What is the opinion of Christians on life on other planets?

[Skooma Addict]

Do Christians believe there is other-worldly life or at least is it possible? I have asked many friends and family members as well as strangers this question and the overwhelming majority said no. The general consensus as to why they don't think so is that if there were life elsewhere, God would have told us so in the bible. I personally don't feel that is a legitimate answer, so I've decided to ask the question here in hopes of getting different answers and responses and such. What is your position or opinion on the matter?

[Pious Agnost]

Some do (Me), some don't (Most of the others)

[Cluny the Scourge]

If God made Man in his own image, intelligent alien life would necessarily be abominations. Creatures that possessed mindhood, but which were not in God's image? They would have to be destroyed.

[Djûn]

If God made Man in his own image, intelligent alien life would necessarily be abominations. Creatures that possessed mindhood, but which were not in God's image? They would have to be destroyed.

If we were to accept a literal interpretation of the Bible, then sure. But I would hope that you, of all people, should know that the Bible is rarely interpreted literally except in the face of fundamentalists.

[Anarius]

If God made Man in his own image, intelligent alien life would necessarily be abominations. Creatures that possessed mindhood, but which were not in God's image? They would have to be destroyed.

Kill the alien, purge the mutant, burn the heretic.
Sorry, but the tempeation got me.

[Ummon]

Actually, christians are not better qualified to have opinions on life on other planets than the average person, therefore, none.

From a religious point of view, much to the scorn of Cluny and his usually strange assertions, you might find this article interesting:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...0/ai_114009577

[Medicus]

Actually, christians are not better qualified to have opinions on life on other planets than the average person, therefore, none.

What do you mean here? No human is qualified to have an opinion on extraterrestial life? What about astronomers and other scientists that have made it their life's work to observe the cosmos? Surely they are entitled to have an opinion?

Christian teaching doesn't cut out ETs. My preacher even talks about them someday if they are out there that they should convert to christianity.

A nice way to introduce ourselves to our interstellar neighbours. "Hi, welcome to Earth. Convert to our religion or burn in a lake of fire for eternity!"

I don't suppose it was in your life time, but religious authorities do have a history of freaking out about perceptions of the universe that don't agree with dogma they hold as infallible. For example, Giordano Bruno was executed by the Catholic Church in the 16th century for heretical beliefs, one of them being that the universe was infinite and each star had its own solar system. It's not exactly the same thing, but the ideas are somewhat similar.

Not to mention Galileo's discovery of the moons of Jupiter, proving that objects could revolve around other things than Earth.

[Giorgos]

Life could be anywhere. Advanced lifeforms, rather unlikely.

[Wautd]

What kind of christians are we talking about? Your average moderate christian would probably have the same views as any other person, while a fundamentalist would equal aliens as demons.

[D.B. Cooper]

I don't, being a Christian.

[Rich86]

I don't see how Christians are in any way qualified to talk about extra-terrestrial life. No more so than say, people with ginger hair.

I don't see also how ET would disprove any aspect of Christianity - as they could easily say "Oh yes well God created those also."

[finsternis]

I don't see how Christians are in any way qualified to talk about extra-terrestrial life. No more so than say, people with ginger hair.

Well, they are not qualified to talk about most things, but they still talk about most things.

I don't see also how ET would disprove any aspect of Christianity - as they could easily say "Oh yes well God created those also."

As Cluny said, people would freak out when seeing an intelligent lifeform that is not human since the bible did not mention anything about ETs.

[Aziel]

As Cluny said, people would freak out when seeing an intelligent lifeform that is not human since the bible did not mention anything about ETs.

The Bible didn't mention anything about other galaxies either, I don't see any Christians freaking out.

[finsternis]

The Bible didn't mention anything about other galaxies either, I don't see any Christians freaking out.

They did freak out, remember? They just eventually decided that it was stupid to go against scientific findings and thus "modified" their beliefs.

[Ardruire Iacób]

They did freak out, remember? They just eventually decided that it was stupid to go against scientific findings and thus "modified" their beliefs.

When exactly did we freak out? Obviously not in my lifetime...

[Frédéric Chopin]

When exactly did we freak out? Obviously not in my lifetime...

I don't suppose it was in your life time, but religious authorities do have a history of freaking out about perceptions of the universe that don't agree with dogma they hold as infallible. For example, Giordano Bruno was executed by the Catholic Church in the 16th century for heretical beliefs, one of them being that the universe was infinite and each star had its own solar system. It's not exactly the same thing, but the ideas are somewhat similar.

[Thanatos]

I don't believe in them. However, if they do exist, then I suppose I couldn't be a Christian anymore.

But this is a very big if.

[Chief Astook]

when i was christian, i did, now that im not, i still do, or at least the possibility existing

[Father Jack]

Well it would be impossible if you were a Christian but it is still possible if you are a Deist. Which basicly means that God started everything off with the big bang and then he just chilled and watched natural creation, evolution etc take place without doing anything himself. As a result multiple life forms on a whole host of planets could exist, but it was God who started it all off.

[Ardruire Iacób]

Well, if God created the universe, therefore anything living in it is His design. I can't see how this is supposed to conflict with my faith...

Anyway, why would God trouble prehistoric Palestinians with the knowledge of extraterrestrial life?