Vatican: It's OK to believe in aliens

[Gan]

VATICAN CITY (AP) - The Vatican's chief astronomer says that believing in aliens does not contradict faith in God.


The Rev. Jose Gabriel Funes, the Jesuit director of the Vatican Observatory, says that the vastness of the universe means it is possible there could be other forms of life outside Earth, even intelligent ones.

In an interview published Tuesday by Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Funes says that such a notion "doesn't contradict our faith" because aliens would still be God's creatures.

The interview was headlined "The extraterrestrial is my brother." Funes said that ruling out the existence of aliens would be like "putting limits" on God's creative freedom.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D90KSE100&show_article=1

___________________________________________

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3/3strangedays/warf.gif

[radamanthys]

I'm pretty sure the former catholic born-again I used to date may have actually been one.

Man, was that a bad move.

[Tisket]

You beat me too it, I just posted this in the evolution thread. Damn slow tonight.

[Stanley Burrell]

I mean, you'd figure they would at least practice His Unholy contraceptive methods, what with our Earthbound sexually transmitted prions undoubtedly offing the Great Zerg Rush of 2664.

http://images.channeladvisor.com/Sell/SSProfiles/13000157/Images/30/cd%20war%20of%20the%20worlds.jpg

Both a daring and rather dashing move by the Vatican.

[Tisket]

I'd like to reiterate that I find it odd the vatican has it's own astronomer. Odd but cool.

[thefarmer]

I'd like to reiterate that I find it odd the vatican has it's own astronomer. Odd but cool.

Just because he uses a telescope to peer at naked little boys across town doesn't make him an astronomer..

[Back]

Can religion evolve? Sure it can. As it is a human construct and humans can still evolve.

I take this as good news.

[Miscast]

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy alien neighbor.

[CrystalTears]

Jesus was an alien.

[Clove]

Can religion evolve? Sure it can. As it is a human construct and humans can still evolve.

I take this as good news.STFU Back.

[Celephais]

Jesus was an alien.
http://www.ecovoxrecords.com/noodlemuffin/alienjesus/AlienJesus1.jpg

[Parkbandit]

Jesus was an alien.

To be honest.. wasn't he really?

According to the Bible, God created the Heavens and the Earth. Clearly he wasn't from a place he had to create.. so by definition, God is an alien. Since Jesus is God's son, doesn't that make him an alien as well?

Just sayin...

[CrystalTears]

My grandfather has theorized that Jesus could have been an alien. Not sure if he was joking or drunk at the time, but if he can imagine it, it's not impossible to consider.

[Deathravin]

To be honest.. wasn't he really?

According to the Bible, God created the Heavens and the Earth. Clearly he wasn't from a place he had to create.. so by definition, God is an alien. Since Jesus is God's son, doesn't that make him an alien as well?

Just sayin...

Small point of clarification: Jesus IS God for Catholics. God is forever, He isn't from anywhere. God created man in his own image...

http://www.skierpage.com/images/southparkgod.jpg

[Parkbandit]

If God created us in his own image.. then he looks like a man.. and thus had to come from somewhere. He clearly didn't come from Earth, since he made the planet. This is the definition of an Alien.

[Clove]

If God created us in his own image.. then he looks like a man.. and thus had to come from somewhere. He clearly didn't come from Earth, since he made the planet. This is the definition of an Alien.You really shouldn't try to interpret something you don't believe. By your literal interpretation that would make God a hermaphrodite since immediately after the "own image" passage it goes on to say "male and female he created them."

[Gan]

Louis Farakahn believes that Jesus will come down on a spacecraft and swoop up all the believers in the NOI version of rapture.

And yes, I find it hypocritically hillarious that the Vatican has an astronomer.

[Deathravin]

According to Catholics, God is forever and neverending. He is from the kingdom of Heaven, which is where ... some... of us go for eternity and thus is the true home of the human race.

The people on earth are the aliens.

[Stanley Burrell]

Small point of clarification: Jesus IS God for Catholics. God is forever, He isn't from anywhere. God created man in his own image...

http://www.skierpage.com/images/southparkgod.jpg

He doth speaketh to me!

God: [to Stan] You will hit puberty, but you will never have a period, because you are a boy…
[pauses as he looks over Stan]
God: …With titties.

[Deathravin]

The only problem with that episode... God proved he existed. Without faith, God is nothing. Without God nothing exists. Proof of God = either proof of the non-existance of God, or the Universe blinking out of existance. And since the were all still... existing... that wasn't God. Thus proving God does exist, and so that is God, thus proving he doesn't exist, so it's not... oh no I've gone crosseyed.

[AnticorRifling]

The only problem with that episode... God proved he existed. Without faith, God is nothing. Without God nothing exists. Proof of God = either proof of the non-existance of God, or the Universe blinking out of existance. And since the were all still... existing... that wasn't God. Thus proving God does exist, and so that is God, thus proving he doesn't exist, so it's not... oh no I've gone crosseyed.


