The Vatican is discussing the existence of alien life and the implications it may have on the Christian Faith and humanity. After centuries of blocking science, independent and innovative thought, and putting some of history's brightest minds to task for questioning the status quo, it seems as though the Catholic Church, and Christianity along with it, may be opening their hearts and minds to speculative thought and independent reasoning. "The Church of Rome's views have shifted radically through the centuries since Italian philosopher Giordano Bruno was burned at the stake as a heretic in 1600 for speculating, among other ideas, that other worlds could be inhabited."What is most fascinating about this, to me, is that it absolutely reinforces my belief in a collective conscious awakening / awareness - where reason, logic, and spirituality overtake fear, intimidation, and brutal submission... the line between advanced spirituality in Christian based faiths (and other Eastern originating faiths) and oppressive faiths of submission, such as Islam, has been further defined.
There are those who are free to think and question, and those who fear thought and independent questioning of spirituality.
I pose some questions:
1. How would the discovery of alien life affect your faith?
2. How would it change your life?
3. How do you think it would change humanity?
To answer my own questions -
1. It would not. As a man of science AND spirituality, I firmly believe that life is not limited to this tiny planet. Life is so diverse, so resilient, and so unpredictable that to assume over the Billions of years and across the great expanse of this existence we are the only single source of life is not only improbable but irrational. Whether or not advanced species visit this planet in space ships, I don't know... but to think that life is so limited when the universe is so UNlimited is wasteful!
2. If we discovered life on another planet, I would personally feel relieved that we are not alone in this expanse! If we find microbial life on a nearby planet or moon, great - if we find intelligent or advanced life, better. I think we are approaching a time in our human development when real lessons and advancements are able to be fully comprehended. We are ever-evolving, and are at a point of great awakening... or re-awakening - ask me and I can explain further.
3. There are those of us who would be greatly relieved to find such a discovery... there would be those of us who would equally be horrified by it. It will be the challenge of humanity to overcome our preconceived notions of universal uniqueness and accept our place in the Universe... I think we are ready.
How would you answer those questions - the same questions being asked by the highest Christian leaders in the Vatican...
