VATICAN CITY – E.T. phone Rome. Four hundred years after it locked up Galileo for challenging the view that the Earth was the center of the universe, the Vatican has called in experts to study the possibility of extraterrestrial alien life and its implication for the Catholic Church.
"The questions of life's origins and of whether life exists elsewhere in the universe are very suitable and deserve serious consideration," said the Rev. Jose Gabriel Funes, an astronomer and director of the Vatican Observatory.
Funes, a Jesuit priest, presented the results Tuesday of a five-day conference that gathered astronomers, physicists, biologists and other experts to discuss the budding field of astrobiology — the study of the origin of life and its existence elsewhere in the cosmos.
Funes said the possibility of alien life raises "many philosophical and theological implications" but added that the gathering was mainly focused on the scientific perspective and how different disciplines can be used to explore the issue.
Chris Impey, an astronomy professor at the University of Arizona, said it was appropriate that the Vatican would host such a meeting.
"Both science and religion posit life as a special outcome of a vast and mostly inhospitable universe," he told a news conference Tuesday. "There is a rich middle ground for dialogue between the practitioners of astrobiology and those who seek to understand the meaning of our existence in a biological universe."
Thirty scientists, including non-Catholics, from the U.S., France, Britain, Switzerland, Italy and Chile attended the conference, called to explore among other issues "whether sentient life forms exist on other worlds."
Funes set the stage for the conference a year ago when he discussed the possibility of alien life in an interview given prominence in the Vatican's daily newspaper.
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.
Scientists have discovered hundreds of planets outside our solar system — including 32 new ones announced recently by the European Space Agency. Impey said the discovery of alien life may be only a few years away.
"If biology is not unique to the Earth, or life elsewhere differs bio-chemically from our version, or we ever make contact with an intelligent species in the vastness of space, the implications for our self-image will be profound," he said.
This is not the first time the Vatican has explored the issue of extraterrestrials: In 2005, its observatory brought together top researchers in the field for similar discussions.
In the interview last year, Funes told Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano that believing the universe may host aliens, even intelligent ones, does not contradict a faith in God.
"How can we rule out that life may have developed elsewhere?" Funes said in that interview.
"Just as there is a multitude of creatures on Earth, there could be other beings, even intelligent ones, created by God. This does not contradict our faith, because we cannot put limits on God's creative freedom."
Funes maintained that if intelligent beings were discovered, they would also be considered "part of creation."
The Roman Catholic Church's relationship with science has come a long way since Galileo was tried as a heretic in 1633 and forced to recant his finding that the Earth revolves around the sun. Church teaching at the time placed Earth at the center of the universe.
Today top clergy, including Funes, openly endorse scientific ideas like the Big Bang theory as a 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.
Earlier this year, the Vatican also sponsored a conference on evolution to mark the 150th anniversary of Charles Darwin's "The Origin of Species."
The event snubbed proponents of alternative theories, like creationism and intelligent design, which see a higher being rather than the undirected process of natural selection behind the evolution of species.
Still, there are divisions on the issues within the Catholic Church and within other religions, with some favoring creationism or intelligent design that could make it difficult to accept the concept of alien life.
Working with scientists to explore fundamental questions that are of interest to religion is in line with the teachings of Pope Benedict XVI, who has made strengthening the relationship between faith and reason a key aspect of his papacy.
Recent popes have been working to overcome the accusation that the church was hostile to science — a reputation grounded in the Galileo affair.
In 1992, Pope John Paul II declared the ruling against the astronomer was an error resulting from "tragic mutual incomprehension."
The Vatican Museums opened an exhibit last month marking the 400th anniversary of Galileo's first celestial observations.
Tommaso Maccacaro, president of Italy's national institute of astrophysics, said at the exhibit's Oct. 13 opening that astronomy has had a major impact on the way we perceive ourselves.
"It was astronomical observations that let us understand that Earth (and man) don't have a privileged position or role in the universe," he said. "I ask myself what tools will we use in the next 400 years, and I ask what revolutions of understanding they'll bring about, like resolving the mystery of our apparent cosmic solitude."
The Vatican Observatory has also been at the forefront of efforts to bridge the gap between religion and science. Its scientist-clerics have generated top-notch research and its meteorite collection is considered one of the world's best.
The observatory, founded by Pope Leo XIII in 1891, is based in Castel Gandolfo, a lakeside town in the hills outside Rome where the pope has his summer residence. It also conducts research at an observatory at the University of Arizona, in Tucson.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091110/ap_on_sc/eu_vatican_aliens
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
I wonder what the ole' Poop would do if they actually found some. ;D
Can Klingons be xtians? :smile:
Quote from: followsthewolf on November 13, 2009, 05:02:55 AM
Can Klingons be xtians? :smile:
VERY good question! Really, I mean that!
But I doubt that Romulans could be. I also wonder about Vulcans .
What would Spock do?
Quote from: Exterminator on November 13, 2009, 09:12:00 AM
What would Spock do?
"Ancient Vulcans practiced a polytheistic faith. Among their gods were the gods of War, Peace and Death (TNG: "Gambit, Part 2").
Spock, traveling back in time to save his own life, presents himself to his parents as a cousin making a ritual journey "to honor our gods". Both Sarek and Amanda let this pass without comment, indicating that at least some Vulcans maintained the traditional faith even after the advent of Surak (TAS: "Yesteryear")."
http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/inconsistencies/religion.htm (http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/inconsistencies/religion.htm)
:biggrin:
Quote from: Locutus on November 13, 2009, 12:21:46 AM
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
I wonder what the ole' Poop would do if they actually found some. ;D
Bury the evidence and issue a statement saying there was never anything found, of course! Then probably participate in a ritual killing of every person taking part in the effort, to silence them.
