Could Extraterrestrial Intelligence Sway religious Beliefs?

Space.com ^ | January 24, 2011 | Charles Q. Choi

[Cincinatus' Wife]

[snip]

Aliens vs. religion?

One impact that extraterrestrials might have on society is in the sector of religion, said theologian Ted Peters at the Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, Calif. For instance, aliens might lead religions to question whether a second genesis of life elsewhere belongs within the biblical understanding of creation. Might Jesus Christ have appeared more than once in the universe? [10 Alien Encounters Debunked]

"It's been argued for a couple of centuries now whether one incarnation of God as Jesus Christ for the entirety of creation is sufficient, with some thinking that God would do so multiple times as appropriate for the capacity of any individual species to comprehend," Peters told SPACE.com.

To see what effects the discovery of extraterrestrial intelligence might have on religion, Peters and his colleagues surveyed more than 1,300 individuals worldwide from multiple religious traditions, -- including Roman Catholics, evangelical Protestants, mainline Protestants, Orthodox Christians, Mormons, Jews, Buddhists and non-religious groups.

They found the vast majority of religious believers — regardless of religion — were overwhelmingly confident that they wouldn’t suffer a collapse in faith in the face of evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence. In addition, roughly one-third of religious people thought that the faith of other religions would be threatened, while two-thirds of nonreligious people thought that aliens would sway the faith of the religious as a whole.

Can space change religious beliefs?

There are many open questions as to how people on Earth might view beliefs from space. Could advances that alien civilizations could bring be perceived much like a secular form of salvation? Might advanced civilizations and their perhaps equally advanced philosophies make our religions feel primitive?.......

[cookcounty]

"I suppose that some folks might maintain that there is no "hard evidence" for angels or God -- but if they suddenly showed up, I think every knee would bow."

Actually, quite a few would rise up and say "you didn't get me what I wanted for Christmas!" It's all bad, and it's your fault!"

[cripplecreek]

In other words, I think the overweening faith of the secular humanists is built on sand.

A week or so back a similar article was posted. The scientist in the article was a techno-bigot.

He claimed that older people would have trouble accepting the arrival of aliens because we didn't grow up with all the technology since video games. The fact is that we 40+ folks have a long history of accepting new things. Its the younger ideological morons who have never been expected to accept reality.

I think the plot of the movie Mars Attacks is probably a lot closer to reality. The older folks would wisely hang back to observe while the young utopians would run with open arms into alien weapons fire.

[MrB]

If you encounter “extra-terrestrials” or “spirit guides” or “ghosts” or “talk to a dead relative”

you’re dealing with demons. Nothing else.

“Extra terrestrials” used to show up to deceive people and were called “fairies” or “goblins”. And where people weren’ hallucinating, you have the same entities behind those encounters as well.

[Brookhaven]

Some people have postulated that the "great delusion" spoken Thess.could be the existance of so called extra-terrestrials. I have no doubt that the appearance of space aliens would shake the faith of many, and cause many others to permanently write off the Bible as fiction.

For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, -2 Thess 2:11 NASB

We've certainly been primed for it.

[aruanan]

I think the plot of the movie Mars Attacks is probably a lot closer to reality. The older folks would wisely hang back to observe while the young utopians would run with open arms into alien weapons fire.

That was a good movie. It was great having an evil alien for a change. It was also great to watch all the liberals try to explain everything away in terms of our failing to understand them when, in reality, they were exactly as they appeared to be: horny little a-holes bent on pillage and destruction.

[MrB]

Independence Day, also, showed what happened to those standing on top of buildings with welcome signs...

Just an allegory for the way the left treats all enemies of humanity (ie, Muslims).

[BenLurkin]

Logic dictates that given their high level of technical development... ...they're an advanced culture. Therefore, peaceful and enlightened.

[dfwgator]

I think the plot of the movie Mars Attacks is probably a lot closer to reality. The older folks would wisely hang back to observe while the young utopians would run with open arms into alien weapons fire.

Everybody stood up and cheered this scene

[BenLurkin]

http://www.timburtoncollective.com/sound/mars7.wav

[BenLurkin]

“All green of skin. 800 centuries ago their bodily fluids include the birth of half-breeds. For the fundimental truth and self-determination of the cosmos. For dark is the suede that mows like a harvest.”

[stuartcr]

A friend of mine believes that what the church calls demons, are in fact extra-terrestials, and the church has always tried to paint them in a bad light, for this very reason.

[MrB]

Side note -

has anyone heard (or have the link to) the audio where someone mixed the alien’s screeching “ack ack” speech with Hillary’s “I am sick and tired” speech?

It’s hillarious.

[fishtank]

Fermi's Paradox.

There are no space aliens.

Just us.

[MrB]

The actual reverse is true.

What “the world” thinks are ETs are in fact demons sent to deceive and dominate.

[GingisK]

The Bible is clear: Jesus was sacrificed once.

The Bible does not even say a peep concerning extraterrestrial life. It is strictly a Terra-oriented document.