Perhaps the biggest component of the "Are we alone in the universe?" debate, for some, is the resulting dismantling of religious institutions here on Earth following inarguable proof that such institutions are decidedly anti-universe. For the religiously inclined, the question arises: Would inhabitants of another planet, likely within another universe entirely, even have knowledge of the respective god of one respective religion or another? The answer, of course, is a relatively firm "No." Now, just three short centuries after the Catholic Church violently condemned Galileo for suggesting that Earth wasn't the center of the universe, the Vatican Powers That Be are joining the realistic side of this debate.
Following NASA's announcement of a possible Earth-like sister planet, Father José Gabriel Funes once again expressed his updated thoughts on the possibility of extraterrestrial life. "It is probable there was life and perhaps a form of intelligent life," says Funes, director of the Vatican Observatory in Rome. "[Though] I don’t think we’ll ever meet a Mr Spock." When pressed about the inherent contradictions of such an expression from a person of such devout Christian faith, Funes gives an admirably forthright response. "The Bible is not a scientific book. If we look for scientific responses to our questions in the Bible, we are making a mistake."
Funes also believes, in a humorous act of deflection, that members of this theoretical life form likely aren't Catholics, wouldn't have the slightest clue as to who Jesus is, and most definitely haven't experienced similar events of supposed religious importance. "The discovery of intelligent life does not mean there's another Jesus," offers Funes. "The Incarnation of the son of God is a unique event in the history of humanity of the universe." That's perfect, isn't it? A powerful religious figure admits to the increasing likelihood of intelligent life elsewhere in the universe (i.e. aliens), but in the same breath reinforces the outmoded belief that humans are the center of everything.
Sorry, aliens. Please don't visit us until we have our shit together.
