Atheists, do you believe in the existence of extraterrestrials?

After all, the Hubble space telescope has given us a glimpse into just how immense our universe is.

2011-06-17T10:01:15Z

For all of those atheists who said that extraterrestrials are probable, you are correct. Jesus said that his kingdom was not of this world. The angels are not of this world. There is no evidence that supports extraterrestrials, yet they are probable, but God isn't. Maybe you could tell me why it's logical to base probability on a complete absence of evidence.

2011-06-17T10:11:51Z

@Everard: if it's reasonable to count the probability of extraterrestrials without evidence, why not God? Simply because you count God improbable by reason that it's superstition, isn't superstition, by definition, the insistence that something exists even though no evidence supports its existence?

2011-06-17T10:21:22Z

@Samaath: so extraterrestrial existence is only probable if they are equal to or less than us? If they are superhuman or make claims of godhead, leave artifacts of their visitation...like teachings regarding their way of living, not probable. Hmmm. At one point in our history, it was thought improbable that we weren't the center of the universe.

2011-06-17T10:25:29Z

@Vernon Dozier X: the chemical building blocks of God are the same as us. The Word (God) became flesh. (John 1:14)

jpopelish2011-06-17T10:01:16Z

Favorite Answer

I think that extraterrestrials are petty likely to exist, but I do not believe (in the religious sense of certainty without supporting evidence) that they exist.


We have very good evidence that life exists on one planet. We have good evidence that there are lots of other planets that have a wide variety of conditions on their surfaces. We have fair evidence that some of those planets appear to be quite Earth like. Therefore, the evidence does not rule out life on some other planets. And more evidence is being collected, all the time. Stay tuned for the latest news. Note that none of this involves belief.

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Regards,

John Popelish

hagensee2016-10-05T07:05:09Z

not sure the place you get you stats from, yet I do say the existence of extraterrestrials is a risk. that's no longer a "perception in" something. i will additionally choose to function that the potential for extraterrestrials on a planet with the possibility for protecting existence is seems a heck of plenty extra in all probability than an invisible terrestrial "spirit" it particularly is worried approximately my weight loss plan or no count number if i'm married until eventually now I carry out the organic act of procreation.

Harkness2011-06-17T10:10:02Z

We have different standards of proof for different things. Extraterrestrial life (whether conscious or not) would not be such an extraordinary thing given the size and variability of the universe. You can construct a logical argument, or at least a rational one, to conclude that such life probably exists.

God is a whole other ball of wax. The concept of an omnipotent, omniscient, eternal being that created the universe and interacts with humankind is a much, much bigger claim. I don't think you can construct a convincing argument that such a god is probable.

Personally, I think that if you tried you'd have to compare that to an argument of how probable is it that god does not exist. I think that the probability of god existing is much lower than the probability of god not existing (and lower than the probability of extraterrestrials existing).

Anonymous2011-06-17T09:58:29Z

I've seen the new estimates based on the extrasolar planets discovered by the Kepler telescope todate. Based on the sampling of about 1200 planets discovered to date--the estimates tell us that we are looking at the potential for 60 billion planets existing in the "lifezone" where liquid water would be present.
Given those numbers it would seem reasonable that life has a banging big chance of existing elsewhere in our galaxy. This doesn't mean it would be intelligent--who knows. I think what it says is that the probability that the earth is the only planet in the gaxalxy with life is remote.

zoooooom!!!2011-06-17T09:55:32Z

I think it is highly probable that there is life on other planets. Especially, because we are now finding planets in other solar systems that look a lot like ours.

Firstly, our evidence is more concrete than yours. You have an ancient book, written by several people who claim to have talked to god. We have recent pictures from the Hubble Telescope.

Secondly, look at our Earth. You look at it and say that we are here because we were created, I say that we are here because the Earth is just far away enough from the Sun to produce life. We can go across the entire universe and you can find things that you think support your "god" and I can do the same and find things that support my way of thinking.

You think aliens support that Bible verse and I think that it's evidence that life can be reproduced on other planets.

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