Discovery of life outside earth and religion.

[jakee 1,571]

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They aren't finding many (only one system so far according to the report I heard) where the gas giants are in the outer orbits that would allow the life-supporting planets to exist.

Even disregarding the selection bias though, one out of 450 planetary systems suitable for earthlike life would still equates to a simply mind-boggling number of hospitable planets in just one galaxy, let alone the known universe.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[zuluguy 0]

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If you consider that there are somewhere around 10^24 stars in the universe, it would be very shocking to find out that there is NOT any life other than on earth.

that's true, that would be befitting of our arrogance to be unique, however, there are other possibilities of multi-verse and such (only theories)

I see a common pattern here: each time either when we have made great discoveries in Cosmology or at the cusp of making some, religion someohow finds a way to accomodate it into its teachings in order to pacify and apease the followers.
just an oveservation.

[Belgian_Draft 0]

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If you consider that there are somewhere around 10^24 stars in the universe, it would be very shocking to find out that there is NOT any life other than on earth.

that's true, that would be befitting of our arrogance to be unique, however, there are other possibilities of multi-verse and such (only theories)

I see a common pattern here: each time either when we have made great discoveries in Cosmology or at the cusp of making some, religion someohow finds a way to accomodate it into its teachings in order to pacify and apease the followers.
just an oveservation.

I couldn't have said it better.

HAMMER:
Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a
kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the
object we are trying to hit.

[quade 4]

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How would you reconcile with life outside earth and religion.

Any religion that included an absolute belief in the accuracy of Genesis would have to be ignored. Of course, that already has to be done so nothing really changes for them. They'll still believe Genesis is 100% accurate and simply conform the facts to fit their theory.

Where I think it gets interesting are for religions based on somewhat wackier beliefs like the Scientologists. Heck, if we made radio contact with an intelligent life, my guess is the Scientologists would say, "SEE! We told you so!"

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[sundevil777 102]

If an alien civilization had not just religious teachings, but if they were nearly identical to some or all of what is taught on earth, I think that would rock the world. Of course it is just a hypothetical, but this thread is about a hypothetical.

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[kallend 2,117]

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God is made in our image

Wow, God is one handsome SOB!

Oh lords it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way

God is a woman?

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[quade 4]

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If an alien civilization had not just religious teachings, but if they were nearly identical to some or all of what is taught on earth, I think that would rock the world. Of course it is just a hypothetical, but this thread is about a hypothetical.

Why?

A number of civilizations over the course of history on earth have had similar "gods" and to my knowledge, that still doesn't make the sun a god.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[billvon 3,090]

>Why?

Because I think that most people realize that the various religions around the world are somewhat derivative. Christianity, for example, is based on Judaism, borrows holidays from pagan religions, and has similar precepts to many previous religions.

[quade 4]

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>Why?

Because I think that most people realize that the various religions around the world are somewhat derivative. Christianity, for example, is based on Judaism, borrows holidays from pagan religions, and has similar precepts to many previous religions.

Right, but if an alien civilization came to earth and started talking about sun gods, would THAT make it valid? No. So why lend any additional credence if they start talking about a guy on their planet that lead their people out of slavery with the help of a magic walking stick?

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[Coreece 190]

no it doesn't...that's the problem.

you've been deceived...just like many christians.

edited to change the deceiving spelling of deceived...

Your secrets are the true reflection of who you really are...

[sundevil777 102]

Of course worshiping sun gods would not be a remarkable parallel. I'm talking about parallels that would be beyond the possibility of ordinary chance.

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[quade 4]

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Of course worshiping sun gods would not be a remarkable parallel. I'm talking about parallels that would be beyond the possibility of ordinary chance.

But what the heck would that be?

I personally know several people named Mohammed and Jesus.

What sign from Xenu are you looking for? 21, no, 15, no 14, no 10, 10 Commandments? That's just in how you count them. A guy leading slaves in the desert with a magic walking stick? A virgin birth?

What bit of bizarre mythology shared by two planets would prove the existence of god?

If "they" came down and said, "Oh yeah, we sent a spaceship here a bajillion years ago and we think it crashed into a volcano" would that make you believe in Scientology?

Is that all it takes? Space boy sits up there and listens to Pat Robertson for a couple of years and says, "Oh yeah, we got this." They come down here and start spouting stuff about gays causing earthquakes and you're on the bandwagon with them?

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[Coreece 190]

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If an alien civilization had not just religious teachings, but if they were nearly identical to some or all of what is taught on earth, I think that would rock the world.

of course it would rock the world...this world is too intelligent to realize that intelligent life comes from intelligence...not very intelligent...but i guess that's God's fault.

Your secrets are the true reflection of who you really are...

[sundevil777 102]

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Of course worshiping sun gods would not be a remarkable parallel. I'm talking about parallels that would be beyond the possibility of ordinary chance.

But what the heck would that be?

I personally know several people named Mohammed and Jesus.

What sign from Xenu are you looking for? 21, no, 15, no 14, no 10, 10 Commandments? That's just in how you count them. A guy leading slaves in the desert with a magic walking stick? A virgin birth?

What bit of bizarre mythology shared by two planets would prove the existence of god?

If "they" came down and said, "Oh yeah, we sent a spaceship here a bajillion years ago and we think it crashed into a volcano" would that make you believe in Scientology?

Is that all it takes? Space boy sits up there and listens to Pat Robertson for a couple of years and says, "Oh yeah, we got this." They come down here and start spouting stuff about gays causing earthquakes and you're on the bandwagon with them?

Of course you can think of scenarios where aliens might tell us things simply to deceive. Can't you imagine a scenario that would make you consider the existence of God?