Sounds like the babble fish argument from the hitch hiker's guide to the galaxy to me.

[Khariz]

I'd like to reiterate that I find it odd the vatican has it's own astronomer. Odd but cool.

Actually the Vatican has hundreds of astronomers. This guy is the Chief Astronomer.

http://www.vaticanobservatory.org/

Edit:

Here's the staff just at the main observatory:


Personnel and Research
José G. Funes Director of the Vatican Observatory
Christopher J. Corbally Vice Director, VORG
George V. Coyne President of the Vatican Observatory Foundation
Richard P. Boyle Guy J. Consolmagno
Alessandro Omizzolo William R. Stoeger
Andrew P. Whitman, Administrator for VORG John B. Hollywood, Assistant to VOF President
James Bowes, Superior of Jesuit Community, Tucson Juan Casanovas
Giuseppe Koch, Vice Director, Specola Vaticana Sabino Maff

Other Staff
Federico Balzoni Romano Reggio
Francesco Rossi

Emeritus Staff
Martin F. McCarthy

[Gan]

Sounds like the babble fish argument from the hitch hiker's guide to the galaxy to me.
Very good. He's been throwing up Douglas Adams references for several posts now.



God refuses to prove that (S)He exists because proof denies faith and without faith God is nothing. Man then counters that the Babel fish is a dead giveaway because it could not have evolved by chance. It therefore proves God exists, but by God's own arguments God does not exists. God realizes (S)He hadn't thought of that and promptly disappears in a puff of logic. It should be noted that most leading theologians claim that Colluphid's argument is "a load of dingo's kidneys".
Retrieved from "http://hitchhikers.wikia.com/wiki/Babel_Fish (http://hitchhikers.wikia.com/wiki/Babel_Fish)"

[Deathravin]

Well two. That and the 'minus couple million'...

I sort of like the radio series version of that babel fish/god thing better.


"Ah, but the Babel fish is a dead givaway isn't it, It proves you exist and therfore you don't. Q.E.D."
"Oh dear" says God, "I hadn't thought of that" and promptly vanishes in a puff of logic.

It's just ironic and strangly amusing in almost every word.

[Tisket]

Actually the Vatican has hundreds of astronomers. This guy is the Chief Astronomer.

http://www.vaticanobservatory.org/

Edit:

Here's the staff just at the main observatory:


Personnel and Research
José G. Funes Director of the Vatican Observatory
Christopher J. Corbally Vice Director, VORG
George V. Coyne President of the Vatican Observatory Foundation
Richard P. Boyle Guy J. Consolmagno
Alessandro Omizzolo William R. Stoeger
Andrew P. Whitman, Administrator for VORG John B. Hollywood, Assistant to VOF President
James Bowes, Superior of Jesuit Community, Tucson Juan Casanovas
Giuseppe Koch, Vice Director, Specola Vaticana Sabino Maff

Other Staff
Federico Balzoni Romano Reggio
Francesco Rossi

Emeritus Staff
Martin F. McCarthy

That is so cool. Catholicism +10

[Gan]

You can never go wrong with a Douglas Adams quote. :)

[Clove]

Actually the Vatican has hundreds of astronomers. This guy is the Chief Astronomer.

http://www.vaticanobservatory.org/

Edit:

Here's the staff just at the main observatory:


Personnel and Research
José G. Funes Director of the Vatican Observatory
Christopher J. Corbally Vice Director, VORG
George V. Coyne President of the Vatican Observatory Foundation
Richard P. Boyle Guy J. Consolmagno
Alessandro Omizzolo William R. Stoeger
Andrew P. Whitman, Administrator for VORG John B. Hollywood, Assistant to VOF President
James Bowes, Superior of Jesuit Community, Tucson Juan Casanovas
Giuseppe Koch, Vice Director, Specola Vaticana Sabino Maff

Other Staff
Federico Balzoni Romano Reggio
Francesco Rossi

Emeritus Staff
Martin F. McCarthyOvercompensating for Gallileo?

[Gan]

I thought the Bible said it was wrong to delve into mysticism, socerery, astronomy, fortune telling or the like?

:wtf2:

Where's ClydeR when you need him...

[Tisket]

I think that's astrology.

[Deathravin]

Jesus... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rs1vV7HWOvM)

[Gan]

So why would a church need all those 'astronomers'?

[CrystalTears]

So why would a church need all those 'astronomers'?
Looking for Jesus' return. Pft. Have I not taught you anything?

[Gan]

They need to hire Jodie Foster.

[CrystalTears]

Jesus doesn't make violin-sounding noises, nor does Jesus look like her father, so she would be useless.

[Deathravin]

I was thinking the same thing... Are they trying to FIND heaven or God or something?

Literally the only reason I can think of is that they have too much money and still feel guilty about Gallileo.


Imagine if they found the doomsday asteriod. Would they tell anybody?

[Parkbandit]

You really shouldn't try to interpret something you don't believe. By your literal interpretation that would make God a hermaphrodite since immediately after the "own image" passage it goes on to say "male and female he created them."


