2007-09-28 22:15:20 · 16 answers · asked by LITTLE NUGGET 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The finding of life not on Earth would really have an impact.
a) Study of these life forms could lead to a scientific explanation of how we got here, which could put ALL religion into jeopardy.
b) The blindest followers will try to twist this knowledge into how God created the new discoveries, thus backing up their beliefs.
c) Study of the planet we find life from, dead or alive, may give credit to the Big Bang/Continental Drift theories. I can't wait for those caves on Mars to be examined.
2007-09-28 22:23:03 · answer #1 · answered by Your Uncle Dodge! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on the variety of religion. Most mainstream Christians, Catholics, Anglicans/Episcopalians, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Eastern Orthodox and probably a dozen other varieties would not have a great problem with it.
Islam, Buddhists, Hindus would probably be OK with it too. The message of their leaders and founders is for humans and presence of life on another planet has little to do with that.
Of course if it is walking talking life that might be a different thing. That however seems unlikely. Anything on Mars is probably bacteria or the local equivalent and the chances of us meeting up with Frid or Murtha Firzik from the planet Spaclorag are pretty remote.
Some of the US and other fundamentalists though would be in trouble. They are denying plenty of incontrovertible facts now and that could really be a problem for them. On the other hand they might just dismiss it as devilish lies and go on lying to their congregations.
2007-09-29 00:29:25 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, there is nothing to support religion except faith, And lots of things to discount religion. But religion continues Why would life elsewhere in the universe discount it.
And if there is a god why should it not create other life elsewhere.
Is nt Scientology the belief we were descended from aliens so I guess Scientology would take the credit. May be tom cruise will answer the question
2007-09-28 22:31:10 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm a pagan / eclectic wiccan. My beliefs center around the mother/maiden/crone ... the Earth and how we live here and take care of our own little tiny bit of the universe and the people who populate it. I have no reason to believe that life is only on this one little space, and every reason to believe that in the whole of universe there is life elsewhere. I would actually be sad if there weren't others out there!
ANY "religion" here on Earth that would take "credit" for life off our tiny space, would be arrogant indeed!
2007-09-29 00:45:16 · answer #4 · answered by Lou C 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a big IF.
But IF we do somehow, using a crystal ball or something (doubt telescopes will do it), then don't believe for a second that pretty much life will go on for the world's religions. Can't imagine it will change them much as their priorities will still be 1) collect money from their followers 2) control their followers so they don't realize they were just robbed.
"Life on other planets? Hmmm... wonder if NASA can fund some missionary work? Do you think they invented money, yet?"
2007-09-29 00:02:17 · answer #5 · answered by Faesson 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've heard Christian fundamentalists argue that since the bible doesnt talk about aliens, alients can't exist as the bible tells us about everything (so these guys reckon)
It would be nice to think that it would make theists wind their necks in a bit but I'm not sure that's likely. They'd probably try and convert them. I think if aliens showed up and saw humans try to convert them to a primitive earth faith they'd have such contempt for our stupidity that they'd fire their antimatter torpedos and keep going, searching for INTELLIGENT life somewhere else.
2007-09-29 00:00:17 · answer #6 · answered by Leviathan 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Islam doesn't deny other beings or lifeforms that haven't been discovered yet. Even more so they believe in things called "Jinn" or basically people that live on earth that were made of fire . They live in the same place as us but in their own kind of mirror earth, hard to explain. We can't see them but it's talked about in the Quran a few times. Finding life in outer space wouldn't discount much in islam as they never deny such a thing in the first place.
2007-09-28 22:26:31 · answer #7 · answered by Vahid M 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I do not think is would matter what science can prove or not prove.
People who believe in religion seem to live on a different plane, logic has nothing to do with it. It fact faith seems move important than logic. Looking at answers on YA by people of belief illustrate my point.
2007-09-29 00:00:39 · answer #8 · answered by number one fighting chicken 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. This question was carefully considered by C.S.Lewis who pointed out that whatever life there is, they are like us, created. Just because some 'green man' from another galaxy landed, it doesn't mean they are gods and we our religions are rendered void. Many religions do not rule out other life forms in the universe. In fact, Christianity positively advocates other forms of life - seraphims, cherubims, angels, etc.
2007-09-28 22:27:07 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Thats a pretty big,"IF", and i believe that if someone would have found life somewhere else, then they probably would have found them by now.
Actually, if there was other life somewhere in the universe, don't you think they would have found us by now, or at least by some point up to now ?
2007-09-29 00:57:06 · answer #10 · answered by sharky 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