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DrJ · Mar 31, 2006, 02:10 PM

Its funny that when one thinks of "others" that are out there, they always assume they must be more evolved or more intelligent than us... what if WE were the most evolved and most intelligent creatures in the 'verse? (kind of a frightening thought though, eh? Lol)

jduke44 · Mar 31, 2006, 03:04 PM

I find your response here very interesting. I'm wondering how you reconcile it with other things you believe. Do you think all of these other life forms know Jesus Christ? Will they be "saved" if they do not?

Scott, you raise an interesting question. I am not sure whether there is life on other planets. Let's say He did create more than us, that does raise the
Interesting question as to whether the same principles of salvation apply. :rolleyes:

I personally have no problems believing there isn't any other life. I don't believe that because of arrogancy but from a bible standpoint, it says He created us for our pleasure (Rev 4:11). If he created us for His pleasure then he may not need any other to please him. :D

DrJ · Mar 31, 2006, 03:42 PM

It brings to question the idea that we were all created in His image. Although, I personally don't take this as literal as most, many do. So either we all look just like the aliens or we alone are the only ones created in His image. And if that is true, wouldn't we be the highest life form of them all? Lol

phillysteakandcheese · Mar 31, 2006, 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by DrJizzle

Its funny that when one thinks of "others" that are out there, they always assume they must be more evolved or more intelligent than us... what if WE were the most evolved and most intelligent creatures in the 'verse?? (kind of a frightening thought tho, eh? lol)

I'm not sure if I find that more comforting, or more frightening! ;)

Starman · Mar 31, 2006, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by Jesushelper76

Starman, The debate was not about whether Jesus died for our sins or not. The question was about why would there not be other forms of life else where? No one said anything about perfection.

No one need to say something in order for me to bring it in as a relevant issue.
Actually, someone brought up the Christians-on-other-worlds subject prior to me and I was responding to his comment. Do you allow that here?

A doubtful Brit · Apr 1, 2006, 02:33 PM

I'm not entirley convinced that Jesus was the son of God. Therefore, the rules of salvation do not apply to anybody. Be it us or other worldy beings.
I think that there was such a person named Jesus, and that perhaps he did believe that he was the son of God. Perhaps, he did receive messages from a powerful being, or maybe he was just a Schitzo who heard voices. Either way, Jesus had some incredible and invaluable lessons and stories to teach, and that they changed the world forever. I bet he didn't know he would still be remembered two thousand years later, who else can say that they will be remembered in the thousand years time.
Will Lincoln be remembered, no. Will Bill Gates be remembered, no.Will Michael Jackson be remembered, no.Richard Branson,Marilyn Monroe,Tom Cruise. No. Will Jesus be remembered in another two thousand years time, yes.
There is no doubt that he was an incredible man, and that he changed the face of humanity and many beliefs. Was he the son of God. Only in the sense that we are all the son of God.
So no, I don't think that a Jesus figure was sent down to all other planets and life created by God.

But then again, I could wrong.

Nez · Apr 2, 2006, 04:47 AM

Bill Gates is not God? :D

About Jesus being the son of God.I always say,if it is rubbish,how come it's lasted 2000 years.If the man was a liar,or a fool,then surelly there were enough "intelligent" scholars of the day to say otherwise.Yes he was crucified,as was the Roman form of justice,but only because the chief priests feared him,and worried that their authority would be undermined.Crucifing a "criminal" was the worst act they could possibly have done,as martadom is the result.Maybe they could have simply ignored him?As for miricles,it is also interesting that these are also "written down".Christian propaganda?
No,I think that it was Jesus's time,to be around when he was,and to do the things that he did.Whether this points to a universal force of law,or super-being,I don't know.All I know is that deep down all of us surelly hope that maybe we have "the way" to survive death,as the alternative is not a nice concept.

ahuvakapon · Apr 2, 2006, 12:01 PM

HI pumpkin!
Right you are: heavens and earth - but other places might name themselves differently - right?
Supposed elsewhere the intelligent creatures were water inhabitants? They might call their world something meaning "water"?
Really, I do hope we aren't the only form of life in the whole universe:
It's too much of a responsibility (that is to destroy the whole universe by ourselves... )
It's also a terrible waste - such a huge place only for us??
But: on the other hand, it will provide us with a lot of possibilities to go to , when we finally are done with this wonderful planet!
Ahuva

talaniman · Apr 2, 2006, 02:32 PM

Man has such a narrow view of the things around him that we can never now what is the absolute truth or not. Just to look at a star filled sky makes one wonder what is out there.As technology brings us closer to answers to our questions it also changes our minds as to what is the real deal. As our ancestor looked on things and tried to explain what they saw we are still doing the same things they did so long ago, filling in the blanks the best they can with their limited knowledge! Its so very humbling to admit that as knowledgeable and sophisticated as we may think we are, we really don't know anything about the universe or the world we live in. But the thought of a christian from mars... sounds like H.G.Wells has a sequel he's trying to sell to Hollywood!

ScottGem · Apr 2, 2006, 02:48 PM

Originally Posted by talaniman

But the thought of a christian from mars

Have you ever read Robert Henlein's Stranger In a Strange Land? Its one of the all time classics of Sci-fi. Personally I think its required reading for anyone who wants to grok religion.

