When I was young, the solar system felt like an infinite expanse waiting to be explored. My childhood fascination with the cosmos was nurtured by science fiction, such as Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles, which I remember fondly from my early school days. I still treasure C.S. Lewis’ The Space Trilogy from my teenage years, as it remains a favorite of mine.

Recently, it feels as though I’m reliving that childhood curiosity. With a new rover on Mars accompanied by a charming helicopter, and the U.S. government's admission of unexplained aerial phenomena in restricted airspace, my intrigue has been reignited. My brother’s space-themed podcast has only added fuel to the fire.

It’s important to clarify that I remain uncertain about my beliefs regarding extraterrestrial life. For the vast majority of people on our planet, this question doesn’t even cross their minds, and I am certainly one of them.

However, as humans, we are inherently curious beings (Genesis 1:28). Achievements like landing a robotic explorer on another planet instill a profound sense of wonder, reminding us of our small place in the universe.

Having been raised in the Christian faith, I often find it puzzling that there isn't more discussion within Christianity about the possibility of life beyond our planet, apart from the topic of eternity. The Bible describes a mighty Creator who has fashioned everything, leading me to question why He would create such an expansive universe without also populating it with life.

Yet, the Bible also contains numerous peculiar narratives, some of which are quite bizarre.

For instance, Genesis 6 introduces the Nephilim—mysterious giant beings. This section also mentions the "sons of God" mingling with human women, raising questions about their nature; whether they are extraterrestrial or merely different human descendants remains unclear due to vague language.

It's possible that by the time Genesis was documented, the oral traditions that preceded it had evolved into something resembling folklore. Such narratives might have exaggerated events over time, similar to how stories morph as they are shared in casual conversation. Alternatively, it could be that the ancients possessed a greater sense of mysticism than we do today, leading to misinterpretations of their experiences. Another possibility is that sections of Genesis serve as allegories, helping to unify Israel as a nation, especially as the monarchy began to take shape. Ultimately, Genesis 6 remains too ambiguous for definitive understanding. Fortunately, as one examines the Bible more broadly, narratives become clearer after the account of Babel in Genesis 11, though the strangeness of the Bible persists.

Consider the prophet Ezekiel from the 6th century BCE, who experienced several extraordinary visions (Ezekiel 1:4–21):

As I looked, a stormy wind came out of the north: a great cloud with brightness around it and fire flashing forth continually, and in the middle of the fire, something like gleaming amber. In the middle of it was something like four living creatures. This was their appearance: they were of human form. Each had four faces, and each of them had four wings...

What? This could be interpreted as either an intense fever dream or a genuine encounter with something beyond our earthly experience. Ezekiel appears particularly fascinated by a kind of technology or vehicle (“the wheels”) associated with these beings, exhibiting movement that defies our conventional understanding of mechanics.

I don’t claim to have the answers. The Bible reveals that Creation and our subconscious are complex realms filled with mysteries beyond our comprehension. Additionally, there is much the Bible does not cover; for example, human DNA—which plays a crucial role in our identity—was only identified in 1869. We are still piecing together the workings of our brains, and there are significant gaps in our historical knowledge.

The Bible speaks to humanity's relationship with God. It’s essential to remember that the Bible was not simply handed down; it has undergone numerous revisions, translations, and interpretations over the centuries. The existence of intelligent life beyond Earth is not something the text explicitly addresses.

This inquiry fundamentally reflects on our own significance. If intelligent life were found elsewhere, would it imply that we are less important than we believed?

This theme recurs throughout Scripture on a smaller scale. For instance, Cain's jealousy of Abel (Genesis 4) and the Apostles' disputes over who is the greatest (Mark 9) highlight humanity’s obsession with status and importance. The desire for hierarchy and authority can lead to both fairer societies and devastating consequences, including genocide. Throughout history, Christians have been involved in every aspect of this obsession.

In essence, pondering our significance in the grand design of God, should intelligent life beyond Earth be discovered, can stem from a place of selfishness.

Surprisingly.

The Bible maintains that while we are special, we are not exclusive. It clearly indicates that God has created other beings besides humans, as hinted throughout Scripture. Moreover, we continually uncover new forms of life and knowledge about our own history on Earth. Humanity has existed for an indeterminate length of time, yet we have only begun to explore life on our own planet.

I believe this contributes to what makes humanity unique. A few verses worth reflecting on include:

So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:27)

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. (Ephesians 2:8–10)

See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. (1 John 3:1)

The Bible consistently affirms our special relationship with God without asserting exclusivity. We lack comprehensive knowledge about God's connections with other beings. It is not far-fetched to posit the existence of other forms of life beyond our planet, as we are still learning about undiscovered species here on Earth.

Even if intelligent life were found beyond our planet, it wouldn’t alter our standing in God’s eyes. We would remain His children. Such a discovery would likely enhance our understanding of our place within Creation, or perhaps leave us with even more questions.

What questions might arise if intelligent life beyond Earth were discovered? Here are three possibilities:

What does "God's image" mean? If humans are made in God's image (Genesis 1:27), would intelligent beings elsewhere resemble us? What if they also claim to be created in His image, albeit in a radically different form? Does that imply God's image is not fixed? Could they have a relationship with God that differs fundamentally from ours?

Is the incarnation broader than we realize? Central to Christianity is the belief in Jesus as both fully God and fully human. Does this mean He has manifested in other life forms across the universe? Is His presence exclusive to Earth?

Did Jesus' death and resurrection extend to the entire universe? This question fascinates me as it opens the door to various others. If redemption is absent, Christianity devolves into mere ethics. Did the Fall here on Earth affect the rest of the universe? If intelligent life exists elsewhere, are they also fallen, or does their state differ from ours? Would Jesus have had to die for their redemption? Or would they risk corruption through contact with us?

C.S. Lewis’ The Space Trilogy addresses many of these inquiries. In the first two books, Dr. Ransom travels to Malacandra (Mars) and Perelandra (Venus), where he finds inhabitants untouched by evil, even as human colonization brings chaos.

Many such questions would emerge with the discovery of extraterrestrial life, extending beyond spiritual considerations to politics, international relations, and more.

In conclusion, as a Christian, I will contemplate these ideas more deeply if the moment arises. These questions serve as intriguing intellectual exercises, rather than conspiratorial theories.

Perhaps a key takeaway for Christians from these existential musings is simple: God designed us to explore, appreciate, and care for life on Earth. His intention has always been for us to flourish. It’s easy to envision Him smiling down as NASA’s scientists deploy cutting-edge technology on another world.

While some Christians view science as adversarial, it would benefit us to recognize that many scientists exemplify the curiosity and exploratory spirit God intended for humanity.

Regrettably, this is not the case for many American Christians today, particularly among white evangelicals. This dominant evangelical strain is often anti-intellectual, rife with hypocrisy, and resistant to engaging with diverse perspectives as Christ calls us to do.

The Bible offers myriad ways to relearn wonder and curiosity in a loving and respectful manner. If that falls short, C.S. Lewis provides a remarkable set of stories that further explore the richness of living as God designed us, while warning against the perils of close-mindedness and authoritarianism.