Thread: Do you believe aliens exist?

All this talk about creationism vs. evolutionism makes me wonder what you guys think about aliens...


Mormons believe God created as many worlds as the sands of the sea, and he put people on all of them which were of course created in his image. (they are all human)

If you are an evolutionist, then my argument would be that nature repeats itself all over, so naturally if one world exists, then many would exist, and the beings on each planet would resemble those on Earth, with only minor differences.

It isnt logical to me that only one planet in the entire universe would have life on it. Thats so egotistical, just like when people thought earth was the center of the universe. And in fact many individuals still see themselves as the center of the universe.

It's statistically unlikely (to put it mildly) that life exists only on this here planet, but it's just as statistically unlikely that we'll ever know for sure, either way.

So, that's why I have "Alien Life: Existence of" filed in the same "don't see any point worrying about it" box as "God: Existence of".

Jesus is an alien.
No, uhh, seriously...(ALIEN)...
Yeah, I believe in aliens. I'm actually REALLY afraid of aliens. Have been since I was little and my sister told me I was found under a rock on Mars and that my real alien family was gonna come find me. Not as scared anymore, but loud noises at night still freak me out.

I think scotcher has put it very well. That's pretty much my view too.

Originally Posted by Cyphyr

I think scotcher has put it very well. That's pretty much my view too.

You guys don't care about the whole truth, you only care about what truth you can see?



(I don't mean that in a snotty way I am just trying to understand the way you think)

I wouldn't put it quite like that. I think both questions (Aliens and God) have intellectual merit, they are interesting questions. I simply have no emotional preference as to the answers, and since I will almost certainly never know for sure anyway, I don't see any point in investing the effort it would take to form a preference.

I am positive that aliens exist on other planets... With the trillions of stars in our universe alone, there has to be a misc. rock approximately as far away as Earth is somewhere (probably lots of places), and with space extending infinitely, I'd say it's a physical impossibility to not be any other races.
That being said, I obviously believe in evolution, and not religion, and have a "darwin" fish on my car to prove it! I guess it's kind of a catch-22 to say I don't believe in religion because it can't be proven, when I believe in Aliens without proof, but that's how I am, I guess...
-Fantom

Oh she's a real trouble maker, this Bianccca, posting this topic and all, isn't she?

Well I gotta say.

I n the 1970’s some astronomer guy named Sir Frederick Hoyle set out to calculate the mathematical probability of spontaneous origin of life from primordial soup. The equation is 0ne chance in ten to the 50th power. This figure is so big that even if every star had suitable planets around it the universe was still way too small to find extraterrestrial life. So I voted “No” because I don’t think God was reckless enough to have put any other stupid humanoid creatures anywhere else.

Originally Posted by DDT

Oh she's a real trouble maker, this Bianccca, posting this topic and all, isn't she?

Well I gotta say.

I n the 1970’s some astronomer guy named Sir Frederick Hoyle set out to calculate the mathematical probability of spontaneous origin of life from primordial soup. The equation is 0ne chance in ten to the 50th power. This figure is so big that even if every star had suitable planets around it the universe was still way too small to find extraterrestrial life. So I voted “No” because I don’t think God was reckless enough to have put any other stupid humanoid creatures anywhere else.

Yes, and I've heard people use that to confirm the existance of God. "See how improbable it is for life to exist?? God must have created us..." You can use calculations to "prove" anything.

Originally Posted by scotcher

It's statistically unlikely (to put it mildly) that life exists only on this here planet, but it's just as statistically unlikely that we'll ever know for sure, either way.

So, that's why I have "Alien Life: Existence of" filed in the same "don't see any point worrying about it" box as "God: Existence of".

HAH! Statistically unlikely that life exists here?

The earth is ~4500 million years old.

Life appeared on this planet about 4000 million years ago.

That's pretty fast considering the life-span of planets. Either life evolving here was a probable event, explaining why it happened so quickly to our young world, or we are a major fluke. Which do you think is more "statistically" likely.

