[Athos]

If there is intelligent life elsewhere in the universe (which seems highly likely, considering the phenomenal numbers), what effect do you think this will have on Christianity?

[DIAMONDD88]

I think there is life out there too. Too many stars, planets, galaxies (possibly universes) for there not to be.

I think religious people will always stick by religion no matter what. It's their faith and part of who they are. They will interpret the bible accordingly to fit what is the truth.

[classyT]

Well for me I do not have religion or a list of things I do to please God. I have a relationship with the creator! I do not know if there are other universes because. God has not revealed that to us! Therefore it doesn't really matter to me in my relationship with him. It is fun to ponder these things but has no effect in my life on earth now. I trust him enough to let him be the creator of this universe and still have time for little ol me! He numbers the very hairs on my head because he loves me! Whatever is out there he is more than able to sustain but personally I would rather deal with what he has revealed to me on this planet through his word and stand in awe of his majesty

[dwashbur]

Well said, T. I don't see why life on other planets would affect my Christianity at all. The God who made me and sent Jesus to redeem me can do anything he bloomin' well wants to, and if that includes making other sentient creatures for himself to love and interact with, I suspect he's big enough and has enough love to go around for everybody.

[Wondergirl]

Athos asked how finding intelligent life on another planet would affect Christianity, not "my" Christianity. I'm guessing Christians would do all they can to send missionaries to that planet, just as they do for their own and other countries on our planet. It certainly would be interesting to find out if intelligent life on another planet already has the same or a different version of the Gospel/salvation.

Now, just to get some of you riled up, I don't believe we will ever find that intelligent life. I avidly watch "Cosmos" on Sunday evenings and believe God made the universe and all its wonders for His own enjoyment and glory and also as a complicated scientific challenge for His creations here on Earth to figure out.

[talaniman]

If we war with each other over our religious beliefs, chances are we will war with other planets too. Sad!

[classyT]

WG,

It was THIS planet that Jesus came to die for. It was mankind Jesus redeemed. We are told to go to all the earth to preach the gospel. So No, I wouldn't be trying to get the gospel to another planet. That's my thoughts anyway.

[dwashbur]

WG,

It was THIS planet that Jesus came to die for. It was mankind Jesus redeemed. We are told to go to all the earth to preach the gospel. So No, I wouldn't be trying to get the gospel to another planet. That's my thoughts anyway.

We don't know that for sure, because nobody in the time of Jesus knew other planets were out there. If there are, and they need it, I don't doubt He did something about it. If there aren't, then He didn't.

I find it amusing the way some people say "If there isn't other life out there, then that's an awful big waste of space." Looking at it from our point of view, yeah, it is. Looking at it from God's point of view, the universe in all its vast glory looks something like this:

.

It's all a matter of perspective. C. S. Lewis, in his "Silent Planet" trilogy, suggested that there was life on other planets, but they hadn't fallen into darkness the way this one had, so they didn't need redeeming. Ray Bradbury took a little different approach. In The Illustrated Man, he wrote a story just called "The Man." Here's a link to the book; check out that story. It's brilliant, and also illustrates the difference in how people react to Jesus.

The Illustrated Man - Ray Bradbury - Google Books

[classyT]

Interesting. I have often thought about what if there were other planets that hadn't fallen, another Adam and Eve that hadn't eaten of the tree of knowledge and what if there were other planets that had the same sin issue. I don't know it is weird. For me, I really like to think we are the only ones. Somehow in my brain it diminishes things to think this good and evil, sin battle and redemption process is being played out on some other planet. Does that make sense? I'm just being honest.

[Wondergirl]

I was telling my husband about this thread, and he suggested I read this --

Extract from Captain Stormfield's Visit to Heaven, by Mark Twain

about life after death, depending on which planet you're from.

[dwashbur]

I was telling my husband about this thread, and he suggested I read this --

Extract from Captain Stormfield's Visit to Heaven, by Mark Twain

about life after death, depending on which planet you're from.

The Claymation folks acted this out in their video "The Adventures of Mark Twain." It's hilarious.