I came across this interesting article: “An Eastern Orthodox Perspective on Microbial Life on Mars” (Theology and Science 6:4, 2008). I’m not Eastern Orthodox, but I think this paragraph in the article’s conclusion is well written and well reasoned:
To be sure, there is nothing in Orthodox theological tradition that would affirm the possibility of life on other planets. In fact, to the Biblical writers, to the Church Fathers, and to the framers of the Orthodox liturgical texts, this would be a nonquestion. The geocentric attitude of the tradition essentially has no interest in life elsewhere, due to the actual portrayal of Creation in the Biblical texts and due also to the lack of knowledge in earlier ages about the extent, structure, and shape of the universe. This structure does not have a place for extraterrestrial life, mainly because it does not imagine, nor can it possibly conceive of, the possibility of such life. It must, however, be remembered that this is the result of ignorance about the wider universe, not a voluntary decision to reject such a possibility. At the same timeand very importantlythat same Biblical portrait of the universe, when combined with modern scientific knowledge, need not preclude the possibility of extraterrestrial life. Although all other knowledge beside the reality of God is of lesser importance for the Orthodox theological synthesis, scientific knowledge continues to revealeven on a very rudimentary levelthe secrets of a universe theologically apprehended as the work of the divine Creator. Eastern Orthodox theology can comfortably embrace that knowledge as a guiding light on its journey towards the Divine Source of all being. . . . This establishes, within an Eastern Orthodox mind-set, a much more flexible attitude, one that would be readily able to accept all extraterrestrial life-forms.
What about ‘angelic beings’ and ‘demonic beings’? These are both clearly indicated in the Eastern Christian Tradition. The contention that the E.O. Tradition views the Bible as a literal textbook or manual of geology, history and paranormal reality is incorrect. There is a strong tradition of allegorical and spiritual interpretation within the Eastern Tradition, which I agree “need not preclude the possibility of extraterrestrial life.” The poster is correct however that the goal of the Orthodox Tradition IS its “journey towards the Divine Source of all being”, which is the reason why extra-terrestrial life is not emphasized, rather – I think – than a tacit rejection.
@Kevin: I’m not familiar with Eastern Orthodox theology, but those beings are obviously going to be part of their theology. My guess is that this option just never occurred to this guy. If so, that’s telling — so many other Christians *assume* that angels or demons are the “answer” to this question, when (as I have blogged here before) an intelligent ET may be neither — just another part of creation that the Bible doesn’t address since (a) it’s not on earth and the Bible is a product of earth-dwellers, and even more narrowly, it’s a Mediterranean=centered book), and (b) the Bible isn’t a science book — it doesn’t tell us about chimpanzees and millions of other species — why would we expect it to tell us about such a life form?
Alien Abductions and the Orthodox Christian
http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/alien_abduct.aspx
Not to be argumentative, (from a religious pov) but I think it says more about garden variety Orthodoxy and things labeled ‘feminism’ and hence, bigoted bias. But overall, I like what I read. I thought it well suited to conversation.
thanks