Our universe is very large. There are other planets with similar atmospheric conditions to Earth; of that there is no doubt. The chances that life does not exist on at least some of those planets is quite low considering what we know.

I'm not saying that there'll be human-like things walking around, but single-celled organisms? You better believe it.

I voted no. I really wanted to click on the "no opinion" button but could not find it.

Maybe there are, maybe there are not.

Originally Posted by DDT

I n the 1970’s some astronomer guy named Sir Frederick Hoyle set out to calculate the mathematical probability of spontaneous origin of life from primordial soup. The equation is 0ne chance in ten to the 50th power. This figure is so big that even if every star had suitable planets around it the universe was still way too small to find extraterrestrial life. So I voted “No” because I don’t think God was reckless enough to have put any other stupid humanoid creatures anywhere else.

Hoyle is dated. During the last two decades the 'primordial soup' theory has not fared very well.

"Rocks of great antiquity have been examined over the past two decades and in none of them has any trace of abiotically produced organic compounds been found...Considering the way the pre- biotic soup is referred to in so many discussions of the origin of life as an already established reality, it comes as something of a shock to realize that there is absolutely no positive evidence for its existence." --Michael Denton



edit: BTW Biancca, are you Mormon?

Originally Posted by Nathan

Originally Posted by scotcher

It's statistically unlikely (to put it mildly) that life exists only on this here planet, but it's just as statistically unlikely that we'll ever know for sure, either way.

So, that's why I have "Alien Life: Existence of" filed in the same "don't see any point worrying about it" box as "God: Existence of".

HAH! Statistically unlikely that life exists here?

The earth is ~4500 million years old.

Life appeared on this planet about 4000 million years ago.

That's pretty fast considering the life-span of planets. Either life evolving here was a probable event, explaining why it happened so quickly to our young world, or we are a major fluke. Which do you think is more "statistically" likely.

Our universe is very large. There are other planets with similar atmospheric conditions to Earth; of that there is no doubt. The chances that life does not exist on at least some of those planets is quite low considering what we know.

I'm not saying that there'll be human-like things walking around, but single-celled organisms? You better believe it.

I think you are fundementally missunderstanding what I wrote, probably as a result of failing to notice the word 'only' in my very first sentence.

I think you are fundementally missunderstanding what I wrote, probably as a result of failing to notice the word 'only' in my very first sentence.

You're 100% right. I apologize. I'm an idiot^^.

I am pretty sure that aliens do exist somewhere, Universe is huge.

At the same time, there is no undoubtful evidence of their visiting the Earth.

Originally Posted by kwatts59

I really wanted to click on the "no opinion" button but could not find it.

I know...I made one when I posted this and it didn't show up. Weird.

You may still be able to edit one in.

Originally Posted by scotcher

It's statistically unlikely (to put it mildly) that life exists only on this here planet, but it's just as statistically unlikely that we'll ever know for sure, either way.

So, that's why I have "Alien Life: Existence of" filed in the same "don't see any point worrying about it" box as "God: Existence of".

Well speaking of statistics how likely would it be that our universe began with two electrons that had just always existed and randomly slammed into each other and later ended with what we have today. I think the big bang theory is one of the worst scientific theories that we have currently. I would find that the existence of some other planet with alien life would be far more believable and probable than believing the big bang theory. Why then should we give alien believers such a hard time when the majority of us believe in the big bang as the theory of origin?

Originally Posted by uno

Well speaking of statistics how likely would it be that our universe began with two electrons that had just always existed and randomly slammed into each other and later ended with what we have today. I think the big bang theory is one of the worst scientific theories that we have currently. I would find that the existence of some other planet with alien life would be far more believable and probable than believing the big bang theory. Why then should we give alien believers such a hard time when the majority of us believe in the big bang as the theory of origin?

The big bang theory certainly isn't close to as probable as alien life on other planets. I think Stephen Hawkins would be happy to agree with you on that.

However, I don't think the big bang theory is a bad scientific theory. It's the best we can do right now. Maybe you're expecting too much out of it. It's just supposed to be a 'hey this could possibly have happened' type of thing.

Maybe your an alien