The main scandal here is that people are seriously discussing the status of extraterrestrials without ever having met one. If the Vatican wants to position itself on the side of science, shouldn’t it wait until there is some actual, you know, data?

Also, aliens appearing would not destroy my faith, for many reasons sated above. But let’s cross that bridge the day that aliens do show up, which will never ever ever come.

When the “world” introduces the subject into the marketplace of ideas, we should go on the offense, listing our reasons for believing as we do, destroying their arguments with reason

Send_Me on May 14, 2008 at 12:37 AM

I’m very impressed Send_Me. Excellent post. Well, I’m trying to do my part. Let’s hope other Christians join us.

It’s a shame that Christian apologists such as Ravi Zacharias, C.S. Lewis, Josh McDowell, Lee Strobel, Norm Geisler, and others don’t get the press that some get. For those seriously wishing to know more about the answers to skeptics’ questions, you should look to men such as they, not to tap dancers like the Pope.

Send_Me on May 14, 2008 at 12:12 AM

Brilliant! YES, so sad the media doesn’t interview real Biblical Scholars and Creation Scientists and put them on TV (CNN, FOX, and the other networks) which would make a huge difference clearing up alot the confusion people have about the Bible and God’s creation. Instead they rely on these half-wit, liberal, nitwit “theologians”, many who don’t even believe in the Diety of Christ. Such a wasted opportunity to learn.

A year or so ago I researched (its a long story as to why) the topic of the Catholic Church’s feelings about aliens. I don’t really think this story is news. If I remember right, the Church has been open to the idea of extraterrestrials for some time…

Not to go all atheisty on you here, but doesn’t this raise certain uncomfortably absurd theological questions for the Church,

YES, it does AP.

like, say, whether Christ’s death also redeemed the Martians, why he was created in our image instead of theirs, whether the coming of the Kingdom of God is strictly an earthly matter or interplanetary, etc etc? You don’t get to sketch out an entire complex metaphysical system for the world and then just shoehorn the rest of the universe in by saying, “Oh yeah, them too.

I’m glad you have some understanding of the gospel. Let me first say I’m not anti-Catholic so don’t any of you reading take this the wrong way, in fact I’m half Italian, was baptised Catholic as a child, still have the certificate from the Roman Catholic church! So I understand Catholics and they are some of the nicest people in the world! I have no doubt many of them are saved and going to heaven (those who understand the Gospel – the truth about Christ). The Catholic church though, that’s a different story. They have many unbiblical practices which are leading scores of people astray. For instance the Catholic confessional. This notion that a sinful man is able to forgive someone else’s sins is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. The Bible says, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1st Timothy 2:5). Jesus NEVER gave His Apostles the power to forgive people’s sins. Yet, according to Catholic.org …

“The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation is a Sacrament in which we are sorry for our sins, confess them to a priest, receive forgiveness for them and are reconciled with God and the Church.” Website

So this is a problem. No priest can forgive anyone’s sins. He can’t even forgive his own sins! Only God can forgive sins:

“Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?” Mark 2:7

Then there is Roman Catholic’s obsession with Mary… they expect Mary to reconcile them with God. If you are Catholic do not think your priest, Mary, or even the Pope can mediate and intercede for you — he can’t. There is only ONE mediator between God and man.

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” 1 Timothy 2:5

Please do not think I’m being disrespectful to Mary, she was a wonderful Christian lady. The Bible says Mary was “highly favored” and “blessed among women” because she had been given the priviledge of fulfilling the ancient promise made by God to mother Eve (Genesis 3:15). I hope and pray I will meet her in heaven one day, but nowhere in the Bible does it teach that Mary is able to hear our prayers or that she can mediate for us with God. So when Satan is using her image to deceive souls, I must blow the trumpet. There is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5

If you are a Catholic I would get out.

Hope that helps.

Replace “Catholics and atheists” with “biblical literalists” and I’m in complete agreement with this post.

I am a “biblical literalist”, an evangelical Christian if you will. First, God is not inflexible, He is unchangeable. He is the God of second chances, if He were inflexible He never would have provided a way for us for forgiveness of sins. But He did, through Christ Jesus.
As far as Christianity and its rules? There’s only one rule: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. And He gave us a New Commandment: Love one another.
As far as dogma, there is only one requirement to be a Christian: Believe in Jesus and Him crucified and resurrected.

You have no problem imagining just how large the universe is, yet you think that ‘god’ only applies to this dirt ball on which we live?

Your ‘god’ is too small.

God (my God if you will) created the heavens and the earth. The OT refers to God in many places as the “Lord Of Hosts.” The Hebrew word for “hosts” is “tsaba” and it’s meaning is thus:

1) that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host

a) army, host

1) host (of organised army)

2) host (of angels)

3) of sun, moon, and stars

4) of whole creation

b) war, warfare, service, go out to war

c) service

So, if my God created the Heavens and the Earth, then mankind on this earth, then in His sovereignty He certainly is big enough to create life elsewhere in the universe. The question is, did He?

No competant theologian believes that this statement means that God has two legs, two arms, etc. They believe that this is a statement regarding man’s soul.

True as far as it goes. The Godhead is a tri-part being – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God revealed in three separate and distinct persons. This is called the Trinity. The Trinity, contrary to cult teachings, is supported by scripture.
Man, created in the image of God, is a triune being – body, soul, spirit.

By the way, who is this Pope guy anyway?

No competant theologian believes that this statement means that God has two legs, two arms, etc. They believe that this is a statement regarding man’s soul.

I see no reason why one should believe that aliens, if they exist, do not have souls.

C. S. Lewis
Miracles

Reading King James’ or Shakespeare’s English resonates more depth than the sterile scientific abbreviation. The angels and chariots of fire of the old testament not only sound most eloquent compared to ET and UFO, but conjure the epic truth myth that Joseph Campbell expounded. Whereas, ET is a cheap propaganda ploy to sell candy, telephones, and bicycles that fly.

Could God create a boulder He could not lift?

I feel a Chuck Norris Fact coming on…

He can do anything He wants to do.

jgapinoy on May 14, 2008 at 12:36 AM

within limits

Could God create a boulder He could not lift?

He can do anything He wants to do.

jgapinoy on May 14, 2008 at 12:36 AM

It’s an impossible, hence absurd, question. Much like asking, “how hot is red?” Or, “what shape is four?” They’re nonsensical. God is infinite, but not illogical.

jgapinoy on May 14, 2008 at 12:17 AM

Yeah, Inherit the Wind didn’t help much, but the larger point had already been made in the trial itself.
And yep, Ken Ham, Henry Morris, Duane Gish, and many others. But you know, why is it that every time a movie like that or Contact or Dogma or any other movie that brings up skeptical ideas of Christianity, we view it as a threat and not an opportunity? When the “world” introduces the subject into the marketplace of ideas, we should go on the offense, listing our reasons for believing as we do, destroying their arguments with reason, not yelling or shaking our head in disgust. What’s to fear about speaking the Truth in love?

Could God create a boulder He could not lift?

He can do anything He wants to do.