VATICAN CITY (AP) — Believing that the universe may contain alien life does not contradict a faith in God, the Vatican's chief astronomer said in an interview published Tuesday.
The Rev. Jose Gabriel Funes, the Jesuit director of the Vatican Observatory, was quoted as saying the vastness of the universe means it is possible there could be other forms of life outside Earth, even intelligent ones.
"How can we rule out that life may have developed elsewhere?" Funes said. "Just as we consider earthly creatures as 'a brother,' and 'sister,' why should we not talk about an 'extraterrestrial brother'? It would still be part of creation."
In the interview by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Funes said that such a notion "doesn't contradict our faith" because aliens would still be God's creatures. Ruling out the existence of aliens would be like "putting limits" on God's creative freedom, he said.
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Great article - I believe there are man galaxies out there and may have, probable have, intelligent life in them - The universe is so vast, someday our great, great, great grandchildren will have lots more knowledge about them than we do. Thanks for expanding our thinking - Blessings, Alice Elsner
ReplyDeleteReminds me of something a Douglas Adams' character said in Life, the Universe, and Everything - "One of the interesting things about space is how dull it is. You see, there's so much of it and so little in it."
ReplyDeleteGuy Stevens
The original Christian rocker Larry Norman had the song U.F.O. in 1975 which said in part,
ReplyDelete"And if there's life on other planets.
I'm sure that He must know.
And He's been there once already.
And has died to save their souls."