One of the core beliefs of Christianity is that humans are exceptional from all the rest of creation because he is divinely appointed.
However, if definitive proof of intelligent, cognitive, extra-terrestrials came to light, such as SETI discovering an alien signal, would Christianity be proven wrong? Or would theologians find some way to reconcile this, as they did when they finally accepted that the earth is not the center of the universe?
ADA
Favorite Answer
The great thing about having an all knowing all powerful god with text that is very vague is that you can always twist it to suite the situation at that time.
I would guess people would say the proof would be the Nephilim in Genesis!
Curious
"One of the core beliefs of Christianity is that humans are exceptional from all the rest of creation because he is divinely appointed." is only one of the core beliefs of some theologians. Other Christian theologians stick to the core belief that there is a creator that wants to have relationships with his creation and that he came to earth to not only as a living example of the life that he wants them to have, but also to redeem them so that a deeper relationship with him is possible. The discovery of an alien life form would only be threatening to the former theologians. The latter usually have space in their belief system for the existence of additional creations.
Pharoah
Theologians who profess in order to support religion, or a particular religion in general, have no answers, because they 're answers only serve to prop up a religion. All religions, as opposed to the actuality of God or Truth, are false -- mostly, in modern times, solely by human ignorance.
Don't get me wrong, God is real. Religion, however, is false and meant to acquire or preserve temporal power and grab all the wealth. The New Testament, for example, was never meant to be taken as history but only mythologically -- a story with a real but esoteric message (Christ speaking to the multitudes in "parables" which is another synonym for "mythology".) It depicts the process of spiritual advancement leading one back home beyond the physical world.
So what theologians and the clergy say, is, in truth, no better than what the individual might honestly but OBJECTLY think about it.
MrMyers
Divinely appointed? Are not angels divinely appointed? In relation to the rest of EARTH'S creatures we are special and not just because of opposable thumbs and the Internet. We are able to have a relationship with God and he can dwell in us through His Spirit.
Do I believe in "aliens"? Yes, read Ezekial and tell me where some of those creatures came from or dwell now. Do I believe in dinosaurs? Yes, read Job and explain what a behemoth and leviathan are, if not an apatasaurus and pleiseaur (or similar creatures).
No Chance Without Bernoulli
In non-religious minds, yes.
But I'm sure there is some bible passage that can be 'interpreted' to 'prove' the bible mentions aliens.
Every scientific discovery that contradicts the bible has resulted in rejection of the science or a new interpretation of the bible by Christians.
EDIT: Linda- The bible says 'circle'. A circle is a 2 dimensional shape. In no way can a circle EVER be thought of as a 3 dimensional sphere. An all-knowing, all-powerful ,
deity would know the difference.