If the curiosity rover find evidence of life.

[Genericguy]

Let's jump the gun a bit here and assume the curiosity rover is successful in its mission to find evidence of life on mars. How might this effect us, both in general and in regards to religion? I understand life on other planets does not necessarily go against the major religions, but could it humble them (and us in general)? Within the major religions, the significance of life tends to be centralized around the human species on earth. Would the importance of life on earth not be diminished by each discovered planet or satellite with life on it?

I imagine growing up with the knowledge that life once existed (or still does exist) on mars might broaden our perspectives a bit. I'm not expecting any drastic changes (if any at all). I'm just hopeful.

[Tank]

I don't think it will make one jot of difference to theists with regard to eroding their conviction that we all live in God's creation. After all we are simply learning that 'He' created life more than once and we have just discovered it. There is sufficient evidence to convince Christians that the Bible is a collection of BS with regard to describing reality to simply accommodate this new discovery. Science deniers and conspiracy theorists will deny the find and continue on with their delusions undaunted.

[OldGit]

^  'Fraid so.  For example, life on Mars is not evidence against the literal creation story, because God could have stuck Mars in the firmament later and not mentioned it in Genesis.  Or he created Mars at the same time, and called it 'Earth' as well.  Or something.

[Stevil]

It'll be the dinosaurs all over again, just a test of human faith.
Non intelligent life, will be the same as those on Earth, soulless creatures there for either food or amusement.
and I'm sure they will thus find proof in the bible or quran that god revealed to us that there would be life on other planets.

Intelligent life would be difficult for them to explain away though. Give that the universe was made for us and that we are special to god, in His image, offspring of Adam and Eve, tainted by the original sin committed by these two and saved by Jesus/God's death Himself.

[Synapse]

I'm sure they will find some way to retcon (or 'reinterpret') parts of the scriptures that are contradictory to the finding. Noah's Ark was a spaceship that brought creatures to Earth from Mars, maybe?

But who cares about them. I'm way more interested in its implications to Biology. Finding another strand of life (even simple bacterial or bacteria-like life) that evolved independently from Earth's would be an unbelievably amazing discovery.

Although I have heard a hypothesis that if life evolved on Mars, it could have been carried to Earth by the pieces of Martian rock that crashed into the planet a long time ago. I think rocks have been found that correspond to the timeline of the theory. Obviously no life has been found in Martian rocks on Earth. If life on Mars was too similar to Earth's then this hypothesis would be supported. It would be a much less amazing discovery (in the sense that there are no new biological mechanisms to study), but it would still be interesting nonetheless.

[OldGit]

... I'm sure they will thus find proof in the bible or quran that god revealed to us that there would be life on other planets.

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  John 14:2

[hismikeness]

Would the importance of life on earth not be diminished by each discovered planet or satellite with life on it?

I don't think this has to be the case, that just because there is life elsewhere that life here is in anyway diminished.

As to the Curiosity, I can't decide if I hope it finds life similar to life on Earth, or something completely different. I could imagine deniers saying its not really life if it doesn't have DNA, or some other BS.

[fester30]

This article is pretty good on the topic.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-schweitzer/life-on-mars-and-the-gard_b_1724746.html?utm_hp_ref=science

I agree with the author that, just like with any other scientific advance that seems on its face to disagree with the words in the Bible, the religious will find a verse here or there, or twist philosophies of the Bible to fit the facts.  It's so easy to do the mental gymnastics necessary given the size and scope of the Bible.  Those who do not go this direction will simply say that where science disagrees with the Bible, the Bible is right and science is wrong.  God is all-powerful, so his ways are above our understanding.  It's a great cop-out for sure.

[Genericguy]

Would the importance of life on earth not be diminished by each discovered planet or satellite with life on it?

I don't think this has to be the case, that just because there is life elsewhere that life here is in anyway diminished.

As to the Curiosity, I can't decide if I hope it finds life similar to life on Earth, or something completely different. I could imagine deniers saying its not really life if it doesn't have DNA, or some other BS.

I was trying to imply that the significance of life would be shared with all life throughout the universe, nullifying the previously centralized view that life on earth, specifically, is special. Unfortunately, though, the universe rotates around the axis that is ourselves.

I agree with everyone. Even if we discover intelegent life on another planet, it would probably not humble us. It would most likely just give us more "people" to hate. I guess I just think it should humble us. Perhaps the title of this thread should have been "the wishful thinking thread".

[xSilverPhinx]

I already don't hold any beliefs that Earth is somehow unique in the universe, in fact I think it's highly probable that there is life out there, so 'humbled' isn't exactly something that can happen. Fascinated, yes.

I also don't see a reason to hate other alien peoples unless they try to invade and subjugate.

[fester30]

If we ever encounter other intelligent life we'll finally know why God no longer answers prayers and why miracles have stopped.  He made multiple civilizations on multiple planets and he's been busy with them all this time because Earth lost favor with him due to our homosexuality and abortions.  That's why we aren't more advanced in science, he threw all these mixes of religions into our planet so that we'd be held back.  It's like when he caused all those people at Babel to suddenly speak in different languages.

[Genericguy]

I already don't hold any beliefs that Earth is somehow unique in the universe, in fact I think it's highly probably that there is life out there, so 'humbled' isn't exactly something that can happen. Fascinated, yes.

Ditto. I'm just not sure how popular this (our) point of view is. I'm not sure if it's because I'm specifically searching for it, but it seems it is becoming more common for people to think life probably does exist outside of earth. I don't know if I would call it the majority, though.

[Firebird]

While I also do not think such a discovery would lead to the decline of any major religions, I do think it might help chip away at the spell for more people. Religion always rotates around the idea of humans and the earth being so special, and further evidence to contradict that may convince a few more people to reconsider what they've been taught. The vastness of the universe, and the relative insignificance of our puny little planet, were one of many things that made it impossible to really "believe" for me. For the rest of you, maybe it was that or something else, but a lot of our reasons for disbelieving go back to science and empirical evidence.
Yes, the "fundies" will make up some excuse, but most people can only tolerate so much bullshit before it all spills over.

[xSilverPhinx]

While I also do not think such a discovery would lead to the decline of any major religions, I do think it might help chip away at the spell for more people. Religion always rotates around the idea of humans and the earth being so special, and further evidence to contradict that may convince a few more people to reconsider what they've been taught. The vastness of the universe, and the relative insignificance of our puny little planet, were one of many things that made it impossible to really "believe" for me. For the rest of you, maybe it was that or something else, but a lot of our reasons for disbelieving go back to science and empirical evidence.
Yes, the "fundies" will make up some excuse, but most people can only tolerate so much bullshit before it all spills over.

I think maybe before it starts chipping away at religious belief there will be much discussion as to whether it would be right to try and convert the aliens.

[hismikeness]

While I also do not think such a discovery would lead to the decline of any major religions, I do think it might help chip away at the spell for more people. Religion always rotates around the idea of humans and the earth being so special, and further evidence to contradict that may convince a few more people to reconsider what they've been taught. The vastness of the universe, and the relative insignificance of our puny little planet, were one of many things that made it impossible to really "believe" for me. For the rest of you, maybe it was that or something else, but a lot of our reasons for disbelieving go back to science and empirical evidence.
Yes, the "fundies" will make up some excuse, but most people can only tolerate so much bullshit before it all spills over.

I think maybe before it starts chipping away at religious belief there will be much discussion as to whether it would be right to try and convert the aliens.

Oh I'm sure a Mormon or two will bending through the crowd of Jehovah's Witnesses to get at 'em first.