…with the James Web Telescope looking for sources of artificial light to identify potential intelligent life, and the news this week of Perseverance searching for microbial life on Mars it feels like we are getting closer to a major discovery. But what - if anything - would it mean for the religions on Earth if life is proven to exist out there?
I think a lot of religious people will reason it this way- “Yes, there are aliens, but God chose us.”
I look forward to the aliens response being something along the lines of, “You’re God’s best boys and girls, yes you are, who are blessed little ape-beings? You are, yes all of you.”
Death to all who reject Avis!
How many more steps until it’s the 40k universe?
I think wed be about 28000 years away from having to worry about all that lol
Religions are unlikely to change substantially, I imagine they’ll just find some way to explain the existence of aliens that fits their existing scriptures and world view.
There will be new religions that pop up as a result though, for sure.
Or say that science is lying again :p
Religion would change if religious people learn to look beyond 6 feet in front of them, but I guess that’s less possible than proof of extraterrestrial life.
I recall reading or hearing a rumour that the Vatican had a sealed scroll somewhere which is “to be opened in the event of positive extraterrestrial contact or proof”.
Given secrets of that type don’t often stay secret, it amounts to something like: “God made all life and the creator is in all living creatures” (handwaving).
In other words, the major religions already have their shit prepared.
With new worlds to deliver The Word to? Nah they wouldn’t change, but they’d get serious about space travel.
Will proof of aliens change the brainwashed ultra religious? Not a chance. Hell, there are flatearthers and election deniers. I don’t expect much from about 30% of our population.
💀
If one of those aliens turns out to be Jesus, I might have to become a Christian.
“Hey, JC. Where have you been? Lots of people here have been waiting for you to return.”
“Oh you would not believe the traffic jam I was stuck in at the Horse head Nebula.”
Lmao no. Just how “vaccines cause autism” never changed…
The irrational will always find ways to remain irrational.
It’s pretty hard to change mindsets. Even with proof, some would still close their eyes and shut their ears denying any fact presented in front of them.
Did other advances in human knowledge change them?
Most of them still think the universe was made in 6 days by a bearded toga dude in the sky and if you are gay you are going to magical underground fire place.
I don’t know why the existence of aliens would rattle anyone’s belief. Unless you can find a way to take away their threat of dying, they’re going to believe in God.
I think at least with Christianity it would be similar of changing the everything orbiting the Earth to Earth orbiting the Sun. They’d just declare that it is all God’s creation and be done with it.
Christianity doesn’t really change. They still think that the banana is our worse nightmare and since peanut butter has never evolved into a monkey evolution is false.
