Greetings, not so gentle Beings (for we are not free from the effects of
the Fall yet):
My first reaction is that, if we are dealing with physical beings, they
are responsible neither to nor for us. The interstellar distances provide
isolation that cannot be breached. The most that could be expected is an
exchange of messages via electromagnetic radiation, but that would almost
require that they have knowledge of our whereabouts, for we have no
knowledge of theirs, should they even exist within the Galaxy.
As to spirit beings, we know of two groups, the angels who follow God and
those who defected and serve Satan. The statement that the last is "the
ruler of the kingdom of the air" (Ephesians 2:2) suggests that he and his
forces are confined to the vicinity of earth. The obedient messengers
(the meaning of aggelos) are only known to act in connection with human
beings, but this gives us no clue about the possibility of service to
others. In the little that I know about angels, I am confident that who
they are and how they act does not match what is shown on TV.
Dave
On Sat, 16 Dec 2000 08:10:22 +1100 Jonathan Clarke
<jdac@alphalink.com.au> writes:
> Greetings Gentle beings.
>
> To summarise the discussion so far, there seems to be a broad
> consensus
> in our discussions. It is that there is no reason to see that God's
> for
> humanity, which include authority, responsibility, and
> accountability in
> creation, should not be considered as extending beyond the earth.
>
> We have had some discussion on the theological position of ET. Let
> me
> ask another question. Assuming they are God conscious beings, where
> to
> they stand in relation to creation's blessings? I see several
> possibilities:
>
> 1) They may be under humanity's authority. Given humanity's record
> this
> may be a truly frightening thought. Even if we recognise that
> Biblical
> authority means servanthood and accountability, our ability to
> actually
> live in this way is not well attested. Lewis would have been
> horrified
> by this possibility.
>
> 2) They are accountable for their own biosphere and however far
> beyond
> it they have extended. Cosmic spheres of interest, as it were.
>
> 3) Both these assumes that we will meet aliens more or less as moral
> and
> spiritual equals. There is another possibility. They may be
> accountable
> for us. Humanity may be so far down the cosmic chain of being (for
> want
> of a better expression), that it is they, not us, who are
> accountable to
> God for stewardship of the cosmos. Humanity simply may not be
> blessed
> in this area.
>
> Thoughts?
>
> respectfully
>
> Jonathan
>
>
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