Vatican astronomer asks: could you baptise ET?

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Vatican astronomer asks: could you baptise ET?

Postby emad » Thu Oct 13, 2005 12:36 pm

A pocket-sized book published by CTS this week addresses Catholic attitudes to extra-terrestrial life. <br><br>With increasing numbers of people believing not only in the possibility of intelligent life on other planets, but even claiming encounters with aliens, it is not surprising that the Catholic Church is beginning to explore what effect the discovery of sentient ETs might have on Christian theology.<br><br>In: Intelligent Life in the Universe? Catholic belief and the search for<br>extraterrestrial intelligent life, author Guy Consolmagno SJ, asks: <br><br>Would humans recognise intelligent life if we saw it? <br>Could we communicate with it? Should we even try? <br>Is Original Sin something that affects all intelligent beings? <br>Is Jesus Christ's redemption valid for intelligent beings throughout the universe? <br>or would other worlds have their own version of Jesus?<br>Would the Church send missionaries to ET planets?<br><br>Guy Consolmagno SJ, a Jesuit religious brother and astronomer, divides his year between the Vatican's observatory in Arizona and its older observatory at the Pope's summer residence, Castel Gandolfo, in the hills outside of Rome.<br><br>Brother Guy has advanced degrees in planetary science from MIT and the University of Arizona. He spends his time observing comets and asteroids, and does experiments with the Vatican's vast collection of meteorites ­ one of the largest in the world. He is one of a dozen Jesuit astronomers doing this work. The order been engaged in astronomy since before Galileo.<br><br>Intelligent Life in the Universe? by Brother Guy Consolmagno SJ<br>is published by: Catholic Truth Society ISBN 1-86082-343-2<br><br>© Independent Catholic News 2005<br><br><br><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://www.indcatholicnews.com/et.html">www.indcatholicnews.com/et.html</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--><br> <p></p><i></i>
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ET law enforcement chief: fire 'n' brimstone enough to

Postby emad » Thu Oct 13, 2005 12:39 pm

deal with pesky Mediterranean Cult of the Snake responsible for 99.9% of Planet Earth crime, misery and human stupidity since the year dot? <p></p><i></i>
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Re: Vatican astronomer asks: could you baptise ET?

Postby eric144 » Thu Oct 13, 2005 1:42 pm

I thought they still believed the sun revolved round the earth. <br><br>If extra terrestials are prepared to make a donation and have lots of children, they will be welcome in the catholic church, no problem. <p></p><i></i>
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...

Postby Ted the dog » Thu Oct 13, 2005 1:51 pm

LOL!! What an awesome article!! I love how the first thing that pops into their heads is, "Can we convert them?!!" WTF?! <p></p><i></i>
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their problem is being able to convert "intelligent&quo

Postby nashvillebrook » Thu Oct 13, 2005 2:45 pm

period. otherwise they wouldn't have to go after ET. <br><br>okay, that's my snark.<br><br>seriously, the vatican knows more about the REAL world than we'll ever know. if they are preparing to baptize ET, well, then, "isn't that special?"<br><br>the flavor of christianity that holds jesus as prince rather than pauper is what they are trying to protect. or maybe that's backwards. at any rate, you can find both liberation and salvery in the dogma. if ET suddenly showed up it would seriously interrupt OUR image of ourselves (thank you SRI) and we'd have to either evolve our conceptual framework or THEIRS. since they would be the ones with superior technology, guess who gets to evolve. might put "the church" out of business if they don't recognize where their teachings lead. <br><br>religions that preface humans as serving a "lord" are going to be in deep doodoo. religions that take the essence of humanity to be diverse and as limitless as the universe, will thrive. for a LONG time, folks have been saying that the "slave" religions are due for a make-over. should be interesting. <br> <p></p><i></i>
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Re: their problem is being able to convert "intelligent

Postby slimmouse » Thu Oct 13, 2005 3:43 pm

<br> Religion = Restriction of knowledge to the masses. <br> <br> Quite enough said really, except that this ignorance mongering has recently ( last 500 years or so ) found a gaggle of new allies in other "official" forms of Bullshit.<br><br> Such as "official" science, "official" Pharmecology, "official" energy technology, "official" news. "official" economics ( Banking)<br><br> Anyone see the common thread in these, besides the ignorance mongering, and thus the contempt shown for Mr average ? <br><br> Yes youve guessed it folks. That which bleeds us all dry in the same grinding, relentless, avoricious fashion that is the hallmark of those who consider theirselves our superiors; and relegate practically 99.9% of humanity to the category of "useless eaters" - give or take a small percentage of water carriers ?<br><br> $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ <p></p><i></i>
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Lemmesee...

