Would contact with "aliens" change your religious beliefs?

[Renew Deal]

There's been a bunch of UFO sightings lately. There was a cluster of them in NYC yesterday. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=9316025&mesg_id=9316025

Would contact with UFO's change your religious beliefs? Would it affirm that there is or isn't a God? Would you consider the aliens the God? Would you believe that the aliens worship their own Gods? Would you believe that humans and aliens share the same God?

[Swede]

1. We're not hosting an intergalactic kegger down here, chief.

[NYC_SKP]

2. It hasn't so far...

Seriously, I don't have religious beliefs that affirm or deny or could be altered by the presence or absence of aliens or communication with them, but it's an interesting question.

[DaveinJapan]

13. What if the aliens practiced a religion that was exactly the same

as one of ours? I mean REALLY the same, same holy book, same historical figures, same divine rules or laws. You wouldn't look at that as fairly compelling evidence as to the existence of a God?

I sure would!

[NYC_SKP]

19. Well then I might think, "stupid sucker aliens"...

... and wonder if there weren't other alien civilizations with other religions' holy books!

If, on the other hand, they could replicate some of the miraculous events described in some holy books, that might be impressive!

:hi:

[Xicano]

35. Then the TV series StarGate SG1 would come to mind. :P

:P

[walldude]

36. I would call it compelling evidence that they have been

here before. ;)

[MilesColtrane]

39. Except that their Jesus had his tentacles nailed to an Xzactlab?

I would think that somebody in NASA was fucking with me.

[Renew Deal]

49. lol

:rofl:

[Renew Deal]

48. That's a great point.

That would be pretty compelling. Though I think most people would believe they are intentionally co-opting our religion(s) for their purposes.

[Drale]

3. No, but

its possible that the being we know as god is in fact either an extraterrestrial or perhaps some sort of being on a high plain of existence, who knows.

[Merlot]

45. Like the picture says: God is an Alien

Hey, they both live in the sky, why not?

[WolverineDG]

4. No nt

[Poll_Blind]

5. Nah. Atheist here. The Tralfamadorians would understand. n/t

PB

[nashville_brook]

6. would make the universe MORE miraculous.

[MrSlayer]

7. No.

I do believe in extra terrestrial life because it seems insane not to. But the confirmed presence of such would do nothing in the way of proving that there was a god or gods. I'd remain firmly agnostic.

[Mz Pip]

8. If there is a God

why waste the universe on just one intelligent species. Seems like a God could multi-task.

[AsahinaKimi]

9. Not at all...

My Religious beliefs encompass the entire Universe, not just this itty bitty teeny weenie spec of dust in the vast ocean of space. Unlike some religions who believe the entire Universe revolves around, said spec in space, I don't think we (Earth) holds much "Juice" in the ultimate scheme of things.

[NoodleyAppendage]

10. Actually, God (or other deity of your choice) being an alien would make sense. n/t

J

[kenny blankenship]

20. Explains all the probing.

God never stops fucking with us. I guess we'll never really understand it - until we too get it, in the end.

[Greyhound]

33. That would make a great premise for a teevee show. n/t

:rofl:
:kick: & R

[Tyrs WolfDaemon]

38. Just as long as...

my gods aren't those damn grey things. Those things are f'ing everywhere.

In a way I was very pissed when SG-1 made the Aesir those greys. My gods are much cooler than greys.

[Yeshuah Ben Joseph]

11. Why must it be a "God OR Aliens" question?

I can tell you for a fact that God exists. He's right down the hall from Me watching Fringe or something like that on TV right now.

I can also tell you that there are many planets in the Universe with life on them. If I, the Son of God, don't feel conflicted in telling you that, then why should anyone else feel conflicted in believing both statements are true.

[snooper2]

27. Does Jesus really not like beef roast?

That question has been bugging me for a really long time....

[Yeshuah Ben Joseph]

40. Where did you get that question?

I don't eat a lot of red meat, but I have no objection to roast beef on occasion.

[Johonny]

12. only if their god promises better stuff

afterlife is ok but I really want a unicorn.

[daleo]

14. It depends how powerful the aliens are

And what they want me to believe.

[DaveinJapan]

15. It would depend greatly on the aliens' religious beliefs (if any)

Assuming they're mortal, if they possessed a religion remarkably similar to one of ours (it would have to be compellingly similar though, nothing vague like our myriad "differences"), I might have to reconsider my agnostic views. I would consider that some pretty compelling evidence, and I like to think I'm pretty open minded where that's concerned.

On the other hand, still assuming they're mortal, if they had just a bunch of unrelated religions similar to ours (and a history of dead religions, as well), that wouldn't surprise me and I would see that as further evidence that thinking beings have a natural fear of death and the unknown that they seek to mollify via promises of some eternal reward.

If they are IMMORTAL and still believe in God, that would certainly be something to think about! I don't really know why beings that can live forever anyway would have any use for a God, although I suppose the desire for a creator or something "beyond" might also be a natural wish (I don't personally feel that way, but it makes some sense).