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[riddler 0]

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If an alien civilization had not just religious teachings, but if they were nearly identical to some or all of what is taught on earth, I think that would rock the world.

Plenty of folks would draw parallels to the point that they believed the two civilizations have the same god. They would have to be very generic (belief in an ether-spirit, for example), but if someone is grasping for straws, one or two can be enough.

Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

[jakee 1,571]

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If an alien civilization had not just religious teachings, but if they were nearly identical to some or all of what is taught on earth, I think that would rock the world. Of course it is just a hypothetical, but this thread is about a hypothetical.

Why on earth would it?

Big dude made everything, some kind of afterlife, rules you need to follow to get in... fairly simple concepts, easy to understand why some humans or aliens would think of it.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[popsjumper 2]

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There's nothing in any of them that precludes extra-terrestrial life.

Well, if not directly, it sure does indirectly. Most if not all religions place mankind and the earth at the center of their belief system. None of them even remotely hinted or referenced to the fact that there could be potential for life elsewhere.
"When Jesus came to earth....." quote
Of all the places he chose earth, so either we got to be very special or we got to be arrogant to believe we are the special ones.

...and it would really tick off the fanatics to discover that Earth was the second, third, or Xth attempt by God to create perfection and failed, or, that he's already created perfection somewhere and just used the Earth to play around with as a joke.

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[DannHuff 0]

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The best explanation that we have for this is evolution. Invoking god to solve the infinite regress presented above is, IMO, a cop out and a non-answer. Saying "I don't understand, it must be magic (i.e. deity)!" is pretty silly.

Let me get this straight. You believe first there was nothing and then there was something. Something came from nothing. Sounds like faith to me.

[sundevil777 102]

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If an alien civilization had not just religious teachings, but if they were nearly identical to some or all of what is taught on earth, I think that would rock the world. Of course it is just a hypothetical, but this thread is about a hypothetical.

Why on earth would it?

Big dude made everything, some kind of afterlife, rules you need to follow to get in... fairly simple concepts, easy to understand why some humans or aliens would think of it.

Can't you imagine there being much more significant parallels?

I don't get it with some here that have so little imagination for the possibilities. It makes me think that they have a very rigid belief system and they won't allow the thought that it could be altered.

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[mnealtx 0]

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Let me get this straight. You believe first there was nothing and then there was something. Something came from nothing.

Like a very simple summation of the Big Bang Theory, perhaps?

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Sounds like faith to me.

Indeed.

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[VTmotoMike08 0]

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Let me get this straight. You believe first there was nothing and then there was something. Something came from nothing.

Like a very simple summation of the Big Bang Theory, perhaps?

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Sounds like faith to me.

Indeed.

Another great answer from our resident science expert, as so gloriously demonstrated by your previous hundreds of posts that have completly failed to grasp even elementary scientific concepts!

Sounds like a very common, probably willful, misunderstanding of the big bang theory and evolution if you ask me.

I believe there was always _something_. Beyond that, I would refer you to any decent science text book (not the revised Texas versions)

[mircan 0]

What do you all think would happen to human way of life and thinking if suddenly there were big alien ships over Earth or when some non-Earth civilization with far greater science/tech/mind level would contact us?

1. Would people, faced with idea that we are definitely not alone in the Universe, stop to do all stupid, selfish things, stop being "profit-oriented-earth destroying" beings, and turn to more "Star Trek" utopian society?

2. Or it would be more like District 9? Let`s put the aliens into concentration camps and let`s try to get their technology to get military leverage? Preferably all organized by large multinational corporations for (fun) and profit.

I bet solution #2... (maybe without camps, but multicorps, profit and weapons for sure)

dudeist skydiver #42

[mnealtx 0]

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Let me get this straight. You believe first there was nothing and then there was something. Something came from nothing.

Like a very simple summation of the Big Bang Theory, perhaps?

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Sounds like faith to me.

Indeed.

Another great answer from our resident science expert, as so gloriously demonstrated by your previous hundreds of posts that have completly failed to grasp even elementary scientific concepts!

Another insult from someone that can't refute the post - which was your tactic the last time, as I recall.

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Sounds like a very common, probably willful, misunderstanding of the big bang theory and evolution if you ask me.

I didn't. Thanks for playing, though.

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I believe there was always _something_. Beyond that, I would refer you to any decent science text book (not the revised Texas versions)

You believe... sounds like 'faith' to me.

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[billvon 3,090]

>Right, but if an alien civilization came to earth and started talking about
>sun gods, would THAT make it valid?

No one said anything about "making it valid." However, if a race from Titan (who had never seen any sun, and even from space saw Sol as just another star) had a sun god that looked just like one of ours, it would be pretty significant.

> So why lend any additional credence if they start talking about a guy on
>their planet that lead their people out of slavery with the help of a magic
>walking stick?

Because it would indicate a remarkable level of similarity between our cultures.

[VTmotoMike08 0]

If you truly think that the big bang theory claims that something came from nothing, then you have misunderstood the theory and your gross misunderstanding does not merit rebuttal. Due to the great availability of supporting material, the only sensible conclusion is that your misunderstand is willful and deliberate. If you have to misrepresent the theory to argue against it, you have already lost. Try getting a real understanding of the big bang theory then checking back in.

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I believe there was always _something_. Beyond that, I would refer you to any decent science text book (not the revised Texas versions)

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You believe... sounds like 'faith' to me.

Fine, then:
"The best theory that we currently have says that there has always been _something_. Our theories are open to improvement and refinement, but the odds appear greatly stacked against an omnipotent creator. Beyond that, I would refer you to any decent science text book (not the revised Texas versions)"