The religious would probably send missionaries there to convert the heathen aliens.

Posted: December 26th 2008

See all questions answered by Dave Hitt

If intelligent life was found on another planet, the religious would have no trouble in making sense out of it, cherry picking and twisting logic to use it as proof for their own religious beliefs and existence for their god(s).

For example, the bible states that god made the stars, so there it is then, he made the stars and sprinkled some life dust on the surrounding planets in the process (even though this perfect god forgot to have some minion write that particular bit down in the present version of their holy books, be rest assured that some new interpretation will show that he did)! The presence of other intelligent life would be interpreted as that it was not by chance—maybe something as complicated as the evolution of complex life could happen by luck once, but not more than that. Finding non-intelligent life would serve the same purpose – if evolution into complex, intelligent life was a viable process it would have happen here also! Nothing is too challenging for the religious as their sloppy and silly thinking is horribly habituated.

As far as humans not being their god’s only creatures, the religious earthlings would point out the alien existence as further 'evidence’ for the blatantly obvious mercy and love oozing from god. Just as an professional fighter pilot is expert in their precision, landing on a dime so to speak when required, the professional religious believer is equally expert, in missing the point. If said intelligent beings were either religious or not religious, that aspect would encourage some serious conversion efforts on the part of the religious 'crash pilots’ from earth.

If these aliens were more advanced then us and have managed to create artificial intelligence with those AI people believing in god, I am sure the whoops of earthly joy would be heard through space. If the alien AI do not believe in god, well, then there would be even more fodder for conversion. The religious meme did not get so entrenched and stay that way, because it is a weak one or that it makes sense!

However, if our meeting up with intelligent aliens results in a better grasp of reality based on scientific and technological achievements/knowledge, earth culture as we know it could very well be altered significantly including how religions are expressed (or not.) While the religious would be focused on the aspects they wish to see, secular scientists and other experts will be focusing upon, incorporating, rejecting other aspects that eventually will impact on the religious, most likely weakening/diluting the potency of religion even further.

Some describe the search for alien life to be a religion in itself as no such beings have been identified, but others continue to insist that intelligent life forms must exist on other planets, regarding any such difficulties as more like a needle-in-a-haystack problem then a faith-based approach.

Posted: December 22nd 2008

See all questions answered by logicel

Certain doctrines that this planet is unique and humans alone were given the gift of intelligence might have to be revised, of course, but ultimately aliens can be easily accommodated, for example as just another one of God’s creatures.

The more interesting issue will be the religious beliefs of the aliens themselves, if they’re intelligent enough to have such concepts. As advanced scientists will they all or mostly be atheists, or will they worship a green god which they then try to foist on us, or will they be open to conversion to Earth’s faiths?

Posted: December 22nd 2008

See all questions answered by SmartLX