Aliens - Are they out there? Have they visited us? And related questions

[Anomalocaris]

Is the money wasted on looking for life outside of Earth?

At the moment: yes. Also, set up some defenses and perhaps settle some new territory before you start seriously trying to find your neighbors. Scouting is not unimportant, but prioritize not being absolutely obliterated instantly, I should say.

Defense against a technological alien threat is a quixotic because given the multi-billion year timescale during which we and any alien life had to develop, the odds of us and an alien species being within a few decades of technological development so effective military defense is both needed and can plausibly be implemented is hundreds of millions to one. The only defense we can plausibly set up is defense against any alien microbes. But the odds that an alien microbe evolved in a different biosphere with a different biochemistry can infect humans or other life on earth also seems to be very low. So setting up defense is a complete waste of resources.

Given that we've ever even had pretense of technology for just a few hundred years out of our 3.9 billion year evolutionary history, the odds are if we encounter any technological alien, that alien would be would be thousands, millions, or even billions of years ahead of us. So the odds are if we can actually find a potentially threatening alien civilization, then that civilization had already known about us for a long time and haven't decided to obliterate us. If we are to find ourselves in conflict with an alien civilization that might be inclined to obliterate us, I think it's much more likely be an obliteration that will come like a bolt out of the blue from an more advanced alien who found us long before we would have found them.

[solja247]

6.Could or would aliens believe in a 'God' figure or have a religious society?

Me and a mate conlcuded if we did discover inteligent beings on another planet and if they didnt believe in a God, or the first cause, it would weaken the case for theism.

[Autumnlicious]

There is no reason to believe in aliens right now. One can speculate on the possibility of intelligent life, and one most certainly can note the real possibilities of extraterrestrial basic life (bacteria), but to believe in intelligent life?

That's as loony as believing in god(s). No proof, no belief. No exception.

[solja247]

That's as loony as believing in god(s). No proof, no belief. No exception.

Are you talking about scientific evidence or philosophical? A lot atheists do not understand the difference.

[Anomalocaris]

6.Could or would aliens believe in a 'God' figure or have a religious society?

Me and a mate conlcuded if we did discover inteligent beings on another planet and if they didnt believe in a God, or the first cause, it would weaken the case for theism.

But if you discover inteligent beings on this planet and if they didnt believe in a God, or the first cause, it would not weaken the case for theism?

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There is no reason to believe in aliens right now. One can speculate on the possibility of intelligent life, and one most certainly can note the real possibilities of extraterrestrial basic life (bacteria), but to believe in intelligent life?

That's as loony as believing in god(s). No proof, no belief. No exception.

What do you mean "believe in" aliens? Have a trusting relationship with aliens? Of course it is only an estimate of the chances that aliens exist. Of course if the estimate of the chances turn out to be very high, there is no need to revise it downward for modesty sake.

[solja247]

But if you discover inteligent beings on this planet and if they didnt believe in a God, or the first cause, it would not weaken the case for theism?

It would weaken intelligent theists (no, thats not an oxymoron) faith. If God was the God of the universe He would reveal Himself to ALL creation, including aliens.

[Anomalocaris]

But if you discover inteligent beings on this planet and if they didnt believe in a God, or the first cause, it would not weaken the case for theism?

It would weaken intelligent theists (no, thats not an oxymoron) faith. If God was the God of the universe He would reveal Himself to ALL creation, including aliens.

Would you like to count the numbers amongst just creations on this planet to whom god has already failed to reveal himself, to say nothing of Aliens? Do you still have defensible reason to deem "intelligent theist" to be non-oxymoronic?

[theVOID]

• Is there intelligent life outside Earth? Highly likely
  
• Have we been visited by beings from other planets? Highly unlikely
  
• Would aliens look like us or carry basic similarities? Too vague
  
• Is the money wasted on looking for life outside of Earth? Certainly, though SETI has many beneficial side effects.
  
• Could or would aliens have a similar society to our own? No idea
  
• Could or would aliens believe in a 'God' figure or have a religious society? No idea
  

[Minimalist]

no, thats not an oxymoron)

Yes it is.

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Are you talking about scientific evidence or philosophical?

Philosophical "evidence" is a mis-nomer.

[theVOID]

Do you still have defensible reason to deem "intelligent theist" to be non-oxymoronic?

It's plainly not. Theism is in no way an intelligent position, but that does not mean that all theists are unintelligent.