Okay to believe in Aliens

[sgrainger]

i don't see why not... being an agnostic i believe you can believe in anything you wish. i just don't personally believe in any set theory myself concerning religion. must admit though, i would be amused at the place of praise for aliens... would add some spice to our landscape.

[Darebirth]

Growing up in Catholic school, we were always taught that life on other planets did not and could not exist. We were taught that everything else in the universe was created just for us to look at but ultimatly the only thing that mattered was lving your life in a manner pleasing to god (Which could really mean anything from not stealing to stonign homosexuals.)

I think it is pretty funny to now see the Catholic church revising the "word of god" to fit an idea that many christians have (life on other planets)

[Rainbow]

Quote by: Darebirth Growing up in Catholic school, we were always taught that life on other planets did not and could not exist. We were taught that everything else in the universe was created just for us to look at but ultimatly the only thing that mattered was lving your life in a manner pleasing to god (Which could really mean anything from not stealing to stonign homosexuals.)

Off Topic

I am a Catholic. I never attend to any Catholic-profile school.
However, the text you submit, puzzles me.

Is that a joke or true ?

[Gods_Mercenary]

The "word of God" tends to differ from school to school, teacher to teacher. Plus, the Vatican reserves the right to revise teachings, from what I remember.

[GSM:Xtreme]

I suppose the Vatican is just covering its behind. It learned from Galileo that it's good that have open ideas--especially ones that are hardly provable (kind of remind you of...god?). What I mean is, if aliens do show up one day the Vatican will be able to run around and laugh saying "I told ya so", but until that day, they're still in the clear with no provable alien presence.

After thinking about it, no they did not learn anything from Galileo. They're keeping the back door open for themselves incase the front gets too hot. "If you die, you'll see there is a god" & "if aliens ever do visit [not likely for a while i suppose] you'll see how we said they would". Sure. Same dogma different application.

[Darebirth]

Quote by: Rainbow I am a Catholic. I never attend to any Catholic-profile school. However, the text you submit, puzzles me. Is that a joke or true ?

I wish it were a joke. The official Catholic doctrine concerning life on other planets says (or at least used to say) that life on other planets was impossible.

However, now that the Vatican seems to be allowing the possibility of intelligent life on other planets, I pose for debate a question. How does God go about revealing himself to other intelligent species. Is Jesus Christ continually born of a virgin and crucified for a species's sins over and over again? Is he on some kind of mystical Crucifiction Tour? Could this explain why the Parousia is taking so long?

Quote by: Gods_Mercenary The "word of God" tends to differ from school to school, teacher to teacher. Plus, the Vatican reserves the right to revise teachings, from what I remember.

Whether or not they reserve the right to revise teachings is immaterial. When the church puts out a doctrine, that is supposed to be the unerring word of God. God can't say "Okay, there is this place called limbo where babies who were not baptized go to if they die." and then a few hundred laters say "Yeah, um, that whole thing I said about limbo. Yeah, just scratch that, I messed up. Sorry."

Yet, when Pope Benedict XVI took his place as Pope, he said that limbo did not actually exist. How can the unerring word of god be something that directly contradicts the unerring word of god?

Whether or not they have the rite to change their minds doesn't matter. You would think that if God said something as plainly as "Limbo exists" than that would be set in stone as the unquestionable word of god. You certainly wouldn't expect him to say "Limbo doesn't exist" a few hundred years later.

[Domino]

Whether or not they have the rite to change their minds doesn't matter.

I really hope that's a misspell. If so, it's hilarious; if not, it's very sad

[Rainbow]

Quote by: Darebirth I wish it were a joke. The official Catholic doctrine concerning life on other planets says (or at least used to say) that life on other planets was impossible. However, now that the Vatican seems to be allowing the possibility of intelligent life on other planets, I pose for debate a question. How does God go about revealing himself to other intelligent species. Is Jesus Christ continually born of a virgin and crucified for a species's sins over and over again? Is he on some kind of mystical Crucifiction Tour ? Could this explain why the Parousia is taking so long ?

Headache :-)
I sympathize with you.

[Technosoul]

Quote by: Rainbow Headache :-) I sympathize with you.

What if alien life on another planet is just a micro organism, or just a bright orange mushroom? I doubt if God would need to send a microscopic Jesus to save them, or a holy ghost for mushrooms.

Point is that sin is a "human problem" and that might of never become a problem for aliens of any kind, even if advanced in intelligence. For all we know the mythical tree of knowledge of good and evil was only planted here on earth. Apparently earthly animals did not even partake of the tree and do not need a savior. So just because humans need saving that does not reason that all life forms on earth or in the universe needed saving form such sins. So a belief in the possiblity of aliens would not contradict a biblical message directed at human beings, especially Jewish beings, relative to the concpets of sin and so forth, should not cause a headache. Unless of course, they have Jewish aliens out yonder. (I hear that a few were abducted by those ufo like whirlwinds mentioned in the old testiment).

