Aliens Among Us: How World Religions Would Respond to Extraterrestrial Life

"What if we found life on other planets? How would the lessons of world religions fit in with the idea that aliens exist? The Bible, the Quran, Hinduism, and Buddhism are all looked at in depth to see how they might respond to the final cosmic revelation. Come with us as we talk about the philosophical, religious, and scientific effects of finding life beyond Earth. Are we the only ones in the world, or are there many other beings that make us question what creation and God mean? Let's go into the unknown together."

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Bringing Blessing

2/24/20256 min read

For hundreds of years, people have been interested in the idea of aliens and otherworldly beings, from ancient stories to modern science fiction. What if aliens really existed, though? What if we found solid proof that there is life on other planets? What would the world's religions say about this discovery? For a long time, they have told us stories about how life began and where we fit in the universe.

The Cosmic Question

Does "Alien Life" question or support religious beliefs?

Religions have always tried to solve the most important question in the world: Where did we come from? Why are we here? If alien life were found, these stories would be put to the test. Some Abrahamic faiths are Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. These religions teach that God made the world and everything in it. What if there is life somewhere else, though? Does that mean God also made aliens?

Dr. Jennifer Wiseman, an astrophysicist and senior project scientist for the Hubble Space Telescope, suggests that the discovery of extraterrestrial life could actually enrich religious understanding. In an interview with The Atlantic, she said, “The vastness of the universe, with its billions of galaxies, points to a Creator who is even more magnificent than we imagined. Finding life elsewhere could be a testament to God’s creativity.”

Similarly, Hindu cosmology, with its cyclical view of time and multiple universes, might find the idea of extraterrestrial life less disruptive. Dr. Ravi Gupta, a religion professor at Utah State University, says, "Hinduism has always believed that there might be life on other planets." The idea of lokas (worlds) and devas (holy beings) makes the universe seem full of life.

Christianity: If aliens were found, Christian beliefs, especially the idea of original sin and forgiveness, would probably need to be looked at again. Would aliens need to be saved? Would Christ's suffering cover them? A professor at Durham University named Dr. David Wilkinson has already started to look into these kinds of questions. He is the author of the book Science, Religion, and the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. Wilkinson says that the main idea of Christianity, which is that God loves everyone, might be true for all intelligent life.

Islam: Because Islam focuses on both God's oneness and the variety of creation, it might also be able to handle the discovery of life on other planets. Some experts think the Quran's creation of "other worlds" (Alam al-Ghayb) refers to life on other planets. A professor at Zayed University in Dubai named Dr. Shoaib Ahmed Malik says, "Islam's teachings could allow aliens to exist as long as they are seen as part of God's creation."

Buddhism: Buddhists believe that everything is connected and changes over time. Because of this, they might see extraterrestrial life as just another example of how complicated the world is. "Buddhism doesn't have a creation story in the same way that other religions do," says Dr. Donald Lopez, a professor of Buddhist studies at the University of Michigan. Finding aliens would be another part of the universe that is always changing.

Indian Religions: Because Indian religions often stress a close link to the Earth, they may face special problems. For many native groups, the land and the universe are very connected. Depending on how it is presented, finding life beyond Earth could either help them understand God better or make things more difficult.

Sources Consulted:

Dr. Jennifer Wiseman, The Atlantic interview on religion and extraterrestrial life.
Dr. David Wilkinson, Science, Religion, and the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence.
Pew Research Center study on religion and extraterrestrial life (2017).
Dr. Ted Peters, UFOs: God’s Chariots?.
Dr. Jill Tarter, SETI Institute.
Dr. Paul Davies, Arizona State University.
Dr. Douglas Vakoch, METI International.
Dr. Ravi Gupta, Utah State University.
Dr. Shoaib Ahmed Malik, Zayed University.
Dr. Donald Lopez, University of Michigan.

Depending on how it is understood, the finding of life beyond Earth could either make religious beliefs stronger or weaker. For some, it might make them question how special people are and how they relate to God. Some people might see it as proof of God's bigger, more inclusive plan.

A 2017 study conducted by the Pew Research Center found that 55% of Americans believe that the discovery of intelligent extraterrestrial life would not challenge their religious beliefs. However, 34% said it would. Dr. Ted Peters, a professor of systematic theology at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, has extensively studied the intersection of religion and extraterrestrial life. In his book UFOs: God’s Chariots?, he argues that “the discovery of extraterrestrial life could actually strengthen faith by revealing the vastness of God’s creation.”

Dr. Jill Tarter, co-founder of the SETI Institute (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence), thinks that finding alien life would bring people together. “It would remind us that we are part of something much larger than ourselves,” she says. “It could be a catalyst for global cooperation and understanding.”

On the other hand, Dr. Paul Davies, a physicist at Arizona State University, cautions that the discovery of extraterrestrial life could lead to existential anxiety. “If we find that we are not alone, it could force us to confront our own insignificance in the cosmos,” he says. “But it could also inspire us to think more deeply about our place in the universe.”

Curious and Controversial Ideas

Some people think that life from other planets might have its own religions. What if the aliens don't believe in one god but in a different one? What would that mean for our beliefs? "The discovery of alien religions could lead to a new era of interfaith dialogue, not just among humans, but across species," says Dr. Douglas Vakoch, president of METI International (Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence). Douglas Vakoch, president of METI International (Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence).

Another interesting idea is that Earth's religions may have already been changed by life from other worlds. Dr. Erich von Däniken is one of the researchers who thinks that old religious books and artifacts may have proof of contact with aliens. Most experts don't accept this idea, which is based on much speculation, but it makes me think about where religious ideas came from in interesting ways.

To sum up, there are many possible outcomes. Finding life in other worlds would be one of the most important events in human history. We'd have to think about who we are, how we connect with God, and our place in the world. But it could also be a chance to get smarter and more spiritual.

While we study the world even more, we might find that the answers to our most important questions are even stranger and more complicated than we thought. The search for life beyond Earth shows us that there are many different ways to live, whether alone or part of a big group.