Difference between revisions of "Exotheology"
(You can refuse to believe in aliens, fine. I do too. But the fact is that your pope made this statement. Added for clarification.) |
(He's not my Pope, and it wasn't the Pope anyway.) |
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| − | '''Exotheology''', or [[UFO]] religion, refers to the hypothetical theology of hypothetical intelligent [[extraterrestrial]] | + | '''Exotheology''', or [[UFO]] religion, refers to the hypothetical theology of hypothetical intelligent [[extraterrestrial life]]. |
This is a [[Liberal Christianity|liberal Christian]] reaction to the widespread modern belief in extraterrestrial life, which has become predominant among [[liberals]] since the 1970s: "[[Scientists]] today generally assume, and the mathematical probabilities favor, the existence of intelligent life among the myriad [[planet]]s wheeling through the cosmos."<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,916129,00.html Time magazine Apr. 24, 1978]</ref> [[Atheism|Atheist]]s believe that the existence of life on other planets would disprove [[Christianity]]: some liberal Christians, such as the [[Irish]] writer [[C. S. Lewis]], have therefore tried to consider ways in which the existence of aliens could be harmonized with [[religion]], such as suggesting that [[alien]]s might not have experienced a [[Original Sin|Fall]] in the way humans did. | This is a [[Liberal Christianity|liberal Christian]] reaction to the widespread modern belief in extraterrestrial life, which has become predominant among [[liberals]] since the 1970s: "[[Scientists]] today generally assume, and the mathematical probabilities favor, the existence of intelligent life among the myriad [[planet]]s wheeling through the cosmos."<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,916129,00.html Time magazine Apr. 24, 1978]</ref> [[Atheism|Atheist]]s believe that the existence of life on other planets would disprove [[Christianity]]: some liberal Christians, such as the [[Irish]] writer [[C. S. Lewis]], have therefore tried to consider ways in which the existence of aliens could be harmonized with [[religion]], such as suggesting that [[alien]]s might not have experienced a [[Original Sin|Fall]] in the way humans did. | ||
| − | [[Conservatives]] reject the whole debate as pointless and deceptive. According to the [[Bible]], the [[Earth]] is the centerpiece of [[God]]'s creation, and the only place where He created life. However, the | + | [[Conservatives]] generally reject the whole debate as pointless and deceptive. According to the [[Bible]], the [[Earth]] is the centerpiece of [[God]]'s creation, and the only place where He created life. However, the Pope's astronomer, basing his views on secular science rather than the Bible,<ref>He believes in the [[theory of evolution]] and the [[Big Bang]] and considers the Bible to be inaccurate.</ref> has stated that there is a very real possibility that aliens exist.<ref>Popham, Peter, [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/popes-astronomer-insists-alien-life-would-be-part-of-gods-creation-828303.html Pope's astronomer insists alien life 'would be part of God's creation'], ''The Independent'', 15th May 2008.</ref> |
== References == | == References == | ||
Revision as of 09:02, September 11, 2008
Exotheology, or UFO religion, refers to the hypothetical theology of hypothetical intelligent extraterrestrial life.
This is a liberal Christian reaction to the widespread modern belief in extraterrestrial life, which has become predominant among liberals since the 1970s: "Scientists today generally assume, and the mathematical probabilities favor, the existence of intelligent life among the myriad planets wheeling through the cosmos."[1] Atheists believe that the existence of life on other planets would disprove Christianity: some liberal Christians, such as the Irish writer C. S. Lewis, have therefore tried to consider ways in which the existence of aliens could be harmonized with religion, such as suggesting that aliens might not have experienced a Fall in the way humans did.
Conservatives generally reject the whole debate as pointless and deceptive. According to the Bible, the Earth is the centerpiece of God's creation, and the only place where He created life. However, the Pope's astronomer, basing his views on secular science rather than the Bible,[2] has stated that there is a very real possibility that aliens exist.[3]
References
- ↑ Time magazine Apr. 24, 1978
- ↑ He believes in the theory of evolution and the Big Bang and considers the Bible to be inaccurate.
- ↑ Popham, Peter, Pope's astronomer insists alien life 'would be part of God's creation', The Independent, 15th May 2008.