Catholicism for E.T

[Tous_Logous]

A hypothetical question: If friendly aliens came to Earth one day, or if we went to visit aliens ourselves, would we try to convert them to Catholicism?

It’s probably an odd and dumb question, but as I was reading through the Catechism (paragraphs #41 and #42 to be exact), I thought it interesting that “all creatures bear a certain resemblance to God.” Maybe I’m not understanding exactly what I’m reading but my questions stands as is.

I don’t believe in extraterrestrial life. But, assuming we meet a hypothetical species which is as far away from human biology/psychology as certainly possible, how would we convey our faith to them?

 

[JB_Dugan]

A hypothetical question: If friendly aliens came to Earth one day, or if we went to visit aliens ourselves, would we try to convert them to Catholicism?

It’s probably an odd and dumb question, but as I was reading through the Catechism (paragraphs #41 and #42 to be exact), I thought it interesting that “all creatures bear a certain resemblance to God.” Maybe I’m not understanding exactly what I’m reading but my questions stands as is.

I don’t believe in extraterrestrial life. But, assuming we meet a hypothetical species which is as far away from human biology/psychology as certainly possible, how would we convey our faith to them?

An excellent question, Tous.

Let’s go one step farther…

Suppose our extraterrestrial neighbors had not fallen into Original Sin and were not in need of redemption…They would be closer to God than we are today. Wow!! I wonder how they would react to us as we try to evangelize them.

 

[Tous_Logous]

An excellent question, Tous.

Let’s go one step farther…

Suppose our extraterrestrial neighbors had not fallen into Original Sin and were not in need of redemption…They would be closer to God than we are today. Wow!! I wonder how they would react to us as we try to evangelize them.

I find this verse interesting in our hypothetical situation: “15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.”" (Mark 16:15, RSV:CE) While I’m 100% sure this specifically refers to the “whole creation” on Earth. could it also be transferred to “all creation?” As Catholics, would we be called to preach the good news to all of creation, whether it’s on Earth or somewhere else in the universe? How would we teach our alien visitors the good news?

I thought C.S. Lewis wrote a short essay on something similar to this subject, but I would have to dig it up and read it. I don’t know if this is a common question in Christian or Catholic philosophy.

 

[DaveBj]

An excellent question, Tous.

Let’s go one step farther…

Suppose our extraterrestrial neighbors had not fallen into Original Sin and were not in need of redemption…They would be closer to God than we are today. Wow!! I wonder how they would react to us as we try to evangelize them.

That is similar to the basic premise around which I wrote my novel, only in my case, we didn’t try to evangelize them; rather, our sin and violence shocked and hurt them, while their purity was perceived by us as offensive.

 

[openmind77]

A hypothetical question: If friendly aliens came to Earth one day, or if we went to visit aliens ourselves, would we try to convert them to Catholicism?

It’s probably an odd and dumb question, but as I was reading through the Catechism (paragraphs #41 and #42 to be exact), I thought it interesting that “all creatures bear a certain resemblance to God.” Maybe I’m not understanding exactly what I’m reading but my questions stands as is.

I don’t believe in extraterrestrial life. But, assuming we meet a hypothetical species which is as far away from human biology/psychology as certainly possible, how would we convey our faith to them?

The chances of humans visiting a far off inhabited planet (probably outside the solar system) in the near future is quite small. We have not made it to Mars yet.

It is far more likely that advanced aliens (if they exist) will visit our planet first. In this case, they will probably have their own beliefs. They may be curious to know our beliefs, but I doubt if they will want to adopt them. It would be like you visiting some primitive tribe in the jungles of the Amazon and wanting to adopt their faith.

A far more interesting question is how the Church would handle such a visit by aliens. Would the Church now say that Jesus redeems aliens as well as humans? Is Jesus the Son of ET as well as the Son of Man? What if the aliens have their own equivalent of Jesus - is he also a Son of God?

 

[JB_Dugan]

That is similar to the basic premise around which I wrote my novel, only in my case, we didn’t try to evangelize them; rather, our sin and violence shocked and hurt them, while their purity was perceived by us as offensive.

Hey…that is so cool…you wrote a novel about that subject.

Is it in print? Can I get a copy?

Have you read The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell?

PM me…

 

[DaveBj]

Hey…that is so cool…you wrote a novel about that subject.

Is it in print? Can I get a copy?

Have you read The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell?

PM me…

I’m trying for publishing direct to Kindle ebooks later this year or early next year. I have not read The Sparrow, but I just checked it out the reviews on Amazon, and I may make it my next Kindle purchase.

 

[openmind77]

The chances of humans visiting a far off inhabited planet (probably outside the solar system) in the near future is quite small. We have not made it to Mars yet.

It is far more likely that advanced aliens (if they exist) will visit our planet first. In this case, they will probably have their own beliefs. They may be curious to know our beliefs, but I doubt if they will want to adopt them. It would be like you visiting some primitive tribe in the jungles of the Amazon and wanting to adopt their faith.

A far more interesting question is how the Church would handle such a visit by aliens. Would the Church now say that Jesus redeems aliens as well as humans? Is Jesus the Son of ET as well as the Son of Man? What if the aliens have their own equivalent of Jesus - is he also a Son of God?

Another question the Church will have to address - if the ET’s have their own equivalent of a Savior like Jesus, do all ET’s in the rest of Universe also have one each? How many Sons of God will that make or are they all the same? Is ET heaven the same as human heaven - it has to be if we have the same God doesn’t it? What about hell?

I think the coming of ET will keep the Church very busy thinking of answers