Kepler Telescope

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  1. JimG said:
    I have to disagree with the quote. Discovery of intelligent aliens might raise new theological issues, but not theological problems. (Perhaps the aliens would have their own theologians, for whom the discovery of us might raise theological issues!) Of course we already know of some alien beings–the angels, who are not human, but they are well incorporated into our theology already, though perhaps inadequately from an angel’s viewpoint.

    (And if we find a planet inhabited by giant ants, I’m going out there with a can of Raid myself.)
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    What’s the difference between issues and problems?
 
Faith1960 said:


  1. What’s the difference between issues and problems?
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  1. An issue is something new to study. A problem is something requiring re-evaluation of an existing concept. There is nothing in the idea of extraterrestrial life that is a problem for Catholic theology. All it would do is open a new field of theological study.
 
Faith1960 said:
I can’t link it but if you search for extraterrestrials on here and find the question to CAF priest Fr. Gronden or Groden.
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Here, let me try this:

ncregister.com/site/article/alien_life_out_there/

telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/the-pope/8009299/Pope-Benedict-XVIs-astronomer-the-Catholic-Church-welcomes-aliens.html

Jan 14, '14, 10:08 pm
TyeDyE
New Member Join Date: January 14, 2014
Posts: 7
Religion: Catholic

Can Catholics believe in aliens?
Hello,

In todays society, the second one mentions aliens, one is ridiculed for being crazy. Most people considered “great minds” , i.e. stephen hawking, believe that one who denies the existance of ET life is ignorant to the magnitude of our universe. In 2013, scientists say there is estimated to be billions of habitable exo planets. Do we as Catholics believe that humans are the only intellegent, free-willed life form in the universe?, or do we believe that God may have put other sentient beings elsewhere in the universe?
I have been dying to sit down and discuss a number of things with an open minded, intellengent person. I pray that my question has not fallen on deaf ears.

Thank you for your time,
God bless and Mary keep!
-Sean

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#2 Jan 15, '14, 4:43 pm
Fr. Charles Grondin
Apologist Join Date: July 6, 2012
Location: CAF
Posts: 1,304
Religion: Catholic

Re: Can Catholics believe in aliens?
The Catholic Church has no official teaching on the existence of life outside of the planet Earth. However many theologians in the Church have speculated on the existence of intelligent life elsewhere in the universe:

Quote:
Alien Life Out There

VATICAN CITY — Extraterrestrials: Do they exist?

The head of the Vatican Observatory thinks there’s a good chance they do, and that their existence would be in keeping with the faith.

In a May 14 interview with the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano May 14, headlined “The Extraterrestrial Is My Brother,” astronomer Jesuit Father José Gabriel Funes said that according to his “scientific judgment,” the existence of extraterrestrials is a “possibility.”

Quote:
Pope Benedict XVI’s astronomer: the Catholic Church welcomes aliens

The senior Vatican scientist, Brother Guy Consolmagno, said that he would be delighted if we encountered intelligent aliens and would be happy to baptise them…
…He said the characteristics synonymous with having a soul - intelligence, free will, freedom to love and freedom to make decisions may not be unique to humans.

Catholics are free to speculate away about whether intelligent life exists out there and what it would mean theologically.
Recent apologetics answers by Fr. Charles Grondin
 
JimG said:
An issue is something new to study. A problem is something requiring re-evaluation of an existing concept. There is nothing in the idea of extraterrestrial life that is a problem for Catholic theology. All it would do is open a new field of theological study.
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Ok thanks!
 
Faith1960 said:
This was on our news webpage this morning:

ksdk.com/story/tech/2015/01/19/air-force-ufo-files/21985651/
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At one time I was fascinated by such things, but now I figure that if “they’re out there” in God’s good time we will know it. If they aren’t, they aren’t. It makes no difference to our faith or our lives–not until they land and say, “Take us to your leader.”

C. S. Lewis wrote a trilogy about this very topic: “Out of the Silent Planet,” “Perelandra,” and “That Hideous Strength.” You might want to give them a read. 🙂
 
Della said:
At one time I was fascinated by such things, but now I figure that if “they’re out there” in God’s good time we will know it. If they aren’t, they aren’t. It makes no difference to our faith or our lives–not until they land and say, “Take us to your leader.”
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What difference would it make to your faithif they do land and say “take us to your leader?”
 
