Apparently this question is putting many Christian sects into a tizzy. Given Christianity’s Earth-centric views, and species-centric doctrine, if we discovered that, say, dolphins were intelligent and sapient, or if we discovered alien life from another planet, would they be “saved”? Would they have their own Alien Christ to preach to them the gospel? Or would every sapient creature in the universe — save humans that believe in Jesus — burn in the pits of hell for eternity?
The Vatican does not have an official position on alien life forms, but a number of its scientists have spoken out on the issue. Father Jose Funes, director of the Vatican Observatory told the Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, that the possibility of “brother extraterrestrials” was not incompatible with Catholic theology.
William Stroeger, an astrophysicist at the Vatican Observatory Research Group and a Jesuit priest, agreed: “There might be fundamentalists for whom the two things are incompatible but mainline congregations – Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists – would not have a problem with this,” he said.
Stroeger pointed out that the Catechism introduced after the second Vatican council states that there can be no conflict between science and religion. “If there’s a contradiction it means that we haven’t understood or interpreted one of them correctly,” he said.
Go on, guess which one he means.
From what I can tell, there are several possible answers to this question from a Christian perspective.
1. There is no intelligent life of the physical “flesh and blood” variety outside of earth (angels and demons are intelligent, non-human life, but not physical in the same way that humans are).
2. Jesus’ death and resurrection can only redeem humans, because Jesus is God and human. If there are intelligent, physical, non-human extraterrestrial life forms, God would have a separate plan for redeeming them from sin. Extraterrestrial beings may have their own equivalent to Jesus, the crucifixion, and the resurrection.
3. Faith in Jesus’ teaching, death, and resurrection is the only way of salvation for any physical, intelligent life form, so extraterrestrials would not be saved unless they knew about and believed in the Christian gospel.
4. Extraterrestrial races may have never fallen from grace like humanity, so they may be free of original sin and not require saving. On the other hand, they may be irredeemably evil and demonic, or not have immortal souls at all even if they are intelligent.
All of this is very speculative, but then again so is everything about possible extraterrestrial life, even from a strictly scientific point of view. If any evidence of intelligent extraterrestrial life actually is found, then it will become a much more urgent and relevant issue.
In my view God’s law is to treat others as you wish to be treated. The life of Jesus is a manifestation of this law and God’s love. Salvation to be meaningful must be a gift to all beings human and alien, an yes porpoises too. Some may have to travel a longer road than others, but if God is good, (which I believe he is), all must eventually be saved. This is God’s direct revelation to me written on my soul (which is me) and no “Holy” book and no church like the one that used to burn people at the stake or that tortured Galileo can change my mind. I am sorry if this offends anyone but the Catholic Church was wrong and Giordano Bruno was right. Burning him at the stake only added more proof that he was right. There will be more atheistic truth seekers in Heaven than theistic thugs.
Robert Pike
Recovered Ex-catholic
While I don’t believe there is such a place as heaven, this phrase makes me smile to no end.
Hello everyone recently saw an ebook from an author named Mark Leo with the title “Jesus Extraterretrial” someone has seen and read? this is the site of the author, he studies the subject over 13 years. his website is http://jesusextraterrestrial.com/ talks all about it. is very interesting, I would buy his book, but first wanted to know if it really is good, it is selling U.S. $ 0.99 on the Kindle version. someone could tell me about?