A New Planet?

Posted by on Apr 10, 2008 in News, Rants | 2 comments

I’m sure this isn’t news to most of you, but in case you aren’t a space geek like me:

The smallest extrasolar planet – weighing just 5 times that of Earth – may have been found, using a new technique that analyses changes in a known planet’s orbit. Though some scientists are skeptical of the claim, the research team says the new planet’s existence could be confirmed with further observations later this year. 

Dubbed GJ 436c, the planet orbits a dim red star 30 light years away in the constellation Leo and is one of the smallest exoplanets ever discovered – astronomers have previously found one that may be 5.5 times Earth’s mass.

(Read more at NewScientist.com.)

This gets me thinking. If there is life on a new planet, will they have they’re own god? Or did the Abrahamic God create them, too and just forgot to tell us? If there isn’t life there, then most of these questions are irrelevant. That is, except the one concerning god “creating” it. Now, I suppose the same could asked of Neptune (or any other we currently know about without life). Did a god create all the planets or just Earth?

Yet the questions become greater and hold more intensity if it turns out there is life on a distant planet. What if there are beings with consciousness who are similar to us (whether more advanced or not) who never even heard of a religion or a god? Or have a god or gods that are laughable to modern Christians, Jews, Muslims, and/or Hindus (etc)? Imagine a Christian trying to “save” a distant planet inhabitant with the words of Jesus and the Bible and being heartily laughed at. Here, we know better; we respect mass accepted beliefs* (to a point).

This is mere speculation and could prove to be irrelevant, but the philosophical implications could linger on forever. Whether or not we discover some other life form, or even just another planet, would be enough to get our brain gears going. The fundamentalists will say that none of its real and its just god testing us. Well, circular logic has no place here. We know its real; that’s the basis of science. Science is what helps delineate fiction from fact.

The irreligious deists may say, its all the same energy ball floating around (or what have you). I suppose it makes a bit more sense but still I’m not buying it. What I wonder about is how the religious theists (but not necessarily fundamentalists) will take it. Will a person who believes in a religious doctrine but also makes his/her own decisions, accepting science alongside what is hardwired, start wondering too?

Still mere speculation, only time will tell if other life is discovered and how this all plays out. But I find it very intriguing.
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* mass accepted beliefs used here refers to any religion around today that people don’t laugh at. You know what I’m talking about. If a true Zeus follower confessed his/her beliefs publicly, no doubt he/she would be (not just laughed but) cackled at.

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  • Ordinary Girl

    Back when I was a Christian and went to church I heard that John 10:16 could refer to life on other planets.

    And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd.

    So don’t expect Christians to give up proselytizing just because no life on another planet has ever heard of their god. I mean, just because he’s compassionate enough to let them go to hell while humans figure out to discover them..

  • Rich

    Like you Atheist Hussy I love all that space stuff! That planet they found is way cool =)

    However I have to say I think it’s unlikely that any alien civilisation will be found that has no religion.

    Look at all the many civilisations which evolved independently (to a greater or lesser degree) right here on earth: the Egyptians, Aztecs, Maoris, Chinese, various tribes in America before the Europeans, etc etc.

    Not a single one of these cultures was religionless, which tells us something – namely, that religion is an essential stage of societal evolution.

    After all, it’s not hard to imagine the survival advantages blind faith and obedience might give a primitive civilisation.

    The fact that all these independently evolved religions have nothing in common (eg “it’s turtles all the way down”) is a pretty clear pointer that none of them are really derived from divine knowledge.

    I do think it’s important for atheists and rationalists to recognise that, very much like the appendix, religion was once essential to our survival.

    Just like the appendix, religion is now redundant and may be discarded – in fact it must be discarded when it gets enflamed and begins to endanger life.