Okay, first off I'll start with a quote that I've been using a lot here recently. "There are two possibilities, either we're alone in the universe, or we aren't. Each is equally frightening."
Now...there are two theories of life: creation and evolution. I know I'm starting a little basic but it seems like a good place to start, the beginning. Unfortunately the two theories are mutually exclusive. One theory is supported by science, the other by faith. If either one proves true, it will shatter the followers of the other.
The only way to end this debate either way is to find life on another rock. Preferably outside this solar system. Well...I guess we could prove the existence of God, but most will agree that would be impossible (until the apocalypse of course). I'm not sure what to think, but I do know that if we do find life outside of this planet, it will cause a massive upheaval in the world.
I was trying to write a paragraph here about my predictions either way, but I couldn't make it sound neutral.
Not to mention the ideas of C. S. Lewis. Now that would be a fine kettle of fish...
Thats usually the best place. If you started at the end, there'd be nothing to tell.......
Both are faith claims.
The claim of evolutionists that life organized itself spontaneously, mindlessly, purposelessly, and without direction from inert matter in the twinkling of cosmic time, is by far the more irrational of the two faith claims.
It would definitely put a strain on the budget for missionary work.
How would finding life on another planet prove one way or another if God exists or if evolution is true? God would have the right to create whatever and whoever he wanted and evolution would still be a theory, or what some would call a philosophy, which of course would also involve faith.
I don't know if the discovery of life outside of this planet would destroy Christian faith or give the lie to its basic rules and creeds. It would just mean that God made life on other worlds and perhaps gave some forms of life such a hardiness and adaptibility that it could survive even the harsh extremes of space.
I don't see the contradictions between Christian faith and the discovery of ET life. Genesis already speaks of the Nephilum who came from outside of the world to mate with the women of the world, thus upsetting the moral and spiritual balance of the world and filling it with evil and violence. These were probably evil demons who fell with Satan or perhaps ET races aligned with him. So what?
A flying saucer that lands with little grey men is not going to contradict faith, even if the inhabitants of such a craft spew forth a bunch of guff about having observed us a long time and even having interfered with our history,even claiming that Jesus was an alien!
After all...how are we going to verify that what said creatures claim to be the "truth" is really the "truth"?
Just because they said so?
Not really. Suppose our Bible was written exclusively for our planet. Doesn't mean that there couldn't be creation anywhere else.
Actually, they aren't. And as for life "shattering" faith, intelligent or non-intelligent, that isn't quite truthful in as such major denominations have for some time been expecting this. The RCC itself has doctrine set for more than 200 years saying that life outside of Earth does not invalidate scripture. Many other churches have also no problem with extraterrestrial intelligences. After all, the doctrines of angels are recognitions of non-human, non-terrestrial intelligences anyway. Since there is no panic about them, I don't see the problem with anyone else more ordinary/mortal.
As for creation and evolution - for a great number of faithful there is no conflict. Both can be accomodated intellectually for many like myself.