When the Athonite UFOs Land (I fail to explain UFOs Just Like Everyone Else Just Now)

Last updated on: May 29, 2019 at 10:23 pm by John Mark N. Reynolds

When the Athonite UFOs Land (I fail to explain UFOs Just Like Everyone Else Just Now) 2019-05-29T22:23:24-04:00 John Mark N. Reynolds

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

We have never met living beings from another world. There are UFOs. Will we contact beings from other worlds soon?

When we do, and I hope we do, nobody has any idea what they will be or think. For some odd reason, science fiction this side of Ray Bradbury and CS Lewis has a secular tone. . . Writers assume we will face evil or good Nones from the Stars. That’s not very imaginative. If we allow ourselves a bit of an intellectual lark, then all sorts of interesting possibilities, infinite diversity in infinite combinations is possible.

There might be more things in heaven and earth than Gene Roddenberry dreamed in his crabbed philosophy. The visitors from another planet may be monastics drawn from the Holy Mountain of Athos. Why not?

Why think a secular planet could ever develop a culture that would get to the stars? Does secularism actually lead to sustainable birth rates (making it to the future) and a desire to boldly go where no man (or one) has gone before? Or does it lead to internal bickering between the Trotskyites and the Party that ends in Chernobyl, not the Enterprise? Or a pleasure based consumerist culture where every person does what is right in his or her own eyes?

We cannot know, but given human history, we seem as likely to meet Monastics from Planet Athos as Vulcanian secularists*. In fact, if one is allowed a bit of speculative fun, this might be more likely.

Monastics (think Mendel) have time to do seemingly endless scientific research.
The isolation of space would be just what hermits or some orders of monks desire.
Religious truth provides a basis for scientific exploration (boldly going) in terms of:
- seeing God’s creation
- missionary work
A religious faith like Christianity cannot (in the mainstream) deny science as God is a creator. This is one reason monotheist nations developed science and must maintain it. Even when fringe groups deny the mainstream of science, they try to maintain parallel scientific structures.
Theistic faiths crave challenge (see monasticism itself as heroic Christianity) and are dubious of hedonism. We cannot quite justify “eat drink and be merry” as the goal in this life. As a result, while those creating their own meaning will always struggle not to fall into hedonism, Christian theism can, but not with a clear conscience.
Christianity (hence theism) is truth.

The last claim is certainly debatable, but no more so than materialism. We do not know what the aliens will say and, of course, no reason to just accept what they say when they say it. Even if the aliens turn out to be monks from Planet Athos come to see where the Christ, redeemer of the Cosmos, was born, we would not then be sure Christianity is true. Awesome technology and wrongheaded philosophy go together often!

Of course, the present UFOs are very possibly a natural phenomenon we do not yet understand, software artifacts (in some cases), or delusions. They might also be angels, demons, or any number of supernatural races. We do not know: obviously. Given secularists assume we do know, they lazily assert first contact will be a triumph of secularism, it’s worth saying we do not know this. There is reason to believe that the Monks of Planet Athos are more likely to come on pilgrimage to Bethlehem, a cosmic wonder, as to be atheists: makers and sustainers of very little high culture even on this planet.

While Planet Dawkins buries itself on phone apps, Twittering away a lifetime, Planet Athos prayerfully heads to Bethlehem, hoping to be a Christmas star.

—————————-

*Using TOS nomenclature . . . And I know the Vulcans had an odd sort of religion by the end.

Culture

Spiritual Reflections

Previous Post

May 28, 2019

Earthworm Jim and Great Comics (Guest Voice: Doug TenNapel)

Next Post

May 30, 2019 The Monotheistic Turn Toward Philosophy and Science: Against Polytheism and Atheism (Heraclitus)

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Apologetics Art Culture Education On Books On Education Philosophy Politics Pop Culture Spiritual Reflections Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 July 2025 June 2025 September 2024 July 2024 June 2024 December 2023 June 2023 September 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What is the biblical view on telling the truth?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Use flattering words Speak the truth in love Stay silent always Lie to help others

Books by This Author John Mark Reynolds

See All Titles »