A UFO lands on the White House lawn. In what ways would this affect believers in Christianity?

Well, I’m Jewish, so I can’t say. But me, I wouldn’t be thinking about religion if they had a cookbook called “To Serve Man.”

I don’t know about Christians in general, but I know a lot of people would jump on the Obama is an alien! bandwagon. Again.

I have to believe that they would accept it into their beliefs as they have many other world changing events…. like finding out the earth isn’t the center of the universe, or that the planet is actually flat.

I’m Christian and it would change nothing because there are many other life forms out there and many intellegent ones. I expect it will occur soon though I’m not sure it will be the White House where they decide to show the world.

Who says that aliens can not be compatable with Christian beliefs?

While not a Christian this quoate comes to mind.

” In my fathers house there are many mansions.”

Maybe one of those ‘mansions’ is another civialization of beings from the far reaches of the universe.

Business as usual as we all know God created the Universe including all the little green men from outer space. .

@ucme

That is very disrespect of those that believe in Christ.

@JustmeAman Sorry, did I break your concentration? That would I expect, shake the belief of christians. Which, was the question asked was it not?

@ucme

No it did not break any concentration it was just totally thoughtless and rude.

@ucme I’m not Christian and I gotta admit that that was rather tasteless, rude and – for me the most important aspect – humorless.

Now back to the subject at hand…

Most Christians I would imagine would be able to accept this with little or no trouble. However its the few radicals (as it is with any beliefs/religions) that people should be wary about as their responses are unpredictable, which may be the most frightening aspect about them.

@JustmeAman Yes of course you are indeed correct, it was thoughtless & rude. I shall, given time get over it i’m sure.

@Winters GA!!

Like others, I think that this would affect Christians differently dependent on what their concept of Christianity is. Unlike @Winters, I’m inclined to believe that many, not a few, Christians would respond with suspicion. Maybe most. Unfortunately, I think this is a byproduct of the fact that many of the loudest and most successfully public Christian speakers are successful because they’re firestarters, preferring to use fear to draw people into the belief as opposed to reason, which is harder to listen to when things are upset in a significant way. This would be a significant upset, and I fear the influence of fundamentalists in this case.

Where do you think man came from? Anyway many Christians would be affected but it is because they don’t understand the Universe and only go by the Bible. There is so much more available to man than the Bible.

There are many, many Christians, myself included, who would not have their faith affected in the slightest by such a thing. In fact, I don’t know one who would. Christianity does not preclude the possibility of life on other planets. In reality, most of us would be amazed if there were not life elsewhere. Can anyone point me to anything written in accepted Canon that even mentions this? I don’t recall ever reading anything that would deny the possibility. It seems to me that the OP is a little bit offensive, suggesting that all Christians are backwards and narrow minded. There are probably some people who would be upset and disallusioned, but certainly not the majority.

Many people who aren’t Christians, or even religious, don’t believe that there is life on other planets. Might it have been more correct to phrase the question based upon people who don’t accept this possibility in general? It seems like flame-bait and quite discriminatory to phrase this query based upon Christians only.

@eden2eve

In what ways , if any , would this event affect Christian belief systems?

How is this offensive at all? It implies nothing. I think that this more reveals the problem with assuming any intent in an OP – it suggests nothing about Christians as backwards or narrow minded, but instead you seem to be overly sensitive to a question which asks you to assess your Christianity in relation to Christianity in general (if such a thing can accurately be described).

However, of course, this is me assuming something about your post. ;-)

The only issue I have with questions like these that question religion, is that it seem that they all question Christianity. As I stated earlier, I’m not Christian, but I think its a bit unfair that Christianity is the one to come either under attack or come into question over and over again. Why not Islam, the religion with the most followers currently? Or Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, etc? Or just open to or directed at all religions?

Just saying.

Bottom line, we ‘know’ nothing for certain.

Sooo, of course inquiring minds want to know, but, really…all debate and discussion would completely cease when applying this ‘truth.’ lol

Aaah humans, always needing to ‘know’. haha

@Winters

I think that it’s that questions like this really only relate to religions where there is a central deity or deities involved, which generally describe the deity or deities through the relationship to mankind. Religions that are without any deity are more about exploration of the selfs relation to that which is unknown or otherwise outside the self.

