Is belief in aliens a matter of faith?
Question asked by: mrquestion
Asked on: 26 Jan 2010
If you say that you know for sure that aliens exist then yes that is a matter of faith.
However from a scientific point of view, then there is no need for 'faith' to come into it because there are entirely scientific questions and rational processes that can be used to assess the chance of alien life forms existing.
Our best guesses from current understanding of the universe is that there seems to be a very good chance of life evolving elsewhere. The problem is though that since we don't know what the chance of life evolving are we can't be sure.
This is why if we find life elsewhere in the solar system and it is independent of that which evolved on earth the odds of life elsewhere in the universe go from being unknown to almost certain in insanely large quantities: twice in one solar system shows that life is not hard to get going, whereas if the only place we know of life is earth then we just have no knowledge of the probability of it occurring other than knowing it is greater than 0.
By: knowitall
Replied at: 26 Jan 2010
Rate Answer
Comment or provide your answer to this question
No comments have been added to this question "Is belief in aliens a matter of faith?".
No comments have been added to this question "Is belief in aliens a matter of faith?".
Ask a New Question
Find out more about Astronomy
Astronomy Questions and Answers extraterrestrial life Questions and Answers Next question: What are the chances we will ever make contact with other species?
Become a Member! It's Free >>>
Share on Facebook: 
On Twitter:
Tweet this!
Question Keywords
matter faith aliens belief
More Questions:What Is Charon Like?
Why Do People Think There Might Be More Than One Universe?
Earth Formation
Why Can Nothing Travel Faster Than Light?
What Is The Moon Ganymede Like?