OT:Why Aliens dont come here

[Renegade 13]

I'm not exactly sure how this conversation on why aliens don't come here devolved into one about religion....

To bring it a little bit more on topic, I'll just say that pointless debates such as these are the reason why aliens don't contact us. Why the hell would they want to talk to a people who are so fragmented, and so vehement in their beliefs, and unwilling to change their opinion unless directly confronted with massive proof that contradicts what they believe?? Hmmmm, yes, very difficult indeed to understand why aliens don't want to come here....we probably have a big note attached to the file of humanity in some alien's database: "Caution: Do not approach. Dangerous animals."

[Starhawk]

Quote:
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Theological monotheistic religion, based on the recorded revelations of long-dead "prophets", is the worst thing that has ever happened to mankind. It has a natural tendency toward intolerance (someone who believes in a different god must, by definition, by denying the truth of my monotheism, so there is a conflict that would not exist if I was polytheistic), and it resists progress in all its forms by making ancient writings the ultimate and immutable authority.

In essence, scriptural religions are plagued not only with human flaws, but the human flaws of primitive humans from thousands of years ago.


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Oh yeah he's a non-biased source of historical information (rolleyes) folks like him scare off aliens no doubt I mean what if the aliens are creationists? this jackass would make them sick no doubt.

Anyway I just think if there are aliens they really don't give a crap about us as a culture because we can't even prove they are there I think once we can prove they are there and pretty much smack em upside their grey heads they'll start talking but until then we just aren't that interesting.

[brianeyci]

Starhawk said:Oh yeah he's a non-biased source of historical information (rolleyes) folks like him scare off aliens no doubt I mean what if the aliens are creationists? this jackass would make them sick no doubt.

Well no. I was not quoting him to talk about aliens, but about religion in general. And better a "jackass" and offend some people than to hide behind a shield of civility I think. Anyway back on topic, I don't know how this thread turned into religion either.

My two cents on the aliens thing is one word -- Why? Why would aliens want to contact us? That's the most basic question, and every answer I can think of revolves around "they find us interesting" which is an incredibly self-centered and egocentric justification. Since I can't even answer the Why question, I don't think I can carry on the discussion further.

Brian

[narf poit chez BOOM]

I am a better person because of my religeon than I would be without it. No other institution, save that of my family, I have ever encountered, could have taught me morality so successfully.

[brianeyci]

Unfortunately I have to admit it, but watching reruns of TNG after coming home from school at 4:00 pm (yes, I rushed home to watch it) is what I attribute to some of my morality. Especially the "Prime Directive" and live and let live philosophy, although now that I'm older I see Star Trek as a totally unworkable dream fantasy and the possibility a "Prime Directive" mentality being used as justification of withholding help from needy people.

Brian

[Fyron]

brianeyci said:
Unfortunately I have to admit it, but watching reruns of TNG after coming home from school at 4:00 pm (yes, I rushed home to watch it) is what I attribute to some of my morality. Especially the "Prime Directive" and live and let live philosophy, although now that I'm older I see Star Trek as a totally unworkable dream fantasy and the possibility a "Prime Directive" mentality being used as justification of withholding help from needy people.

There were a number of episodes where it was indeed used to withhold help from needy people, just because it would interfere with their development.

[brianeyci]

Imperator Fyron said:There were a number of episodes where it was indeed used to withhold help from needy people, just because it would interfere with their development.

Yes well Picard always gave a long-winded philosophical speech about withholding help, and me being 10-14 or so I bought into a lot of them, until I was older and realized that his philosophical justification was really a practical justification. The Feds can't help everybody around, because they need to keep control of their technology and wouldn't have the resources to help every downtrodden alien race that comes along.

Brian

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Nothing wrong with that. One of our LDS (The other short form, not LSD) beliefs is 'if there is anything virtious, lovely or of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.' As I remember it. My memory might not be exact, but the meaning is clear.

[Fyron]

narf poit chez BOOM said:
I am a better person because of my religeon than I would be without it. No other institution, save that of my family, I have ever encountered, could have taught me morality so successfully.

Your family could easily have taught you morality in the absence of religion. It happens all the time. Religion is in no way required for morality.

[Starhawk]

[/quote]Your family could easily have taught you morality in the absence of religion. It happens all the time. Religion is in no way required for morality.

[/quote]

Well Imperator as I said you are free to hold to your own beliefs in this country, and I suppose to understand what a Christian (I am talking about a good normal person that happens to be a christian, not including the far right or far left Groups in this term) means when they say that they are better because of their religious beleifs then they would be without them you'd have to feel it for yourself.

It truely is different to have faith then simple morality.

As a friend of mine often said
"Faith does not equal morality and morality does not equal faith, one can exist with out the other, but when they become one it is a far better thing."

It is true I can have faith in God but be immoral I can also have faith in only myself but be a very "moral" person, Religion and morality are not by default in the same boat and each can exist without the other but it's always better to have Faith in God AND be moral then just to be Moral in my opinion