Steve, i agree with a lot of what you say here. First of all, I do think the topic is very important and I'm interested in it. I don't find it odd that you're interested in it. That being said, I don't think there's just one thing going on. There are probably aliens, perhaps among us, and then there are spiritual attacks of various types on various nations and individuals and groups (that's my guesstimate). So why doesn't this shake my faith? Because I don't put limits on God. God can do whatever God wants. He can make as many types of aliens as He wants, He can keep us apart, He can expose us to them. He can make them in His image and likeness like us (with free will, intellect, imagination, memory and emotions, endowed with a soul (or not)). It's up to Him. I trust Him completely. So what would I do if an alien invades my house. I'd tell him "Listen, I haven't finished my bill-paying and other deadlined work, which is a must and I have other pressing matters (like helping my family and friends who rely on me, cooking, shopping, and cleaning the house), so could you just leave?" I'd probably waive my 2nd amendments rights around (lots of luck, that would scare the varmin) and then I'd leave if he or she or it didn't leave. I'd get in my car and call 911. I'd be irked, I'd be more behind than usual. You know, I may be limited in my thinking and imagination (I know I am), but I just don't think God is going to let an alien loose on me, not just yet. Not that the universe revolves around ME and MINE.
Here's a quote from above I think is actually an assumption on your part:
"After all, Christ became man and died to redeem mankind, and that was not likely to be a repeatable theme across star-strewn cultures." Why not? That's an assertion, Steve. Lewis somewhere referred to this problem (Jesus vs. aliens) and said (if memory serves) words to the effect that "we don't know if Jesus' sacrifice redeemed just us, or all life (if there is alien life, and if that alien life needs redeeming)." That's makes more sense to me--we don't know. But it is not beyond the realm of fathomable that Christ does different things for different aliens, who have different levels of "free will" and "culpability" and may or may not have "original sin" issues like the human race. I cannot remember the book in which I read Lewis' thoughts on this topic, because it was about 50 years ago I read almost all of Lewis (he won me over, like so many others), but I remember his thoughts generally and he was important in my conversion, which took years and years, and God isn't finished with us yet, not even when we cross over, most of us, He still has work to do to "purify us" (Purgatory "reform school", custom made for whatever still ails us when we cross over).
Jesus did say "I have other flocks you don't know about." And words to the effect I think that later we'll all be joined together. So, we're going to know, we're going to know, if not in this life, then in the next. And I can wait, I have to wait, because I'm burdened by a lot of chores, trials and a lot of paperwork right now.
In sum, I believe there are aliens--seems God would not make this giant universe with billions of galaxies and billions of stars and planets and just have us be the only form of sentient life in all of His creation. Jesus said "pick up the leftovers" after feeding the 5,000 to the people and apostles. That's an indicator: God does not waste stuff, including universe stuff, even though He can whip up as much stuff as He wants (or bring it all down and start over, if He wants). I don't worry about those aliens, physical or spiritual (though I've gone a few rounds with a few particular devils on particular (blessedly rare) occasion). The alien "truths" hopefuly will come out, probably soon, what is really happening, as best as the governments can understand it and find it in the collective political will to be truthful about it.
Really excellent essay, Steve, top form. Keep it up. I wish Trump would give you a job in some government office involving alien affairs. You're be PERFECT. Or you could be a drone advisor since you know so much about the drone phenomena.
Steve, i agree with a lot of what you say here. First of all, I do think the topic is very important and I'm interested in it. I don't find it odd that you're interested in it. That being said, I don't think there's just one thing going on. There are probably aliens, perhaps among us, and then there are spiritual attacks of various types on various nations and individuals and groups (that's my guesstimate). So why doesn't this shake my faith? Because I don't put limits on God. God can do whatever God wants. He can make as many types of aliens as He wants, He can keep us apart, He can expose us to them. He can make them in His image and likeness like us (with free will, intellect, imagination, memory and emotions, endowed with a soul (or not)). It's up to Him. I trust Him completely. So what would I do if an alien invades my house. I'd tell him "Listen, I haven't finished my bill-paying and other deadlined work, which is a must and I have other pressing matters (like helping my family and friends who rely on me, cooking, shopping, and cleaning the house), so could you just leave?" I'd probably waive my 2nd amendments rights around (lots of luck, that would scare the varmin) and then I'd leave if he or she or it didn't leave. I'd get in my car and call 911. I'd be irked, I'd be more behind than usual. You know, I may be limited in my thinking and imagination (I know I am), but I just don't think God is going to let an alien loose on me, not just yet. Not that the universe revolves around ME and MINE.
Here's a quote from above I think is actually an assumption on your part:
"After all, Christ became man and died to redeem mankind, and that was not likely to be a repeatable theme across star-strewn cultures." Why not? That's an assertion, Steve. Lewis somewhere referred to this problem (Jesus vs. aliens) and said (if memory serves) words to the effect that "we don't know if Jesus' sacrifice redeemed just us, or all life (if there is alien life, and if that alien life needs redeeming)." That's makes more sense to me--we don't know. But it is not beyond the realm of fathomable that Christ does different things for different aliens, who have different levels of "free will" and "culpability" and may or may not have "original sin" issues like the human race. I cannot remember the book in which I read Lewis' thoughts on this topic, because it was about 50 years ago I read almost all of Lewis (he won me over, like so many others), but I remember his thoughts generally and he was important in my conversion, which took years and years, and God isn't finished with us yet, not even when we cross over, most of us, He still has work to do to "purify us" (Purgatory "reform school", custom made for whatever still ails us when we cross over).
Jesus did say "I have other flocks you don't know about." And words to the effect I think that later we'll all be joined together. So, we're going to know, we're going to know, if not in this life, then in the next. And I can wait, I have to wait, because I'm burdened by a lot of chores, trials and a lot of paperwork right now.
In sum, I believe there are aliens--seems God would not make this giant universe with billions of galaxies and billions of stars and planets and just have us be the only form of sentient life in all of His creation. Jesus said "pick up the leftovers" after feeding the 5,000 to the people and apostles. That's an indicator: God does not waste stuff, including universe stuff, even though He can whip up as much stuff as He wants (or bring it all down and start over, if He wants). I don't worry about those aliens, physical or spiritual (though I've gone a few rounds with a few particular devils on particular (blessedly rare) occasion). The alien "truths" hopefuly will come out, probably soon, what is really happening, as best as the governments can understand it and find it in the collective political will to be truthful about it.
Really excellent essay, Steve, top form. Keep it up. I wish Trump would give you a job in some government office involving alien affairs. You're be PERFECT. Or you could be a drone advisor since you know so much about the drone phenomena.