Alien Question for Atheists

[polymath257]

So I started this thread as an off shoot from Tiberius' thread which is a question for Christians.

The scenario on the other thread is this: 

Peaceful aliens (i.e. intelligent non-humans from another planet, let's say outside of our solar system) make first contact. After getting to know them, the subject of religion comes up. They have a concept of religion, but none of their religions are compatible with Christianity. On top of this, their species made all the advancements that humans did (e.g. invention of writing, the wheel, agriculture, etc.) millennia before we did.

My question is, how would you react, especially with regard to their intelligence, and that their religions are incompatible with Christianity. Would it make you doubt Christianity, or that humans are "special" and made in God's image? 

https://atheistforums.org/thread-55158.html


So I wanted to ask you guys. If it was the other way around, how would you react to it? The other way around as in, we made contact with these intelligent beings and found out that the predominant religion in their planet is very compatible with Christianity, like it's basically the same thing. They talk about God having lived as one of them, they talk about the trinity, salvation, Heaven and Hell, etc. Would it make you doubt your position as atheists, or would it make you more open to exploring Christianity?

Well, considering Christianity isn't the predominant religion on *this* planet and that this constellation of beliefs only stems from one very specific source, I'd first be interested in the history of religious ideas on the alien world(s). Do they also have analogs of our other religious traditions? How about our philosophies? Do they have as many different religious traditions as we do? What is the overall degree of overlap of views between the two species?

Given that they were able to discover similar scientific ideas, there *has* to be an element of doubt, so I would be curious about the history of atheistic views on the alien world(s).

Also, let's face it, religious minded people tend to twist ides into their own world-view. Some promote the similarities between different Earth religions. So why would I be surprised that they find similarities (and differences) for alien religions?

I'd also be interested in the history of triune deities in their mythos: so, humans have Fate (Maiden, Mother, Crone) as a female triune deity.

So, no, unless there is a remarkable degree of similarity (which I would doubt could happen, there isn't even that degree of similarity in *human* religions), it would not change my atheism.

It might change some of my views concerning how consciousness develops.