And I think Christianity is predominant here because, in most English-speaking and western nations, there was a foundational presence of Christianity, and therefore in threads that are dominated by western membership, Christianity will be the most discussed religion.

@Aster This question did not ask me to asses my version of Christianity. It lumped all Christians together as a group, assuming that they all think the same, which we all know is not rational or logical.

Also, as @Winters said so succinctly, “I think its a bit unfair that Christianity is the one to come either under attack or come into question over and over again. Why not Islam, the religion with the most followers currently? Or Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, etc? Or just open to or directed at all religions?”

@iamthemob, there are several other prominent religions in our cultures, such as Judaism and Muslim, who also worship a central deity. I just get the feeling that it seems to be more “fun” to bash the Christians on Fluther. I’m still trying to understand this phenomenon.

And you are right in saying that you are assuming… I am not “overly” sensitive, even if you want to think so. I’m not invested in this topic. I just like to see people choose to word their discussions more authentically.

@eden2eve

I think you know that I share your concerns on the generalization of Christianity/bashing of Christians in general. ;-)

However, I feel like because the OP is asked in a manner that specifically allows and indicates the possibility that it doesn’t say anything about Christians at all indicates that nothing can be said about Christians as they can’t be generalized.

I totally agree that it often happens that people ask about Christians as if one could say clearly what they are to make it sensible. This isn’t really one of them, and I think that we should recognize that, as if we don’t we’re succumbing to PC limitations that put a muzzle on productive discussion. I think your concern is valid, but this question isn’t really one of the ones showing the bias or assumptions you’re discussing (also, see above regarding other religions).

@iamthemob

I agree.

I resonate more with the eastern philosophies myself, and actually I think many are not aware that the Buddha proceeded Christ by 600 years.

There have been wise men forever and all ‘pure’ philosophies trumpet the same messages, it is mankind that has seasoned truth with his own array of exotic spices and has tainted the original recipe.

@eden2eve ” It seems to me that the OP is a little bit offensive, suggesting that all Christians are backwards and narrow minded. There are probably some people who would be upset and disallusioned, but certainly not the majority.

Many people who aren’t Christians, or even religious, don’t believe that there is life on other planets. Might it have been more correct to phrase the question based upon people who don’t accept this possibility in general? It seems like flame-bait and quite discriminatory to phrase this query based upon Christians only.”
Geez; take a nap or a pill or somethin.

I believe it would depend on each individual Christian themselves. Obviously the most conservative Christians would most likely claim intelligent life outside of earth does not exist so these “aliens” would most likely be “demons” to them. I know this for a fact because I was actually a member of several Christian Q & A websites and what I’ve said above was the typical response.

As far as most Christians go I can’t really say. I grew up as a Christian myself and read my Bible and I do not even have an opinion anymore on whether “alien intelligent life” could be in par with most Christian denominations. I still identify myself as a theist but not as Christian or follower of any religion anymore.

@Aster I really believe the answer to your question would be on a more individual basis since there are so many different Christian denominations and even more personal opinions of each individual Christian themselves that tend to stray from what they are taught. Reincarnation is another example of what I’m saying. Even though most Christian denominations and certain Bible verses deny there being any truth in the possibility of reincarnation a recent poll has shown that around 40% of self-described Christians still believe in it or at least as a possibilty.

@JustmeAman Yes there are alot of idiots on this website as well. Because they had a bad experience with the religion they were brought up with they single out any belief system whether spiritual or religious as all being in the same category. It is hard to even have a rational discussion about any paranormal/spiritual phenomenom without so many retards on here hi-jacking the threads with their cynical disrespectful remarks.

For this reason I am only willing to talk about certain topics in pm’s with certain people. To many on here “the Bible is wrong scientifically” so because “Christianity is wrong” (hypothetically speaking here) we will lump all spiritual beliefs which we have not fully investigated into one category: Irrational, so there is no room for discussion in a civil intelligent manner on these topics on here.

Well, I’m willing to bet their first words would be, “Oh God!”. Now wether or not that means they have a new God on their hands is anybody’s guess.