Atheists don't necessarily reject all notions of gods or a God, they just don't believe in them. But as I said, I was describing how the term is generally used in philosophical discussion, which is not necessarily dependent on what those involved believe, but is an exploration of the arguments. The point is whatever reason(s) you have for being involved in philosophical discussion.
Well, the reason I started this thread was because I am curious to know how religious people of different faiths would react to the news that contact with Extraterrestrials had been made.
It would include deists who believe that the Creator doesn't intervene in human affairs and has left mankind to his own devises.
Trinitarians and non Trinitarians.
The reason I chose to focus on the Christian concept is because I assumed that most religious people on this website are Christians and because I am more familiar with the general Christian theology than I am with the others and know the specific issue that is capable of throwing a wrench into the whole theological outlook if such an event were to occur.
In short, many would have to reconfigure the hierarchy of beings in order to include the newcomers.
God
His Son
Angels
Mankind
Or God
His Son
Angels
Mankind and Newcomers
Or do they place the newcomers above or below mankind in ranking?
Also, the chronology of creation would come into scrutiny.
When exactly were these creatures created?
Are they fallen or still blameless as our first parents were?
If sinless then they shouldn't be subject to death.
But if they die anyway-why are they dying?
Some might even accuse Satan as impersonating aliens in order to lead mankind astray. They propose it with the dinosaur fossils and have also suggested that the UFO sightings are of demonic origin. So a message from space might very well come under the same suspicion.
If indeed they are sinners, have they had their own Christ?
Others who feel that mankind is special might consider it an affront to that special relation which they claim to hold with the creator as his children. This would be especially true if the aliens are superior both morally and intellectually. Then unacceptable creator favoritism might be suspected.
In short, a whole can of theologically controversial worms might be opened if such an event transpired.
On the other hand there are always humans who don't give a hoot, giggle and might go with about their lives as if nothing had happened. That is unless the contact begins to affect their livelihood as it does in a short story I wrote where the whole fabric of society begins to unravel under the gratuitous barrage of irresistibly tempting gifts which make one crucial profession after the other become obsolete.
Yes, it was inspired by the film "To Serve Man"" and I called it ""The Givers".
