Life on Other Planets: Some Logical, Christian Insight and Perspective regarding the potential for alien life
It was not too long ago that I was engaged in a deep discussion regarding life on other planets. Is it possible that life on other planets exists? Would alien life disprove Christianity? Can a Christian believe that life exists on other planets and still have a sound biblical worldview?
The short answer to the above list of questions is: Yes, No, and Yes.
It is possible that life on other planets could exist. As Michael Shermer, editor of Skeptic Magazine said on the Colbert Report “You cannot prove a negative”. You cannot prove the absence of something, unless (in my opinion, not Michael Shermer’s) the Bible specifically adresses the issue. Since the Bible does not address the issue of alien life, then in the context of Christian discussion, dogmatically asserting as a matter of religious conviction that alien life does not exist is a tough conclusion to logically come by. The fact is, we don’t know.
I suspect many Christians are leery of admitting this because they might be afraid that the existence of alien life would prove evolution right and Christianity/Creationism wrong. But in this the Christian community holds to some unfounded fears. The discovery of alien life would not disprove Christianity anymore than it would prove evolution. In his book Darwin’s Black Box, Bio-Chemist Michael Behe astutely pointed out that understanding how something works or exists now does not prove we know how that came to be the way it is. Applying that to this discussion, it is reasonable to say that even if evolutionary scientists announce the presence of alien life in a far corner of the cosmos, this does not prove that evolution was the means by which it got there. God could just as well have supernaturally created that life apart from earth according to his divine will. So Christians need not fear any negative implications regarding how their Creationist position might be affected by the discovery of alien life. They must simply be ready to say that God can choose to create life where he chooses.
It is also my contention that one can believe in the possibility of alien life and still have Biblical worldview. Some people believe that alien life is somehow anti-thetical to Christianity, but for reasons hinted at in the above paragraph, I fail to see how this is the case. The Bible says nothing about the absence of alien life, so who are we to think that it must therefore not exist? Who are we to assert that we are the “only ones out there” in the vast expanse of the Universe? If God chose to create alien life, are we to say that we are obligated to know about it? I think not. God can do as he chooses with or without our knowledge.
In short, life on other planets would neither contradict scripture nor destroy my faith. It would neither prove evolution nor disprove creationism. Christians should be willing to wholeheartedly embrace the possibility of life on other planets, and look forward to witnessing additional ways that God has shown forth his glory and handiwork.
My contention that alien life could exist should not serve to implicate me with those who justify spending billions of dollars looking for it. While the idea of alien life might be fascinating, current problems in this world like Terrorism, Economic Recession, Gun Control, School Violence, and AIDS, all should compel us to affirm that there are, quite frankly, more important things to do here on earth than look for microbes in another galaxy.
Sound, clear, pointed treatment of the subject! I love the last sentence.
Thanks.
KP
March 18, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Could one say that God and the angels are way more advanced than us because they existed first, came to Earth from another distant planet and decided to do an experiment but made us in their image?
I think it fits with the whole different dimensions theory and science on the brink of possibly creating mini universes.
I think they are here with us now laughing at what little we really understand and know about everything.
Pat
March 21, 2008 at 12:09 am
I guess I didn’t include angels and God into the equation because I assumed they exist both within and without the physical univierse and outside our dimensions of existence.
They probably are getting a kick about how little we know.
David P
March 21, 2008 at 10:18 am
I believe that God will guide us through that garden of plagues you listed as He has graciously done in the past. Furthermore, I believe He has been giving us the technologies to find other livable places for reasons only He knows. I don’t know about you, but if God seems to want us to find a alternet place to be, I for one, think we should follow His lead.
W. Bruce
April 20, 2008 at 1:27 am
I stumbled across this post today and wanted to share a more contrary view, especially in regards to the passage about Behe.
“Michael Behe astutely pointed out that understanding how something works or exists now does not prove we know how that came to be the way it is.”
This is absolutely true – but then why should one latch on to an opinion on “how something came to be” when there was even far less knowledge on “how that thing worked” in the first place? The creationist view is based on passages from ancient texts when scientific knowledge was much more primitive. The Bible makes no mention of why lightning occurs, yet many thought for many a year that supernatural beings were the cause – until we understood the scientific reasons why. It just so happens that no one practising the faiths associated with the lightning hurling deities is around any more to take issue with the scientific findings which state reasons otherwise. But there *are* those who still believe an ancient religion which does have a view on how this world and its inhabitants came to be – therefore there is still debate between those religions (though primarily just christianity) and science.
Interestingly enough, though, there are quite a few passages in the same book which are demonstrably contrary to what science has shown to be the case. For instance: “And God set them [the stars] in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth”, and that whole idea about how the Sun revolves around the Earth. We know that neither of these things are true, and yet these inconsistencies with science and reality somehow don’t detract from the even greater assumptions about how everything came to be?
