If space aliens prove to be real, will that impact your Christian faith?

[Deacon]

The presence of intelligent extraterrestrials wouldn't significantly change our theology but it would stir up some discussion.

My opinion: the vast distances of space act as an effective insulator, eliminating the chance of direct contact and greatly minimizing the opportunity for direct communication with intelligent extraterrestrial civilizations.

Evidence of simple life forms within our solar system will encourage a deeper exploration of theological anthropology.

The recent opening up of the UFO files will not yield anything new - other than feeding the wacko's.


Rob

 

[Marooncat79]

They are not real

 

[Ascetic X]

The presence of intelligent extraterrestrials wouldn't significantly change our theology but it would stir up some discussion.

My opinion: the vast distances of space act as an effective insulator, eliminating the chance of direct contact and greatly minimizing the opportunity for direct communication with intelligent extraterrestrial civilizations.

Evidence of simple life forms within our solar system will encourage a deeper exploration of theological anthropology.

The recent opening up of the UFO files will not yield anything new - other than feeding the wacko's.


Rob

The vast distances of space act as an impediment…based on our current human technology.

If something like inter-dimensional portals, or other kinds of travel can exist, distances may be irrelevant.

But your point is in line with the CS Lewis idea in his “Space Trilogy” that Earth is quarantined to prevent our sin and stupidity from polluting the rest of the universe.

The biggest barrier, in my view, is how boring humanity is. No super intelligent beings could possibly be interested in us.

The Bible seems to be silent or mysterious about life in outer space.

So nobody can prove that ETs are not real. Things flying fast have been seen by pilots and astronauts, objects they cannot explain. Demons? UFOs from space? Secret military craft? We may never know.

 

[Armchair Apologist]

The vast distances of space act as an impediment…based on our current human technology.

If something like inter-dimensional portals, or other kinds of travel can exist, distances may be irrelevant.

But your point is in line with the CS Lewis idea in his “Space Trilogy” that Earth is quarantined to prevent our sin and stupidity from polluting the rest of the universe.

Never read C.S. Lewis's "Space Trilogy" but perhaps I should!

Such raises other questions for discussion though...

First of all, did Adam's fall impact the entirety of God's creation (meaning the entire universe) or just "Planet Earth?"

It is clear that God has set some boundaries which limit (or at least stave off) the extent of our ability to "explore" the possibilities of human depravity! This is why he confounded languages and scattered the population from the plains of Shinar and possibly why man's lifespan went from over 900 years to "Threescore and Ten?"

If mankind still lived over 900 years and if he possessed a lucid, functioning brain for much of this lifespan, perhaps our technological advances would make interstellar (and perhaps intergalactic) travel a possibility? We also have to address the vast swaths of space out there billions of light-years across having radiation that would kill you dead! This brings us back to the question regarding the extent of Adam's fall upon God's creation.

Looking at the fact that one day the heavens will burn up with a fervent heat leads me to believe that Adam's disobedience affected the entirety of God's creation. I do believe that there is (or perhaps was) life on other planets but I am certain that it is only Man who was created in the image of God and having a rational, cognitive, and creative mind. I therefore disagree with Larry Norman's hypothesis that "If there's life on other planets, then I'm sure that he must know, and he's been there once already, and has died to save their soul!" Adam's fall is the cause of the Universe being what it is today. On the day that God creates the "New heavens and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness," I am quite certain that there will be "exoplanets" orbiting around a vast number of the innumerable stars and we will get to go out and explore the wonders of God's creation for all of eternity!

My opinion FWIW

 

[KenH]

The Bible seems to be silent or mysterious about life in outer space.

As Thomas Campbell said in 1809: "Where the Bible speaks, we speak; where the Bible is silent, we are silent."

Regardless of one's theological positions, that seems to me to be pretty good advice.

 

[Ascetic X]

On the day that God creates the "New heavens and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness," I am quite certain that there will be "exoplanets" orbiting around a vast number of the innumerable stars and we will get to go out and explore the wonders of God's creation for all of eternity!

My opinion FWIW

From what science tells us about other planets and stars, the vast regions of space, aside from Earth, seem so hostile and inhospitable, I am not sure there is any benefit to inter-galactic travel. In fact, it seems terrifying. Perhaps this immense universe is a gigantic divinely operated machine that we have no business exploring. Like an ant investigating a chemical factory or a car manufacturing plant.

While the Bible says a few things about the new heavens and earth, it seems like some or all the laws of physics will be revised significantly. There will be no sun, no moon, and no night. This is hard to imagine.

New heavens implies stars and galaxies, I suppose. Revelation seems to say we will be living on a new earth, not exploring other planets, but I agree that space exploration for all eternity would be fun.


Revelation 21

23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.


Revelation 22

5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

 

[Armchair Apologist]

From what science tells us about other planets and stars, the vast regions of space, aside from Earth, seem so hostile and inhospitable, I am not sure there is any benefit to inter-galactic travel. In fact, it seems terrifying. Perhaps this immense universe is a gigantic divinely operated machine that we have no business exploring. Like an ant investigating a chemical factory or a car manufacturing plant.

My observations as well but I am wondering whether such inhospitability is a result of the fall and therefore a potential barrier to our going out and seeing what is out there! If we were still living to 900+ years and were able to figure out interstellar travel, we may likely have colonized other planets and in our sinful, fallen state, this would result in some really spectactular wars!

While the Bible says a few things about the new heavens and earth, it seems like some or all the laws of physics will be revised significantly. There will be no sun, no moon, and no night. This is hard to imagine.

