ET And Religion

There is an ongoing discussion among philosophers, religious thinkers, scientists, and science fiction writers concerning what might happen to human religions if or when alien civilizations are found. One consensus seems to be that Christianity would have a particular problem in that event, given its unique premise. During the Middle Ages in Europe, Christian theologians, in a deeply religious society, seriously debated how many angels could dance on the head of a pin. Important doctrinal points were at issue. The ET debate, to modern, secular ears, might have echoes of that earlier controversy.

The real appeal of finding ET for most of the people involved in the discussion would be exchanging views with an alien civilization. How many such societies embrace religion at all? What would alien philosophies be? Would they mesh with, or conflict with, human philosophical assumptions? The matter obviously goes beyond any particular faith-- assuming, of course, an alien religion does not parallel a human one. That, no doubt, would spark a huge debate.

As for the particular danger to Christianity, there's a fundamental friction to the debate. Modern scholars try to limit what a deity can do, so they can make arguments about what's possible and what isn't. The God of Christianity, however-- and Judaism, Islam, and others-- is defined as omniscient and omnipotent. All knowing and all powerful. That deity is beyond any effort to limit its actions.