I know that sounds stupid but hear me out.
I remembered hearing about how the pentagon released information that UFOs are on the pentagons radar, with 3 ufo sightings by the government, and that random rock that looked like it might be a alien artifact. It may have been my christian upbringing and many alien movies that I get filled with severe anxiety and dread thinking about it.
I wanted to know what Atheists thought about topics like this. Im not talking about every ufo experience ever as evidence can be easliy false and hoaxes.
I was told growing up that aliens are demons who are here to draw people away from god. I also heard from random youtube vids that this is a sign of the end times or something. Obviously (hopefully) that isnt the case but im just so confused. Im filled with fear over a lot of things and Atheism always helped out when I had fears.
I dont know if this is the right place to discuss or not but i assumed it would open a debate (Given Hawkings opinions for example).
Anything helps
Thanks.
QUICK EDIT:
Thank you guys for posting. It helps me understand what others in my boat think about this. I also changed the title to fit the change.
I realized I made a mistake on my question. UFOs are “Unidentified and thus can be assumed as “Aliens/ Extra-terrestial Life”. But still I would like to know your opinions on it and how could it effect religion.
I researched about this and the study i found showed the Hinduism and Buddism wouldnt be effected while the Abrahamic faiths were the most affected. Thoughts?
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Yes, Pentegon spotted UFOs on radar. Some pilots have seen UFOs. People report seeing UFOs. The key here is "UNIDENTIFIED" usually in the sky and whether or not it is an object is up for grabs as it is 'UNIDENTIFIED/" No one is allowed to jump from UNIDENTIFIED to ALIEN.
ASSUMING aliens visiting from space in 50 different varieties and being imprisoned at area 51 is entertaining amusement and not much else. Throw crop circles, cattle mutilations, and pregnant trailer park trash into the mix and you have all the makings for a complete invasion. You should prepare for the end of the world now. The aliens are here. It's all garbage.
For this topic, I highly recommend Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson's hilarious remarks on the issue: https://youtu.be/NSJElZwEI8o
Flamenca,
I'll have to listen to Neil deGrasse Tyson more! He did a brilliant job in summing up why scientists are skeptical of "flying saucer" claims.
@Greensnake, he's really great and so funny! For having a good time (and some time to spare as well, because it's almost an hour an a half, totally worth it though), let me recommend you this video of him of an interview run by Stephen Colbert:
https://youtu.be/YXh9RQCvxmg
Since UFO is an acronym for *unidentified* flying object, I'm more than happy to accept that some people may have thought they saw something that they can't identify. I'm not sure what else is left to discuss though.
UFO's?... What's the big deal? I think ugly fucking oranges are delicious. Rather puzzled as to why they would be on the Pentagon's radar, though. *scratching head*
Oooooh.... Wait.... Silly me. You're not talking about oranges. You are talking about spaceships and little green men from Mars. Ahh, goodness. How embarrassing...*blushing*....
Okay, so as a kid, I was always fascinated with the whole UFO theories and documentaries and such. Totally loved contemplating the possibilities of "other advanced life" out there. Actually still do like thinking about it from time to time. Fun stuff to consider (personal opinion). But I do not recall ever getting scared or worried about it. The possibility of making contact with advanced alien life has always instilled a sense of adventure and excitement in me. (Even if they happen to be hostile. Yeah, weird, I know.)
If you don't mind my asking, what is it exsctly that makes you so nervous and "on edge" about the whole UFO thing?
Personally Its the unknown about it. Sure they dont seem to do anything anyway but I remember seeing alien movies and stories of people and it struck me. I then asked my christian family members what they thought and they told me the UFOs are demons sent to make people not believe in god. I actually belived that when I was younger. Then i hear that the pentagon is looking into UFO shit and it struck a nerve with me. It sounds stupid but i have anxiety issues so anything puts me on edge really. Sorry
@SG1337
Hey, dude, thanks for getting back with me on that. Here's the thing, buddy: There are MANY unknowns out there. So why worry yourself sick about it?
Are there really intelligent alien life forms out there buzzing around Earth's orbit and making the occasional covert visit to slaughter a few cows and stick probes up the asses of the poor schmucks they supposedly abduct? Hell, who knows for certain? And is there a huge government cover-up conspiracy to keep us lowly peasant citizens from discovering the truth because it would supposedly send the world into a rioting panic? Again, I don't know.
Here's another way of looking at it. Is there a giant planet-killer meteor hurtling toward the Earth this very instant at several thousand miles per hour that will cause global extinction when it hits? Very possible, but still unknown. Or, will you be travelling on the interstate tomorrow and get struck and killed by some crazy driver who decided it would a great day to go speeding into on-coming traffic? Absolutely no way of knowing.
So, even if there are aliens, do you honestly think there is anything we could do to a race of beings that have conquered interstellar space travel should they choose to be hostile? Personal opinion, we would be like cavemen throwing rocks at modern day tanks. So, hey, why worry about it?
