Vatican: It's OK to believe in aliens

[CloneAggie]

Phew ... this is a relief.

Believers can have an "extraterrestrial brother". I wonder if E.T. is in heaven?

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.

The interview, headlined "The extraterrestrial is my brother," covered a variety of topics including the relationship between the Roman Catholic Church and science, and the theological implications of the existence of alien life.

Funes said science, especially astronomy, does not contradict religion, touching on a theme of Pope Benedict XVI, who has made exploring the relationship between faith and reason a key aspect of his papacy.

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.

But he said he continues to believe that "God is the creator of the universe and that we are not the result of chance."

See rest of article here...

[clone52]

I'm stunned. This is a very realistic way to look at things. Science and religion don't have to clash.

Will the next thing be that the Catholic Church allows that evolution was possible if God designed it to happen that way?

[DJK15]

That's hilarious... Catholics are always good for a laugh.

[Kyle]

Originally Posted by clone52

Will the next thing be that the Catholic Church allows that evolution was possible if God designed it to happen that way?

I'm pretty sure that's already the position of the Vatican.

[clone52]

Originally Posted by Kyle

I'm pretty sure that's already the position of the Vatican.

Really. Shows my lack of knowledge then.

[Kyle]

Originally Posted by clone52

Really. Shows my lack of knowledge then.

Here's a useful link, and quote therefrom.
Evolution and the Roman Catholic Church - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In an October 22, 1996, address to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Pope John Paul II updated the Church's position to accept evolution of the human body:

"In his encyclical Humani Generis (1950), my predecessor Pius XII has already affirmed that there is no conflict between evolution and the doctrine of the faith regarding man and his vocation, provided that we do not lose sight of certain fixed points....Today, more than a half-century after the appearance of that encyclical, some new findings lead us toward the recognition of evolution as more than an hypothesis. In fact it is remarkable that this theory has had progressively greater influence on the spirit of researchers, following a series of discoveries in different scholarly disciplines. The convergence in the results of these independent studies -- which was neither planned nor sought -- constitutes in itself a significant argument in favor of the theory."[8]

In the same address, Pope John Paul II rejected any theory of evolution that provides a materialistic explanation for the human soul:

"Theories of evolution which, because of the philosophies which inspire them, regard the spirit either as emerging from the forces of living matter, or as a simple epiphenomenon of that matter, are incompatible with the truth about man."

From a glance it looks like the Vatican's position has been at least neutral towards evolution since the 1950s, and friendly towards it late in John Paul II's time as Pope.

The church still holds rather strictly to a dualistic world view though, and rejects any arguments that the soul could result from evolution, as evidenced by the above quote.

[Wx4Cy]

Well, if you buy Jesus why not ET?

Sorry don't hate....

[Go2Guy]

Originally Posted by Kyle

Here's a useful link, and quote therefrom.
Evolution and the Roman Catholic Church - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
.

Actually Kyle, the Catholic church has an even more recent edict issued in 2005 / 2006 - I'm sure you Wikipedia link has more.

Basically this follows a 'theistic evolution' position which does allow for some theories of evolution, but holds to the fundamental positions that:
1. God created humans with possession of a soul and conscience, which distinguishes us from animals.
2. God created the universe.
3. Science cannot contradict the bible;both are expressions of truth.
3. Everyone must profess #1.

[CTAClone]

Originally Posted by Go2Guy

1. God created humans with possession of a soul and conscience, which distinguishes us from animals.

If my dog can't go to heaven, I don't know if I wanna be there.

[jdoggivjc]

[redrocker]

Originally Posted by CTAClone

If my dog can't go to heaven, I don't know if I wanna be there.

Good luck with that.

[Wesley]

This message makes my day. Sounds like Divine Prophecy and Stephen Hawkins are in sync.

[jtdoyle1]

Originally Posted by CTAClone

If my dog can't go to heaven, I don't know if I wanna be there.

I though all dogs go to heaven. (Cats go to hell)

[ketchupnmustard]

Was this Rev. Funes guy watching an old episode of South Park?



Gelgameks have faith too.

[Phaedrus]

Hey, I have an identical twin, living in another dimension/time/galaxy/universe that is a space alien. He/she/it/they is a pretty fine fellow, I'm told.