by Ray Burke

Created on: June 23, 2008

Aliens and Gods:

The Vatican, it seems, is ready to boldly go where no Pope has gone before. Recently, two of the Vatican's top Astronomers have stepped out from behind the telescope and into the public pulpit to speak about their cosmological beliefs. While Vatican Astronomer Brother Guy Consolmagno is to speak at the 11th Annual International Mars Society Convention discussing what impact (if any) space exploration will have on religion; the Pope's chief astronomer Father Gabriel Funes announced in the official Vatican newspaper that life on Mars cannot be ruled out and that intelligent beings created by God could exist in outer space. Such announcements and debates could have astonishing implications for the future. Here are a few scenarios:

Human proselytising of aliens:
Our world is already a jumbled world of religions. When we explore space, our beliefs will go with us and upon meeting any intelligent extraterrestrials, cultural exchanges will take place and religion will no doubt be one of the issues discussed.

1. Aliens have own Gods:
Our intelligent aliens have their own religions. Would we humans be so arrogant, bold, and stupid enough to try and convert our cosmic friends to our religion, whichever they may feel akin too or would we leave them to their beliefs? If our alien brothers were so inclined to accept religious indoctrination, then which Earthly religion would be best? There is no way that any of the major religions would agree on letting an entire alien race adopt one religion. If the said extraterrestrial civilisation did engage in multiple religious practices, then surely they have already or would repeat the mistakes of man by trying to expand their religious beliefs leading to strife on their own world. We would have to live and let live.

2. Aliens have no Gods:
Our galactic neighbours have no Gods or religion. Will they see us as a backward species still worshipping non-existent beings? Could they be a species that had no concept or desire for spirituality? Would we see these poor non-religious aliens as inferior? Would we humans have the moral right to teach and convert them, even though our alien brothers had passed that primitive religious phase and had moved on to a more mature belief or scientific calling. Who are we to try and pass on our morals and inhibit other species from their own path, spiritual or not. What would happen if our beliefs were rejected? Would human fundamentalists have no further contact with these aliens? Would the

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