Another ET thought exp (creation rant?)

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Discussion Overview

The discussion explores the concept of extraterrestrial beings (ETs) and their potential relationship to the idea of gods or divine creators. Participants examine the feasibility of advanced civilizations manipulating life on Earth and the implications of such scenarios, while also addressing the challenges of reconciling these ideas with scientific understanding.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants wonder why it is easier to imagine simple ETs than to accept the possibility of god-like ETs who may have created humanity and then left.
  • One viewpoint suggests that advanced ETs, even if only slightly more advanced than humans, could appear god-like through their technology and manipulation of life.
  • Another participant argues that the vast distances involved make it hard to believe that ETs frequently visit Earth, even at near-light speeds, suggesting that only significantly more advanced civilizations could manage such travel.
  • There is a challenge to the notion of god-like ETs, emphasizing that while advanced technology might seem miraculous, it cannot break the laws of physics as understood.
  • A clarification is made regarding a common misconception about Carl Sagan's famous phrase about "billions and billions" of stars, attributing it to a talk show host instead.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the plausibility of ETs visiting Earth and their potential to be perceived as gods. There is no consensus on the nature of these beings or their impact on humanity.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes assumptions about the capabilities of advanced civilizations and the limitations of current scientific understanding regarding extraterrestrial life and travel.

Merlin
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I wonder, Why is it so easy to imagine simple ETs, but so difficult to accept God(s) or God ETs as having been here before creating us and leaving. Of course this leads us to who or what created the ETs! If they were as dull as us, (in brainpower, relative size, etc.) and had near light speed technology (forget folding space time etc, that will come later) they could still pull off the God thing with us. Just sllloooowly cruise to Earth at 99 whatever% c, change some goo around and leave! Come back at the same or faster fraction of light tailored speed, and they have a manipulated life form.

I could say that an optimized similar humanoid race just 500 years more advanced than we, would be God like. Don't even try to think about 1 or more billions (did Carl Sagen really say billions and billions of stars? NO! J. Carson the talk show host did!) of years more advanced, it just gets silly, but interesting!... .We as humans are sooo good at, will keep striving reaching, and weeping for the stars and the TOE. I wouldn't want it any other way. Merlin
 
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Making up gods and aliens is not hard at all. Every two-bit tribe has a bunch of gods that its neighboring tribes can't see for sour apples because they have their own bunch. And you can't throw a stone in El Cajon California without hitting someone with some particular alien guru.

What's difficult is squaring any of this with science. With sitting down before a fact like a little child. Fantasy beings just dry up and blow away in the clear air of rational investigation.
 
In my point of view i find it hard to accept that ET's are coming to Earth often, just because of the distances involved. Even if thess aliens were traveling at 99% the speed of light then it would still take then a hell of a long time to get here, hundreds possibly thousands of years. So i don't think they would be here if they were only that advanced. But sure if there are much more advanced ET's with space wars, vacations on different and distance planets, and alcohol harvested from nebula's, then yeah I am pretty sure they can act like God all they want, the only problem would be that there would be too many God's at once :smile:
 
Originally posted by Merlin
I wonder, Why is it so easy to imagine simple ETs, but so difficult to accept God(s) or God ETs as having been here before creating us and leaving.

Because there's no conclusive evidence of aliens having visited Earth. (But Mentor Ivan would be glad to show you the evidence that is being considered.)

I could say that an optimized similar humanoid race just 500 years more advanced than we, would be God like.

But they would not be able to break the laws of physics like God could. But yes, a technology unknown to us could appear as such.

(did Carl Sagen really say billions and billions of stars? NO! J. Carson the talk show host did!)
Technically, he did eventually say it. After Cosmos aired in the 1970s, Carson did that bit with the "billions and billions" impression and after that everyone thought Sagan said it, when he hadn't at all. But after years of being bugged about it, Sagan's last book (early/mid-1990s) was called "Billions and Billions". Not his best book, but understandable given his failing health.
 

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