Modern estimates put the number of stars in the oberservable universe to be somewhere between 10^20 and 10^22. This estimate has been steadily increasing ever since the Hubble went up, and continues to do so as more and more galaxy clusters are found. Currently, there are an estimated 50 billion visible galaxies, but evidence is growing that there are many many more that are not visible from ground based telescopes. Most scientists agree it would not be surprising to see the number double or even triple in the next few decades.

Lets say, out of every million stars, one has planets. And out of every million planets, one can support life. And out of every million of these planets, one carries an intelligent civilization. This would mean there are literally billions of intelligent civilizations out there.

My question to you is, what effect would the discovery of one of these races have on our religious beliefs? If every alien civilization we came accross did not believe in a God, would we still? If every civilization believed in something unique and different from everyone else's beliefs, would we still consider ours right? Would religion still hold credibility for us?

If you cannot say that in all these cases religion and our God would prevail, how can you be so sure we believe the right thing, or that God exists as our Bible says? Some food for thought...

I like idea of this post... and...I agree with you,
I believe that only human arrogance would allow us to think we are the only life form ever to evolve or be created.

I was only saying in a religious post earlier that we as humans are so intent on looking at evolution and creation as our only serious basic principles of existance that we may be looking straight past the obvious or even completely in the wrong direction altogether for the answers.

What if ET life held a belief or theory , (proven or otherwise) that was in complete contradiction to anything we had ever imagined
about our existance.

I can only guess, that humanity as a whole would not embrace these new theories well.

Anything new is often shunned if our history as a species is anything to go by.
Our fear of the unknown tends to overide our ability to accept something different.

However over time im sure we would learn to accept and embrace new possiblities.

have a great day:D

RazZ

*Originally posted by Xelios
If you cannot say that in all these cases religion and our God would prevail, how can you be so sure we believe the right thing, or that God exists as our Bible says? Some food for thought... *

That looks like we should hypothesize a situation, and then hypothesize a situation within that hypothetical situation, and then question the Bible as a result.
Why?

*Originally posted by razz
I believe that only human arrogance would allow us to think we are the only life form ever to evolve or be created.*

That would be an unusual form of arrogance.
A person would have to completely ignore the millions of insects, animals, birds and fish, not to mention viruses, bacteria, etc.

*we may be looking straight past the obvious*

Yup, right past the Bible.
What manufacturer doesn't create a user's handbook?

I see religion as the last of humanities ideas that we are important in the big scheme of things. In reality, the universe wouldn't give a damn if the entire human race died out tomorrow, we are nothing compared to the vastness of space. Many find this view as frightening or depressing, and so all throughout history people have come up with ideas that make us look more important, and one by one all these ideas have been disproven and disposed of.

One of the last great hurdles of humanity will be religion. Only when we overcome it and realize we really don't matter will our full potential be released. At that point we will realize that although we don't matter at all in comparison to the universe, we can nevertheless make a difference in our small part of it. We will strive for new technologies that will allow us to travel to further and further destinations, eventually we will master space itself and be able to manipulate it for our own purposes.

But, if religion had its way we'd still be confined to this one planet 2000 years from now, waiting for Christ to return. Religion is but a stumbling block for humanity, I await the day when people finally realize this.

Open to discussion of course.

To twist any remark to fit his twisted mind.
Tony allways ignores points made by other members and somehow manages to create this repeatative religious angle to suit himself nomatter what the topic, and in doing so totally ruins the original intent of any given thread.

I love comming to sciforum and i love reading points of veiw nomatter how diverse.
I collect new ideas and ingest new theories and i grow as a person,
I add or compare others theories and ideas to my own.

I enjoy reading both religious and evolutionist points of view,
however, I think Tony quite simply ruins my day, For tony has no diverse opions ,and Tony has nothing interesting to say.

I dont hate Tony, he is probably a lovely guy in person, but here on the forum he only talks about his close minded faith in God.

No matter what the subject ,Tony has no fresh opinions.
Its always the same.

____________
RazZ

I'm just glad I don't have to put up with it anymore if I don't want to, like now :)

*Originally posted by Xelios
I see religion as the last of humanities ideas that we are important in the big scheme of things.*

Oh no, you're absolutely worthless NOW.
You really don't need religion for that.
You're a waste of skin NOW.

*Originally posted by razz
Its always the same. *

Pretty much.
Choose life or death (hint: choose life).