As part of the process of developing a solution on the relationship between Christians and the possible discovery of an alien intelligence, it will be helpful to look at some answers that have been offered. In this post I will look at article published by Answers in Genesis, a Christian apologetics ministry.
In an earlier post, I offered a typology for the range of Christian views. Answers in Genesis fit into the category of ‘super-conservative.’ Answers in Genesis (AiG) hold to a young earth and a literal seven consecutive 24 hour day creation. Furthermore, they hold that the Bible
is the supreme authority in everything it teaches. Its authority is not limited to spiritual, religious, or redemptive themes but includes its assertions in such fields as history and science.
They publish in print and online a considerable amount of apologetic material grounded in their understanding of Scripture and what it teaches. They have addressed the question of alien life a number of times. One source is a series called ‘The New Answers Book’ in 3 volumes. In volume one of the series is an article titled ‘Are ETs & UFOs Real?’ It is this article I will look at today. I will base my analysis on the print version but the article is also online. It was written by Jason Lisle, an astrophysicist. [1]
After a brief introduction, Lisle begins his argument under the subheading ‘The Evolution Connection’ with the following statement:
The idea of “extraterrestrial life” stems largely from a belief in evolution.
I have described elsewhere the work of Michael Crowe demonstrating this belief predates evolution at least as it is known today and understood by AiG. It seems to me that the connection is stronger between atheism multiple worlds with many intelligences than it is to evolution. Nevertheless, his point is that there are ‘countless billions of other planets in our galaxy’ so other life must have formed if we hold an evolutionary view.
Lisle’s remaining arguments are grounded on his next claim:
The earth is unique. God designed the earth for life (Isaiah 45:18). The other planets have an entirely different purpose than does the earth, and thus, they are designed differently.
He notes that there is no description in the Genesis account of life created anywhere else in the universe and this is certainly the case. However, to conclude as he does that there ‘is no such description because the lights in the expanse were not designed to accommodate life’ does not follow and is essentially an argument from ignorance. There are many things the Bible does not discuss. Further, if the ‘heavens are the Lord’s (Psalm 115:16) then is not the rest of the universe the Lord’s business?
Lisle’s next two sections relate to salvation and redemption. This is easily the strongest argument the ‘super-conservative’ has against the existence of ET’s and intelligent life elsewhere. Lisle clearly outlines the issue:
One might at first suppose that Christ also visited their world, lived there, and died there as well, but this is antibiblical. Christ died once for all (1 Peter 3:18; Hebrews 9:27–28, Hebrews 10:10). Jesus is now and forever both God and man; but He is not an alien. [Emphasis in original]
For Lisle, this question and all it implies is insoluble and so aliens cannot exist. It is a solid case in my view against the existence of extra-terrestrial life.
Lisle’s next two arguments are not biblical but have some force. His first is the so-called ‘Fermi Paradox’ and the second is the case of UFOs. Each essentially pivots on the lack of substantive evidence of any contact with ETs. If evolution is true, if it has occurred all over the universe and there are civilisations of greater age than our own, then they should have developed intergalactic travel and come by to say hello. UFOs might be evidence of these visits, but many consider them not sufficiently substantive. UFO researchers have postulated answers to these questions but the wider culture – Christian and non-Christian – is yet to be convinced.
Conclusion
Lisle’s concluding remarks are instructive of the conservative position. He writes
In a way, a belief in extraterrestrial life has become a secular replacement for God. God is the one who can heal every disease. God is the one in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are deposited (Colossians 2:3). God is the one who can answer the fundamental questions of our existence. God alone possesses the gift of eternal life (John 17:3).
Lisle is to some degree correct. From the 1950s, contactees ‘preached an upbeat faith that saucers brought friendly space people to rescue earth from its impasse of Free World versus Communist Bloc.’ [2] These aliens ‘lived for centuries without sickness or the ravages of age’ and they were ‘benevolent, gentle, loving, wise, unpretentious, patient and caring.’ [3]
The focus is very much on the sovereignty of God, the infinite Creator and Redeemer. My sense is that if I am able to find an argument from the ‘super-liberal’ the focus will be on the immanence of God, the love and compassion of God. This is the tension in Christian faith, the balance between the sovereignty and the immanence of God.