Possibly a strange question....aliens?

[Aleksa]

Okay, so from what I understand there is at least a good possibility that there is intelligent life elsewhere in the universe. What is the proper Catholic response to that? If humans and aliens ever made contact would we be expected to try to evangelize them? What if they claimed to have had prophets on their own planets? Could Jesus have appeared to them separately?Could aliens be saved?

I know this is kind of a weird question but my husband loves watching tv documentaries about aliens and stuff and it got me wondering, haha.

 

[MarcoPolo]

The Church has no doctrinal/dogmatic position on the matter. But there have been some clergy that have commented from time to time. Here are some articles of use:

VATICAN CONSIDERS LIFE ON OTHER PLANETS
zenit.org/article-27504?l=english
Father Funes explained that the Vatican is involved in astrobiology because, although it is “an emerging field and still a developing subject, the questions of life’s origins and of whether life exists elsewhere in the universe are very interesting and deserve serious consideration. These questions offer many philosophical and theological implications.”

VATICAN OBSERVATORY DIRECTOR HAILS ‘HISTORICAL ACHIEVEMENT’
zenit.org/article-35330?l=english
When asked by Vatican Radio whether Catholics and believers in general have anything to fear – either from the search for extraterrestrial life in particular or from scientific exploration in general, Fr. Funes responded, “No, of course not – we are not afraid of science, we are not afraid of new results, new discoveries.”

LIFE ON OTHER PLANETS? VATICAN AIDE PONDERS THE POSSIBILITY
zenit.org/article-3348?l=english
Scientific studies on the possibility of intelligent life on other planets is not against the Christian faith, says the director of the Vatican Astronomic Observatory.
Speaking in his own name, Father George Coyne told the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera that such an extraterrestrial possibility “is an exciting prospect, which must be treated with caution.”

 

[Aleksa]

The Church has no doctrinal/dogmatic position on the matter. But there have been some clergy that have commented from time to time. Here are some articles of use:

VATICAN CONSIDERS LIFE ON OTHER PLANETS
zenit.org/article-27504?l=english
Father Funes explained that the Vatican is involved in astrobiology because, although it is “an emerging field and still a developing subject, the questions of life’s origins and of whether life exists elsewhere in the universe are very interesting and deserve serious consideration. These questions offer many philosophical and theological implications.”

VATICAN OBSERVATORY DIRECTOR HAILS ‘HISTORICAL ACHIEVEMENT’
zenit.org/article-35330?l=english
When asked by Vatican Radio whether Catholics and believers in general have anything to fear – either from the search for extraterrestrial life in particular or from scientific exploration in general, Fr. Funes responded, “No, of course not – we are not afraid of science, we are not afraid of new results, new discoveries.”

LIFE ON OTHER PLANETS? VATICAN AIDE PONDERS THE POSSIBILITY
zenit.org/article-3348?l=english
Scientific studies on the possibility of intelligent life on other planets is not against the Christian faith, says the director of the Vatican Astronomic Observatory.
Speaking in his own name, Father George Coyne told the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera that such an extraterrestrial possibility “is an exciting prospect, which must be treated with caution.”

That is very helpful, thank you.

 

[mab23]

Okay, so from what I understand there is at least a good possibility that there is intelligent life elsewhere in the universe. What is the proper Catholic response to that? If humans and aliens ever made contact would we be expected to try to evangelize them? What if they claimed to have had prophets on their own planets? Could Jesus have appeared to them separately?Could aliens be saved?

I know this is kind of a weird question but my husband loves watching tv documentaries about aliens and stuff and it got me wondering, haha.

you state above

“so from what I understand there is at least a good possibility that there is intelligent life elsewhere in the universe”

I used to subscribe to this theory but there is absolutely NO definitive evidence for it!

Consider this… THE BIG BANG - an explosion that propelled the life propagating universe seemingly exclusive and perfected for carbon based life forms such as ourselfs

after you look at all the perfect and exact necessities to have this life on a planet (such as perfect size of sun, size of planet, planets distance to the right sized sun, enough water on so called planet, orbit of planet, rate of speed planet spins, the axis on this planet… and these things are just scratching the surface there is way way more involved it literally has to be perfect…

so AFTER THAT life forms through lets for fun say God implemented evolution as the means to create life - thinking in our terms of how long this would take and that all other areas in our Universe happened at the same time from our initial big bang - the chances of the intelligent life if it were to be would probably be not any more intelligent than us

but lets say for fun they are there and way more intelligent - our nearest star Alpha Centauri - which through science we know their is no life in that solar system but for hypothetical fun’s sake - if these intelligent beings so happened to travel at the speed of light it would take them 169,000 plus years at the speed of light - THATS THE CLOSEST STAR

i mean think of their life spans , why would they visit us anyway , and for them to have this technology would estimate they would be far advanced than we by 100’s of thousands of years -

while I finish this rant I suggest you buy and read this book - you will not regret it!

