Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
7 November 2010
11:3778910#1
Just finished the above book which was published this year, a facinating subject whether you`re interested in it or not. The author, Paul Davies, is one of the world`s leading authorities on the subject of life on other worlds, and in particular, intelligent life. The latter is perhaps the most important of all, as to detect artificial signal`s from beyond Earth, would be the most important discovery ever made in our brief history up to now. Forgetting the science fiction and fantasy land ideas, does anyone have any personal views on any of it? Maybe the most posing question would be, where does religion stand?
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,709
7 November 2010
11:5978913#2
I am with Carl Sagan and Steven Hawking on this, in so far as given the size of the universe it would be completely improbable if some form of intelligent life had not evolved on some other planet somewhere out there
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
7 November 2010
12:1078915#3
This is one of the many subjects I know little about as it has never really interested me. Having said that I think it would be very arrogant to assume we are the only intelligent lifeforce in the whole universe.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
7 November 2010
13:2478922#4
i am constantly surprised by many scientists saying that this or that planet cannot sustain life.
they seem to base this on the belief that any other being needs the same things as any earth creature to survive.
without offering any evidence or even strong argument i still believe that life exists somewhere else.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
7 November 2010
21:4379010#5
Totally agree Howard. It is completely illogical to think that life, intelligent life included, exists only on earth. They are out there...
7 November 2010
22:1179013#6
Trust no-one.....................................
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
7 November 2010
22:2579016#7
not meaning to cast aspersions, but i have always had my doubts about that bloke at the station!!
seems to be on some sort of auto pilot, has control over that celebrity richard mainchance too.
they usually take on human form when they land here.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
7 November 2010
22:2879017#8
The possibility of time travel is another subject of a similar kind.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
8 November 2010
00:3979032#9
Where does Religion stand? A good question! Religion does not teach life on other planets. C'est tout!
Any further information about Religion would require reading the Bible, and books and articles.
There is also the subject of pagan religions, which are religions that did not have a revelation.
The three religions considered as being revealed are: Christianity, the Hebrew religion and Islam.
I've never encountered aliens, Colin.
Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
8 November 2010
10:3079042#10
The old testament does not mention fridges, satellites, cars, aircraft, global economies or DNA, and 'pagan' revelations were called oracles. I am certain that the five or more compilers of the old testament (on which all three of the mentioned religions are based) were working from what they knew at the time. The beauty of humanity is that, for the most part, we are prepared to learn and expand our knowledge. At various times religions have taught that stars were drops of breast-milk from Hera, angels or escaped light from heaven. Most of us know better now.
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
8 November 2010
18:0679146#11
Thanks for all your intelligent posting`s. Interesting you say you`ve never encountered alien`s Alexander, even the world`s leading authorities can`t answer that.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
8 November 2010
18:4479157#12
The Old Testament has many more than five compilers, and the majority of them are known as Prophets. As for Pagan religions, what they teach, which varies from one to the other, has nought to do with Christianity.
Colin, that the world's leading authorities have never encountered aliens, we all know, and I daresay they never will!
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
8 November 2010
18:5579159#13
Alexander - on the contrary christianity is well known to have absorbed many pagan beliefs and festivals. The most obvious being Saturnalia - christmas.
I am still not clear though Alexander what religion has to do with this thread, unless, of course you are saying that Eric Von Daniken was right and was not the crackpot many of us now think he was.
Do you believe or not that there are alien life forms on other planets and that there is intelligent life in the universe apart from man?
I must admit I am more inclined to believe that there is a smidgen more evidence behind Von Daniken than in some supreme god and heaven.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
8 November 2010
19:0479160#14
alex
the vast majority of people on earth believe in a supreme being, even though they have never met him or her.
i believe(without any evidence whatsoever) that life exists on other planets, some more advance than us, others a lot less advanced.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
8 November 2010
19:0579161#15
Alexander, I haven`t said the world`s leading authorities have never encountered alien`s, I said they can`t answer that question. Two completely different statement`s. If there was an alien life form amongst us, you wouldn`t recognise it for what it was. Clear the human image from your mind, and all science fiction`s idea`s, and stop thinking we`re the chosen one`s, and open your eye`s to the wide cosmos, and look to other possibilities. You can still believe in who you wish, I`m not knocking that, but read a few factual books by respected scientific author`s on the subject. I am interested (genuinely), as to how you can say intelligent life on other world`s will never will be discovered. That`s a very big statement to make. You`re not alone in that, but what do you base your point of view on?
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
8 November 2010
20:4279171#16
Barry, Colin in post 1 specifically asked where Religion stands in this. Which is why I gave my view on behalf of Religion, as openly as I could.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
8 November 2010
20:4679172#17
As you know, I was responding to your question, Colin, where Religion stands in regards to your post 1, and I gave my reply. Religion does not have to immagine that there is life on other planets.
Religion does not teach that there is life on other planets, and never will!
This is just a fact, Colin, it doesn't mean that you cannot read science-fiction books if you wish to!
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,709
8 November 2010
20:5879177#18
so when some extra terrestrial life is discovered where does that leave your "universal" religion?
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
8 November 2010
21:0079178#19
alex
we all respect your religious beliefs but they have to be taken in context, the first written accounts date from about 3000 years ago the newest about 1600 years ago.
as a for instance judaism and islam have dietary laws forbidding the eating of pork, quite right too there were not many houses with fridges in those days.
likewise the concept of inter planetary travel would have been quite novel to them.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
8 November 2010
21:2979186#20
Yeah but interplanetary travel only has reached Mars, and most the time the sonder crashed, never to return. Either the Marshians shot them down, or they failed miserably against the elements of Mars!
