- A response to questions on Quora from 2020
Asking if there is life beyond Earth is a compelling question; one that has plagued humanity as far back as we can know. There are so many examples of ancient cultures across the world whom have worshiped, sought guidance, and/or studied some sort of life form beyond our Earth. You could even argue that the need to be connected to the Universe is imbedded in us.
As for religion and science, there may be a middle ground when it comes to the study and understanding of consciousness which has always been spoken about in the Bible, but is now emerging in the science world. Consciousness: Living or Not Living?
Consciousness, which was once thought of as simply a state of awareness, is now being described in the science realm as something tangible and quantitative; matter separate from the physical world. As for The Bible agrees, and describes the mind and consciousness as two separate entities in Titus 1:15.
Ok, consciousness is not exactly aliens; however, it is believed that consciousness is a type of energy; otherwise a physical matter made up of a cluster of atoms that not can live within the human mind, but is also capable to living without the physical body as well. In fact, scientists are using what they have learned about consciousness to explain the physical essence of the universe::
So, we now know that consciousness is a physical- living organism that makes up nearly all of the universe.
What does this have to do with religion?
Science and religion explain, that consciousness is separate from our physical body; thus, is a living organism on it’s own. NCBI states that “despite the presence of these anatomical parts, without consciousness, the body will collapse on the ground”.
So, where does consciousness go after the body no longer lives?
Biblical beliefs: The Bible often interweaves consciousness with spirit and soul. To name a few references, the book of Ecclesiastes 12:7 states that our bodies go to the ground and our spirit returns to God who gave it, 1 Corinthians 15:51 states that instead of sleeping (death) we will be changed, and Mathew 10:28 says the body can be killed but not the soul.
Science theories: Physicists state that our conscious energy can not be destroyed; however, it will be transferred through the process of the conservation of energy. One physician took it a step further and measured the weight of individuals directly before and after they had passed away and found that there is an unexplained measurable weight loss; approximately 21 grams. Quantum physicist explains that our consciousnesses returns to the universe through vibrations in the ‘microtubules’ inside brain; in short, our brain is a computer software that is uploaded into the universe after we die.
Final thoughts:
It appears that both science and religion can agree that the universe is made up of a very real and living form/s of consciousness. But, science and religion will likely have some disagreements on the origin of the consciousness and how exactly it is related to us humans here on Earth.
But, for me at least, the study of consciousness, and how alive our world/universe is with this mysterious matter, is one of the most fascinating studies; I could read about it all day.
Take care
Disclaimer: All information provided is of personal and professional experience, and may not represent all individual circumstances; therefore, it is recommended to compare other information from multiple professional sources to formulate your own opinion regarding the subject matter.