eldavojohn's Journal: Vatican Prepares for Possibility of Extraterrestrial Life

How robust is your religion? Have all the boundary cases been tested and thought out or does it have more holes and contradictions than the USSR's Penal System? Well, the Vatican is shoring up some questionable parts of Catholicism in regards to those pesky extraterrestrials that may or may not exist. In fact, some major theologians are speculating that each sentient creature would need its own Jesus Christ to save them from certain doom while others claim that it was a one shot deal for everybody. Still others speculate that there could be an alien race that never committed sin. Guess the movies have it wrong. A recent Vatican Newsletter proclaims: "The extraterrestrial is my brother."

An interesting question

[andphi]

I've considered this before, believe it or not.

I suppose that one's opinion on whether or not alien, sapient species have their own Messiahs boils down to one's opinion on certain passages in Scripture and one's general views on Salvation.

My personal views are as follows:

First,

God holds all people accountable according to what they know. God will deal rightly with those existing in a pre-Christian civilization, be they the ancient Maya or the Cat-people of Alpha Centauri. The Bible says of Abraham (and this

I've Also Dwelt On This Subject

[eldavojohn]

After my lengthy stint with Christianity, I must say I disagree with what you are saying. This is also a primary reason why I am no longer Catholic.

God holds all people accountable according to what they know. God will deal rightly with those existing in a pre-Christian civilization, be they the ancient Maya or the Cat-people of Alpha Centauri. The Bible says of Abraham (and this is a paraphrase), he believed and it was credited to him as righteousness.

That's a pretty serious paraphrase (borderline heresy if my staunch Roman Catholic mother heard that). You're going to have to quote The Bible here because I think you're reaching for this liberal view of how salvation works and there's not any real solid account of this officially. Some things might be bent to mean it but I'm not convinced.

Allow me to

Re:

[andphi]

>After my lengthy stint with Christianity, I must say I disagree with what you are saying. This is also a primary >reason why I am no longer Catholic.

>>God holds all people accountable according to what they know. God will deal rightly with those existing in a pre->>Christian civilization, be they the ancient Maya or the Cat-people of Alpha Centauri. The Bible says of Abraham (and >>this is a paraphrase), he believed and it was credited to him as righteousness.

>That's a pretty ser

The Bigger question:

[Shadow Wrought]

Does Santa have to deliver all their Christmas gifts as well, or will they have to provide their own Saint for that? ;-)