NASA hires theologians to prepare humanity for extra-terrestrial life

A priest and other religious experts have been called on to determine how different religions around the world would react to contact with aliens.

As favourable as it is to live in blissful ignorance and choose to disregard the fact that we’re tiny creatures on a rock floating through space, at one point or another I’m sure you’ve been hit by the mind-blowing reality that there’s a vast amount out there we’d be hard-pressed to ever comprehend.

I can certainly admit to having had moments like this, namely when stargazing or watching humbling videos that force me to question my significance in the grand scheme of things.

But again, it isn’t something we tend to ponder over on a daily basis, regardless of how many UFOs have been sighted during the last few years.

So, how would you feel if I told you that NASA recently enlisted the help of two dozen theologians in a move to determine how different religions around the world would react if contact was made with aliens? Pretty uncomfortable, I imagine.

Though search for extra-terrestrial life has been a matter of fascination for humankind for centuries, never has the premise of encountering it been so tangible.

As tools of modern science become increasingly available, casting an informed gaze at the universe, it likely won’t be long before we come across an eagerly anticipated Martian or two.

Particularly given the galaxy-scouring James Webb telescope (described as a ‘time machine’ that could observe objects emitting light from further back in time) was launched just three days ago, replacing the ageing Hubble, and giving us new insight into previously unobservable corners of the distant cosmos.

It’s thought that if/when this finds something, our worldview will be flipped on its head, prompting a global freak-out that could be avoided by teaching religious leaders how to communicate what’s to come with their followers.