Although not directly related to sf, someone on another list suggested
I ask sf-lit folks this question about ET's and religion. If anyone
has written any sf or f about the topic of salvation and ET's, please
let me know. Thanks! Here's the original posting:
I'm working on my masters thesis on the theological implications of
intelligent life on other worlds and came across an interesting item
about which I'm hoping someone on this list can provide me more
information. Tommaso Campanella defended Galileo Galilei on the
plurality of worlds theory while decrying the notion of ET's on the
grounds that the very existence of ET's violates Scripture. Here is a
quote from my thesis on page 35: "Campanella disbelieved that 'men'
on other worlds had sinned and needed redemption, asserting that
therefore Jesus did not have to die for them, an idea at one time
implying that Christ needed to die and rise again for the people
populating the antipodes of the Earth, but he unclear as to how
theology would be affected if ET's did exist and had sinned (Dick,
_Plurality of Worlds_ 92 -- 93)."
What I'd like to know is where in Catholic literature does any
theologian assert that Christ may have had to become incarnate again
and die again for the people of the antipodes of the Earth? As I
understand it, the Catholic Church has rejected this belief, claiming
that Christ died for everyone on the Earth including people at the
antipodes, but I cannot find such a statement in the literature I've
been reviewing for this thesis. I would like to use such a teaching
of the Church to expand the idea of universal salvation so that Christ
literally died and rose again for humans and ET's throughout the
universe alike.
Thanks for any help.
--
Cindy Smith I have further observed under the sun that
[log in to unmask] The race is not won by the swift,
[log in to unmask] Nor the battle by the valiant;
[log in to unmask] Nor is bread won by the wise,
Me transmitte sursum, Nor wealth by the intelligent,
Caledoni! Nor favor by the learned.
A Real Live Catholic For the time of mischance comes to all.
in Georgia! -- JPS Ecclesiastes 9:11
>->> <<-< Go against the flow!
Cindy Smith I have further observed under the sun that
[log in to unmask] The race is not won by the swift,
[log in to unmask] Nor the battle by the valiant;
[log in to unmask] Nor is bread won by the wise,
Me transmitte sursum, Nor wealth by the intelligent,
Caledoni! Nor favor by the learned.
A Real Live Catholic For the time of mischance comes to all.
in Georgia! -- JPS Ecclesiastes 9:11
>->> <<-< Go against the flow!
