From: Steve Petermann (steve@spetermann.org)
Date: Mon Sep 22 2003 - 16:25:43 EDT
>and b) we would learn something new, thereby enriching our
> experience of life in the presence of The Sacred.
Absolutely.
Steve Petermann
----- Original Message -----
From: "Howard J. Van Till" <hvantill@chartermi.net>
To: "Steve Petermann" <steve@spetermann.org>; <asa@calvin.edu>
Sent: Monday, September 22, 2003 2:49 PM
Subject: Re: C.S. Lewis on ETs and theology
> >From: "Steve Petermann" <steve@spetermann.org>
>
> > But shouldn't we be hard to please? Did Lewis do a detailed systematics
on
> > the question? Is systematics only for fleshing out the stuff that poses
no
> > real foundational challenge? I posed a few questions that no one
addressed,
> > passing them off as scholastic gymnastics. Seems to me that
Christianity
> > can't afford to hold positions that can be so easily shaken by the SETI
> > group getting a message next week. (Anyone see _Contact_). Of course it
may
> > never happen but since it reasonably could and reasonable people would
like
> > to know Christianity's response, can it make a compelling case?
>
> Steve,
>
> When I speak to a general audience about our scientific understanding of
the
> universe and our religiously motivated questions about it, I am very often
> asked whether or not I think there are ET's out there?
>
> My answer is usually. 1) I don't know, but 2) I know of no convincing
reason
> (scientific, philosophical, theological, or biblical) why it would be
> impossible, so that 3) my hunch is that there are lots of sites with
living
> creatures out there, some of which might well be sentient and morally
aware,
> and 4) my mischievous wish is that convincing positive evidence of such
will
> be known before I die, because: a) I would enjoy observing the anxious
> adjustment that some religious communities would have to make in response
to
> this discovery, and b) we would learn something new, thereby enriching our
> experience of life in the presence of The Sacred.
>
> Howard Van Till
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