Does The Bible Talk About Aliens?
According to NASA, there are about 3,500 confirmed exoplanets (planets outside our solar system), and at least six of them are earth-like planets. Some experts believe that with the advancements of technology, it is very likely that we will discover some form of life on another planet in the coming years. However, the discovery of ETI (Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence) life elsewhere may not be compatible with our faith. It may very likely present theological conundrums that many religions will find challenging.
Having conflicting feelings or opinions on this subject may be true, especially for Christianity, because the Bible teaches us that God was the creator and created man to his own image. The idea of alien life brings up many questions such as: Did he create aliens?, or Do aliens believe in God just as we do? Was Jesus born in those worlds and taught them the Word of God as he did in our world? I still remember the first time I saw the movie "Signs" - it was a thrilling experience, but it also made me think about the possibility of life beyond our planet.
There have been a few studies about the relation of religion and ETI beliefs. The studies concluded that individuals who reported being religious had lower levels of belief in ETI than those who reported lower levels of religious beliefs. Statistically, atheist or agnostic people are more likely to believe in ETIs than those actively affiliated with a religion, especially Christians. With that said, ETI beliefs showed no correlation with supernatural beliefs.
These studies also concluded that believing in ETI serves a religious function without the traditional religious doctrine that many people reject. It allows individuals to feel like they are part of something big and more meaningful without having to believe in supernatural forces.
When we think about how small our planet is, it's just one of billions, and we're still making new discoveries in our own backyard. Under every rock, in the depths of our oceans, new forms of life are being discovered. They are all new to us, but probably already known by God. Is it so hard to believe that our earth isn’t the only planet with similar life forms or other life-sustaining worlds? For instance, scientists have discovered exoplanets with conditions similar to those of Earth, which raises more questions about what might exist elsewhere. I recall a conversation I had with a friend who's an astrobiologist - she was telling me about the discovery of a planet with an atmosphere similar to ours, and how that changed her perspective on the existence of life beyond Earth. She mentioned that the discovery of exoplanet Kepler-452b, a planet about 60% larger in diameter than Earth, has sparked interesting discussions about the potential for life on other planets.
And, if the universe is only capable of sustaining life in a very particular set of circumstances, the fact that we are here in such a unique setup makes me think that God set it up like this for a purpose. He put a lot of effort into putting us here.
From the human perspective, we may see alien life as strange, but to God, it’s just part of his creation. Finding life elsewhere will not compromise God’s love for us, but will it make us question our faith?
Given that there is no direct evidence of the existence of extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI), perhaps we have to put our judgment aside for the time being until conclusive evidence develops. However, we need to remember that before America was discovered, nobody thought it existed, and yet it did. God’s creations are spread across the cosmos, not just our world.
And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came from the north, a great cloud, and a fire enfolding itself, and a brightness was surrounding it, and from within this fiery mass as the colour of amber, emerged the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass. -
