Pope Looks For Extraterrestrials, So What?
November 10, 2009 · By Matthew Campbell
I love the topic of aliens when it comes to theological issues. It seems to be a simple, straight forward issue that shows critics of Christianity, be they militant atheists, stateists and company, for the ignorant windbags that they are. I’m not sure why either, but the topic seems to melt away any pretension that these folks have of getting Christianity just by having them muddle through the implications of having alien life on other planets.
Unfortunately, it seems that the Vatican has fallen prey to this culture of confusion as it’s now launching an investigation that will, in part, deal with the ramifications of aliens existing. We should’ve expect better from the seat of Roman Catholicism, since it has so clearly drawn the line in the past on other issues that are, er, more down to Earth although as the axiom of the the believer’s faith teaches, we’re all prone to err. It’s also a shame too since ABC is currently airing a (so far) excellent remake of the 1983 classic “V” series in which a Catholic priest serves as one of the principle characters and the theological ramifications are only mentioned briefly.
Wouldn’t it strike a huge blow to Christians, especially those who are faithful to the word of Scripture, you ask? Not as much as you would think. Those who study the Bible know that it is primarily concerned with one thing: the redemptive plan of God for humanity. The state is very Earth-focused, and narrows down even further for most of the Old Testament to what’s going on in and with Israel, only to shift later in the New Testament to what is happening to churches planted in Rome, Greece and modern Turkey. Scripture could’ve written about God’s creation of little green men in Genesis 1 and 2, but for that matter, it could’ve also covered the Qin Dynasty of ancient China. Investigating and understanding why the Bible doesn’t do this is crucial to even beginning to rectify The Way with visitors from other planets — it simply doesn’t deal with the plan of salvation ordained by God, but nothing in Scripture rules out God exercising His creative power by creating other life forms.
Most Bible critics who moonlight as sci-fi buffs know this, and that’s why they try to target the redemptive implications instead. A common presumptive mistake, made by the V series mentioned above, is the automatic presumption that aliens, if they’re intelligent, would need to be redeemed.
There are three possibilities: a)yes, they need redemption; b) no, they don’t; and c) they do but they’ve been set aside as beyond redemption. In a)’s case, the aliens would be much like humanity, but before missionaries run off to expand the kingdom, it should be pointed out that God’s plan for redemption would be different for another species than it would be for humans, who are born again as children of Abraham. If a) were true, what is to say that there isn’t already a plan that God has implemented long before a visit to Earth? This is where the attacks begin to fall apart, because they simply presume to know too much. b) is the case that all the other creatures on Earth fall under, and frankly would be the most likely. The notion of innocent creatures interacting with humans is not a new idea as many faithful would see angels as fitting this role perfectly. As for c), it might not be the most politically correct, but God is beyond silly political notions anyway; nothing says that a race needs to be redeemed, and Christians already believe that demons led by Satan will not escape their punishment. The true could apply to another race of beings from space, which is why evangelists should be cautioned against falling into the trap of how the Church would handle alien beings.
Any which way though, I’m again puzzled as to how any Bible scholar would find conflict between the Bible and the mere existence of aliens. Their appearance on Earth wouldn’t necessarily surprise this author, although much like the V series, I don’t know if I would be too trusting at first either. Let’s get the facts on what we do know, namely the Christian faith, right first though before we start pondering the implications of things that only might be true!
I had this discussion one time in Sunday School. My answer was to the effect that God, being Infinite. could conceivably create millions of planets like Earth and populate them with all kinds of life and He wouldn’t have to tell me about it.
Wow. Ad hominem much? I’d probably count myself as being in the ‘critic of Christianity’ camp, despite being raised Catholic myself. By definition, that makes me an ‘ignorant windbag’? Who are you to assume you know my positions on the theological implications for extraterrestrial life? Sounds rather ignorant of you, if you ask me.
Pot, meet kettle.
Simmer down Abattoir. The argument clearly wasn’t that all critics attack Christian theology over the hypothetical aliens argument (frankly, I doubt most have taken the time to consider it), but rather that those who do attack the faith over the “what ifs” of aliens have demonstrated from the popular positions they espouse that they don’t get Christianity to begin with.