True. Thanks for the advice on stuff like this. It could also be what my christian family members told me when i was younger that brings back a little panic.
@SG1337
Yeah, funny sometimes how stuff we are told as kids sticks with us like that. *chuckle*
But consider this for a moment..... Nobody gets out of this game alive. Simple fact. So what if a bunch of hostile aliens happen to swoop down here to wipe out the human race? You have to admit that would be a much cooler way of being taken out compared to being killed by a bus or dying slowly because of some incurable disease. Ya gotta look on the positive side, man. lol
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Huh thats a good way to look at it. If were all gonna die anyway might as well be fighting some aliens haha. That made my day. Thanks man
@SG1337 Re: "If were all gonna die anyway might as well be fighting some aliens..."
Hell yeah! Even got my Alien Combat Kit ready to go, just in case! LOL
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you know the government only show us the things that are not confidential...
don't go further..just look around mother earth...like ohh..we have the bermuda triangle that still can't be explained...
i think goverment is trying to hid something from us....bottom of the bermuda? a military base? a huge underwater pod where all of the "dead" celebrities are hidden....or maybe aliens run that place..who knew?
if there would be aliens roaming around earths orbit?....i'd love to be abducted by them..."take me aliens....i'm juicy and tender, make me the groom of your queen, i am capable of being a king for your colony..beam me up please..."
No Evidence = No Existence.
rmfr
Here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7rYRGbsMW0
As Neil deGrasse Tyson says, "I don't know." And like him, I am satisfied with that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSJElZwEI8o
Not the best quality, but part of his speech is a very good idea about evidence.
rmfr
Hey, @Arakish. I posted the second video above! The exact same one. So you don't click on my links, hmm... busted!
@Flamenca
Damn, busted. I am completely sorry. I totally missed your post. Skipped right over. Did not know it was there until you gave me the DiNozzo smack. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZwYmlR9Lh8 (perfect song to go with).
Can you forgive me?
rmfr
What a video! Hahaha, @Arakish. You're completely forgiven. When we were kids, my mom used to scold me and my siblings for doing that because she thought that could affect our brains, and she said we needed them intact for studying at school.
Some guy, (Perhaps you already get this and the following is moot for you - unfortunately, it isn’t for others who may be listening in on the conversation), you wrote, “I wanted to know what Atheists thought about topics like this.”
Which atheist? Every single person who is identified as atheist is autonomous. There is no set commonality other then not believing in god(s). You would be better off saying, “I wanted to know what ***you*** thought about topics like this.” People identified as atheist do not somehow constitute a many-legged creature with one brain.
Not trying to slap you, just providing a wee bit of education.
I understand that but since I posted in debate room I wanted to know what the Atheists thought about it and not non-Atheists. I should have put you. My mistake.
I have no reason to think that aliens are anymore harmful than humans or mosquitoes.
I am not concerned when people say they saw something unidentified and jump to the conclusion alien species are involved. These things are not on my personal radar.
@Someguy1337:
A UFO is simply something that's not identified yet. I'd be more worried about something from North Korea. The likelihood of alien intelligence is very high. The chances that any of them will come here are very very remote because of interstellar distances.
I'm very skeptical about government cover-ups of alien contacts. The American government couldn't even cover up Bill Clinton's blow-job in the Oval Office, and that only involved two people. Imagine how many people would be involved in first contact.
That is true. How easy could it be to not have a blow job be leaked but a massive alien cover up not?
If there were aliens I'd rather believe they are bloody terrified of us and have quarantined Earth, sort of like with Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, "mostly harmless ,IF LEFT THE FUCK ALONE."
It wasn't actually aliens that scared us in the 50s and 60s it was Hollywood movies, so until further evidence for their existence and intentions become available I reserve all my fears and anxieties for fellow humans ie fundamental religious nutjobs, militaristic nationalists and politicians generally.
On the actual discovery of galaxy travelling aliens, Abrahamic religions would find previously unrevealed passages in their books to explain aliens and how they are a part of godly plans to either convert with brotherly love or destroy with eternal damnation.
And then there is my most favortitest quote by Sir Arthur C. Clarke (paraphrased):
"I am sure the universe is full of life. It has just been too intelligent to come here."
And here is what some Absolutist Apologists say about aliens being mentioned in the Bible... (still trying to find the YouTube video I got these from.)
Ephesians 6:12 ESV
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Hebrews 11:13 ESV
These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
1 Corinthians 15:40-41 ESV (And here is that damnable word "kind".)
There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star is different from another star in glory.
So see... God has already got his delusioned disciples working to greet those visitors from the stars...
rmfr
Man thats a stretch to make haha.
Yeah, it is. But it does show how some of those Absolutist Apologists think.
And, yeah, it is LOL.
[Still trying to find the YouTube video that guy made into about an hour long lecture. Damn, why didn't I save the link?]
rmfr
Unidentified Flying Oranges:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN5PoW7_kdA
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