Life on other planets

Hi T&UI think it is highly unlikely that we would find a species on another planet that believed in any kind of god for 3 reasons:1) No species would have ever evolved with sufficient intelligence to contemplate such a thing.2) Some species may have evolved with sufficient intelligence to contemplate a god but would have destroyed themselves as a direct consequence.3) Some species may have avoided destroying themselves but would now have advanced beyond the lazy, hazy, crazy state we humans currently enjoy.But in the 3rd example it is virtually certain that they would find us first and put us out of our misery (I certainly would if I were in their position).But whatever state of religious belief/non-belief any alien species were found, you can bet your bottom In God We Trust dollar that religionists here on Earth would claim that it is entirely compatible with the ramblings of the Bible, Qur'an, etc.

Hi T&UI think I understood your OP, I just prefaced my main point with a slightly irrelevant view on what sort of life we might find.My main point in my last paragraph, which I think answered your hypothetical OP, is that whatever we find you can be sure that Bible bashers will claim their is nothing inconsistent with their beliefs (look how so many of them have absorbed evolution, the Big Bang, etc into their creation story). Even those who don't accept evolution etc will probably come up with some excuse that God must have created these life forms on another planet and he just hasn't decided to reveal himself to them yet. Or they'll claim that he once did reveal himself but they've chosen to reject him - the vile alien heathens! That's the great thing about religion, you can just make it up as you go along - just make sure you're always slightly vague or metaphorical so as your story can fit any unfolding scenario.

Hi TanndarrI don't see any incompatibility between what I said and what you say about how missionaries and scientists approach previously uncontacted peoples.And I've no idea what link there is between what I said and your question about why aren't biologist teaching Darwinism to such uncontacted peoples.Please could you re-explain your point.Thanks

Hi TanndarrThanks for your explanation. I have nothing more to say except I agree with you entirely.

HiYou're probably right to some extent, although I would like to think that it is possible to develop better methods for dealing with terrible problems, and that we already have some.

Hi AdminNosyI understood that this topic was not about whether or not life exists on other planets, but more specifically about what the implications would be to humans, and our religious beliefs, if we found alien life did not have any religious beliefs at all.Therefore, with all due respect, I do not believe we have strayed completely off topic. We have been discussing what sort of alien religious or supernatural beliefs might exist, or might have previously existed but now become extinct in an advanced society.