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 aliens be denigrated for their non-beliefs? We should refrain from forcibly spreading our religion on other worlds.
3. Aliens have same God:
We arrive at planet Zog to find aliens awaiting us with open arms with greetings from a God that is not too dissimilar from Earthly beliefs. Would we humans feel less unique and superior to find another world graced by a God we thought was solely ours? Would this increase human belief in God or threaten the Church's authority? Would common beliefs between hundreds of religions on Earth and Zog be enough to unite our civilisations in peace or would familiarity breed contempt? We may have to adapt and evolution evolve in order to encompass a larger cosmic congregation.
Alien proselytising of Earth:
1. Aliens have own Gods:
The aliens have landed. They come in peace. Out steps the Extraterrestrial Pope of planet Zog. He's here to convert us. How would Earth respond to an alien conversion programme? We would not countenance such alien high-handedness and would fight back. Or would we? Our newly arrived alien neighbours may be so advanced that we may feel obliged to convert even if the aliens may believe in something else; the universe as a God-being, another spiritual plane; or even themselves as Gods. Even if the alien religion was highly spiritual, noble and non-violent, would we humans accept an entirely new religious paradigm? Would an alien presence increase humanity's religious beliefs? Could this cause a Cosmic Holy War? We will finally find out what religion really means to the billions of believers.
2. Aliens have no Gods:
On the other hand (since aliens might have more than two), they may have no religious beliefs whatsoever and work to cleanse us humans of our confused, unoriginal, unscientific and archaic religions. To join the cosmic club, would humanity have to ditch the idea of God, spelling the end of Earth religions? How would this de-religionising' take place; by peace or by force? Could we resist such a process? What if it was successful and the Earth became a non-religious world? Are humans meant to be non-spiritual or will we find that our newfound freedom from religion produces a more mature phase in humanity? We may find that there is an adequate replacement for religion after all.
3. Aliens have same God:
Lastly, what if there is a God and he did create all the aliens in the universe, each civilisation having a different creation story, but the essential tenets were there? Would we welcome our intergalactic cousins with open arms or still view their beliefs with suspicion as we do to our closer neighbours on Earth? How many different versions of God's Word could there be and how would they fit into the larger scheme of life? Would our alien friends try to correct' our religion to the one true God, sparking a holy diplomatic incident or war? Or would religion really bring about a final world peace? Peoples' dreams and belief in God come true, but at a price: We are not God's only children. We are not special. Now what?
Hopefully, while the Vatican Astronomers are looking through their telescopes, they have been thinking through these scenarios and they'll be able to see what's coming. While scientists will be thinking about alien technology and the boon or damage it will do to us, the same could be said for religion. Be careful what you wish for. Maybe in some far distant corner of the galaxy, an alien priest is thinking the same thing and suggesting to his superiors to stay away from the little blue planet of quixotic believers.