I just had a discussion about life existing outside of Earth with a coworker.  He is Muslim and doesn't believe in extraterrestrial life.  I questioned him about looking up to the sky and viewing all the stars, knowing all the numerous galaxies that exist, and that there isn't a chance of life out there...  He replied with a simple no (he doesn't believe). My mother is the same way almost (she loves watching SyFy channel with programs on aliens but doesn't believe in aliens which I suppose is because of her religious beliefs- Christian).  Why does religion have to stand in the way of extraterrestrial life?  It should be common knowledge that we aren't anything too special.  Sure life is special but to think that we are the only case in the entire universe is a terrible notion.  Do you believe in extraterrestrial life?  If not please state your case of why you don't believe in life outside of Earth.

I have a religious background and believe in life outside this planet. The universe is, quite literally too damn big to not have any other forms of life.

I'm more than sure humans have even found some smaller forms of life on mars(?), though they were only bacteria or something similar that can't be seen with the naked eye. Not sure if this comment helps or not though!!

ironmanDX said: I have a religious background and believe in life outside this planet. The universe is, quite literally too damn big to not have any other forms of life. I'm more than sure humans have even found some smaller forms of life on mars(?), though they were only bacteria or something similar that can't be seen with the naked eye. Not sure if this comment helps or not though!!

It helps.  I just don't see a reason why religion should hold someone back from believing life exists beyond Earth. 

Technically they aren't openminded if they would dismiss the mathematical chances of such an occurance. If the universe has infinite space and billions of stars which means millions of planets in the vastness the possibilities are greater than even our estimations might guess. Our guesses are not even confirmed on that but life can form where there are planets that have suns so the possibilities are very high on other planets. We're learning that at one time Mars was livable, once we found water, micro organisms, Pyramids and more. Theres a new planet we found in our solar system on almost on the outskirts. Theres too much to learn that our lifetimes cannot even understand.

I cant speak for every religion but nothing in Christianity or Buddhism excludes life on other planets and some religions even speak of their "gods" as if they are alien visitors. Some unreleased books of the bible talk about technology beyond what people could build. God had Moses or Noah one build him a landing pad. When the Jews spent 40days and 40 nights in the wilderness he gave them a machine that made food. A lot of the sights and sounds associated with God visiting or leaving are similar in some tellings to a rocket ship taking off.
There is an ancient religious text in India(can't think of its name) that sounds like a Star Wars type battle. Describes the machines in detail.
One thing you have to consider is what are you talking about when you say life? Simply organisms or conscious beings like us? What if all we find are simple organisms out there? Another thing you have to look at is how old the galaxy is, how long it takes light to travel. What if life existed on another planet 1 billion years ago? What if there is one out there right now as we speak? We wouldn't know it depending on distance. if it takes a million light years to get here, they could be extinct by the time we discover them. Imagine the universe as a big field in the summer filled with lightening bugs. Now if you've ever watched them you'll know they don't all flash at the same time. Imagine each flash is the beginning and end of a civ. That's how I like to look at it any way.

sethnintendo said: ironmanDX said: I have a religious background and believe in life outside this planet. The universe is, quite literally too damn big to not have any other forms of life. I'm more than sure humans have even found some smaller forms of life on mars(?), though they were only bacteria or something similar that can't be seen with the naked eye. Not sure if this comment helps or not though!! It helps.  I just don't see a reason why religion should hold someone back from believing life exists beyond Earth.

It shouldn't. I don't think anywhere in the King James bible,(christian) mentions alien races at all, well that's as far as I'm aware and I'm very far off from an expert. Just because it isn't mentioned though, doesn't mean it isn't there. I doubt the 12 apostles would have thought we'd be discussing them and their religion over the internet some 2000 years later... Because obviously, that isn't in the bible either.

Have you tried asking your mum if aliens even get a mention? She may know better than me on that subject.

I don't believe in extraterrestrial life, in the same way that I don't believe in any deity.

Without specific evidence of existence, the default should be non-existence. Until I've been provided with at least a hint of evidence of life originating from somewhere other than Earth, I will operate on the assumption that such life does not exist.

Lack of belief in something is not the same thing as belief in the lack of something. I don't believe that life originating from earth is the only life in the universe, but I don't believe in extraterrestrial life.

Anyway, something to think about.

Alien = anything not born on this planet. So yes the bible does actually talk about them. IF you want to get technical God is an alien and so are angels because they are not of this Earth. Before anyone gets mad, I am not saying he is a little green man, I am actually religious myself.
A lot of the stuff that suggest any type of alien life was left out of the Bible out of fear. My understanding is in one unreleased book, the author described getting taken away to another world.
I wouldn't suggest it for 100% factual evidence but the show Ancient Aliens can actually be useful for learning about some things in ancient history. They always take it as meaning it must be aliens but it could very well be God or just coincidence

ironmanDX said: sethnintendo said: ironmanDX said: I have a religious background and believe in life outside this planet. The universe is, quite literally too damn big to not have any other forms of life. I'm more than sure humans have even found some smaller forms of life on mars(?), though they were only bacteria or something similar that can't be seen with the naked eye. Not sure if this comment helps or not though!! It helps.  I just don't see a reason why religion should hold someone back from believing life exists beyond Earth.  It shouldn't. I don't think anywhere in the King James bible,(christian) mentions alien races at all, well that's as far as I'm aware and I'm very far off from an expert. Just because it isn't mentioned though, doesn't mean it isn't there. I doubt the 12 apostles would have thought we'd be discussing them and their religion over the internet some 2000 years later... Because obviously, that isn't in the bible either. Have you tried asking your mum if aliens even get a mention? She may know better than me on that subject.

Genesis 6:2.

"That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose."

Extraterrestrial mating with human women described in the King James version of the bible. Extraterrestrials= Aliens.......anything not of this earth. This means Angels= Extraterrestrial beings.

Ezekiel 1:16

Ezikiel's Wheel Ufo Sighting (King James version):

"The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel."

Granted History Channel does go a little extreme sometimes with their Ancient Aliens; they do raise some interesting questions.  Stonehenge, various cultures that had no contact with each other building pyramids, etc... raise various questions.  How the hell do they move a rock that weighs a shit load from very far with simple man made technology of the time (levers, ropes, etc).  Some of the "man made" feats of the past are almost impossible with today's technology.