The issue of alien life is one that religious people of all kinds tend to have opinions about. It is always interesting to me to listen to the reasoning behind the opinions of religious people. Among the adherents to the Abrahamic Faiths there tend to be the following categories of opinion:
1. There is no life apart from Earth because we, humanity, are made in God’s image and are therefore unique in the universe. This view typically views the relationship between God and man to be very familial and sees the likeness of man to God as very special indeed.
2. There is no life apart from Earth because we have no evidence for it in the Bible, which is the record or the history of humanity. Adherents to this view sometimes fall in the first category as well. The Earth was created about 6000 years ago and God would have told us if he had created others like us.
3. There is probably no life apart from Earth because the thing that is unique about Earth is that God breathed life into it billions of years ago. This group takes a more liberal view of Genesis and accepts evolution of other scientifically accepted theories about our universe. Within this view, humanity has been blessed with the spirit of God and is, therefore the only spiritual race in the universe.
4. Maybe there is other life out there, and I don’t know what that means about the uniqueness of humanity and our relationship with God. The more agnostic approach is widely held among moderates.
5. Yes, I think there are other intelligent life-forms out there, God made us, why wouldn’t He make others. He made a huge universe, it seems silly that it is just for us. This group plays the odds card. While the odds of there being another planet out there that is as acceptable as ours for human life are astronomical, the odds are still in our favor. Ask any seasoned poker player if they’ve seen a Royal Flush and they will say “Yes.” The odds of a Royal Flush are 1:250,000 but if you play enough hands you will come across one.
What do you think? Can you stand by one of those numbers? Is there another option I left out?
Jan 01, 2012 @ 23:38:20
I’d probably be near #4. Who knows really? But it would have numerous implications, I would think.
And as a #6, you might add those boring apathetic folk, who would say, “Who cares?”
-n.bag
Jan 04, 2012 @ 15:34:59
I stand by number two … and sometimes number four. But I still believe that we are unique in that God made us in his image. He also created all life on earth and gave us dominion over the plants and creatures. Maybe sometimes I believe that he might have created life elsewhere but I do not believe that it makes us any less unique.