Prue had an interesting question for me last night: Do you believe life exists on another planet? Which, in the context of our conversation, really meant do I find the concept of true alien life to conflict with Christian beliefs. Prue’s motivation for asking this question comes from the discovery of Gliese 581c and its apparent habitable atmosphere. According to the article we will have to wait until 2020 before we get a chance to “discover” life on other planets, so in the mean time, I’ll speculate.
I feel this question has two components: a) Does a form of life exist? and b) Does a species exist which has a similar, or more advanced, consciousness / intelligence / thirst of knowledge?
A: Does a form of life exists?
In recent posts on the nature of life I discuss evolution as plausible, even likely. I’ve made evolution out to be a completely random algorithm, something that eventually reaches a result, if given enough time. So, regarding a general form of life, meaning plants, or basic organisms, or ants etc… Ignoring all God/Christian components: I feel it is certainly possible that life exists elsewhere in the Universe. However I should qualify that statement by saying: just because something is possible, doesn’t mean it actually exists.
However, the context of the question requires me to consider certain Christian components. In the articles where I discussed evolution, I stated:
While God may not have interfered with natures evolutionary course, [but] He certainly was their to start it.
Which basically requires me to say that God started life on Earth, and then told it to evolve. This, must also apply on another planet. In the end, God starting life on two different planets is entirely possible, so my answer remains the same.
B: Does an “intelligent” species exist?
I don’t want to get caught up in definitions of intelligence or consciousness; all I want is some life form that is akin to human thought levels (or more advanced). They can look like a Cockroach for all I care.
My answer is essentially the same: it’s certainly possible. But, as before, the possibility does not provide a guarantee. Also, belief in God does not stop the possibility intelligent life. But it does beg the question: Is Jesus’ sacrifice also required on that planet? Are they even part of God’s grand plan? Which, really is the point of part b. It opens a whole new thought process. To the best of my knowledge, the scriptures that discuss Gods relationship with mankind, and the purpose of Jesus’ sacrifice, do not preclude the possibility. I would like comments on this one, PLEASE!!!
I’m not going to be holding my breath waiting for little gray men to take me away to a Utopian paradise, or a dysfunctional hell. Nor do I ascribe to any conspiracies out of X-Files or similar. Simply given the size of the Universe, I feel it is entirely possible that life at some level, exists!!!
As stated above, I would really like some feedback on the concept of the scriptures precluding extraterrestrial life from a relationship with God. I do not believe God would allow life to form that would seek out repentance, only in the end to discover it was never on the cards for them.