does not equate proof of lack.

I do agree though that it would be a challenge at various levels if these supposed sentient beings had religious beliefs that were somehow contradictory to ours.

The challenge is: IF they exist, then as we believe in the one God and creator, then He would have created them as well. I would assume that they would have undergone a similar religious maturation from their initial creation, so they would have some texts/canon of their own, provided they "fell" in their world, in the first place as we did.

Lots of what-if's as mentioned, but just the existence of extra-(our) earth, sentient life, in and of itself is not contradictory to our Canon, or of the God we believe in that is represented in that canon; in my opinion.

[MacUser]

Understand.. I'm not speaking from the Christian perspective here.. but secular news view. These cosmologists would have a field day on the news of advanced alien species with a "Intergalactic Press Conference"

Let me set the scene. (starting with "IF")

Stephen Hawkings would be seen parked next to the other worldly being. A translator would be needed for Stephen AND the Alien. Stephen would open with how he knew this day would come and it finally has - the truth about the birth of mankind. He might actually crack a half smile mustering all his strength.

Enter the Alien: The Alien would talk about how good it was to see his creation still thriving after all this time. He would talk about these high creation principles and how abysmal we have progressed with taking care of each other.

Then would usher in a new AGE of perfection via the new Alien Tech. The Alien could even then possibly grab a gizmo and zap Stephen. Stephen would then stand up and finish the press conference by speaking naturally.

Get ready.