VATICAN CITY (AP) - Believing that the universe may contain alien life does not contradict a faith in God, the Vatican's chief astronomer said in an interview published Tuesday.
The Rev. Jose Gabriel Funes, the Jesuit director of the Vatican Observatory, was quoted as saying the vastness of the universe means it is possible there could be other forms of life outside Earth, even intelligent ones.
"How can we rule out that life may have developed elsewhere?" Funes said. "Just as we consider earthly creatures as 'a brother,' and 'sister,' why should we not talk about an 'extraterrestrial brother'? It would still be part of creation."
In the interview by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Funes said that such a notion "doesn't contradict our faith" because aliens would still be God's creatures. Ruling out the existence of aliens would be like "putting limits" on God's creative freedom, he said.
The interview, headlined "The extraterrestrial is my brother," covered a variety of topics including the relationship between the Roman Catholic Church and science, and the theological implications of the existence of alien life.
Funes said science, especially astronomy, does not contradict religion, touching on a theme of Pope Benedict XVI, who has made exploring the relationship between faith and reason a key aspect of his papacy.
The Bible "is not a science book," Funes said, adding that he believes the Big Bang theory is the most "reasonable" explanation for the creation of the universe. The theory says the universe began billions of years ago in the explosion of a single, super-dense point that contained all matter.
But he said he continues to believe that "God is the creator of the universe and that we are not the result of chance."
Funes urged the church and the scientific community to leave behind divisions caused by Galileo's persecution 400 years ago, saying the incident has "caused wounds."
In 1633 the astronomer was tried as a heretic and forced to recant his theory that the Earth revolved around the sun. Church teaching at the time placed Earth at the center of the universe.
"The church has somehow recognized its mistakes," he said. "Maybe it could have done it better, but now it's time to heal those wounds and this can be done through calm dialogue and collaboration."
Pope John Paul declared in 1992 that the ruling against Galileo was an error resulting from "tragic mutual incomprehension."
The Vatican Observatory has been at the forefront of efforts to bridge the gap between religion and science. Its scientist-clerics have generated top-notch research and its meteorite collection is considered one of the world's best.
The observatory, founded by Pope Leo XIII in 1891, is based in Castel Gandolfo, a lakeside town in the hills outside Rome where the pope has a summer residence. It also conducts research at an observatory at the University of Arizona, in Tucson.
Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Comments
GOD created us in his image, I see that as my being or my soul or conciousness not my body. Christ is the body of GOD, whom GOD gave as a sacrifice to us. At the time, we we're sacrificing burnt offerings to GOD to cleanse our sins. GOD sacrficed to us as a sign of love. GOD gave "man" the earth, not the heavens. There is nothing barring GOD from creating other bodies to sacrifice to other beings elsewhere on other planets. GOD is a loving, caring GOD, why wouldn't he care about all othe beings. I bet that when we do contact, we'll find that other beings put their care and grace in the hands of a supreme being or higher power such as we do in the GOD, Christ and the Holy Spirit.
With a strong scriptural understanding as given by the Holy Spirit. It is clearly shown in the scripture that there are no aliens in this universe other than the following which would be considered aliens: Angels, & these
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. " (Eph. 6:12 )
If there were aliens then they would be in need of a sacrifice because the fall of man affected the whole universe bringing death.
Gratus and Jerry 2
Logic is determining how valid something is based on facts. I would never use a computer with a 286 to do logic that a new duo processor has trouble with. There is a false assuption that humans are somehow have the wisdom, specific knowledge and data to determine how valid the existance of God is. The Bible is clear... we love Him because He first loved us.
Mankind has trouble with the concept of responsibility in a relationship (just look at the divorce rate). Man created the Christian religion from the Christian relationship. This is the difference between your viewpoints. You aren't talking about the same thing. The New Testament talks a great deal about a relationship with Jesus and with each other in the body of Christ. This is the Christian faith. Christian religion is the concept of going to church and other actions to be judged by God to see if you're good enough to get into heaven (which is contrary to what is taught in the New Testement).
There are other created beings according to the Bible (angels and those that fly around the throne). That doesn't mean they are part of this creation, part of our time frame, part of our quantum reality or whatever. It also doesn't rule any of these things out. In short, it doesn't say. Why should God explain all that when we're not taking care of what we already know like loving our neighbor as ourselves?
Well, waddaya know. Maybe I SHOULD have accepted that Web Developer position with 'Heaven's Gate'.
To say, "I cannot believe in God because I cannot know everything about Him" is utterly ridiculous and would prevent us from being able to function in the world. Imagine, I don't even know everything about myself, yet alas, against all odds, I believe I exist.
We do not have to know everything, only what is revealed.
Yes, there may be aliens but I sure don't believe it. One thing is true, we Humans are made in God's image and only we Humans have a Soul. This is clearly stated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Just like God made all types of Creatures, the Earth and all the other planets. It is God who created everything out of nothing. If there was a Big Bang, then God is the Big Banger!
Jerry 2 - I can find no fault in the logic of what you wrote on May 14. My problem is with your assumptions. You assume that by logical reasoning you can arrive at all the truth. I assume that we cannot. You assume that God is a 'man-made invention', because you cannot reason him out. I assume that he is what he says he is in the Bible, because I assume that the Bible is the Word of God.
I wish you strength with your assumptions. According to what I assume, you must have a hard time. What did CS Lewis write about himself in Surprised by Joy? This world is a dangerous place for an atheist ...
These statements are being twisted to support a belief in aliens by people who believe that "there is an intelligent being out there who desires to communicate with us and take us home to be with him..."
Yeah, there is. His name is God. His Son's name is Jesus, the original ET. Jesus not only wants you to call home, he wants you to come home.
For another important view on the alien intrusion I recommend Gary Bates and his cogent analysis at: http://www.alienintrusion.com/main.html
Read an article or interview with an open mind and don’t forget to visit the feedback on his website!
God created us in His image (Book of Genesis). We can surely comprehend that there might be life out there beside the earth. But rest assure that there will not be any life like HUMAN that God ever created. We, human, are His highest creation. The core that seperates us from other living creation is we have spirit, the spirit that God breathed when He first formed Adam. Conscience that only human would have.