…with the James Web Telescope looking for sources of artificial light to identify potential intelligent life, and the news this week of Perseverance searching for microbial life on Mars it feels like we are getting closer to a major discovery. But what - if anything - would it mean for the religions on Earth if life is proven to exist out there?

  • Flying Squid
    29•1 year ago

    I think a lot of religious people will reason it this way- “Yes, there are aliens, but God chose us.”

    • @ParsnipWitch@feddit.de
      9•1 year ago

      They would just claim god created them, too. They already did this with the universe when the whole thing about there being other stuff than the earth came up.

      • Flying Squid
        4•1 year ago

        Right, but you also need the whole “we were saved by Jesus” or “we were God’s chosen people” or whatever from the various religions. You have to maintain that by saying there may be aliens, but we’re the ones that God favors.

        • curiosityLynx
          2•1 year ago

          Not necessarily. Alternatively:

          • You can say that we’re the only ones who needed saving.
          • You can claim they’re angels or demons (if they’re older than humanity)
      • @rumbleran@suppo.fi
        1•1 year ago

        Exactly this. I know a guy who is a Christian but also believes in extraterrastial life saying that ayy lmaos are also Gods children. Every time he talks about it my head starts to spin.

    • @TawdryPorker@lemmy.world
      4•1 year ago

      I look forward to the aliens response being something along the lines of, “You’re God’s best boys and girls, yes you are, who are blessed little ape-beings? You are, yes all of you.”