Because nobody expected the ET inquisition?
14 May 2008
Because nobody expected the ET inquisition?
AP:
Believing that the universe may contain alien life does not contradict a faith in God, the Vatican's chief astronomer said in an interview published Tuesday.The Rev. Jose Gabriel Funes, the Jesuit director of the Vatican Observatory, was quoted as saying the vastness of the universe means it is possible there could be other forms of life outside Earth, even intelligent ones.
"How can we rule out that life may have developed elsewhere?" Funes said. "Just as we consider earthly creatures as 'a brother,' and 'sister,' why should we not talk about an 'extraterrestrial brother'? It would still be part of creation."
In the interview by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Funes said that such a notion "doesn't contradict our faith" because aliens would still be God's creatures. Ruling out the existence of aliens would be like "putting limits" on God's creative freedom, he said.
The interview, headlined "The extraterrestrial is my brother," covered a variety of topics including the relationship between the Roman Catholic Church and science, and the theological implications of the existence of alien life.
[snip]
"The church has somehow recognized its mistakes," he said. "Maybe it could have done it better, but now it's time to heal those wounds and this can be done through calm dialogue and collaboration."
I guess that this answers the age-old theological question: if an alien says it in space, will they come?
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What is the definition of an extraterrestrial or space alien? Science fiction, cartoons, video games, and theatrical performances describe the beings. How can they be a reliable source of other intelligent beings in the universe? On the other hand, suppose a UFO landed in New York City and out stepped some aliens, this would no longer be fantasy it would be factual.
The bible is clear that there other intelligent beings in the universe, God, billions of good angels, billions of other planets, with good people made in the image of God like Adam and Eve, Satan and millions of evil angels. This planet is the only one in rebellion against God’s government. This is the only place where people die. Therefore if a UFO appeared with intelligent life I would suspect we would be facing with some form of deception. It would be analogous to communication with the dead. We are forbidden to communicate with the dead because there is no such thing. What appears to be a dead spirit is a deception of the devil.
JB I find your premise a little unnerving. If you thought that any alien landing on our planet was a deception by the devil, what should our response be? Kill it because it is devil spawn? Because we KNOW that there is no death on any other planet so it must be a deception?
I'm afraid that might be the response of too many. Although the great controversy narrative, with the perfect (yet seemingly mentally slow) beings on other planets, hasn't made its way throughout Christiandom.
Hopefully any intelligent life would be intelligent enough to give our planet a wide berth :)
"The bible is clear that there other intelligent beings in the universe, God, billions of good angels, billions of other planets, with good people made in the image of God like Adam and Eve, Satan and millions of evil angels."
Surely, with such a statement of certainy, you would be glad to furnish use the Bible texts supporting your premise.
Beth,
Funes, in the Vatican newspaper, anticipates and invasion of space aliens saying, his form of religious beliefs is not a hindrance to acceptance of them as God’s creatures. I assume he has some over all theory which accommodates space aliens. I am saying I also anticipate a possible invasion of space aliens but my unified theory of the Great Controversy story does not allow for true space aliens. He thinks they would be real space aliens, I think they would be a deception.
My response to a space alien would be the same as if I were to face a demon in any form; I would have to turn to Jesus for help. Their strength being superior to any power a human would have; without God’s help we will do exactly as the demon says. Recall the stories in the Bible of people possessed by demons they were slaves to them.
I think the mere fact that Funes raised the issue is because belief in space aliens is so prevalent around the world today. People of all persuasions readily accept it. It fits very nicely into evolutionary concepts, atheists, Christians, and Muslims all accept it as real. The Vatican is just getting on the band wagon. So what about you Beth? What would you do if space aliens arrived in your city?
I didn't actually expect a debate over aliens and demon deception on this post, but hey, nobody expects the. . .
"...Spanish Inquisition!"
This belongs with Monty Python:)
Thanks...
Frank
Frank,
Do I detect another fan of british humor?
Bring out the comfy chair!
What would I do? Wow, I don't know. It would certainly be exciting.
I like to think I would be a gracious host assuming they weren't aggressively hostile.
Michael,
And the soft cushions!
You, too?
Frank
Yeah, me to Frank.
I was just thinking how Spectrum is often the modern version of 2 scenes in the Holy Grail.
The first is here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o76WQzVJ434
The second is of the "educated" people of the day and their science here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrzMhU_4m-g&feature=related
Days later, I'm still trying to figure out what the title of the piece means.
Who can explain the ways of the "universal" church?
I thought Earth was the only place where people were made in the image of God. Maybe that was just kind of egocentric of me, but I feel like I've heard that before.
jen*
Shygirlj,
What you have heard concerning, the people on earth are the only people made in the image of God, is quite common among Christians. Most Christians have a limited view of God’s creation. Heaven, Hell, Angels, and disembodied spirits just about rounds out their thinking. It looks like it’s going to scientific discovery of other planets to wake up the Christian world. Finally a UFO will land and out will step ET aliens. Beth has pointed out the excitement will be so great we will only think of being a good host.
My views regarding the apparitions of UFO and aliens are conservative too. If the Biblical account of sin, redemption and salvation is true (and I believe it is true), then the other likely beings in the universe, created in the image of God, are not subject to limitations in space and time as we are. The intelligent beings, who are not subject to sin, do not depend on any kind of flying containers or gadgets (however sophisticated they might be) to travel from one location in the universe to the other. The fact that we humans evaluate our scientific history in terms of devising ever more sophisticated gadgets should not be projected onto the other intelligent beings elsewhere in the universe. The way we would like to see aliens is determined by our human wishful thinking that projects our own concepts onto them. The argument goes that if we have advanced so much, then there must be beings in the universe that have advanced even further. But the point is that the un-fallen beings do not need to advance at all in the ways we pursue advancement. I do not believe at all that it is a sign of being narrow minded if one firmly dismiss any UFO visitations in the past, present or future. As far as I am concerned I have not as yet seen any evidence that would prove that we have been visited by flying containers from the outer space. On the other hand the one who has been already playing games with apparitions of different sorts, would not find it hard to play some practical jokes with apparitions of this kind too.
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