If you even accept the POSSIBILITY that earth is not the only inhabited planet in the universe, doesn't most of the religious dogma developed on this self-centered speck of dust fall apart?
2007-02-24 15:32:28 · 28 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
re: SUPERBIRD - I'm not talking about SPIRITUALITY, I'm talking about DOGMA.
2007-02-24 15:47:02 · update #1
Yep.
But the religious will re-interpret their dogma to fit any changes....just watch.
2007-02-24 15:35:46 · answer #1 · answered by Skeezix 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
During the entire history of human civilization there has been religion. It has adapted to meet the needs of the cultures that host it. When and if we encounter an intelligent form of life apart from what we know now, two things will happen.
1.) The intelligent life will be painted out to be a spiritual creature, with allusions to the asteroid Wormwood thrown in for good measure. A war will ensue against the invading "demons". When enough people have died; the collective knowledge of the how we think of religion now will change and meet the needs of the cultures. People then will think of how quaint and out-dated our view of the universe was way back when.
2.) The intelligent life will be mistaken for some manifestation of God (or some newer better God). It will be worshiped and adored until problems with the perception begin to become too apparent. This will cause a rift in the new religion based on the new god. I expect pilgrims to new worlds to commence some time thereafter.
~
In all the time we have been around, very little has changed.
Dogma adapts with the death of those that held the precepts. There's some kind of analogy there with a major hypothesis of science but I can't remember what the established theory is called.
2007-02-24 23:46:20 · answer #2 · answered by Dane Spade 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It certainly won't phase Christianity - that Christ came to save all human beings would still be the center of belief. That other intelligent beings were or were not in need of salvation, and how their relationship with God evolved would be very interesting.
But it really wouldn't change any of the real theology. Some Christians who have evolved their own beliefs under the flag of Christianity - they might be shaken. But they've made that up themselves anyway.
The more interesting question is the other side of this one - if you could ever establish that earth is the only intelligent life in the universe - wouldn't THAT be a great flag for the religious to wave?
I wonder if there will ever be a day when religion is used to unite, rather than as a topic with which to divide.
2007-02-24 23:39:13 · answer #3 · answered by Uncle John 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The religious dogma that would take issue with life on other planets is the Judeo-Christian religions. The rest of them don't have a problem with it and most consider it a yet unproven but true fact. If there are more starts than we can fathom, most of which have more than one planet, it is sheer foolishness to think that Earth is the only one.
2007-02-24 23:37:18 · answer #4 · answered by Huggles-the-wise 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think it's hubris to think that this is the only inhabited planet in the universe and that humans are the epitome of evolution. As for the religious dogma, I guess people will just have to learn to deal with it.
2007-02-24 23:37:06 · answer #5 · answered by la buena bruja 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Consider this, the earth over 6000 years ago was the testing ground for mankind to prove if man would recognize that his continued existence was dependent on Jehovah God.
The issue of Jehovah's Sovereignty, his right to rule not only mankind, but his Sovereignty over his angelic realm as well was raised on this planet we call earth.
Once the Sovereignty issues has been resolved, it will server as a precedent, a firm law, never needing to be debated over again.
Therefore, this is the only planet with life on it and it is here that the precedent will be set, once and for all.
2007-02-24 23:39:17 · answer #6 · answered by Here I Am 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Of course there is life on other planets. Jesus said those who love and serve Him will rule and reign with Him in worlds to come. So how does that contradict Acts Chapter 2?
Surely you don't assume this life is all we get? Surely you don't believe this Earth and the histroy of it is a one-time event? This is only one step in a very long-range plan. Get on board while there's still time! Read that chapter if you want the rest of the story.
2007-02-24 23:41:58 · answer #7 · answered by AK 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I really don't know how it owuld affect my "religious dogma". However, so far there is absoultely no evidence whatever of another inhabited planet. So why should I be concerned about that? We need to be more concerned about our inhabited planet. and the scoundrels who inhabit it who make so many other people suffer so they can get wealthier.
2007-02-24 23:40:41 · answer #8 · answered by Mr Ed 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is completely absurd to think that out of billions of planets ours is the only inhabited with intelligent life. Thinking like this proves that there is not intelligent life here.
2007-02-24 23:54:38 · answer #9 · answered by edcaimo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On the contrary, it would affirm God's sovereignty! I'm a Christian and I suspect very strongly that there are countless planets with intelligent life on them. But maybe I didn't quite understand the question--how would any part of earthly faith be invalidated by intelligent life elsewhere?
2007-02-24 23:44:40 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is quite possible Earth is not the only planet in the universe with Intelligent life.
I am a Buddhist, Buddhists believes in different "worlds" outside the one we are in.
2007-02-24 23:40:12 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