Aliens?

[Sair]

The Catholic idea of the soul is based in Revelation. It cannot be deduced simply from physical observation. Human beings have worth and innate dignity as humans because we are made in the image of God. This can be seen by our unique desire for God and for perfection, as well as our free will, our capacity for selfless love/charity, and in other ways. To say that a disabled person, such as a mentally retarded person, is less human because they do not exhibit every possible human trait is to say that human worth desires from some use or function we might have, rather than on the innate dignity of the human soul as made in the image of God. Animal souls are not made in the image of God precisely because they are incapable of contemplating God. If a human is incapacitated from doing so, that is a disorder of the natural human condition, not a different form of it. Normally, all humans are capable of this, just as a car is capable of driving by virtue of being a car, even if it is out of gas or damaged in some way.

In short, “Humans are special, because we just are.” I can’t help but interpret the theology as mere window-dressing on top of the desire to accord humans privileged status, regardless of actual characteristics or abilities. Throughout history, many forms of segregation have been ‘justified’ by reference to differences of soul - women and people of other races both have, at various times, been claimed to have ‘lesser’ souls than men of the dominant race. I see the above in the same light. It would be interesting, considering the OP, to see, if we ever met up with an intelligent race of beings from another planet, what might be the religious estimation of their souls - and how much that might depend upon whether or not these beings were humanoid in shape.

 

[Poseidon]

Considering that our meager attempts at finding life have only begun about 50 years ago, and our first radio waves out of our planet were sent less than 100 year ago, when you compare that to the fact that the nearest star is 50,000 light years away, it is fully understandable why our primitive scientist have not found life yet.

We are actually off toward the edge of our galaxy, so even within in our own neighborhood, we are way out in the boonies.

We are so far away from anything else, that it is like someone yelling as loud as they can, and expecting someone else on the moon to hear them. Our messages haven’t even reached the nearest star and won’t for the next 49,900 years. BY the time any reply comes, no one will be still alive to hear the answer.

We will have to master time and space travel before anyone can truely confirm that life does or does not exists elsewhere… BUT considering the almost infinite number of stars just in our universe (and scientists now think there are many universes outside of ours -multiverse), there almost certainly have to be billions of planets that have civilizations more advanced than ours. Consider that there are more stars in the universe than there are grains of sand in the entire world.

Actually, the nearest star, Alpha Centauri, is 4.4 light years away. Our radio signals have reached dozens of stars. There are about 200 billion stars within 50,000 light years. Have a look at this site if you don’t believe me: atlasoftheuniverse.com/galaxy.html

 

[scameter18]

In short, “Humans are special, because we just are.” I can’t help but interpret the theology as mere window-dressing on top of the desire to accord humans privileged status, regardless of actual characteristics or abilities. Throughout history, many forms of segregation have been ‘justified’ by reference to differences of soul - women and people of other races both have, at various times, been claimed to have ‘lesser’ souls than men of the dominant race. I see the above in the same light. It would be interesting, considering the OP, to see, if we ever met up with an intelligent race of beings from another planet, what might be the religious estimation of their souls - and how much that might depend upon whether or not these beings were humanoid in shape.

I listed the characteristics of human behavior, some of them at least, that evidence our unique soul. But as I said, the special character of the human soul, with its innate dignity and immortality, is based on the revelation God has given us. If someone does not believe in that revelation, it could indeed seem as though we were just inventing this soul idea to make ourselves seem better than others. Of course, we aren’t saying Christians are superior, only that human beings are superior to animals. And to say that humans are spiritually equal to animals, that would also bring in its own implications. For example, should animals be legally prosecuted for criminals acts against one another or against humans, since they’re supposed to be equal to us? And, why do animals or human either one have worth or dignity, whether we’re equal or not? But that is another topic. I’ve actually already been discussing the issue of aliens’ souls, so feel free to give your opinion on the matter.

