Yes, a large test indeed. Yet, who is to say aliens exist? It is a matter of probability. One would say, “with the universe being so enormously vast and with such varying conditions, aliens have to exist!” However, it is only a mystery right now for us.
That intelligent aliens exist and may establish contact in the future is of no consequence to religions, especially Catholicism. Catholicism is rooted in reason, and cannot be disturbed by such things as science.
Yes, precisely, but there’s no reason that these aliens cannot have Christianity or Judaism as their faith. We cannot argue anything about the salvation and spiritual state of aliens because St. Paul did not write an epistle titled “Epistle to the Alien Races” or anything. (If he did, that would be cool.)
The little I know about their culture is that they have only transgender people.
Sort of, if the person has a body and a rational soul, that is the Catholic Church’s definition of what a human person is. The existence of a rational soul can be demonstrated by the use of, or potential for, Reason.
No, they cannot have Christianity as their faith as we do not have the authority or power to extend jurisdiction over them. They are ineligible for Christianity because Christ did not assume their nature. It is absolutely impossible for them. They cannot even be baptized.
nyuk. nyuk.
Probably Reform and Reconstructionist movements (maybe Conservative Judaism as well) would rely mainly on the criteria of sentient, rational, intelligent being for the purpose of membership. Or perhaps this would not be sufficient. As to Orthodox Judaism, it would first have to be determined whether the aliens are intelligent animals or golems before considering conversion to Judaism. A decision of animals would mean no conversion; that of golems, conversion may be possible. There is no official teaching, however, concerning this unchartered territory. I believe in Islam, there is more leniency.
I don’t understand your comment about science. The Church has a Pontifical Academy of Sciences and a Vatican Observatory.
I believe that Porthos means that Catholicism will not be moved by science. Doctrines in themselves do not need to be denied because of a scientific discovery – just reinterpreted in light of that discovery. There does not need to be a contradiction per se.
Put another way, the Church is not disturbed by any scientific discoveries. In other words, Catholicism does not collapse just because of anything science may discover, such as alien intelligence.
I’ve seen that idea presented in so many different places, and for years. I don’t get it. Should a spaceship land, aliens walk out, and assuming we can communicate, we can communicate and take it from there.
How does that even tie in to what I just said? I only said science will not bother the Church one bit. And you you somehow have to mention aliens destroying our cities, as if anybody said anything of the sort?I’ve seen that idea presented in so many different places, and for years. I don’t get it. Should a spaceship land, aliens walk out, and assuming we can communicate, we can communicate and take it from there.
I mean since the late 1940s, this weird idea has been floating around, and is still floating around, that the aliens will appear, destroy our cities and take all of our soda pop, or something…
Hasn’t happened.
Ed
Please understand. I have been hearing that “religion will collapse when the aliens invade” for decades. You see, certain groups have strange beliefs about religion and aliens. I didn’t refer to you or anyone in particular, just the fact that the Aliens will invade or appear and that will cause mankind such trauma… Pure nonsense, that’s all I’m saying.