I’ve read this book and it deals with that and so much more and in much more depth

an easy and great read! - Your husband should read it too!

http://shop.catholic.com/media/cata...d27136e95/c/a/catholic-church-and-science.jpg

shop.catholic.com/the-catholic-church-and-science-answering-the-questions-exposing-the-myths.html < ------------------- Link to this book!

 

[Nimzovik]

you state above

I used to subscribe to this theory but there is absolutely NO definitive evidence for it!

Consider this… THE BIG BANG - an explosion that propelled the life propagating universe seemingly exclusive and perfected for carbon based life forms such as ourselfs

after you look at all the perfect and exact necessities to have this life on a planet (such as perfect size of sun, size of planet, planets distance to the right sized sun, enough water on so called planet, orbit of planet, rate of speed planet spins, the axis on this planet… and these things are just scratching the surface there is way way more involved it literally has to be perfect…

so AFTER THAT life forms through lets for fun say God implemented evolution as the means to create life - thinking in our terms of how long this would take and that all other areas in our Universe happened at the same time from our initial big bang - the chances of the intelligent life if it were to be would probably be not any more intelligent than us

but lets say for fun they are there and way more intelligent - our nearest star Alpha Centauri - which through science we know their is no life in that solar system but for hypothetical fun’s sake - if these intelligent beings so happened to travel at the speed of light it would take them 169,000 plus years at the speed of light - THATS THE CLOSEST STAR

i mean think of their life spans , why would they visit us anyway , and for them to have this technology would estimate they would be far advanced than we by 100’s of thousands of years -

while I finish this rant I suggest you buy and read this book - you will not regret it!

I’ve read this book and it deals with that and so much more and in much more depth

an easy and great read! - Your husband should read it too!

http://shop.catholic.com/media/cata...d27136e95/c/a/catholic-church-and-science.jpg

shop.catholic.com/the-catholic-church-and-science-answering-the-questions-exposing-the-myths.html < ------------------- Link to this book!

No evidence eh? Don’t get me started.

 

[ChibiViolet]

There are many who believe–and I am one of them–that so-called “aliens” are actually demons.

 

[atheistnz]

you state above

I used to subscribe to this theory but there is absolutely NO definitive evidence for it!

Consider this… THE BIG BANG - an explosion that propelled the life propagating universe seemingly exclusive and perfected for carbon based life forms such as ourselfs

after you look at all the perfect and exact necessities to have this life on a planet (such as perfect size of sun, size of planet, planets distance to the right sized sun, enough water on so called planet, orbit of planet, rate of speed planet spins, the axis on this planet… and these things are just scratching the surface there is way way more involved it literally has to be perfect…

so AFTER THAT life forms through lets for fun say God implemented evolution as the means to create life - thinking in our terms of how long this would take and that all other areas in our Universe happened at the same time from our initial big bang - the chances of the intelligent life if it were to be would probably be not any more intelligent than us

but lets say for fun they are there and way more intelligent - our nearest star Alpha Centauri - which through science we know their is no life in that solar system but for hypothetical fun’s sake - if these intelligent beings so happened to travel at the speed of light it would take them 169,000 plus years at the speed of light - THATS THE CLOSEST STAR

i mean think of their life spans , why would they visit us anyway , and for them to have this technology would estimate they would be far advanced than we by 100’s of thousands of years -

while I finish this rant I suggest you buy and read this book - you will not regret it!

I’ve read this book and it deals with that and so much more and in much more depth

an easy and great read! - Your husband should read it too!

shop.catholic.com/the-catholic-church-and-science-answering-the-questions-exposing-the-myths.html < ------------------- Link to this book!

If you accept any aspect of the Big Bag Theory then you must accept that there is the chance of life on other planets. Wether you believe that God created the Big Bang or not is kind of immaterial. In doing so, God must have created the possibly of life on other planets.

An infinite universe created by an intelligent designer with Life existing on only one speck of it seems a little like a waste of time considering that we can only see a tiny portion of Gods creation.

Are there planets of RC’s waiting to be discovered?