 

[Sair]

I listed the characteristics of human behavior, some of them at least, that evidence our unique soul. But as I said, the special character of the human soul, with its innate dignity and immortality, is based on the revelation God has given us. If someone does not believe in that revelation, it could indeed seem as though we were just inventing this soul idea to make ourselves seem better than others. Of course, we aren’t saying Christians are superior, only that human beings are superior to animals. And to say that humans are spiritually equal to animals, that would also bring in its own implications. For example, should animals be legally prosecuted for criminals acts against one another or against humans, since they’re supposed to be equal to us? And, why do animals or human either one have worth or dignity, whether we’re equal or not? But that is another topic. I’ve actually already been discussing the issue of aliens’ souls, so feel free to give your opinion on the matter.

Because, of course, we treat all humans as equal under the law - unless they are underage, mentally or physically incapacitated, or otherwise unable to make what we deem sound decisions or perform what we consider acceptable, expected actions. We treat offending humans, no matter what their capacities, far better than most other animals that transgress our expectations, to be sure - the latter are usually sentenced to summary execution, with no recourse to rehabilitation.

Until there is actual evidence for anything like a soul, I will reserve judgement upon the souls of alien species. Were we to encounter such beings, interacting with them would ultimately give us the information we need to form social and ethical judgements of their nature and capabilities - provided we did not overly indulge ourselves in prejudice, a failing to which humans are, sadly, very, very prone - and I include myself in this estimation, despite my best efforts.

For the time being, I will continue to believe that comparable needs and interests, where such are demonstrated, deserve comparable consideration - where we are obviously equal to other animals in abilities, needs and behaviour, we and they are due equal ethical consideration.

 

[scameter18]

Of course, what standard we use to determine the ethical considerations, questions of equality, dignity or worth, and why any of this is truly important depends on the beliefs of the individual. When we believe, for example, that a person’s worth is dictated entirely by their current behavior or competency on some practical scale, people become far less valuable when they are in some way incapacitated or less productive than others, as is the standard for unborn children and, in some situations, the elderly. Since animals often appear highly competent and productive, within their capacities, we can then deem them even more dignified and worthy than, say, an unborn child or someone with a mental or physical handicap. This is based on our beliefs, what we believe to be important and the standard by which issues are resolved, such as the nature of personhood, the dignity of individuals, the value of non-human creatures, etc. You have your beliefs, as I have mine.

 

[nordskoven]

“Aliens” are fallen angels, and did the same perverted stuff to the unbaptized especially in the Middle Ages: incubus & succubus; probes; lying in claiming to be, not from another planet but from the Queen of the Faeries; faerie bolt arrowhead implants; cattle blasting we call cattle mutilation. These are the trickster-demons of other cultures we know as the fallen angels. Just say, “H— no, we won’t go!” They lie, they hurt people, as Jacques Valle, UFO researcher, concluded. Not a good thing and certainly not a man to urge, as he was falsely depicted in “Close Encounters” that parents send their children off to the mother ship.

 

[scameter18]

This idea is based on a confused version of aliens mistaken for demons, if indeed what you say is true. I’m talking about the speculative existence of real extraterrestrial sentient species that are not fallen angels, whether they might exist or not, and what they would mean philosophically and theologically.

 

[scameter18]

This idea is based on a version of aliens mistaken for demons, if indeed what you say is true. I’m talking about the speculative existence of real extraterrestrial sentient species that are not fallen angels, whether they might exist or not, and what they would mean philosophically and theologically.

 

[TheTrueCentrist]

What would be the implications for natural law if we encountered an advanced and intelligent alien race which had developed at least one rule which directly contradicted our conception of right and wrong? After all, natural law is supposed to be universal.

 

[JDaniel]

What would be the implications for natural law if we encountered an advanced and intelligent alien race which had developed at least one rule which directly contradicted our conception of right and wrong? After all, natural law is supposed to be universal.

TTC:

The Natural law is overarching in its generality. It is not codified law. Each country’s or State’s specific rules are specific to that country or State, and, as we know from history, time. One doesn’t need an “advanced and intelligent alien race which had developed at least one rule which directly contradicted our conception of right and wrong.” One only needs to look at Adolph Hitler’s rules. Now, you may say that Hitler did not embody “advanced and intelligent,” but who are you to say that?

God bless,
jd

 

[scameter18]

Answered it better than I could, thanks.