If they CLAIM to be Gods of some sort, I'd want to see some proof in the form of scientifically verifiable, otherwise scientifically inexplicable miracles. But then again, if they're advanced enough I suppose they could do things like defy the laws of physics (or appear to) through some super advanced science as opposed to spiritual, non-scientific sorts of conjuring.

Interesting question, anyway. If we make contact (I say if because my personal view is that we're being intentionally avoided by whoever's out there, and I don't blame them one bit!), one thing is certain...a LOT of viewpoints will change dramatically. I just hope the tea baggers or fundies don't get to them first, I'd hate to see first contact turn into a blood bath! Yikes.

[deutsey]

16. No...it would reinforce what I already believe. n/t

[demwing]

17. Not a bit. My beliefs already allow for life everywhere in the Universe

If some visited us, or we found them, it wouln't change a thing.

[demwing]

18. It would SUCK if Aliens came here, and became converted to Chrianity

then we'd have all these little gray skinned, insect headed things in black suits knocking on our doors trying to spread the word.


*******SHUDDER********

[Touchdown]

21. No, because I don't have any.

If aliens came down, it would be proof they exist, so I can wipe them off of my skepticism list, but God and Jesus would still be on it.

[Ozymanithrax]

22. I believe there is a sufficiently high probability that aliens exist...

that I accept their existance.

As an agnostic I see no evidence and little probability of the existance of God.

Aliens vising earth would not change that, though it would change high probability to certainity as to their existance.

Why would I worship an alien as a God? I don't even like koolaide.

[rug]

23. Western religions would have to reconcile polygenism with Adam and Eve.

[pnwmom]

31. Only fundamentalists. Not all people of western faiths.

[rug]

34. One billion Catholics would have to reconcile Pius XII's encyclical Humani Gerrneris.

It accepted evolution but explicitly rejected polygenism.

[pnwmom]

43. One billion Catholics already don't pay attention

to Pope Paul's encyclical on birth control.

[rug]

52. Actually many do.

But besides that, the question is not how one practices, but what impact this hypothetical event would have on official theology.

[pnwmom]

60. The OP didn't ask about the impact on official theology.

But on individual beliefs.

I, personally, find find no conflict between Christianity and the existence of life on other planets. And I don't know any Catholics or Christians who do.

[rug]

62. Individual beliefs are formed by official creeds, else they are subjective opinions.

Here is the potential conflict: the teaching of monogenism is that humans, with souls, are all descended from a single set of parents. Now, if intelligent aliens arrive, the first theological question is, do they have souls. The question after that is, from whom are they descended. Clearly, it cannot be from earth. The wall of monogenism is now met. That is the dilemma.

[pnwmom]

65. Then most religious beliefs, at least of the non-fundie variety,

are basically subjective opinions. I'm fine with that.

I don't know where you're getting YOUR opinions, but Catholic theology no longer teaches a literal interpretation of the Adam and Eve story in the Bible. I've known this for more than 40 years, when I learned it in Catholic school. I thought most people understood that Catholics are not fundamentalists or literalists with regard to the Bible.

[Marr]

64. Religion is already at odds with a mountain of evidence.

Alien life would just be one more thing to toss on the pile. I doubt that the discovery of alien life would phase the faithful for even a second.

[nadinbrzezinski]

24. Atheist here

And I am sure higher understanding of nature makes people, or aliens, less religious in the bronze age sense of the word.

We have met God, he/she is us.

[snooper2]

25. I thought landing a man on the moon would have done that..

but nope...you would think people would be like, well shit..

Heaven isn't up there after all...but nope...gonna take another 2-3000 years. Then Jesus will go the way of dowsing

read anything similar to this before :)

Early attempts at a scientific explanation of dowsing were based on the notion that the divining rod was physically affected by emanations from substances of interest. The following explanation is from William Pryce's 1778 Mineralogia Cornubiensis:

The corpuscles ... that rise from the Minerals, entering the rod, determine it to bow down, in order to render it parallel to the vertical lines which the effluvia describe in their rise. In effect the Mineral particles seem to be emitted from the earth; now the Virgula , being of a light porous wood, gives an easy passage to these particles, which are also very fine and subtle; the effluvia then driven forwards by those that follow them, and pressed at the same time by the atmosphere incumbent on them, are forced to enter the little interstices between the fibres of the wood, and by that effort they oblige it to incline, or dip down perpendicularly, to become parallel with the little columns which those vapours form in their rise.

Such explanations have no modern scientific basis.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dowsing

[kenny blankenship]

26. Of course not! I'd look in the Bible. I'd see that space aliens aren't mentioned anywhere

and so they wouldn't exist.

They can't impact my religious beliefs if they don't exist.
LA LA LA

[nadinbrzezinski]

32. Cafeteria reader

Ye forgot Isaiah

[GreenPartyVoter]

28. No. I don't believe that humans are the only sentient life form and certainly don't believe that we

are the supreme chosen ones as some faiths believe.

