Sermon for Sunday - August 24, 2014: God, Religion, and Little Green Men

"The rash assertion that 'God made man in His own image' is a ticking time bomb at the foundation of many faiths, and as the hierarchy of the universe is disclosed to us, we may have to recognize this chilling truth:  If there are any gods whose chief concern is man, they cannot be very important gads." 

-- Arthur C. Clarke, Space and the Spirit of Man (1965)

Did God create life on other planets?  Are we the only life created in God's image?  What bearing will our discoveries of other life have on the Bible?  As we approach the middle of the second decade of the twenty-first century, we still struggle with questions concerning intelligent life on other planets.  That there is life is not as important, or of as much concern, as whether that life is intelligent.

First of all, I think we can discount much of the Bible as reflecting as much of man's ignorance as his vanity in thinking he could rewrite Holy Scripture throughout history to accommodate personal and political agendas.  New discoveries are bearing many of these theories out.  What else is new?

Much of what we know today has evolved from faulty information concerning the Earth being flat, being the center of our universe, being carried on the back of an elephant.  Man has this ability to evolve his belief set as new information becomes available.  Unfortunately, up to now, most scientists have left no room in their theories for change.  They have tended to make absolute statements.  This is actually a good thing, for those of us non-scientific types, because when they make an absolute statement you can pretty much bet good money they're going to be proven wrong sometime in the future.  If man can screw up science he can surely muck up translating and transcribing Holy Scripture.  Man is the most intelligent life in the universe?  God forbid.

"I believe alien life is quite common in the universe, although intelligent life is less so.  Some say it has yet to appear on planet Earth." 

-- Stephen Hawking

Man has used the science of modern astronomy and computers to extrapolate the number of possible planets with life on them.  The number is not accurate.  It is either much lower, or as many believe, much higher than we might expect since we have not been able to map most of what we cannot see, yet.  The theoretical number they have come up with is enough to garner man's interest for further study.  But, if life does exist out there are they intelligent enough to come here for a visit?  Are they close enough?

Many agree that any alien science of physics, and the ability to put it to practical use, would have to be a quantum leap ahead of anything we can approach.  Faster than light craft, folding space and time, and inter-dimensional travel are theories for us, but might an alien civilization have conquered one of these?  And, if they have, what does that say about God creating us in His image?  What does it say about our place in the universe?

We historically find that what was once theory to be scoffed becomes a possible reality to be studied and expanded upon.  Let's accept, for sake of argument, there is intelligent life elsewhere in the universe.  Are we so naive as to think, looking at the mess out planet is in today, we are the best an omnipotent God can do?  If so, what does that say about our God?  

Let's also consider that God gave all creatures the latent ability to evolve into more than they are.  Let us consider that this evolution might eventually give birth to creative thought and self-awareness.  Let us also consider that this self-awareness might give birth to philosophy and a God concept.  If God did, in fact, create thousands of planets capable of supporting intelligent life it would also make sense that this omnipotent God would spread the wealth of knowledge throughout all of creation.  Why put all of your eggs in one basket?  With all of our problems here on Earth, I would hope there is help on the way from some neighbor that has managed to do better.

"The only thing that scares me more than space aliens is the idea that there aren't any space aliens.  We can't be the best that creation has to offer.  I pray we're not all there is.  If so, we're in big trouble." 

-- Ellen DeGeneres

If our religions, spirituality can come to grips with the possibility that we are not alone in the vastness of space, it would be something we could proclaim as having in common.  Hell, even an Atheist can get on board with it.  But, does this possibility bring with it grave danger?  If these aliens are advanced enough to visit us they will certainly have the ability to conquer or destroy us.  Having witnessed the horrors man can inflict on his own kind we would have to consider the real possibility that other life may have their own version of Nazis and ISIS.  If they have already been here, and they're not interested in peaceful contact, what are they waiting for?

Maybe there really are no aliens capable of visiting Earth.  Maybe they're already here and have an alternate agenda for colonization.  Maybe their society has grown beyond the need for war and destruction, or maybe they just want to add our uniqueness to their own.  As a famous science fiction alien race proclaims, "We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own.  Resistance is futile."

"Others, one suspects, are afraid that the crossing of space, and above all contact with intelligent but nonhuman races, may destroy the foundations of their religious faith.  They may be right, but in any event their attitude is one which does not bear logical examination -- for a faith which cannot survive collision with the truth is not worth many regrets." 

-- Arthur C. Clarke

In the final analysis will Christianity be the only religion to ultimately have issues with the discovery of intelligent alien life in the universe?  Many Christians fear such a discovery would be an attack on the very scripture we based the religion and faith of millions on; a book we are just now discovering may not be all that we hoped it to be.  If we are to ever understand, discover, and confront alien species, we will have to leave preconceived, conceited notions of our lofty place in the universe behind.  We will have to approach the notion of alien life with an open mind.  The Catholic Church is already accepting much of science as proof of God, and setting aside the historical viewpoint of heresy.  Science does not have to be an assault on God and faith.  Again, if science can prove God, and if God created everything from nothing, how truly vain is it for us to hold ourselves above other life?

"All the powers in the universe are already ours.  It is we who have put our hands before our eyes and cry that it is dark." 

-- Swami Vivekananda

I think it will be a hilarious kick in the teeth if, one day, an alien race comes to Earth and offers to share their science, technology, and religion, and when they open their holy scripture and begin to read we are all treated to, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth..."  After all, earth is being referred to as the surface of a planet.  Why does it just have to mean this planet?

"As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming metal.  And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures.  And this was their likeness:  they had a human likeness,..." 

Ezekiel 1:1-28

Note from Pastor Tony, the founder of the Congregation for Religious Tolerance, as well as the author and editor of "The Path," the Congregation's official blogsite:  

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion.  It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other.  An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so.

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and then engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion and debate in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth.  After over twenty years as a military intelligence analyst, planner, and briefer, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human.  God's test for us is what we do afterward, and what we learn from the experience.
  

Frank Anthony Villari, Pastor