[90ogle]

BELIEVE IN GOD ALWAYS!
FACT!

maybe then you may even get to see a UFO!

[Rainbow]

Quote by: Technosoul What if alien life on another planet is just a micro organism, or just a bright orange mushroom? I doubt if God would need to send a microscopic Jesus to save them, or a holy ghost for mushrooms. Point is that sin is a "human problem" and that might of never become a problem for aliens of any kind, even if advanced in intelligence. For all we know the mythical tree of knowledge of good and evil was only planted here on earth. Apparently earthly animals did not even partake of the tree and do not need a savior. So just because humans need saving that does not reason that all life forms on earth or in the universe needed saving form such sins. So a belief in the possiblity of aliens would not contradict a biblical message directed at human beings, especially Jewish beings, relative to the concpets of sin and so forth, should not cause a headache. Unless of course, they have Jewish aliens out yonder. (I hear that a few were abducted by those ufo like whirlwinds mentioned in the old testiment).

Since Aliens managed Homo Sapiens to emerge, then Aliens values must be similar to our ones and vice versa.

[Thanatos]

Quote by: Rainbow Since Aliens managed Homo Sapiens to emerge, then Aliens values must be similar to our ones and vice versa.

Managed?

Not necessarily. Maybe they just wanted creatures with big brains the same way we breed cows to have big muscles that taste just right when you grill them

Humans are pretty much as evil as its possible for a race to be without it committing mass suicide as soon as it has nukes. The good news is that most races are probably nicer than us. The bad news is that there are probably a few that are exactly as evil as we are to beat up all the wimpy goody two shoes aliens.

[loser]

If you believe in God, then you MUST believe in aliens.

If you believe in aliens, then you MUST allow for the possibility of God.

Unless, of course, you believe that ALL life (including God) began on Earth.

This could not be the Judeo/Christian God, however, as He is the Creator of the universe (the heavens and the earth).

If you believe in neither God nor aliens, you have the brain of a turnip.

If you believe in aliens and not in God, you have the brain of a mollusk.

If you believe in God and not in aliens, you have the brain of a centipede.

If you believe in both, you actually might be able to formulate thought with reason and logic approaching that of man.

Once that happens, you might be on your way to understanding mankind and God and our places and purpose in the universe.

Otherwise, you'll just always be a bug.

[Jack]

If you believe in God, then you MUST believe in aliens. If you believe in aliens, then you MUST allow for the possibility of God.

That works for me. Both beliefs are very similar on a variety of levels. Doesn't anyone believe in aliens from the center of the Earth anymore?

[Gods_Mercenary]

Whether or not they reserve the right to revise teachings is immaterial. When the church puts out a doctrine, that is supposed to be the unerring word of God. God can't say "Okay, there is this place called limbo where babies who were not baptized go to if they die." and then a few hundred laters say "Yeah, um, that whole thing I said about limbo. Yeah, just scratch that, I messed up. Sorry." Yet, when Pope Benedict XVI took his place as Pope, he said that limbo did not actually exist. How can the unerring word of god be something that directly contradicts the unerring word of god? Whether or not they have the rite to change their minds doesn't matter. You would think that if God said something as plainly as "Limbo exists" than that would be set in stone as the unquestionable word of god. You certainly wouldn't expect him to say "Limbo doesn't exist" a few hundred years later.

The difference is, a Vatican teaching isn't the unerring word of god, thinking catholics, in my experience,are quick to express that.

[Barnicals]

Quote by: Jack That works for me. Both beliefs are very similar on a variety of levels. Doesn't anyone believe in aliens from the center of the Earth anymore?

Haha, aren't we talking about extraterrestrials, and not interterrestrials?

Sorry, I had to.

[freedom13]

Quote by: loser If you believe in God, then you MUST believe in aliens. If you believe in aliens, then you MUST allow for the possibility of God. Unless, of course, you believe that ALL life (including God) began on Earth. This could not be the Judeo/Christian God, however, as He is the Creator of the universe (the heavens and the earth). If you believe in neither God nor aliens, you have the brain of a turnip. If you believe in aliens and not in God, you have the brain of a mollusk. If you believe in God and not in aliens, you have the brain of a centipede. If you believe in both, you actually might be able to formulate thought with reason and logic approaching that of man. Once that happens, you might be on your way to understanding mankind and God and our places and purpose in the universe. Otherwise, you'll just always be a bug.

Excellent Point! Well Done....

[Walrus]

Quote by: loser If you believe in neither God nor aliens, you have the brain of a turnip. If you believe in aliens and not in God, you have the brain of a mollusk. If you believe in God and not in aliens, you have the brain of a centipede.

It would appear that I have the brain of a large root vegetable ... I must admit this comes to me as something of a disappointment.