As to whether or not aliens have a faith belief system and whether or not we worship the same god, who knows? I'm not even sure what god _I_ worship, let alone what they do. :)

[AmandaMae]

29. Don't have religious beliefs, so I don't see anything changing.

I've always allowed for the possibility of life elsewhere in the universe, but I don't see how discovering it would make me any more likely to believe in God.

[jobycom]

30. No, but it would change my belief about all these people seeing UFOs, I guess.

I'd be like "Oops. You were right. My bad." :rofl:

[Amonester]

37. No.

And I want a UFO Forum. ;)

http://www.thedaybeforedisclosure.com/

[kevinbgoode]

41. I am not going to start worshipping those "V" people

even if some people think we should pray just before we are eaten

[HCE SuiGeneris]

42. No

If we are destined to be more than a human, it rests not with the existence of other species that inhabit other planets/galaxies/universes.

[dimbear]

44. Similar to the famous classic "The Thing", Biblical aliens

are vegetables. Don't you remember Ruth's tears among the alien corn?

[saras]

46. depends...

Having had to reread the first part of the book of Genesis in college recently, it occurred to me (and to others, I know) how much more sense the story makes if you replace the God character with an alien. It's just that he's an EVIL alien who was messing with a planet he had no business messing with, and lies like a Republican to humans. He keeps saying he's the only 'god' while referring to 'himself' as we, he tells the humans that eating of the tree of life will make them die, yet it's his own personal curse that makes them die...

I've also entertained the bizarre fantasy that the US government has encountered multiple species of aliens, and intentionally driven the good ones away and tried to make deals with the creepiest ones. Like most religious theories, it explains way too many things too easily and simply to take very seriously, but so far no one has offered a BETTER explanation of cattle mutilation.

Since the only genuinely religious belief I hold is the Sikh "the creator and the creation are one" i.e. the universe has no creator other than the universe itself - there isn't a separate, humanlike Big Daddy out there, no, it really wouldn't change anything RELIGIOUS at all.

It would sure change some of my opinions about physics and biology, though.

[muriel_volestrangler]

47. Question for believers in one universal 'God': do you think God is limited by the speed of light?

That is, is God a single entity that can know, and influence, what is going on in separate parts of the universe and combine that knowledge (and take action on it) faster than the speed of light?

If so, could we use God to do our interplanetary communication? Can we pray to God "please ask the Gliese 581gians if they have the death penalty", and God could then get back to us with an answer in a day or two? Should we pray "Dear God, please let the universe know we're happy to give advice on any subject we can, because you tell us to love our neighbours, and that includes any lifeform?"

If God is limited by the speed of light, then effectively God is independent for each planet. Any knowledge the part of God local to us gets from other planets would be out-of-date, and the God here wouldn't be very useful to other planets.

[ProfessorGAC]

50. Impossible

I don't have any to change. It would be cool to meet an E.T. though.
GAC

[zbdent]

51. nope ...

however, you would hear a bunch of people who say things like "How wonderful it is that the Earth is in perfect position for life to be here. Do you honestly believe it was by chance?" suddenly explain that these aliens aren't real ... they don't have "souls" (which they can't prove they, the humans, have souls, either)

[FourScore]

53. My daughter has a little fish in a fishbowl.

It is adorable. It literally wags it's back-end whenever we go over to the bowl to look at it and play with it.

Anyway, since all of her care (food, clean water, etc) comes from us, we always postulate if we are her Gods.

Great book: UFOs: Generals, Pilots and Government Officials Go On the Record by Leslie Kean - forward by John Podesta.

http://www.amazon.com/UFOs-Generals-Pilots-Government-Officials/dp/0307716848/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1287151278&sr=8-1

Fascinating stuff.

To answer your question: Since my religious beliefs are more spiritual and philosophical than dogmatic, there is alot of wiggle room to incorporate science, nature and the universe. It's all a part of the big picture IMO and should not be ignored. So I guess aliens would fit right in to my beliefs just fine.

[Rabrrrrrr]

54. My religious views changed a long time to ago to make room for the possibility;

a possibility which I would bet money on is a 100% possibility.

[NorthCarolina]

55. America should build a fence to keep the aliens out.

:hide:

[ThomWV]

58. The day will come when we all thank Ronnie Reagan for Star Wars.

Not

[Lucian]

56. I'm already an atheist.

Why would anything change?

The only thing that would change is that we'd know for sure, beyond any doubt, that we are not alone in this universe (which I don't think we are anyways, but that's another discussion).

[ThomWV]

57. Contact with aliens is what started my religious beliefs

[hobbit709]

59. i believe in no gods, i might believe in aliens.

[OneGrassRoot]

61. Not at all...

I'm pretty much open to all possibilities, and freely admit that I don't know anything beyond a shadow of a doubt.


:hippie:

:hi:

[Posteritatis]

63. I'm agnostic enough to say "I don't know." (nt)

[Hekate]

66. My Goddess gave birth to their God, so I'm not troubled by it.

O8)

[DailyGrind51]

67. Maybe "God" kept working on other planets until his/her products had improved?