DrJ · Apr 3, 2006, 01:27 PM

Well Mars was just an example... we know enough about Mars to know that there aren't Christians there lol

My point was that Christianity believes that Jesus is the Savior. It was also quoted that Man only dies once. And Jesus dies to save our Sins. So, if I lived on another planet (Mars or Tatooine), would I believe that Jesus went to Earth to die for ALL of our Sins or would I believe that Jesus ALSO came to Tatooine to die for our Sins or would I believe in a different Savior that came to die for our Sins?

Christianity doesn't really support the idea that there is other intelligent Life out there. Ya dig?

Starman · Apr 3, 2006, 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by DrJizzle

....Christianity doesnt really support the idea that there is other intelligent Life out there. Ya dig??

God and angels are out there and they are considered intelligent life.
But of course you are referring to material life on other planets.
Where does the Bible say anything about there not being any life on other planets?

ScottGem · Apr 3, 2006, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by Starman

Where does the Bible say anything about there not being any life on other planets?

Where does it say there is? Other then Genesis where it talks about God creating the Heavens and Earth, does it refer to other planets in any way?

Starman · Apr 3, 2006, 06:49 PM

Originally Posted by ScottGem

Where does it say there is? Other then Genesis where it talks about God creating the Heavens and Earth, does it refer to other planets in any way?

You are right. But why should it?
The Bible's purpose is to explain to humans just how God would solve the situation involving sin and death.

Also, please keep in mind that by strict definition angels are extraterrestrial.
In fact, disobedient angels are said to have invaded earth during Noah's day via materializing in human form. So the concept of otherworldly life is not as alien to the Bible as some might imagine. Interestingly, there are even some Bible scholars who consider the Biblical references to the-heavens-proclaiming God's glory-as referring to all of God's faithful servants on other planets.

ScottGem · Apr 4, 2006, 05:24 AM

I'm not saying it should. But I don't think you can ask the question; "Where does the Bible say anything about there not being any life on other planets?". Instead the question should be; "Where does the Bible talk about life on other planets?"

As for angels being extra-terrestrial, that starts being earth-centric since extra terrestrial simply means not of earth. Its my understanding that the concepts of God and angels living in Heaven refer to a different plane of existence, rather then different planets.

A doubtful Brit · Apr 4, 2006, 09:03 AM

This is a message to Nez.
I wasn't suggesting that Bill Gates was God. I was saying that he will not be remembered in 2 thousand years time and that Jesus will be. I do believe in God, and that when we die we do all go to a heavenly plain. I was just hypothersising (cant spell it) that Jesus may not have been the son of God. He just thought he was. But this would make sense.
If Jesus was the son of God, then why would God choose Earth to send down his son instead of another planet, or did he do it to all planets where he created life?

Starman · Apr 4, 2006, 09:03 AM

Originally Posted by ScottGem

I'm not saying it should. But I don't think you can ask the question; "Where does the Bible say anything about there not being any life on other planets?". Instead the question should be; "Where does the Bible talk about life on other planets?"

As for angels being extra-terrestrial, that starts out being earth-centric since extra terrestial simply means not of earth. Its my understanding that the concepts of God and angels living in Heaven refer to a different plane of existence, rather then different planets.

Every book has a theme and the Bible's theme is our salvation.
Detailed information about planets and extraterrestrial life contributes NOTHING to this theme. Furthermore, considering the vast distances which separates us from any other possible life and the hostile conditions which exist in interplanetary and interstellar space, it might just well be that God considers such knowledge temporarily or perhaps permanently none of our business. If so, then I guess we will just have to wait until he decides to reveal these things.

BTW

Many of the aliens which appear in Sci Fi films are spirit-like or angle-like beings who seem to dwell in a nonmaterial realm and who occasionally visit planets. Take Q of Star Trek New Generation for example. Or that playful but cruel pesky alien child with all those powers which Captain Kirk encountered. Or that other alien whom Spock's brother thought was God? How about that ethereal creature who was female and fell in love with the stranded human on that planetoid. I have read of hypothetical alien intelligences which span whole star systems. So the term extraterrestrial is not restricted to material planet-dwelling nonhumans.

DrJ · Apr 4, 2006, 10:01 AM

Originally Posted by Starman

Where does the Bible say anything about there not being any life on other planets?

It doesn't exactly. But the point is that Jesus came to Earth to die for OUR Sins.. so if there is life on other planets, either they are not Saved, they don't sin or Jesus is not the ONLY Savior.

The only other explanation would be that Jesus ALSO went to their planet to die for their Sins. However, this would mean that Jesus has lived more than one Life and has died more than once.

ScottGem · Apr 4, 2006, 10:18 AM

Originally Posted by Starman

Every book has a theme and the Bible's theme is our salvation.

I think you missed the whole point of my response. You asked the question; "Where does the Bible say anything about there not being any life on other planets?". My point was simply, that the question is one sided. It's a similar trick that pollsters use to get skewed results from their polls. By asking limited questions, the results can be spun in different ways.

Originally Posted by Starman

So the term extraterrestrial is not restricted to material planet-dwelling nonhumans.

Terra refers to Earth. Extra-Terrestial means outside of Earth. Someone or something that is extra-terrestial is something not of or from this Earth.

talaniman · Apr 4, 2006, 12:10 PM

Just a thought,Would God cloud our brain with what may be beyond our understanding or would he give us just enough to let us grow to understand the things we see in our world.It must be frustrating when we do a bunch of dumb stuff! (fight among ourselves for stuff we find in the dirt)!:cool: :eek: :)