Postby banned » Thu Oct 13, 2005 4:17 pm

...historically the response of the Jesus Christers has always been to harangue, threaten, and if necessary burn newly encountered human groups to convince them to 'convert', then often to enslave them, destroy their way of life (eg California Indians in the Missions), reduce their numbers, and make sure those who aren't killed or outright enslaved are under the thumb of the clergy to keep them, insofar as possible, poor and ignorant and up to their asses in children they can barely support (see "Monty Python's Meaning of Life"). <br><br>Anybody see any indication that the 21st Century RC Church under the papacy of Benny the Rat would depart from that historic precedent if faced with extraterrestrials?<br><br>Nope.<br><br>ET, phone home--for military backup, when you see those black-robed missionaries headed your way. Unfortunately, the Chumash, Ohlone, Miwok, etc. weren't able to call in an air strike from Alpha Centauri when Junipero Serra came calling.<br><br> <p></p><i></i>
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thing is, with the right information, no one

Postby nashvillebrook » Thu Oct 13, 2005 4:28 pm

HAS to be a slave to "official" anything. it's part of our collective history that freedom is but an idea away in times of peace -- in times of conflict it takes ideas and action.<br><br>my thing is it just feels better to combine ideas and action. <br><br>on energy: i WISH i had an underground house with geo-thermal heating. but i don't, some i'm working toward making my little cape into a more effcient home -- wood-burning stove, passive solar rooms, insulation -- common sense stuff. we traded in our gas-guzzling sports car for a hybrid. damn that felt good!<br><br>on news: does mainstream news "work" for anyone here? we gave up cable b/c it wasn't getting used. we never turned on the television except to watch the Daily Show. the radio and the internet is our main source of news b/c, well, it works better. and i don't have to plant my ass anywhere to be informed. i can go about my day with the radio on. <br><br>on pharmacology: didn't have health insurance for many years and HAD to go alternative. i'm lucky to have it now, i guess -- but i'm basically homebound b/c my health is severely fucked after an unfortunate summer of medical mistakes. this is an area that NEEDS re-visioning!<br><br>on science: it used to be that people were expected to be educated in arts and sciences in order to be fully-functioning citizens. i hated it at the time but was lucky to have lots of science in school -- plenty enough to know that science is a racket like anything else. there's in-groups and out-groups. there's good ideas that will advance society and there's bad science that only advances the career of those involved. science, imo, is one area that has benefitted from digital communications. you don't have to spend your life in the periodicals room of the library to have access to new ideas. <br><br>on banking/economics: don't have enough money to worry about this on a personal level, but it's a major problem for society. don't even know where to start talking about this. i used to be a proponent of real estate. with the sudden boom, this isn't such a good idea. keep your money in things that you can USE and enhance life. we are headed for a major disruption in economics. i think there's going to be a shift. a downsizing. and i'm laughing at the mcmansion dwellers b/c we'll be seeing them in bankruptcy court in no time. all those interest-only adjustable rate mortgages are going to sink the suburbs. ah, natural selection.<br><br>yes! there is contempt for mr/ms average b/c we pose a threat to the MYTHS that keep mr/ms exceptional employed. but i don't much care if the ptbs have contempt for me. i'm not their slave and never will be. <br><br><!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br><br>power to the (average) people!<br><br><br><br><br><br> <p></p><i></i>
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Re: I agree with everything youre saying but.....

Postby slimmouse » Thu Oct 13, 2005 4:44 pm

<br><br> It still gets my goat up <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :\ --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/ohwell.gif ALT=":\"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br><br> Then again, who the hell am I to talk. Before the magic lantern came along, I was most definitely part of the problem.<br><br> All praise to the silicone chip at least<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START >D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/grin.gif ALT=" >D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>
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It's right on schedule though

Postby monster » Thu Oct 13, 2005 5:22 pm

for them to be taking even the idea of E.T.'s seriously. We are being primed for something, with the new t.v. shows about aliens, so forth, a general lessening of the "giggle factor." Werner von Braun said that aliens would be the next "enemy," after terrorists:<br><br><!--EZCODE QUOTE START--><blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr><br>American "Enemy's List" to Sustain War Mode and Pentagon Budgets<br><br>Soviet Union<br>Terorrists<br>Asteroids<br>Extraterrestrials<br><br>Q: THAT IS WHY HE GAVE YOU AN ENEMY'S LIST THAT WOULD BE PERPETUATED?<br><br>That's right. He repeated this continuously. He would say that starting where I entered the industry with the supposed Russian threat, but never actually existed ­ the Russians were made to be the enemy. Then there would be terrorists, Third World country threats. there would be an asteroid threat. They might even say to us to try to influence the public into believing that there are many reasons for why we should put weapons in space. There might be a reason to protect our assets in space.<br><br>But, the real one that he was always holding off on and would say again with tears filling his eyes every time he said this to me repeatedly was that the last card they are holding is the 'alien card,' the extraterrestrial card and none of them are hostile. In any way he could say those words, the intonation was always on, 'None of them are hostile. It's all a lie.' So, in other words, all the enemies that have been presented to us along the way ­ it's a lie with always the intention of seizing the high ground to keep the truth from us.<br><br><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://www.nancyredstar.com/wmd/Anti_Satellite.htm">www.nancyredstar.com/wmd/...ellite.htm</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--><br><hr></blockquote><!--EZCODE QUOTE END--> <p></p><i></i>
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interesting version of the quote

Postby glubglubglub » Thu Oct 13, 2005 5:27 pm

in that the inference is that the real ETs aren't hostile. Wonder if that's his actual intent.<br><br>In any case, we'll know we've defeated the aliens when they mass-convert to Catholicism...<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rollin --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/roll.gif ALT=":rollin"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>
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Vatican astronomer asks

Postby somebody » Thu Oct 13, 2005 7:53 pm

Those have got to be the most ridiculous questions ever uttered!! <br><!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rollin --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/roll.gif ALT=":rollin"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>
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