Is there Life on the Other Planets?

Faith Q&A › Many Years with People's Questions › Part IV

The question

Scientists are interested in the question of whether there is life on the other planets. What would Christ's attitude to this subject be? And if science later confirms the existence of another form of life, would this have an effect on religion?

The answer

Religion has left this subject without raising any arguments either for or against it. It makes no difference either way whether it is proved that there is life on the other planets or there isn't. If there is, it will have no effect on religion at all.

The Bible was not intended to be a book on the solar system, or a book of science, but the good news about salvation. It relates the story of salvation and all the history, commandments and theology connected with it.

As far as the stars are concerned, whatever might be on them has no connection with our salvation, it is enough that they give light to us at night, like a blessing from God to us. God likened His righteous saints to the stars, saying that they will shine like the lights in heaven.

Even if life were found on the other planets or the stars, there is nothing in the Bible that would be opposed to this, and vice versa.

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Thrice-Blessed Pope Shenouda III of Blessed Memory

Thrice-Blessed Pope Shenouda III of Blessed Memory, Many Years with People's Questions, Part IV: Dogma and Ritual Questions. Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate. Translated by Mrs. Glynis Younan, London. Revised by Mrs. Wedad Abbas. First edition, August 1992. Revised COEPA 1997. ISBN 977-5319-0-2-1.