It will be interesting. Will our glorified bodies require breathing of oxygen or food for sustenance? Jesus was able to appear and disappear with his resurrected, glorified body but does this mean we will have the same abilities or is this due to the fact that he is also omniscient and omnipresent deity?

Go back and look at the scriptures you cited, Revelation 21:23 says there is NO NEED of the sun or mood for light. It does not say that the sun and moon will not exist!

Revelation 21

23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

Perhaps I am taking Randy Alcorn's book a little too seriously (he does do some reaching of which he admits) but I am convinced that God has made us to be inquisitive explorers and innovators and such we will be in our final state in the age to come. The "School House" will be open and we will be ever discovering and innovating. The big difference is that we will do so to the glory of God and not to the end-goal of blowing each other up in warfare or whatever!

 

[Salty]

As Thomas Campbell said in 1809: "Where the Bible speaks, we speak; where the Bible is silent, we are silent."

Regardless of one's theological positions, that seems to me to be pretty good advice.

But that can be taken to extremes! For example - the Bible does not talk about having a bathroom in a church bldg - so I suppose we should not have any!

 

[KenH]

But that can be taken to extremes! For example - the Bible does not talk about having a bathroom in a church bldg - so I suppose we should not have any!

It means one can have a bathroom in a church building or not have a bathroom in a church building.

 

[KenH]

Genesis 1:14-19 describe only the sun and moon as lights illuminating the earth, not the stars. “He made the stars also” is all that is said about the stars.

Since things often remind me of a song, your comment reminded me of a popular song I heard a lot in 1969, written by Galt MacDermot, Gerome Ragni, and James Rado, and recorded by Oliver, "Good Morning Starshine".

The first stanza is:

Good morning starshine
The Earth says hello
You twinkle above us
We twinkle below
Good morning starshine
You lead us along
My love and me as we sing
Our early morning singing song.

 

[Salty]

It means one can have a bathroom in a church building or not have a bathroom in a church building.

As Thomas Campbell said in 1809: "Where the Bible speaks, we speak; where the Bible is silent, we are silent."

Regardless of one's theological positions, that seems to me to be pretty good advice.

Yet some Church of Christ - will NOT use musical instruments in a church service because the NT is silent on that subject!

So, my point is that you can that belief to extreme!
So, If I were to ask a Non-musical CoC if indoor bath would be the same as no musical instruments ? I would be very interested in what they would have to say? (Yes, I am being very serious about this)

 

[KenH]

Yet some Church of Christ - will NOT use musical instruments in a church service because the NT is silent on that subject!

As someone who was "born and raised" in and a member in the Church of Christ for 25 years after my 17th birthday, that is not exactly the whole story. The basis is really more what the Church of Christ considers a positive command in Colossians 3:16: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

 

[KenH]

So, my point is that you can that belief to extreme!

ANYONE can take ANYTHING about SOMETHING OR OTHER to an extreme if they are so minded to do so.

 

[Salty]

As someone who was "born and raised" in and a member in the Church of Christ for 25 years after my 17th birthday, that is not exactly the whole story. The basis is really more what the Church of Christ considers a positive command in Colossians 3:16: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

I do not understand your answer. I have attended a N-M CoC - and there were no instruments - seems simple to me.

 

[Salty]

ANYONE can take ANYTHING about SOMETHING OR OTHER to an extreme if they are so minded to do so.

But on the other hand - what is extreme to one person - is NOT extreme to some one else.

 

[KenH]

I do not understand your answer. I have attended a N-M CoC - and there were no instruments - seems simple to me.

I was saying, I thought simply so, that the primary reason that the Churches of Christ do not use mechanical instruments of music, only the human tongue, is because Colossians 3:16 is considered to be a positive command to sing in worship; singing is done with the human tongue. Singing is considered to be commanded, whereas mechanical instruments of music are not commanded in the New Testament, based on the regulative principle of worship in the Churches of Christ.

 

[Salty]

Thank you Ken,

 

[Ascetic X]

How did this thread jump from extra-terrestrial aliens and UFOs…to church bathrooms and the Regulative Principle of Worship?

We earth-bound humans cannot understand how ET aliens could build a spacecraft that could travel light years to arrive at
Earth.

But if the space aliens are 80 trillion times as intelligent as humans, they could figure it out. Or they might have other means of moving from one galaxy to another, like interdimensional travel technology, or something infinitely beyond our imaginations.

It is easy to dismiss UFOs and ETs as fake, delusions, or demons.

Since the Bible seems to be silent on this topic of intelligent life beyond the confines of Earth, we cannot be certain. We can only guess.

However, if space aliens are here and they start telling us a new gospel, promoting an atheistic philosophy, or presenting a new theology, we will know they are servants of the infernal dark powers, and not neutral or attuned to the divine.

My reservation about them is I cannot understand why advanced intelligence beings would bother with visiting us, unless they see us as food or toys to play with. We would be so boring and primitive to them.

 

[KenH]

How did this thread jump from extra-terrestrial aliens and UFOs…to church bathrooms and the Regulative Principle of Worship?

It may have been a wormhole.

 

[Ben1445]

As Thomas Campbell said in 1809: "Where the Bible speaks, we speak; where the Bible is silent, we are silent."

Regardless of one's theological positions, that seems to me to be pretty good advice.

But that can be taken to extremes! For example - the Bible does not talk about having a bathroom in a church bldg - so I suppose we should not have any!

It means one can have a bathroom in a church building or not have a bathroom in a church building.

ANYONE can take ANYTHING about SOMETHING OR OTHER to an extreme if they are so minded to do so.

But on the other hand - what is extreme to one person - is NOT extreme to some one else.

So what I have learned is that indoor bathrooms could be extreme, and that since they are not mentioned in Scripture, we should be silent about them.