If Extraterrestrials Showed Up Would It Shatter Religion?

If extraterrestrials showed up one day and made open contact with humanity, what would that do to religion? Would it cause most of humanity to instantly rethink their religious beliefs?  Or has humanity been so conditioned to the idea of "aliens" that it would be taken in stride?

Well, perhaps some polling numbers can give us some insight.  One poll actually found that 60 percent of Americans believe that extraterrestrial life exists on other planets. Of those who believe that extraterrestrial life exists, most also agreed that they would be "excited and hopeful" upon learning of the confirmation of extraterrestrial life.

So, it sounds as though a significant percentage of Americans think that extraterrestrials really do exist and that they are looking forward to meeting them when they arrive.

But even if they are looking forward to such an event, would it change the way that they view themselves and the universe?

Another survey had Americans respond to this statement: "Official confirmation of the discovery of a civilization of intelligent beings living on another planet would so undercut my beliefs that my beliefs would face a crisis."

Over 80% of those who considered themselves to be "religious" responded to that statement with "Disagree" or "Strongly Disagree".

But what if the extraterrestrials claimed that they seeded this earth with life and have been guiding our evolution?

What if the extraterrestrials claimed that they actually started all the religions on earth and that humanity twisted and corrupted the teachings of those religions?

Would disclosures such as those rock the world of religious believers?

In fact, many of those who claim to "channel" extraterrestrials are already receiving those kind of messages.

And some in the religious world are already preparing for what they feel is inevitable.

In fact, the Roman Catholicism is preparing to greet any visiting aliens as their brothers....

http://www.wired.com/science/space/news/2008/06/alien_religion?currentPage=all

So do the Roman Catholics know something that we don't?  After all, they do have an official astronomer.

Or have they already been deceived?

Governments around the world have also considered what would happen to religious beliefs if extraterrestrials were to make open contact.

Perhaps a secret meeting convened in 1996 by then-Vice President Al Gore can give us some insight into what governments are thinking about the possibility of such an event.

Preliminary reports in 1996 that a large meteorite from Mars that was found in Antarctica might contain fossilized remains of living organisms prompted Vice President Al Gore to convene a meeting of scientists, religious leaders, journalists and U.S. government officials to discuss the serious implications regarding the possible discovery of extraterrestrial life.

According to the Washington Post, most of the attendees appeared to truly believe that the appearance of extraterrestrial life would have a huge impact on people of faith. 

And they are probably right on the money.

The truth is that it would devastate the faith of most Christians along with the faith of most other religions.

That is because most Christians have not been taught who these extraterrestrials are and where they are from.

The reality is that they are not who they say they are, and most UFO researchers have no idea who they are.

But the truth IS out there for those who are willing to look for it.