 

[Skye_Ariel]

That is an interesting question. My theory is that if aliens exist which I believe they do, they might have something to do with the fallen angels mating with human women and creating giants. An off shoot of that mixing. I know a lot of people don’t believe the sons of God were fallen angels but I do believe it, especially when you read the book of Enoch which I know is not cannon but was referenced to in one of the books that **is **cannon. Plus the Bible does say that Enoch was taken and did not have to see death. The book of Enoch plainly tells that the sons of God in Genesis were indeed the fallen angels and they did mate with human women.

As far as aliens being saved, the fall of man was limited to humanity on earth, it’s the history of humanity **on earth **so if the aliens have nothing to do with the fallen angels and are just other beings God created, they might not necessarily be in a fallen state in which they would need to be saved or baptized. Maybe their species lived the way God truly made them to live so they might not necessarily need to be baptized. The only way they might need to be baptized is if they descended from humans on earth and somehow ended up on another planet.

Anyone who does not believe in aliens, or the fallen angels mating with human women should read the book of Enoch. You don’t have to take it as cannon scripture but read it for reference and see if you still think the sons of God in Genesis was just a way to describe other humans.

No evidence eh? Don’t get me started.

Exactly! Here we go with this again! The evidence is overwhelming!

Here’s part of the Book of Enoch, and remember, one of the books of the Bible that **is **canon made a reference to this book. :

VI-XI. The Fall of the Angels: the Demoralisation of Mankind: the Intercession of the Angels on behalf of Mankind. The Dooms pronounced by God on the Angels: the Messianic Kingdom (a Noah fragment).

CHAPTER VI.

1. And it came to pass when the children of men had multiplied that in those days were born unto them beautiful and comely daughters. 2.** And the angels, the children of the heaven, saw and lusted after them, **and said to one another: ‘Come, let us choose us wives from among the children of men and beget us children.’ 3. And Semjâzâ, who was their leader, said unto them: ‘I fear ye will not indeed agree to do this deed, and I alone shall have to pay the penalty of a great sin.’ 4. And they all answered

p. 35

him and said: ‘Let us all swear an oath, and all bind ourselves by mutual imprecations not to abandon this plan but to do this thing.’ 5. Then sware they all together and bound themselves by mutual imprecations upon it. 6. And they were in all two hundred; who descended ⌈in the days⌉ of Jared on the summit of Mount Hermon, and they called it Mount Hermon, because they had sworn and bound themselves by mutual imprecations upon it. 7. And these are the names of their leaders: Sêmîazâz, their leader, Arâkîba, Râmêêl, Kôkabîêl, Tâmîêl, Râmîêl, Dânêl, Êzêqêêl, Barâqîjâl, Asâêl, Armârôs, Batârêl, Anânêl, Zaqîêl, Samsâpêêl, Satarêl, Tûrêl, Jômjâêl, Sariêl. 8. These are their chiefs of tens.

 

[Ben_F]

Jesus talks of a great deception. This would be a perfect deception. If an alien or demon showed the world of humans how Jesus was an alien also, but wanted to control the world. And they were here to really set the world free. We humans would fall for that line, hook and sinker. Jesus is God. He created the aliens, if they exist. God bless:thumbsup:

 

[MrsHappy]

I agree with the person who said that so-called aliens are actually demons. If this life is a journey in which we do all we can to know, love and serve God in order to help ourselves save our souls, then there are going to be devils and demons trying to manifest themselves as aliens etc to distract us. They want more souls in hell. We don’t just fly thru the pearlies lol. From all we know about our faith and the reasons WHY Jesus came and died for us so the gates of heaven could be opened, it would be kind of pointless if he created Aliens. It just doesn’t fit in with anything we are taught about the past, present and future of Our Lords divine plan. Just seems a bit lame and yeah, a distraction. It started with Adam and Eve, man is part angel, part animal, and Jesus came as man, like us. Did he go to the aliens on mars as an alien and die on a floating cross? Maybe…but I doubt it

 

[Linusthe2nd]

Okay, so from what I understand there is at least a good possibility that there is intelligent life elsewhere in the universe. What is the proper Catholic response to that? If humans and aliens ever made contact would we be expected to try to evangelize them? What if they claimed to have had prophets on their own planets? Could Jesus have appeared to them separately?Could aliens be saved?

I know this is kind of a weird question but my husband loves watching tv documentaries about aliens and stuff and it got me wondering, haha.

As noted above. It is a question we can’t answer. How would we ever know ? Even within our own galaxy the time for information to travel between earth and a possible habitable world would make contact impossible. The only real possibility for knowledge of such a possibility would seem to be restricted to our own solar system. And if human life existed elsewhere within our solar system, I think we would know about it by now.

So it really does seem that short of some special Divine Revelation we could never know about the existence of such life. Still, it makes for great speculation.