Quote from: Palehorse on November 13, 2009, 12:07:42 PM
Bury the evidence and issue a statement saying there was never anything found, of course! Then probably participate in a ritual killing of every person taking part in the effort, to silence them.
Ah! At least Galileo would have good company.
Quote from: Locutus on November 13, 2009, 12:09:46 PM
Ah! At least Galileo would have good company.
Not to mention the hundreds of thousands of people killed to further the goals of Christian leadership throughout the ages!
Maybe they will all return on December 21, 2012, to impose their revenge upon the pretenders! :biggrin:
There's a thread for that. :yes: ;D
Quote from: Olias on November 13, 2009, 09:43:22 AM
"Ancient Vulcans practiced a polytheistic faith. Among their gods were the gods of War, Peace and Death (TNG: "Gambit, Part 2").
Spock, traveling back in time to save his own life, presents himself to his parents as a cousin making a ritual journey "to honor our gods". Both Sarek and Amanda let this pass without comment, indicating that at least some Vulcans maintained the traditional faith even after the advent of Surak (TAS: "Yesteryear")."
http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/inconsistencies/religion.htm (http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/inconsistencies/religion.htm)
:biggrin:
Sorry, in order to be a religion, there has to be funny hats. That is an absolute that can't be broken, even on another planet. I don't remember any Vulcans wearing funny hats in any episodes...
Spock wore a hood during the rights of Pon Farr!
Quote from: Palehorse on November 15, 2009, 11:53:08 AM
Spock wore a hood during the rights of Pon Farr!
Yeah, but it wasn't very funny. Now if it had been pink....
Well, it was kind of pointy anyway. . . .
Quote from: Palehorse on November 15, 2009, 06:18:51 PM
Well, it was kind of pointy anyway. . . .
Close, but there are plenty of rappers that wear a hood, so not unique, or funny enough...
However, why would the Vatican be looking for alien life? Is it to throw folks off the fact that the Vatican is full of alien life. You think this guy is an earthly hominid?
(http://thm-a04.yimg.com/image/5ceda575a0c92d06)
Quote from: dan foster on November 15, 2009, 07:48:05 PM
You think this guy is an earthly hominid?
Large eyes, triangular face... I think he's a
gray! He's had surgery to enlarge the mouth, and the ears are obviously artificially attached. At least the one that shows is. Oh damn. I don't know what to do. There aren't any Paranoid People of Vatican City.
Quote from: Olias on November 13, 2009, 09:43:22 AM
"Ancient Vulcans practiced a polytheistic faith. Among their gods were the gods of War, Peace and Death (TNG: "Gambit, Part 2").
Spock, traveling back in time to save his own life, presents himself to his parents as a cousin making a ritual journey "to honor our gods". Both Sarek and Amanda let this pass without comment, indicating that at least some Vulcans maintained the traditional faith even after the advent of Surak (TAS: "Yesteryear")."
http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/inconsistencies/religion.htm (http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/inconsistencies/religion.htm)
:biggrin:
I almost have a problem with that statement. One human parent and one vulcan parent. Surely being human there was some kind of Christian influence. Are the Vulcan's so domineering that a human wouldn't blink an eye and just agree to the Vulcan God(s)?
Thankfully this is just a fictional show. LOL
But, the point is, would fundamentalists accept non-humans as legitimate forms of life, with their own "religions"?
Quote from: followsthewolf on November 16, 2009, 04:35:24 PM
But, the point is, would fundamentalists accept non-humans as legitimate forms of life, with their own "religions"?
Fundamentalists? Probably not. But not all spiritual people are fundamentalists.
Quote from: Olias on November 16, 2009, 05:14:46 PM
Fundamentalists? Probably not. But not all spiritual people are fundamentalists.
No. . . but more and more it seems the ones that control the reins of power are. . . :rolleyes:
Quote from: Palehorse on November 16, 2009, 05:44:50 PM
No. . . but more and more it seems the ones that control the reins of power are. . . :rolleyes:
I agree. But why is that? Is it some sort of least
common denominator factor at play?
Quote from: Olias on November 17, 2009, 09:13:18 AM
I agree. But why is that? Is it some sort of least common denominator factor at play?
That's a rhetorical question; right? :biggrin:
Quote from: Exterminator on November 17, 2009, 09:17:22 AM
That's a rhetorical question; right? :biggrin:
Only partially. Are we as a society so stupid? Keep in mind, please that I am a believer (but probably not in the sense that you despise, and definitely not fundamentalist.)
Agreed, Olias.
Can we be that stupid?
Ask those in post-WWII Germany if a society can be stupid enough to be led around by ANY kind of person or persons with an axe to grind.
Quote from: followsthewolf on November 17, 2009, 10:25:43 AM
Agreed, Olias.
Can we be that stupid?
Ask those in post-WWII Germany if a society can be stupid enough to be led around by ANY kind of person or persons with an axe to grind.
Depressing isn't it?
Quote from: Olias on November 17, 2009, 09:13:18 AM
I agree. But why is that? Is it some sort of least common denominator factor at play?
Centuries of preconditioning to blindly accept that unless you do what the leadership says you should do, you will burn in a lake of fire for eternity! (For the most part). Blind Faith!
Quote from: Palehorse on November 17, 2009, 11:47:15 AM
Centuries of preconditioning to blindly accept that unless you do what the leadership says you should do, you will burn in a lake of fire for eternity! (For the most part). Blind Faith!
Probably more at work than a mob mentality, or herding instincts. Suggest Faces in the Clouds by Guthrie to explain fundamental genetic pre-disposition of humans to believe. Those of us that don't, or can't believe are probably evolving past the "neanderthals" that do. :wink:
(http://static.flickr.com/2009/2124797970_b297c8f02f.jpg)