Extraterrestrials and Religion?

[Shadowman]

Atheists and Aliens: Would the Existence of Extraterrestrials Mean the End of Religion?

In A Brief History of Time Professor Stephen Hawking asks, “…if the universe is really completely self-contained, having no boundary or edge, it would have neither beginning nor end: it would simply be. What place, then, for a creator?” Indeed, the more humanity learns about the universe in which we are just a very miniscule part, the less need we seem to have for a higher power. The theory of evolution cogently describes how we as a species came into being, and the Big Bang elegantly enumerates on how the universe itself came into existence. As our scientific understanding expands, purely religious answers for life’s “big questions” seem to contract. But what would it mean for belief—or non-belief—if we discovered the existence of extraterrestrial life?

The rest of the article at:

http://thehumanist.com/news/religion/atheists-and-aliens-would-the-...

[P.A.]

Sadly I don't think it would mean an end to religion but it could make a dent in it. I often watch Ancient Aliens on H2. Many of the things they talk about are far fetched but much of it makes good common sense. I have never seen a UFO much less an alien and I doubt I ever will. That does not mean I don't believe in them. Distances in the universe are so vast that contact would be virtually impossible.

[Shadowman]

Also I think Sagan said the odds of two life forms reaching the roughly same stage development such as us and an alien race would also be very unlikely. However, the article reminded me of the old Eric Von Daniken books such as Chariots of the Gods, etc. No Aliens or evidence thereof sighted here either. I do like movies and tv programs about them though.

[T2Friends]

First of all I am not sure I buy the premise that the universe is self contained.  Even Hawkings uses the work "if".  Second, I am not sure adoption or belief in the big bang would preclude religious belief, 

From wikipedia: 

the Big Bang model suggests that at some moment all matter in the universe was contained in a single point, which is considered the beginning of the universe. Modern measurements place this moment at approximately 13.8 billion years ago, which is thus considered the age of the universe.^[2] After the initial expansion, the universe cooled sufficiently to allow the formation of subatomic particles, including protons,neutrons, and electrons. Though simple atomic nuclei formed within the first three minutes after the Big Bang, thousands of years passed before the first electrically neutral atoms formed. The majority of atoms produced by the Big Bang were hydrogen, along withhelium and traces of lithium. Giant clouds of these primordial elements later coalesced through gravity to form stars and galaxies, and the heavier elements were synthesized either within stars or during supernovae.

Who is to say that the elegant dance of the particles and elements was not "directed" in some fashion by a higher power...so no, I don't see how the existence of extraterrestrials necessarily has to change religious believe, however, if it doesn't then those extraterrestrials would also be Gods children...now wouldn't that put some folks in a pickle!   

[Wayne Goodwin]

I guess if the Big Bang started it all then it would be possible that there could be other planets out there . Humankind may never see them but that don't mean they not there .

So earth is billions of years old . So the earth kept evolving . How many years has it been in BC terms ? Some one said it was around 6 thousands years . Guess it took that long to put it all together or is that a religion stand point ?

[Shadowman]

An interesting tidbit from the realm of Religion is that a Bishop James Ussher in the 17th century using the bible as a reference to figure backwards came up with a creation date of October 23rd, 4004 BC. Many fundamentalist Christians still use a "young Earth" date of around 6000 years total. On the scientific front the Earth is about 4.6 Billion years and the Universe as a whole about 14 Billion give or take.

Statistically, they are out there but we will never meet them, sort of like the perfect mate.

[Wayne Goodwin]

Guess every body uses the AD for time ....

[frenchy]

thats a good question .. i can only speculate .. i'm sure tho if i met some other form of life from someplace else and could communicate with them my first question would be do you believe in god .. there are some theories that not only is there life on other planets  but that we were actually planted here by them .. but then thats just a theory .. just like evolution is a theory .. it looks like its possible but hard to prove ..