Space Travel

[naomi24]

Following on from Luna's question about aliens, two questions.

Firstly, if inter-stellar space travel became a reality, how would this affect your religious beliefs, and secondly, if you were given the opportunity to travel to another planet, would you take it?

[luna-tic]

I think there would be many different viewpoints to consider if space travel were possible and subsequently our belief systems would enter into the consequences of inhabiting other worlds or being part of other beings lives.
If we took over an uninhabited world I think most of our belief systems would go with us but some of the biblical stories may change unless we wanted to keep them for nostalgia sake.
If we visited or interacted with other planets and the predominant people (not necessarily human) after communication had been established then I'm sure the religiously devout humans would try and find ways to convince them to follow.
That would be interesting to know what the aliens culture, social structures and religious beliefs(if any) would be.
Do they need a God?
Would the story of Jesus teach aliens anything apart from how stupid we are as humans?

[luna-tic]

Oops! I forgot to answer the second question.
All I can say is; Where's my ticket ?
Am I the only one who looks at the stars and feels homesick?
We often talk about travelling to other worlds or living on them as something impossible.
Just think, out there somewhere are people who have been traversing the universe/s for eternity and mixing with other races long before the Earth was even here.

[luna-tic]

I must apologise. I did not mean that the story of Jesus is stupid, only at how brutal we can be to others just because we don't really understand them.

[Cetti]

As there's only so many times times I can get excited about holidaying on Dartmoor, I would be very pleased to travel further afield - I also believe that God created everything , including the whole galaxy, so it wouldn't even dent my faith, probably the opposite.

If I may, naomi, I'll pass on the planets and opt for the moon as my chosen destination, as I always believe in going straight to the top. All that bouncing about ......great fun!

[Whickerman]

Would it affect my religious beliefs? Yes, it would strengthen them no end.
Would i travel? Like a shot - and even if it were a one way ticket I'd have to go!

[Lonnie]

Hi naomi,
First, yes, i'd jump at the chance to travel to another planet.

As for how it would affect my beliefs, I've seen too much to have my belief restored, but, If I was a believer, in the Biblical God, then as Cetti says, God would have created everything, literally, so it would probably strengthen my belief.

However, with the history of this planet, I would sincerely hope we don't ever make contact with any living thing on another planet.

[luna-tic]

The inter-stellar travel would not necessarily give me cause to follow a religion but it may make me believe in a God if any of the beings on the other planets had proof or could give humans information as to how the Earth and it's life forms originated.
But then according to some people on this planet, God made everything, everywhere.
Does the bible mention God making beings on other worlds and the places they live or just sending down entities to help us?
This is confusing because I do believe there is a God of pure love but not the creature portrayed in the bible; If some of it's examples of love are instilling fear in people then I do not want to learn those lessons from a book.

[naomi24]

I'm of the same mind as Whicker. Travelling to another planet and seeing the universe from space would strengthen my belief in the might and the power of nature. Deciding whether or not to accept a seat on a space ship would be difficult but only because I'd be very sorry indeed to leave my family and friends. However, bearing in mind I will die at some time anyway, I would probably take the opportunity and go, even if it was a one-way ride, because I'm sure it would be the ultimate experience. Can you imagine?!!!!!

Luna, I wonder if people on other planets do have religion, and if so, whether it bears any resemblance to the religions here on earth? I mean, if the biblical God really is universal, and Christianity really is the truth, that would mean that the Jesus story would have been repeated several times in several places, and he would have been born and executed many times over. Just a thought.

[luna-tic]

Good Morning Naomi,
As you can see from my last post, my thoughts mirror yours,in that the belief could only be strengthened in all that surrounds us if we were able to travel through space and mix with other worldly beings but try as we do and will continue to, unravel the mystery about God/s, unless the beings on the other planets have the same story as here and similar religions. I'm sure I would continue to search for the truth.
Maybe the folks on these worlds could give us a few hints as to our origins. If the stories we've been told for so long are the truth, then so be it. (possibly).
I think I'm back to who created the creator again.

[Octavius]

The option of going to visit another planet is certainly something I would consider, although only if I could take loved ones with me. The inherent risks of travelling to say Mars and back could take 3 years or more, and that would depend on the crafts ability to land on Mars, get off again, and manage to travel to/land on earth again. Orbital complications (using free trajectory, rather than loadsafuel) could mean that if you miss the chance of landing on Mars once, you would have to wait quite some time to get the chance to try again, similarly you face the same problems when returning (if so desired) to Earth. Henceforth, for the amount of intergalactic travel time required, I would probably prefer to stay on terra firma with my wife and family. If it was a trip to the Moon, then I would go without hesitation, but I would still like to experience that with loved ones, as that is about two weeks for a round trip. I would personally be contented with a trip upwards of about 18,000 miles so that I could just look upon and marvel at the 'blue marble'.

Either way, my religious beliefs would be largely unaffected, although no doubt the experience would be awe-inspiring and humbling. Most astronauts who have experienced this commen on the fragility and vulnerability of the earth (and its inhabitants)in the greater scheme of things.