 

[Glomung]

Not to nitpick, but Proxima Centauri is the nearest star at 3.9 light years. Alpha Centauri is 4.3 light years. With present technology and an unlimited budget we could get there in about 45 years (assuming cosmic radiation didn’t kill the crew on the way there).

 

[1ke]

What we do know is that of created beings, man alone is made in the image and likeness of God-- i.e., with a spiritual soul.

So, whatever else might be out there, it does not have what we have-- intellect and will, a spiritual soul.

 

[agnes_therese]

What we do know is that of created beings, man alone is made in the image and likeness of God-- i.e., with a spiritual soul.

So, whatever else might be out there, it does not have what we have-- intellect and will, a spiritual soul.

I strongly disagree. We can’t know that. We only know God’s plan for us. We don’t know who or what else is out there, or what God’s plan for them may be.

 

[Nimzovik]

There are many who believe–and I am one of them–that so-called “aliens” are actually demons.

Yes… As far as for the ‘Orbs’ type I think you may be quite correct. The others at this point – not so much, methinks.

 

[Nimzovik]

Not to nitpick, but Proxima Centauri is the nearest star at 3.9 light years. Alpha Centauri is 4.3 light years. With present technology and an unlimited budget we could get there in about 45 years (assuming cosmic radiation didn’t kill the crew on the way there).

Yeah… then there are things we have not fully understood - like quantum entanglement- in terms of the fabric of the universe. Who knows what materials and energies are available to a race that is a billion years old? Interdimensional travel?

 

[AmbroseSJ]

Why does man seek so earnestly for extra-terrestrial life when man has known of it since ancient times? We know that God and the Angels both good and bad are extra-terrestrial. We are never seemingly satisfied with the truth, but always have another more interesting (to us) version. Science has used seemingly authoritative logic to imply that there MUST be extra-terrestrial life out there. But science doesn’t have all of the answers, AND they are unable to accept that as a serious problem. They know of a lot of good reasons why there MUST be life elsewhere, but they DON’T know any of the reasons that might make that logic false. Why? because how can they know what they don’t know?

Until proof of extra-terrestrial intelligent life is found, it remains a fantasy in fact.

Man just doesn’t think, what if civilization itself is mere years away from annihilation. Science DOES know of many REAL AND PROVABLE celestial accidents capable of laying waste to our entire way of life, and even life itself.

Maybe then we would worry more about the extra-terrestrial life that we know exists (as Christians.)

 

[mab23]

No evidence eh? Don’t get me started.

I said no Definitive evidence there is none, or else Aliens would be a matter of fact

If you accept any aspect of the Big Bag Theory then you must accept that there is the chance of life on other planets. Wether you believe that God created the Big Bang or not is kind of immaterial. In doing so, God must have created the possibly of life on other planets.

An infinite universe created by an intelligent designer with Life existing on only one speck of it seems a little like a waste of time considering that we can only see a tiny portion of Gods creation.

Are there planets of RC’s waiting to be discovered?

accept their may be a chance yea but that they are intelligent and visiting us extremely doubtful , also everything you stated is only speculation, you state the Universe is infinite , scientifically its expanding and we cannot travel to the depths of it but to say ifinite is only theoretical not to mention the big bang leads to a temporary Universe , The universe will have a demise

That is an interesting question. My theory is that if aliens exist which I believe they do, they might have something to do with the fallen angels mating with human women and creating giants. An off shoot of that mixing. I know a lot of people don’t believe the sons of God were fallen angels but I do believe it, especially when you read the book of Enoch which I know is not cannon but was referenced to in one of the books that **is **cannon. Plus the Bible does say that Enoch was taken and did not have to see death. The book of Enoch plainly tells that the sons of God in Genesis were indeed the fallen angels and they did mate with human women.

As far as aliens being saved, the fall of man was limited to humanity on earth, it’s the history of humanity **on earth **so if the aliens have nothing to do with the fallen angels and are just other beings God created, they might not necessarily be in a fallen state in which they would need to be saved or baptized. Maybe their species lived the way God truly made them to live so they might not necessarily need to be baptized. The only way they might need to be baptized is if they descended from humans on earth and somehow ended up on another planet.

Anyone who does not believe in aliens, or the fallen angels mating with human women should read the book of Enoch. You don’t have to take it as cannon scripture but read it for reference and see if you still think the sons of God in Genesis was just a way to describe other humans.

Exactly! Here we go with this again! The evidence is overwhelming!

