First Conatct????

[Raging Deadstar]

Well even if it is alien in origin just think how long it's taken to get here. I doubt any aliens who sent it exist anymore

[capnq]

A SETI researcher is now denying {link} that they have a signal.

[Katchoo]

Looks to me like they're denying this awfully hard...

Hmm...

If we did recieve a signal from an Alien Race, do you think they (World Governments, Research Institutes) would gleefully announce that we've found evidence of life beyond Earth? Nope, they'd deny it until the Aliens started competing on American Idol. The ramifications of discovering intelligent life beyond Earth is far more terrifing to some people (especially fanatic religious folk) than a nuclear war.

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[tesco samoa]

wouldn't the alien life also be of gods creation ?

[Intimidator]

The proof of alien life would unravel a lot of the stories in the Bible or Koran (or what ever) And I think that scares 'them' (fanatic religious folk) a lot.

But offcourse only my point of view (don't wanna insult any religion at all !!!!!)

Intimidator

[geoschmo]

I can't speak for the Koran, but nothing in the Bible says that God didn't create life on other planets.

[Gandalf Parker]

I find the new statements comming out of Quantum Physics to be quite interesting. It seems to blow away much of the scientific logic which was used to discount much of the paranormal, theological, even mythological subjects of the past. Even God can take on a whole new consideration now that "big bang" has been replaced with "membrane crossover", 10 dimensions plus 1, and imported energy/matter

[Raging Deadstar]

Katchoo said:
Looks to me like they're denying this awfully hard...

Hmm...

If we did recieve a signal from an Alien Race, do you think they (World Governments, Research Institutes) would gleefully announce that we've found evidence of life beyond Earth? Nope, they'd deny it until the Aliens started competing on American Idol. The ramifications of discovering intelligent life beyond Earth is far more terrifing to some people (especially fanatic religious folk) than a nuclear war.

[img]/threads/images/Graemlins/icon12.gif[/img]

Then again so would entertaining the possibility it was an alien signal. We're so used to Governments denying this stuff if they didn't wouldn't you think something's off?

As for discovering intelligent life beyond earth i have little hope of that considering Intelligent Life here On Earth!

Anyway we all know Earths Default First Contact Protocal

1. Nuke 'Em
2. If Nukes fail then try and communicate

Shoot First and Ask Questions Later

tesco samoa said:
wouldn't the alien life also be of gods creation ?

Yes they would depending on Opinion, some would say God created the universe, some would say god just created earth...Considering how quick some religions are to brand others as Heretics and Infidels what makes you think Aliens would be any better off

[Alneyan]

If you want to go with theories about governments hiding something (or a bit more than that), you could argue that the whole reports of alien life out there are more a smoke screen than anything else. For example, I, the President of Somewhere, could let one of my trusted advisors mention a secret site dedicated to some kind of research. While most of the attention is focused on this secret base, nobody would question my hidden activies at producing unconventional weaponry; in this case, Master of Orion III: Deluxe Edition.

My point is, I would be hiding secrets by letting something much less important "slip". Note, however, that this is not necessarily my opinion in this matter, but merely a random idea (on this particular matter, I would be very surprised if anyone had a good knowledge of alien life, provided there is alien life advanced enough to pop in and say heya).

About religion and aliens: another conception could be that there isn't just a single one deity, but quite a few of them, with each one (or more than one for this matter) at the head of a particular people (and possibly closer to Ancient Greece pantheon). It would be difficult to explain why aliens have never been mentioned in the past however; but similar changes have happened in the past (such as a change of mindset towards the human body, among others).

Deadstar, your First Contact Protocol seems to be lacking an entry: what happens if they nuke us, rather than the other way around? In this case, is the solution 1 applied (Nuke'em right back, that will teach these pesky aliens), or solution 3 (sue for peace, and backstab them as soon as possible)?

*Goes back to looking for huge yellow ships in the sky; we won't be caught unprepared this time! But where did I put my towel...*