would aliens have souls?

[platinum rhymer]

if we have souls....would aliens have souls too?....i want to be an alien in my next life but of course i wouldnt be an alien then

[Thinker]

This question and variations of it turn up on the various religious boards fairly often.  Your best bet would probably be the `Christian Forums' site (it'll turn up on any search at or near the top of the list).

That said... (conservative) christianity would hold that they might have souls, but would be `fallen' and without hope of redemption (the salvafic life/death/life of Jesus being a once in the universe event; no Jesus on their world, hence, no hope of redemption).  To escape some of the problems this view creates, otehr conservative christians hold that `we are alone' using distortions of legitimate research to back their claim.  Some of the nuttier ones insist that there are no `aliens', merely devils in disguise.

More liberal christians don't have a problem with aliens existing, or with them being `saved'.

The new age sorts (along with hindu's, buddhists, ect) also don't have a problem with aliens existing, tending to see things in cyclical terms.  The consensus among new agers, at least as of a decade or so ago, is that you can't really expect to be reincarnated as a member of an alien race until the human race actually makes direct contact with said alien race.  Even then, such an incarnation would happen only if there were lessons to be learned from it.

(Ok, ok, I've spent waaaayyy too much time at the religious debate sites)

[Sarah90]

Why would a 'Soul' have to be Christian?...or of any specified 'religion' on this world ?  

Why ...if it exists...on this tiny place we live on in this galaxy...this one of ...how many billions of galaxies ?.... would such a numinous thing (that's an oxymoron...sorry !)...be able to be classified ?

[Thinker]

Why would a 'Soul' have to be Christian?...or of any specified 'religion' on this world ?  

Hmm...

First off, I am an agnostic, not a theist or christian.  I was describing a common position  among conservative (`fundy') christians I don't agree with.

Second, it is not a matter of a `soul' being `christian' from this POV, rather, it is a question of Gods *authority*.  Their take is that the biblical God
is the creator/ruler of the universe, and the judge of *everybody* within it - regardless of what *anybody* else thinks about it.

[Sarah90]

I apologise.  I was attempting to reply initially to platinum rhymer's query...ie: "If we have souls...would aliens have souls too?"  and I got caught up with your reply...about it 'turning up on 'religious' boards...and then it became a religious issue, to which I responded...which I shouldn't have, as I didn't see this question as a religious one...

O...ohh...   [smiley=end.gif]

[Thinker]

Sarah- Might I suggest you take the `Belief-O-Matic' in the other forum?  Might help clarify your own beliefs a tad.

[Sarah90]

looks like I am a tad 'religious' on the 'belief-o-matic'... [smiley=smilie_help.gif]

[Thinker]

looks like I am a tad 'religious' on the 'belief-o-matic'...

Wild guess... despite multiple retakes... `New Age' and/or `Neo Pagan' were always in the top five.