Here’s part of the Book of Enoch, and remember, one of the books of the Bible that **is **canon made a reference to this book. :

VI-XI. The Fall of the Angels: the Demoralisation of Mankind: the Intercession of the Angels on behalf of Mankind. The Dooms pronounced by God on the Angels: the Messianic Kingdom (a Noah fragment).

CHAPTER VI.

1. And it came to pass when the children of men had multiplied that in those days were born unto them beautiful and comely daughters. 2.** And the angels, the children of the heaven, saw and lusted after them, **and said to one another: ‘Come, let us choose us wives from among the children of men and beget us children.’ 3. And Semjâzâ, who was their leader, said unto them: ‘I fear ye will not indeed agree to do this deed, and I alone shall have to pay the penalty of a great sin.’ 4. And they all answered

p. 35

him and said: ‘Let us all swear an oath, and all bind ourselves by mutual imprecations not to abandon this plan but to do this thing.’ 5. Then sware they all together and bound themselves by mutual imprecations upon it. 6. And they were in all two hundred; who descended ⌈in the days⌉ of Jared on the summit of Mount Hermon, and they called it Mount Hermon, because they had sworn and bound themselves by mutual imprecations upon it. 7. And these are the names of their leaders: Sêmîazâz, their leader, Arâkîba, Râmêêl, Kôkabîêl, Tâmîêl, Râmîêl, Dânêl, Êzêqêêl, Barâqîjâl, Asâêl, Armârôs, Batârêl, Anânêl, Zaqîêl, Samsâpêêl, Satarêl, Tûrêl, Jômjâêl, Sariêl. 8. These are their chiefs of tens.

thats fine if you believe in Aliens but is your evidence coming from a book of Enoch - and aren’t angels spiritual beings…without bodies… I may have to check the Catechism again but this book of Enoch thing doesn’t seem to check out.

 

[mab23]

I agree with the person who said that so-called aliens are actually demons. If this life is a journey in which we do all we can to know, love and serve God in order to help ourselves save our souls, then there are going to be devils and demons trying to manifest themselves as aliens etc to distract us. They want more souls in hell. We don’t just fly thru the pearlies lol. From all we know about our faith and the reasons WHY Jesus came and died for us so the gates of heaven could be opened, it would be kind of pointless if he created Aliens. It just doesn’t fit in with anything we are taught about the past, present and future of Our Lords divine plan. Just seems a bit lame and yeah, a distraction. It started with Adam and Eve, man is part angel, part animal, and Jesus came as man, like us. Did he go to the aliens on mars as an alien and die on a floating cross? Maybe…but I doubt it

Aliens in the sense of extraterrestrials as in “not from earth” so in that sense angels would be aliens too

where did you get Adam and Eve as part Angel…

and your speculation of if God made aliens then Jesus dying for us would be kind of pointless … why… and “because Just seems a bit lame” doesn’t sound like a great argument for that

As noted above. It is a question we can’t answer. How would we ever know ? Even within our own galaxy the time for information to travel between earth and a possible habitable world would make contact impossible. The only real possibility for knowledge of such a possibility would seem to be restricted to our own solar system. And if human life existed elsewhere within our solar system, I think we would know about it by now.

So it really does seem that short of some special Divine Revelation we could never know about the existence of such life. Still, it makes for great speculation.

I agree

Not to nitpick, but Proxima Centauri is the nearest star at 3.9 light years. Alpha Centauri is 4.3 light years. With present technology and an unlimited budget we could get there in about 45 years (assuming cosmic radiation didn’t kill the crew on the way there).

where did you get this… you do know 1 light year is 5,865,696,000,000 miles and our spaceships travel less than 18,000 mph - so to travel 1 light year it would take us 32587200 hours which = like 37,000 years… so to say 45 years … yea… I don’t agree with that please explain…

 

[mab23]

Why does man seek so earnestly for extra-terrestrial life when man has known of it since ancient times? We know that God and the Angels both good and bad are extra-terrestrial. We are never seemingly satisfied with the truth, but always have another more interesting (to us) version. Science has used seemingly authoritative logic to imply that there MUST be extra-terrestrial life out there. But science doesn’t have all of the answers, AND they are unable to accept that as a serious problem. They know of a lot of good reasons why there MUST be life elsewhere, but they DON’T know any of the reasons that might make that logic false. Why? because how can they know what they don’t know?

Until proof of extra-terrestrial intelligent life is found, it remains a fantasy in fact.

Man just doesn’t think, what if civilization itself is mere years away from annihilation. Science DOES know of many REAL AND PROVABLE celestial accidents capable of laying waste to our entire way of life, and even life itself.

Maybe then we would worry more about the extra-terrestrial life that we know exists (as Christians.)

well put