Does the discovery of life on other planets contradict with religions?

Answer 1

No, if life is discovered on other planets then it will not contradict with religions.

Below are opinions from view points of different religions:A. In the Islamic religion:

• It is mentioned in Quran, Muslim's holy book, that God (the Creator) is the Lord of all worlds. God says in Quran that God is the Lord of what we know and what we don't. God says in Quran that we have known only little. Accordingly, nothing in Quran or Islam religions contradicts with the possibility of discovering life on other planets. God says in Quran (meaning English translation):
  • {In the name of Allah (God), the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. (1) [All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds...} [Quran, chapter 1, verse 1-2]
  • {To Him belongs what is in the heavens and what is on the earth and what is between them and what is under the soil. (6)} [Quran, chapter 20, verse 6]
  • {And they ask you, [O Muhammad], about the soul. Say, "The soul is of the affair of my Lord. And mankind have not been given of knowledge except a little." (85)} [Quran, chapter 17, verse 85]
  • {The seven heavens and the earth and whatever is in them exalt Him. And there is not a thing except that it exalts [Allah] by His praise, but you do not understand their [way of] exalting. Indeed, He is ever Forbearing and Forgiving. (44)} [Quran, chapter 17, verse 44]
  • There is a religious explanation, even before such discoveries, revise these verses:

    {28. And He it is Who sendeth down the saving rain after they have despaired, and spreadeth out His mercy. He is the Protecting Friend, the Praiseworthy. 29. And of His portents is the creation of the heaven and the earth, and of whatever beasts He hath dispersed therein. And He is Able to gather them when He will.}[quoted from, Meanings of the Golrious Quran, by Marmaduke Pickthall]

    Here the mention of Heavens and earth, meant the whole universe,

  • {12. Allah it is who hath created seven heavens, and of the earth the like thereof. The commandment cometh down among them slowly, that ye may know that Allah is Able to do all things, and that Allah surroundeth all things in knowledge.}So, for certain there is life on other parts of the universe, whether we discovered this or not.

The above Quran verses confirm that we still don't know except a little and that God is the Creator of all worlds what we know and what we don't. Accordingly, discovering life on other planets doesn't contradict with Quran or with Islam religion.

B. In the Christian religion:

• There is nothing in the Bible that says God created life only on this planet. Doesn't even rule out other intelligent life in the universe. But after seeing the mess we created in this world, He would probably not try again.
• Most certainly. The Bible speaks nothing of life on other planets, though some may craft an explantion through through vague references and loose endings. However, the fact remains that would seriously hinder Christian credibility as an absolute religion whose implications are universal. What I think is more interesting is that this does not rule out the existence of God as creator, merely the existence of a God we thought we knew. This discovery would force us as an entire race to seriously question our faith - at least where we rest our faith - because a discovery like that would prove beyond doubt many religions false.
• The original unadulterated idea of God transmitted to us by Adam through Noah is one of having no form, no physical or natural bounds, one beyond perception and even conception (the imagination). That theology is completely invulnerable and impervious to a discovery of life at another location. Only theologies which are self (human)-centric could be weakened by such a discovery.
• Read the Scriptures as God speaks to Abraham. He says that he has created worlds without end. The Scriptures do not say that life and God's children are restricted to just this earth. If God would create one world where Billions have lived, why would He not create another place, where more of His children can be tested whether they will follow what is right or not. There are Christian churches that use other holy Christian writings as well as those gathered into 'The Bible'. Certain of those writings reveal that God has created "worlds without number" ... and "the inhabitants thereof are as numberless as the sands upon the seashore" [Moses 1:28] ... 'and the inhabitants thereof, are begotten sons and daughters unto God', ... "But only an account of this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, give I unto you ... For behold there are many worlds ..." [Moses 1:35] Here is also a scientific way to test the truthfulness of the Gospel. Put it to the test. Exercise a little faith, read the scriptures, pray about it and wait for answer. And when you receive the answer, feed it and let it grow. It's an experiment. Try it. (And to express an idea that God has killed millions is incorrect. We have the freedom to choose; it's a sacred right. We are judged by those choices. We are free to choose and those who have decided to murder suffer their choices.)
• The simple answer is no. God has no limits, and the only limit in religion is the mind of man, who is unable to comprehend this. The real answer is: the Baha'i Faith teaches that there are an infinity of other planets out there, and each is alive with God's creatures. They may be very unlike us, but they exist.
• For some religions, the answer would be "we already knew that". For most others, the answer would be "we already knew that, it's just that you misunderstood us before".
• I do not think that it would debunk religion. Science and religion serve VERY different needs of humanity, religion is a matter of faith; faith is belief without proof. Science is a tool to understand our surroundings and has zero room for "faith". I do not think that religion and science are mutually exclusive.
• Actually, the Bible itself says there is intelligent life other than man. There are intelligent beings called angels, cherubim, seraphim, there are the four beasts which stand before the throne of God. The Bible is full of "life on other planets." Also, Christian writers in the last century wrote many sci-fi stories about encountering life on other planets, etc. Some were better than others, but the concept is not foreign to Orthodox Christianity. And if you incorporate Christian fantasy writings such as The Chronicles of Narnia and Lord of the Rings, the treatment of the idea of intelligence other than man is even more fully developed. The "problem" posed by the possibility of life on other planets is mostly a moral question. If there are other beings, do they have to obey the same rules as we do? What if their religion were contradictory to ours? Would that challenge the truth of ours? If they experienced a "fall" as our first ancestors did, do they need redemption? In fact, I once heard about a sci-fi story written by a non-Christian author (I have not read it) in which humans land on a planet and Jesus is there getting ready to die on the cross. Several of the earthmen try to stop His execution but Jesus won't let them. He tells them it's necessary for Him to die there, just as He had to die on earth.
• In every single religious book eg. "Bible" it doesn't say that life doesn't exist on other planets. But in most religious books it states that there are nine planets eg. Mercury, which have life on them... Life being some form eg. Bacteria, not necessarily "Aliens" and in my personal opinion UFO's are a load of CRAP, you can see in UFO sighting pics and videos that its all rubbish. But religions' explanation would be along the lines of what it says in their religious books.
• The Bible does mention life in other planets that has not gotten corrupted by sin like in earth.

