Hypothetical Situation: Aliens come to Earth. They say their religion is the real deal, our aren't.

[fulano]

So, I know people get annoyed about religious threads, but consider this situation:

Aliens come to Earth; they are not mean, aggresive, or anything of the sort (maybe a little sticky, but that's it). They come sporting all forms of technological goodies, and they have no qualms of mingling with us, but they have little patience for our religions--they respect them, but they annoy the heck out of them. Why? 'Cause they say their religion is the right one. Yes, they are not atheists. They believe in a creator entity and whatnot, but the explanations are a bit too much for us to properly rationalize.

Now, thse dudes traveled billions of light years to get here, have some pretty gnarly techie stuff to play with, and are, quite simply, above and beyond from where we are now both in terms of culture and development; wouldn't they know what they are talking about? Would that make anybody think twice about where they stand?

I would certainly be a little bit confused, just to begin with. Wouldn't you?

 

[Kubanator]

So, I know people get annoyed about religious threads, but consider this situation:

Aliens come to Earth; they are not mean, aggresive, or anything of the sort (maybe a little sticky, but that's it). They come sporting all forms of technological goodies, and they have no qualms of mingling with us, but they have little patience for our religions--they respect them, but they annoy the heck out of them. Why? 'Cause they say their religion is the right one. Yes, they are not atheists. They believe in a creator entity and whatnot, but the explanations are a bit too much for us to properly rationalize.

Now, thse dudes traveled billions of light years to get here, have some pretty gnarly techie stuff to play with, and are, quite simply, above and beyond from where we are now both in terms of culture and development; wouldn't they know what they are talking about? Would that make anybody think twice about where they stand?

I would certainly be a little bit confused, just to begin with. Wouldn't you?

Accept it. They're obviously much more intelligent then us, when we properly understand their religion and technology, then we can think about it. I'd much rather sacrifice our religion for such technology, then lose it due to pride.

 

[axia777]

I laugh at them and tell them that all religions are bullshit. So there aliens. Bite me.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

Just like any other religion, I would need to see physical proof in order to truly believe in it without knowing I was fooling myself in the back of my head.

 

[grimsprice]

-snip of the weak minded-

You would bow down and worship the ORI wouldn't you...

 

[dmase]

Then they invite us on their ships to take us back to their "prosperous" homeworld only to find out that their holy book is actually a cook book for humans(eating humans that is), yes twilight zone i learned much from you.

 

[Fenixius]

Just like any other religion, I would need to see physical proof in order to truly belive in it without knowing I was fooling myself in the back of my head.

Pretty much right on. I'd have to apply the same logic and principles which lead me to my current beliefs.

 

[UltraParanoia]

Odin approves of booze, meat and fighting.

Clearly their god is not superior.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

I'd say the same thing I say about every religion, unless they can offer something to substantiate their claim other then hearsay, I'm not about to jump on their little bandwagon.

 

[Kollega]

Odin approves of booze, meat and fighting.

Clearly their god is not superior.

This.

Actually,if they want me to believe in their religion - bring in the proof. Untill then,it's just a belief,which may or may not be true.

 

[Snotnarok]

I say prove it. How hard would it be for a big country to go into a tribe and show off guns, or lights or cars and not make us out to be Gods? They could do the same thing, which I'm pretty sure was an episode of Star Trek TNG.

 

[Diserasta]

Just like any other religion, I would need to see physical proof in order to truly belive in it without knowing I was fooling myself in the back of my head.

Pretty much this.

 

[Vainglory]

If they were as advanced as you're saying they would probably be more accepting of other religions than people on this forum clearly are.

 

[fulano]

-snip of the weak minded-

You would bow down and worship the ORI wouldn't you...

Most definitely. I have a thing for fire, also, you know.

Anyways, calm down. I admit to being confused in that scenario, though never to suspending my critical thinking...unless they show me enough shiny stuff...with some fire thrown around for good measure.

 

[grimsprice]

-snip of the weak minded-

You would bow down and worship the ORI wouldn't you...

Most definitely. I have a thing for fire, also, you know.

Anyways, calm down. I admit to being confused in that scenario, though never to suspending my critical thinking...unless they show me enough shiny stuff...with some fire thrown around for good measure.

Lol, thanks for the laugh, i'm having a bad night. I never actually answered your post. I'd ask them for lab testable proof. If they have enough, then its not a religion, its a theory, which has enough proof. I'd believe them. If they didn't have proof, i'd tear down their religion just as i tear down the ones we have here. Victory to P.E.A.R.L.!!!!!!

 

[ottenni]

Yeah it'l probably be a teapot. I can see it now...

 

[Space Spoons]

Well, apart from the extraterrestrial aspect, this doesn't sound like it'd be any different than any other moment in history when two societies met for the first time.

"Hi! We're from Europe!"
"Oh, hi! Look at how pale your skin is! Welcome to America!"
"Thanks, Naked Brown Man! We're gonna start building colonies now, if that's okay with you. Oh, and by the way, everything you believe is wrong, and you should be ashamed for not wearing pants. Worship our god or die. "

Regardless of how advanced the civilization we're encountering might be, the Hilanderesque "THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE!" nature of religion means that it can only end in war.