I didn't even come close to that literal interpretation. Maybe you shouldn't interpret other people's interpretations.. since you suck at it. :P

[Clove]

I didn't even come close to that literal interpretation. Maybe you shouldn't interpret other people's interpretations.. since you suck at it. :PVery well, continue looking like an ass while you pretend to be a Biblical scholar.

[Gan]

Jesus doesn't make violin-sounding noises, nor does Jesus look like her father, so she would be useless.

Depends on your version of the second coming (if you're a pre-milliniumist).

Watch him come again where you least expect it. (boy that didnt come out right).

[Deathravin]

Unfortunatly, the Bible says that nobody will know the date of the second coming.

So every day some wackjob is saying the second coming is today... screwing it up for the rest of us.

[Gan]

I wonder if there's odds on him reappearing on YouTube...

[CrystalTears]

What if God was one of us...

[Gan]

Well, he did start the picture thread.

[Eoghain]

What if God was one of us...

...just a slob like one of us.

[ViridianAsp]

Hell why not, I mean if God created this place, he could have created others, I don't see why they would need to confirm it isn't a 'sin'. I think that's damn funny.

[ViridianAsp]

...just a slob like one of us.


I hate that damn song.

[Drunken Durfin]

So why would a church need all those 'astronomers'?

Mostly for dates. There are numerous holy days that appear in the calendar year and it is important that they be celebrated at the correct time. The best way to determine this is through astrological observation.

Related reading:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregorian_calendar

[Parkbandit]

Very well, continue looking like an ass while you pretend to be a Biblical scholar.

If you took what I posted as someone who was a bible scholar.. then sorry I confused you so. I'm far from a bible scholar and wouldn't begin to pretend to be one.

[TheEschaton]

The oldest Observatory in the Western World is at the Specola Vaticana, and has been under Jesuit direction since 1582. There have been many, many noteworthy Catholic astronomers throughout history, though admittedly most of them have been Jesuits.

The Jesuits "see God in all things." Science, to them, is indicative of a Divine Hand. This is distinguishable from the idea that science is derived from religion - it's not. The Jesuits simply say science, standing alone as it has, still can reveal the handiwork of God. There's even Jesuit astrophysicists.

[Back]

There are many links to science, astronomy and alchemy for example, to religion. Even in Native American, North and South continents, cultures. I imagine people back then sleeping under the stars and making stories that would comfort themselves as they passed through the darkness of night, the vulnerability of sleep, and the mystery of dreams.

[Deathravin]

But the Catholic church has burned people for sugguesting the Earth wasn't the center of the universe.

To me it's sort of like if we found out that the Vatican had teams of archeologists digging up dinosaur bones.

[TheEschaton]

A) The Jesuit embrace of science occured partially in response to the secular rise in science. After the Vatican discovered Galileo was right, the Church embraced science as something which shows the glory of God, and sought to be leaders in the scientific community not to alter the results of scientific experiment, but to show how science revealed Divinity to man.

B) The Catholic Church long ago accepted evolution, and that the biblical account of Genesis was metaphor, not truth. It's only evangelicals who take it as absolute truth, please don't lump us into the same category as them.

-TheE-
P.S. There've already been Jesuit paleontologists, such as Pierre Teilhard de Chardin.

[Deathravin]

I did not know about the metaphor for Genesis. That's really pretty progressive for the church.

I have some evangelicals in my wife's family that bug me sometimes. They take everything in the bible for absolute fact except "judge not, lest ye be judged".

[Latrinsorm]

But the Catholic church has burned people for sugguesting the Earth wasn't the center of the universe.And the Pilgrims were friends with the Indians.

[Back]

Pythagoras is to blame.

[Stanley Burrell]

Pythagoras is to blame.

Without Pythagorean theorem, Jonnie Goodboy Tyler could never have overthrown John Travolta. When you understand the reference, you saw a GREAT MOVIE I DON'T CARE WHAT ANYONE SAYS.

[Back]

Without Pythagorean theorem, Jonnie Goodboy Tyler could never have overthrown John Travolta. When you understand the reference, you saw a GREAT MOVIE I DON'T CARE WHAT ANYONE SAYS.

I’ll say he has maintained a decade, no, two decades of coolness.

“I just want to know what a $5 milkshake tastes like”

[Deathravin]

A) The Jesuit embrace of science occured partially in response to the secular rise in science. After the Vatican discovered Galileo was right, the Church embraced science as something which shows the glory of God, and sought to be leaders in the scientific community not to alter the results of scientific experiment, but to show how science revealed Divinity to man.

B) The Catholic Church long ago accepted evolution, and that the biblical account of Genesis was metaphor, not truth. It's only evangelicals who take it as absolute truth, please don't lump us into the same category as them.

-TheE-
P.S. There've already been Jesuit paleontologists, such as Pierre Teilhard de Chardin.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution_and_the_Roman_Catholic_Church

Interesting read.