“There are three possibilities: a)yes, they need redemption; b) no, they don’t; and c) they do but they’ve been set aside as beyond redemption. ”
Point of logic: Your third possibility is covered by your first possibility. You either need to refine your first possibility or remove the last one.
Seems too much like fixing the deck chairs on the Titanic, if you ask me. How about we take all the energy and thought that will go into this “study” (an exercise in futility) and apply it to spreading the gospel? The field is ripe. Let’s not waste time looking at shapes in the clouds.
I couldn’t agree with you more Mark.
C, the three possibilities stem out of three groups Christians are already aware in Scripture: a)humans, b)angels and c)demons; the last group was included since demons demonstrate that God did not need to redeem humanity and it was truly out of His mercy that the redemptive plan culminated in Christ even took place.
The serious questions will be:
1) Have their genitals been circumcised?
2) If they are green and have 6 arms, which one of us were made in God’s image? If they were not in made in God’s image, does this mean they are beasts and that we have mastery over them?
3) What do we tell them when they ask to speak with Tom Cruise?
The presence of aliens would be a threat to the creation story, not necessarily evangelical Christians. I’m sure that unwavering faith means that they will continue to believe no matter what happens.
RD, allow me to take the opportunity to dissect your arguments here:
1)Who said anything about aliens needing to be circumcised; it wouldn’t be required in cases b) or c), and God already demonstrates through the promise of Abraham (as opposed to the Law) that circumcision isn’t needed (and therefore isn’t practiced by Christians)
2)You’re presuming that the aliens will claim to be made in God’s image, if we take that passage to be a physical description; however, it’s not, but rather a spiritual description. As for the beasts question, if you read Genesis carefully you would know that man has dominion over the beasts of *the earth*, and this isn’t splitting hairs as that passage has ramifications right through the Bible up to (and including) Revelation — it is Satan who tricked man into submitting to him and thus, he now has control over the earth, but it is Christ, through the cross, who wins the title deed back, making Him King and Lord (yes, that’s where those titles come from).
3)Again, a hypothetical that is so ridiculous that no serious person needs to answer it.
Thanks RD for making my point for me by demonstrating that the challenges made to Christians on this topic betray a lack of understanding of Scripture!
Challenged indeed!
1) An excellent point. Also, it’s possible that aliens might not have foreskin.
2) Silly me making presumptions about imaginary aliens.
3) Serious question. What if aliens come down and through some act support and confirm a non-Christian religion or worse, damage Christian teachings? Since this already science fiction, why not add a plot twist?
4) How would you discern if an alien possesses the gift of speaking in tongues?
Do you pray for the salvation of aliens?
RD,
As an Ottawan, I pray for the salvation of Daniel Alfredsson, does that count?
Regarding speaking in tongues, at the risk of getting all Potter Stewart about this, you’ll know it when you hear it.
Fair enough RD, but let’s remember that while it’s sci-fi here, the situation is, by definition, restrained to the possibilities that would actually involve Christian theology, and not just the broader religious consensus among the masses. On that note, if they want to talk to Tom Cruise, I don’t see how it would be of any concern to the Christian church — L. Ron Hubbard could’ve been abducted by aliens and told to play a trick on humanity by starting Scientology. There’s nothing restricting aliens from being deceptive or, for that matter, misinformed, especially if they’re in class c) from the post.
I know folks get worked up about speaking in tongues, but I personally would point to the scripture where Paul points out that tongues are not a requirement for church membership, or Revelation, which points out that Satan and his evil followers are quite capable of performing signs so as to deceive; again, it wouldn’t have any bearing on the stability the Bible or Christianity.
Finally, let’s put your last question as case 5. Do I pray for the salvation of aliens? No, because I’m not aware of their existence right now. What if they did exist, you might ask? Well, I’d probably pray for them as much as I pray for the salvation of my guinea pig; both are living creatures with souls in this scenario, but I have no evidence, just by their existence, that they are in need of Divine redemption…although the latter one just created a mess for me to clean up earlier tonight which might outflank his ability to charm me into bypassing his flaw.
All cleared up. Excellent and thanks.