Basic arguement on that side is .. . IF MAN CANNOT DO IT . . IT CANNOT BE DONE! esp by no stupid aliens! Rocket River
Why would it be shattered? I don't see a conflict between organized religion and the existence of aliens. Also proof of alien might increase membership in religions like Scientology that have beliefs involving aliens or lead to new religions.
While I don't really believe the dude, if ever I wanted to create a story to discredit what a guy was saying then that would definately fall into the category.
I think enough people in the world hold back from doing wrong or just really wilding out because they feel like they will be punished for it later in life. I'm not talking about stuff like killing people or things that can get you locked up, but stuff like lying or fornicating, etc. I can't imagine how people would act if they realized there was no reward or punishment waiting for you after you die. And I don't know of any major religion outside of the Cruise one that mentions anything about Alien life. It's kind of hard to mix Genesis (i.e. God made the Earth and man in his image) when I see lifeforms from other planets.
couple of quick questions: 1. why would discovering the existence of aliens obviate any religion's concept of eternal life?? 2. why would discovering the existence of aliens make the idea that God created man in his own image any less believable?? i believe in God and assume that if there are aliens, they are part of his creation.
Nope, Refman, the series below is far closer to what I'm thinking, but not where I got the idea. I didn't get the idea from a novel, but from a person. And I'm very aware that Hubbard was having a gigantic joke on a lot of people, one that continues today. Goofy cover. I got The Many-Colored Land & The Golden Torc in one volume in 1982. Anyone interested in some great science fiction speculating about how we became who we are today should read them both. Julian May is an excellent writer.
Because all of those things are in the same book that says God created the Earth, and it may be hard to believe the rest of the stuff in that book when you no longer believe God created the Earth if you have advanced creatures here (whom I assume have advanced technology) that can give you more information. So I guess I should clarify and say that if we discovered alien life, or vice-versa, and they were able to prove some things such as how the planets were formed....which don't jive with what the bible says (i.e. God created the Earth)....then it might make some not believe the rest of the stuff in the bible either. Or even if they were able to show how their planet came to be, how they have no God (or not anyone that we do), etc. In a case like that, I would find it odd that the Bible mentioned Earth and not Cybertron or wherever these aliens came from. A God "of just your planet" doesn't exactly seem the same IMO. I understand that you can assume aliens are also a part of his creation. But I would find it odd that there was never any mention of this. I know we assume a lot with religion (i.e. faith), but taking something completely out of context that has no mention anywhere can make some say hmmmmm. It surely would for me.
I don't know about panic, I mean, like people have stated, whether deliberately or not, people are not of the same mindset when Orson Welle's narrated War of the Worlds on the radio and sent people into a panic. That said, accepted public knowledge of such an situation would throw a wrench into our nice packaged little existence... e.g. a wild card variable explanation for anything by anyone. Talk about reasonable doubt. I don't know about panic, but it would seriously jack with ability to govern in many ways. As for "could the gov keep it a secret".... well.. yes and no and maybe. Depends how much "evidence" there might or might not be... who is in the know... and then there's the "If it's true, you'll have half the planet saying " I TOLD YOU SO. Not exactly a secret, is it? It's just we don't know for sure. Disinformation abounds, and at a certain point of bombardment, perception becomes obscuring. The story about Gordon making the stories up because he got his pee pee hurt sound like classic slander to discredit. There would be lots better ways to "get back" at Nasa and co. than making up alien stories. I can't see it being an attention thing. as for this.... All of those are ridiculously possible... and ignore even simpler explanations for how aliens might come across our planet.
I'm a little confused as to how so many people here are sure it's impossible for aliens to make it to earth. If a species on another planet appeared at approximately the same time, developed at roughly the same rate as humans and along similar lines (increasing intelligence) you don't think an extra 1,000 or 10,000 or 1,000,000 years would make them just a tad more technologically advanced than we are? Please.
Ok...what if the aliens believe in some creative force too?? All of your assumptions are locked in the idea that they wouldn't. I haven't met any aliens yet, so I'm really not sure either way. And the Bible isn't a science text...it shouldn't be read as such, either by fundamentalists or agnostics. It was written by humans for humans....believers believe it was divinely inspired. But a book about the relationship between man and God is likely to focus on man and God. Particularly if man is wholly unaware of any other life forms elsewhere. I don't see why any particular book in the Bible would discuss alien life at all. If it were going to be anywhere, I assume it would be in Genesis....but I don't take Genesis as literal anyway....aside from Genesis, I can't imagine where it would show up.
That Ezekiel fellah was always muttering on about wheels in the sky and stuff. But I think maybe he liked his wine a bit too much. Had a little excess 'spirit' in him -- if ya know what I mean.
1 Timothy 5:23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.
Buddhism and Hinduism would be fine with the existence of aliens since those religions already accept the concept of multiple worlds. Aliens would be looked as just other entities along the chain of Karmic being. To follow up on Mad Max's points I think a very literalists view of the Old Testament would be shaken but consider that Christianity, Judaism and Islam have survived finding out that the Sun doesn't orbit the Earth and that the Earth isn't the center of the Universe I think that they would survive the realization that aliens are real. There would probably be a huge debate about where the aliens fit spiritually. If they appear relatively human it could be argued that it is proof that man is made in God's image since he also created intelligent beings that look similar.
Also Orson Welles was talking about an alien attack. Obviously if aliens appeared War of the World's style and started blasting there would be a panic. I'm talking about the government holding a press conference to state that Roswell is true, here's the saucer, here's the body and other than that we don't know much else.
hmmmmm....in the hangout, they gave the reverse advise from that given by Max's friend Tim. In the hangover thread, they said you should stop drinking only booze, and have a few glasses of water to alleviate stomach pains and 'frequent illness.' Who to believe? WHO TO BELEIVE?
From my doctor- to really get rid of a cough try mixing a jigger of good whiskey, a tablespoon of honey and about 5 drops of pure lemon essential oil, warm it slightly and down the hatch. Repeat as needed.
