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Yes, the film I'm talking about, and before you shout "Borat you idiot, this should be in the film forum!", it's the ideas behind it I want to chew the fat over, not the acting talent of Ms. Foster.
It has become obvious in the 'Being a Christian' thread that people feel very strongly about religion, science and the search for truth. Quite a few people have voiced, rather aggressively, their theories on life and the universe, I for one (perhaps a little excessively at times).
The main issue here is how the world reacts to the revelation of a message from outer space being received. In the film, it is stated that 95% of the worlds population believe in a higher being of some sort. Throughout there are people desperately trying to undermine and discount any claim that extra-terrestrial life exists - even when the physical evidence is staring them square in the face. People are quickly divided into religious and none religious, and in many cases violence becomes the chosen method of expression. It seems that religion is desperately seeking to destroy science through ridicule and bias. These people seem to embrace science when it suits their needs, but quickly reject it when its natural progression (and evolution) forces them to question their beliefs.
How do you think receiving a message from an extra-terrestrial source would affect the population of Earth? Do you believe this is an accurate representation of the worldwide reaction? Would such a discovery test your faith if you are a religious person, or would you adapt and integrate such theories into your beliefs? Are we alone, and what are your personal theories of off world life?
It has become obvious in the 'Being a Christian' thread that people feel very strongly about religion, science and the search for truth. Quite a few people have voiced, rather aggressively, their theories on life and the universe, I for one (perhaps a little excessively at times).
The main issue here is how the world reacts to the revelation of a message from outer space being received. In the film, it is stated that 95% of the worlds population believe in a higher being of some sort. Throughout there are people desperately trying to undermine and discount any claim that extra-terrestrial life exists - even when the physical evidence is staring them square in the face. People are quickly divided into religious and none religious, and in many cases violence becomes the chosen method of expression. It seems that religion is desperately seeking to destroy science through ridicule and bias. These people seem to embrace science when it suits their needs, but quickly reject it when its natural progression (and evolution) forces them to question their beliefs.
How do you think receiving a message from an extra-terrestrial source would affect the population of Earth? Do you believe this is an accurate representation of the worldwide reaction? Would such a discovery test your faith if you are a religious person, or would you adapt and integrate such theories into your beliefs? Are we alone, and what are your personal theories of off world life?
That's assuming another civilisation developed as we have. It is entirely possible that they could be advanced in terms of space travel but very few other areas, and depending on their society and culture it is entirely possible that they would not be prepared for conflict or the kind of weapons we have. If they were superior to us - seemingly - then conflict is even more likely because one of the major reasons for human space programs is to one day find resources and start colonies away from earth.
If another race turned up on Earth then more than likely there will be conflict - if, as some claim, the planet's religions stemmed from extraterrestrial visitors then that is a massive potential conflict point.
If another race turned up on Earth then more than likely there will be conflict - if, as some claim, the planet's religions stemmed from extraterrestrial visitors then that is a massive potential conflict point.
There is no reason to believe there should be a conflict. For there to be a conflict, a species would have to have visited us. For that to happen, this species would have to have technology far in advance of ours. So for us to start one would be suicide. Mind you, there are enough loons more than willing to strap bombs to their chests these days, so I suppose anything is possible.
I think there has to be life out there somewhere.
But I think that there is no guarantee that such life will be benevolent, or even more advanced than we are. What if we turned out to be more advanced than another race in all but a few areas?
I don't think a message would cause mass hysteria or anything because it is very intangible. Sure, get a ship in orbit or streaking across the sky and you'll get panic, but unless there is a physical prsence I don't see there being a great problem.
The moment we make contact will define the course of humanity because it will either lead to greater things or a conflict we may not be able to win.
But I think that there is no guarantee that such life will be benevolent, or even more advanced than we are. What if we turned out to be more advanced than another race in all but a few areas?
I don't think a message would cause mass hysteria or anything because it is very intangible. Sure, get a ship in orbit or streaking across the sky and you'll get panic, but unless there is a physical prsence I don't see there being a great problem.
The moment we make contact will define the course of humanity because it will either lead to greater things or a conflict we may not be able to win.
> sort out in places we already know about
And a message we recieve passivley is a problem to solve?
not to mention all the
> unexplored places of the earth that I'm sure we can destroy in one
> way or another. Like the deepest depths of the ocean.
Pretty sure they have.... Although the Seas are pretty obscure, but which is potentially more useful to humans. Space or the Sea?
No one has been
> there. I think we should take a step back and look at our world
> before we start looking at others.
Again, passive message....? Only in the past 70 years has mankind really gone into space.
