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Vatican Astronomer Comments On Extraterrestrials
An anonymous reader writes "There's an Astrobiology.net interview up with a Vatican astronomer, Guy Consolmagno, who also curates one of the world's largest meteorite collections. On the possibility of a non-terrestrial lifeform, he says initially 'I don't know', followed by three scenarios. First, he argues: 'We find an intelligent civilization and there's no way in creation we can communicate with them because they're so alien to us. We can't talk to dolphins now. In which case, we'll never know.' Secondly, he suggests: 'We find the intelligent civilization. We can communicate.' As agents of free-will, the aliens are self-aware of good and evil, thus convertible to some terrestrial religion. Thirdly: 'We find a dozen civilizations out there, and a bunch of Jehovah's witnesses go up and convert them all.' The question of whether an alien civilization might convert Earth to their religion, or become a religion unto themselves, is left unconsidered. This compares to the many reasons people give for hosting a SETI@home client, including that ET contact would unite humanity, challenge religion, or all of the above."
This is yet another amazing piece for broken reasoning from a god-botherer. You made me laugh. Thanks.
Stick Men
In Soviet Russia, they called crazy if you didn't believe in the system. In Christianity ... oh, it's no different. Faith is the enemy of all understanding.
Science fiction for grown-ups...
Not to mention that Christianity, as far as I know, at least, was the original anti-competitive embrace and extend monopoly. ;)
But if I were you, and I'm not, I wouldn't worry so much about offending people. Fuck 'em. Why is it concerned acceptable in modern society to preach about God, but questioning God is so offensive? Fuck that. Fuck God, for that matter. Fuck Jesus, fuck 'em all. Moses was a twerp, the Pharoah was just a pussy to give in to that guy (oh wait a minute, he never gave in, did he? Moses needed the power of God to save his people from the pharoah, didn't he?). Jesus is the role-model pothead: smoke too much, start believing you're the son of God, preach about peace and love. We had millions of 'em in the '60s and '70s, and those fuckers are still around, and they all look like Jesus. Jesus was just a psychedelic drug abusing bad smelling hippy. Fuck 'im. Who needs him?
And if this offends anybody, fuck off.
:)
Like what I said? You might like my music
The bible is clear about something *GASP*
The God of the Bible is limited in power, easily confounded by mundane hindrances like iron chariots (Judges 1:19) or human sacrifices to rival god (2 Kings 3:27).
There seems to be some confusion on this issue. Both views are taught by different segments of the church. Some believe that salvation is not by faith alone but also by works, others believe that faith alone is sufficient.
There's no ass-kissing involved.
Aren't Christians required to worship God? Isn't that what they are doing during "worship" services on Sunday? Ass-kissing is a less flatering term for this of course.
There's no difficult list of rules, either.
Then why is the Old Testament still included in the bible, and still quoted frequently? Are you saying that we are no longer sinning if we don't follow the rules in the Old Testament? Are you saying that it just doesn't matter anymore? Are you saying that the laws are no longer relevant? If so, why did God create them in the first place? I thought that Christians belived in absolutes for good and evil (i.e. homosexuality is wrong because God said so). Are some of God's laws more absolute than others?
As simple as the list of Ten Commandments seems, have you kept them? Everyone says what an excellent set of rules they are, but I don't know anyone that has managed to keep them.
I thought that this was the whole point of Christianity, that we are all sinners and therefore need salvation through Christ. You seem to be saying that since no one can follow the laws, they don't matter anymore! This is certanly not a Christian perspective. BTW, the bible is also uncertain whether or not anyone has managed to follow all the laws. This is part of what makes the bible such a great religeous text, it has so many contradictions that you can almost always find some quote or another to support your view!
When you lose something irreplaceable, you don't mourn for the thing you lost, you mourn for yourself. - Harpo Marx
Yeah, I didn't read too carefully after he started ranting about God being a sociopath and a spoiled brat. Also, I didn't see any obvious inconsistencies or problems there.. could you give me a hint?
1) alcohol
2) STD's
3) missionaries
Wonder how many of these 3 mistakes will be repeated if we discover extra-terrestrial life.
yes, i have been to spain. the al hambra is very nice. Geometry, the greek mathmatics is much nicer than algebra, the bane of highschool students since the dawn of time. Without algebra, no airplanes. Without airplanes, no 9/11. think about it. math is a terrorist plot!!!
ok, this is troll but so what. no one is going to read it but you.