C. Other views

• • Who said God only created Planet Earth? God created the entire Universe and everything and everyone in it. Why would "religion" be debunked by discovery of life on another planet? Personally, I don't have "religion." I have a RELATIONSHIP with the God of this universe. To me, discovery of life on another planet would be quite exciting scientifically, and for me, it would strengthen and enhance my faith and beliefs. God is not a limited being.
  • To debunk a religion with such a discovery, you would have to first identify a particular sect that insists no alien life can exist. Not even all sects of Christianity make such a claim.
  • Rather than 'debunking' religion, I believe the opposite would hold true...at least for a while. The discovery of life on other worlds - I'm assuming you mean sentient life? - would be a momentous thing, indeed. I think it would draw people to churches and religious communities in a way that only life-altering events can - for emotional and spiritual support and guidance, to pray for protection or to give thanks, for any number of personal and spiritual reasons. Once the discovery becomes 'old news' people will probably be drawn back to their old ways and habits, but, at first, there would be a huge revival of religion.
  • This is an interesting type of question that has no definite answer, and will not be known until it actually happens. Every person will be different if and when it happens, and of course by human nature there will be people who panic and be full of fear. However, I am sure most people who are religious will believe that instead of debunking God and religion, it would instead be a testament to his/her/its/their power. God is supposed to be diverse, with unlimited power and love. If you believe that, then it should be difficult to believe that he would create one single lonely planet in this huge, possibly infinite universe.
  • There is no direct contradiction between the Bible and the possibility of life on other planets.
  • many traditional Americans view the story of Genesis as describing a process of creating one unique place for life. They also point to John 3:16 (which describes God sending his only son to Earth) to show that Earth is the only place for life. Both of these interpretations really stretch the text to say more than is on paper. Most religions based on the Pentatuch (Judaism, Catholicism, Protestantism, etc.) have traditions that intelligent life exists only here on Earth. Some Asian and African religions teach that the universe is full of life.

Answer 2

It hardly matters whether there is life on other planets or not. Religions are so difficult to understand because people interpret them in different ways. What is more important is to discover who we are and why we are here. That will lead us to a life of spiritual bliss. Whether there is life on other planets, whether some religion believes it or not, all this is only the work of man. Let us contemplate the work of God. God lives in the temple of our heart, God is everywhere, God manifests as different lives on earth. Everything beautiful around us is Divine but we don't realize this truth. We are caught in superstitions and myths and we go round and round in circles.

Answer 3

Christian religion keeps reinterpreting its teachings to suit its audiences so it would be fine. When the aliens rock up I imagine people of all faiths will pray to whatever god they grew up with.

Answer 4

No life has ever been found on other planets! Or even proof of old ones! Only Atheists dream of this and it is another one of their dreams with Zero proofs!

As of 2007 Atheism has been tested and all proved to be fakes. Atheism is a "religion" with Zero proofs!

Answer 5

No planet has ever showed us any proofs! No one, nothing, has ever lived on any other planets!

As of 2007 Atheism had been tested and proved to be all Fiction! Atheism is a religion without any proofs!

A Federal Law has been passed that requires all Atheism removed from all public schools! ...