Vatican: It's ok to believe in aliens

[Masquerouge]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080513/ap_on_re_eu/vatican_aliens

Believing that the universe may contain alien life does not contradict a faith in God, the Vatican's chief astronomer said in an interview published Tuesday. The Rev. Jose Gabriel Funes, the Jesuit director of the Vatican Observatory, was quoted as saying the vastness of the universe means it is possible there could be other forms of life outside Earth, even intelligent ones.
"How can we rule out that life may have developed elsewhere?" Funes said. "Just as we consider earthly creatures as 'a brother,' and 'sister,' why should we not talk about an 'extraterrestrial brother'? It would still be part of creation."
In the interview by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Funes said that such a notion "doesn't contradict our faith" because aliens would still be God's creatures. Ruling out the existence of aliens would be like "putting limits" on God's creative freedom, he said.

and in particular:

The Bible "is not a science book," Funes said, adding that he believes the Big Bang theory is the most "reasonable" explanation for the creation of the universe. The theory says the universe began billions of years ago in the explosion of a single, super-dense point that contained all matter.

Kudos to that guy.

 

[warpus]

They're just covering their bases for the inevitable and glorious first contact between humanity and an extra-terrestial intelligence.

How many followers are the other churches going to lose?

 

[Rik Meleet]

The Bible "is not a science book," Funes said, adding that he believes the Big Bang theory is the most "reasonable" explanation for the creation of the universe. The theory says the universe began billions of years ago in the explosion of a single, super-dense point that contained all matter.

Not that strange if you realise that the Big Bang Theory was proposed by a catholic priest, [wiki]Georges Lemaître[/wiki].

 

[scy12]

. The Bible "is not a science book," Funes said, adding that he believes the Big Bang theory is the most "reasonable" explanation for the creation of the universe. The theory says the universe began billions of years ago in the explosion of a single, super-dense point that contained all matter.

HERETIC ! . Oh wait this is 2008 all religious people agree with Funes .

 

[Alpine Trooper]

Please, by the time we even contact an alien race the Vatican will be a fairy tale we tell to them.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

This is no surprise; the Vatican is usually pretty supportive of science these days.

 

[BirraImperial]

I don't think it was ever prohibited to believe in alien beings. At least not that I know of. Hell, if I wanted to believe in flying pigs and zombies I wouldn't give a crap what they said.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

It isn't a matter of whether the Vatican is trying to prohibit you, though. They are just pointing out that there is nothing in their doctrine that contradicts the idea. I am not really sure there are too many religions where it does, anyways. (Jack Chick might, just on principle.)

 

[Alpine Trooper]

The Vatican is always on about how were going to meet certain beings soon. They might just be right this time, in 500 years by which time their silly religon has turned to dust.

 

[EnlightenmentHK]

Eh...their silly religion isn't too far off from 2,000 years old. Really think they're disappearing in another 500?

 

[Alpine Trooper]

Eh...their silly religion isn't too far off from 2,000 years old. Really think they're disappearing in another 500?

Sooner if I can help it. They really think we're meeting aliens any time soon though? Whats the point in this message?

 

[sourboy]

Believing that the universe may contain alien life does not contradict a faith in God ... the vastness of the universe means it is possible there could be other forms of life outside Earth, even intelligent ones.
"How can we rule out that life may have developed elsewhere?" Ruling out the existence of aliens would be like "putting limits" on God's creative freedom, he said.

He implies that beings "formed" elsewhere, then turns around saying God could have created different forms.

Sounds like he's just covering his bases, to try to get... *snicker*... religion to evolve... with the times.

 

[holy king]

the moment i read this in the newspaper i knew someone would make a thread about it here...

 

[EnlightenmentHK]

I think the message was the same as it was when the Church talked about evolution. That faith and science can co-mingle and don't have to contradict eachother. I don't see anything inherently wrong with that message.

 

[Alpine Trooper]

I think the message was the same as it was when the Church talked about evolution. That faith and science can co-mingle and don't have to contradict eachother. I don't see anything inherently wrong with that message.

Except that they have absolutely nothing to do with each other.

 

[scy12]

It is obvious that the Vatican wants to make sure that if we meet any other intelligent forms , they will make them Christian.

 

[Alpine Trooper]

It is obvious that the Vatican wants to make sure that if we meet any other intelligent forms , they will make them Christian.

What if the aliens are jewish? Will they still be made Christian?

 

[warpus]

The aliens are likely to have religions of their own.. They're going to be attempting to convert us.

 

[scy12]

The aliens are likely to have religions of their own.. They're going to be attempting to convert us.

In that case i suspect , a certain treacherous Human traitor group , named Scientology to help them. And 200 years after , who knows ? Scientologyland maybe stronger than the Vatican.

Oh Wait ....

It's a conspiracy .... Scientologists are attempting to weaken our beliefs , so that their Aliens overlords will be ready to take over.

 

[EnlightenmentHK]

Except that they have absolutely nothing to do with each other.

If that's the case, than why the hell do they keep running headlong into eachother? (not so much with the Catholics, but with other religious groups)