If you have two theories about how things came to be, with one of them stating corollaries which have been demonstrated to be highly unlikely (and unwilling to change when contrary evidence is brought forth) and another theory stating corollaries which have been demonstrated to be likely (and at least malleable enough to adapt when evidence to the contrary is brought forth) – which do you think would be more in alignment with the better points of Behe’s remarks?
I hope these remarks are taken in a positive light and will help you think on your views more.
shiro
May 30, 2008 at 7:50 am
[...] who know me may be aware, to varying degrees, of my intense skepticism of evolution. Indeed, my previous article on evolution issues, one of the most visited posts on this website, I think leaves no doubt as to [...]
Missing links in the Associated Press report… « Fundamental Astuteness–A Journey
July 9, 2008 at 10:08 pm
I see the logic in your post, but I have always seen another theological problem with the idea that life exists elsewhere in this universe. Namely, that of salvation.
Romans 6:10 says that Christ died once for all- meaning that He did not repeat His sacrifice elsewhere in the universe. However, the Bible also says that Adam’s sin caused the whole world to fall into corruption (Romans 8:20-22).
So, if alien life exists:
1. they are sinful and suffer the effects of sin
2. they have no way of knowing about Christ’s sacrifice here on Earth.
I see the point you’re making, but I do think that there are other problems to the idea of extraterrestrial life in light of Biblical teachings.
Logical
November 20, 2008 at 8:43 am
I don’t know logical…it seems “logical”…what you’re saying…it really does but from a human perspective only. You’re saying because Christ died Here on this planet for our sins we’ve all had the chance to get to know and be aware of him, the holy spirit and God the Father but on other planets they haven’t so how does that equation fit, right? I getcha. However, God is bigger than us, he’s bigger than our “logical thinking caps” and he may have very well made another planet and who knows, perhaps showed up there and taught someone like a moses type person to spread the good news that on another planet called Earth there’s a man who came to shed his blood for ALL MANKIND, regardless of where they live…ie another planet named Zarko or here, our planet called Earth. They too, like us, will have to really believe by faith. Yes, we have records of Jesus being here and dying on the cross, we have the bible but perhaps they do too and they know just as much as we know (even if Christ didn’t die and then raise from the dead on their planet). I think too many people try to think too logically. That is where human beings get into trouble. You can’t think logic when you’re thinking God…you’ll never get it…that’s where faith comes in. To some, seeing is believing (doubting Thomas), and to others…well…belief and faith are all they need.
If we as human beings can just stop thinking all the time and trying to make sense of it all, God would probably have much more of an opportunity to speak to us. We just need to shut up and listen. Trust me, it works for me.
Mary
December 11, 2008 at 10:04 am
My first response is to Logical. Lest ye forget that nothing is impossible with God. He is capable of all things. Need you hear more on the possibility of other life, intelligent, or non?
Ok, now for my story. I am caught in such a bind with my wife and my life. We both consider ourselves to be Christians, though she is much stronger in her faith and knowledgeable of the Bible than I. She is the daughter of a now retired Baptist Minister. Her explanation is that according to the Bible, we are unique and made in God’s own image, and that there is absolutely no possibility for life elsewhere. We completely differ in this area. Why would there be millions of other planets, solar systems, stars, etc., and no possibility for another with the right temperature and atmosphere to support life. Ok, yes, I am using human logic and who am I to anticipate what God was thinking. I just simply think that it is soooo closed minded to think we are alone in the universe. They may be bugs for all I know, but I think the likelyhood that living creatures of some sort are there, somewhere, is overwhelmingly possible. We can’t even travel, yet to the nearest planet that we think might have supported life at one time, and we want to make a blanket statement that it simply couldn’t exist in the whole universe? Please. I love God and he has done some great things in my life. I just want to know how it all fits together without falling to the extreme on either side of the IS/ISN’T Christian line. What did Ezekiel see? Was it Angels or spacecraft. What did the Egyptians see and make models of? What did the American Native Indians draw on cave walls?
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March 3, 2009 at 6:40 am
I am a scientist and a Christian. There is too much evidence for Intelligent Design to consider evolution a viable theory. Behe said it; “irreduceable complexity” gives evolution a big problem. (Consider the flagellel motor).
God could have put life elsewhere in His universe, but it was so costly for Him to put it here, I doubt that he did. I think the universe is just the evidence we need to rightfully praise Him. From the macro to the micro, it all screams design in the most logical, effecient, yet artistic and creative way.
Jay
March 13, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Oops I meant efficient not effecient…..
Jay
March 13, 2009 at 5:43 pm