Vatican says aliens could exist
By David Willey
BBC News, Rome



Father Funes says the universe is so vast that other life forms may exist
The Pope's chief astronomer says that life on Mars cannot be ruled out.

Writing in the Vatican newspaper, the astronomer, Father Gabriel Funes, said intelligent beings created by God could exist in outer space.

Father Funes, director of the Vatican Observatory near Rome, is a respected scientist who collaborates with universities around the world.

The search for forms of extraterrestrial life, he says, does not contradict belief in God.

The official Vatican newspaper headlines his article 'Aliens Are My Brother'.

'Free from sin'

Just as there are multiple forms of life on earth, so there could exist intelligent beings in outer space created by God. And some aliens could even be free from original sin, he speculates.

Asked about the Catholic Church's condemnation four centuries ago of the Italian astronomer and physicist, Galileo, Father Funes diplomatically says mistakes were made, but it is time to turn the page and look towards the future.

Science and religion need each other, and many astronomers believe in God, he assures readers.

To strengthen its scientific credentials, the Vatican is organising a conference next year to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of the author of the Origin of Species, Charles Darwin

TI: actually some Muslms hold the belief that there are other beings out there as well...so too do Hindus.
The Q says "SInging his praises what is in the heavens and the earth." The terms are broad enough to refer to angels, or what is in between. Depends on your epistemic vision...for hindus, this has never been an issue, nor for some vajrayana/mahayana buddhists...just the beings, not the worship of big G.

quote:

Originally posted by dara shikoh:
TI: actually some Muslms hold the belief that there are other beings out there as well...so too do Hindus.
The Q says "SInging his praises what is in the heavens and the earth." The terms are broad enough to refer to angels, or what is in between. Depends on your epistemic vision...for hindus, this has never been an issue, nor for some vajrayana/mahayana buddhists...just the beings, not the worship of big G.

This poses a big problem!
They might have a different religion, unless Tom Cruise already converted them.

quote:

Originally posted by Terry Ishmael:

quote:

Originally posted by dara shikoh:
TI: actually some Muslms hold the belief that there are other beings out there as well...so too do Hindus.
The Q says "SInging his praises what is in the heavens and the earth." The terms are broad enough to refer to angels, or what is in between. Depends on your epistemic vision...for hindus, this has never been an issue, nor for some vajrayana/mahayana buddhists...just the beings, not the worship of big G.

This poses a big problem!
They might have a different religion, unless Tom Cruise already converted them.

its is the Church of the Flying Spaghetti ..... check up that religion.

Where does it say that christians may be living outer space?

quote:

And some aliens could even be free from original sin, he speculates.

Jesus saved them.