Faith1960 said:
I should’ve asked what difference would it make to OUR faith if they land and say “take us to your leader?”
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Tell us why you think it would make a difference. Most of us have said, in full four pages of posts, that it would make no difference. So why would it make a difference to you? 🙂
 
Della said:
Tell us why you think it would make a difference. Most of us have said, in full four pages of posts, that it would make no difference. So why would it make a difference to you? 🙂
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It wouldnt. I have OCD and worry about stuff like this.
 
Faith1960 said:
It wouldnt. I have OCD and worry about stuff like this.
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It’s probably better that you worry over something that will probably never affect us than over things that can, I guess. 😉

Actually, the distances between star systems is so vast that traveling between them, aka Star Trek, is nearly impossible. The physics is simply too daunting.

If there are others on other planets it may be a good thing that we can’t contact/visit each other. Just think of the damage fallen humanity could/would do to an innocent culture. The history of human migration and conquest on our own world is proof enough of that.

C. S. Lewis once opined that the distances between the stars might be God’s quarantine until there is a new heaven and a new earth when we will be risen into new creatures in Christ and so able to be true brothers to any other sentient life that might exist in the universe.
 
Della said:
It’s probably better that you worry over something that will probably never affect us than over things that can, I guess. 😉

Actually, the distances between star systems is so vast that traveling between them, aka Star Trek, is nearly impossible. The physics is simply too daunting
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The size of the universe is mind boggling. God is awesome!
 
OneSmallFlower said:
I’ve wondered from time to time if Christ couldn’t manifest himself on another planet, similarly to how he did for us. Then again, maybe not. Thoughts?
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Not to sound harsh, but this sounds like the statement a future Church council might use in its “let them be anathema” formula regarding discovery of alien life.

Peter wrote the Hebrews that Christ came once, for all time. That ought to be taken as definitive and totally authoritive. The incarnation would lose meaning of we were among many whom God shed his infinite mercy on.

Further, it would create a problem of multiple Churches on other planets if Christ was incarnate multiple times, in order for the sacraments to be fulfilled. This is a violation of the marks of the Church and its unity, which cannot occur.

Christ came once and redeemed all. That could include alien life too. But he was not incarnate elsewhere. There was one incarnation, and one Holy Catholic Church formed by him and bestowed upon Peter for its safekeeping.
 
Spelf said:
Not to sound harsh, but this sounds like the statement a future Church council might use in its “let them be anathema” formula regarding discovery of alien life.

Peter wrote the Hebrews that Christ came once, for all time. That ought to be taken as definitive and totally authoritive. The incarnation would lose meaning of we were among many whom God shed his infinite mercy on.

Further, it would create a problem of multiple Churches on other planets if Christ was incarnate multiple times, in order for the sacraments to be fulfilled. This is a violation of the marks of the Church and its unity, which cannot occur.

Christ came once and redeemed all. That could include alien life too. But he was not incarnate elsewhere. There was one incarnation, and one Holy Catholic Church formed by him and bestowed upon Peter for its safekeeping.
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Incarnation in another world implies that the residents of the other world have flesh bodies (Latin, carnis).

It really makes no sense a priori.

Really, the Church, and our human Christ, are for our world. Whatever may, **or may not, ** happen out in the sky is beside the point, and no anathemas are needed.

CS Lewis handled all of this very well in the Silent Planet series of books.

ICXC NIKA
 
I disagree, sorry. This doesn’t necessarily preclude aliens from salvation, but I think it’s pretty heterodox to claim that God implemented other plans of salvation, and incarnation of necessary.

The Gospel is for all people. Paul and others make that point abundantly clear. Gentiles and aliens alike. I refuse to believe that a separate salvation occurred; that’s contrary to the teaching of the Church.
 
Spelf said:
I disagree, sorry. This doesn’t necessarily preclude aliens from salvation, but I think it’s pretty heterodox to claim that God implemented other plans of salvation, and incarnation of necessary.

The Gospel is for all people. Paul and others make that point abundantly clear. Gentiles and aliens alike. I refuse to believe that a separate salvation occurred; that’s contrary to the teaching of the Church.
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In “Out of the Silent Planet” C. S. Lewis most certainly doesn’t make a claim for another kind of salvation for aliens. You should read his trilogy if you wish to know what Lewis was saying. 🙂
 
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