I think an alien message would be denied/argued etc until realy concrete proof, at which point either mass apathy or mass hysteria would ensue. They seem to be the main two emotions of modern day humanity.
cookie monster wrote:
> Whether or not we are ever contacted by extra terrestrials is a
> different matter, the universe is an incredibly large space to
> navigate...
Damn straight, but our radio transmissions are constantly moving further and further away. If there were life in one of the star systems out there, they may receive it in the not too distant future.
The idea of intelligent life other than ourselves in our own galaxy is certainly the longest of longshots, but it isn't impossible.
> Whether or not we are ever contacted by extra terrestrials is a
> different matter, the universe is an incredibly large space to
> navigate...
Damn straight, but our radio transmissions are constantly moving further and further away. If there were life in one of the star systems out there, they may receive it in the not too distant future.
The idea of intelligent life other than ourselves in our own galaxy is certainly the longest of longshots, but it isn't impossible.
That's fine, but if we were to receive such a message, we would be all but forced to act upon it.
> We have a lot of problems to
> sort out in places we already know about
We certainly do, but that's a bit beside the point I was striving at.
> not to mention all the
> unexplored places of the earth that I'm sure we can destroy in one
> way or another. Like the deepest depths of the ocean. No one has been
> there. I think we should take a step back and look at our world
> before we start looking at others.
Perhaps, but science is conducted on all fronts, we don't just stop one field of science until another is "completed". There is much to be learnt yet from our own planet, I accept that, but such comments are completely off the topic I started.
I don't really care what is out there. We have a lot of problems to sort out in places we already know about not to mention all the unexplored places of the earth that I'm sure we can destroy in one way or another. Like the deepest depths of the ocean. No one has been there. I think we should take a step back and look at our world before we start looking at others.
At this stage i think a message from an extra terrestrial lifeform would spark hysteria, no doubt resulting in people running for the hills expecting an Independence Day style invasion. I think there are other lifeforms out there, to believe there arent just seems ignorant, the universe is too large to be populated with only one planet with intelligent lifeforms.
Whether or not we are ever contacted by extra terrestrials is a different matter, the universe is an incredibly large space to navigate...
Whether or not we are ever contacted by extra terrestrials is a different matter, the universe is an incredibly large space to navigate...
Yes, the film I'm talking about, and before you shout "Borat you idiot, this should be in the film forum!", it's the ideas behind it I want to chew the fat over, not the acting talent of Ms. Foster.
It has become obvious in the 'Being a Christian' thread that people feel very strongly about religion, science and the search for truth. Quite a few people have voiced, rather aggressively, their theories on life and the universe, I for one (perhaps a little excessively at times).
The main issue here is how the world reacts to the revelation of a message from outer space being received. In the film, it is stated that 95% of the worlds population believe in a higher being of some sort. Throughout there are people desperately trying to undermine and discount any claim that extra-terrestrial life exists - even when the physical evidence is staring them square in the face. People are quickly divided into religious and none religious, and in many cases violence becomes the chosen method of expression. It seems that religion is desperately seeking to destroy science through ridicule and bias. These people seem to embrace science when it suits their needs, but quickly reject it when its natural progression (and evolution) forces them to question their beliefs.
How do you think receiving a message from an extra-terrestrial source would affect the population of Earth? Do you believe this is an accurate representation of the worldwide reaction? Would such a discovery test your faith if you are a religious person, or would you adapt and integrate such theories into your beliefs? Are we alone, and what are your personal theories of off world life?
It has become obvious in the 'Being a Christian' thread that people feel very strongly about religion, science and the search for truth. Quite a few people have voiced, rather aggressively, their theories on life and the universe, I for one (perhaps a little excessively at times).
The main issue here is how the world reacts to the revelation of a message from outer space being received. In the film, it is stated that 95% of the worlds population believe in a higher being of some sort. Throughout there are people desperately trying to undermine and discount any claim that extra-terrestrial life exists - even when the physical evidence is staring them square in the face. People are quickly divided into religious and none religious, and in many cases violence becomes the chosen method of expression. It seems that religion is desperately seeking to destroy science through ridicule and bias. These people seem to embrace science when it suits their needs, but quickly reject it when its natural progression (and evolution) forces them to question their beliefs.
How do you think receiving a message from an extra-terrestrial source would affect the population of Earth? Do you believe this is an accurate representation of the worldwide reaction? Would such a discovery test your faith if you are a religious person, or would you adapt and integrate such theories into your beliefs? Are we alone, and what are your personal theories of off world life?