Another hypothetical involving aliens

[Zero]

One day, aliens pop out of the sky and use our existing satellite system to make a mass broadcast that explains to the entire world that our universe is the product of an experiment done in their universe to create a baby universe, and that our entire existance is a design flaw that caused our universe to have aged 14 billion years since its creation before they had any contact with it.

How will those with religious beliefs reconcile their belief systems if these creatures can prove that they did, in fact, create the universe?

How will society react to the revelation that we're a flawed experiment?

What kind of public outbursts should be expected?

[Lusankya]

Well, perhaps some fundies will interpret that to mean that it aged those 14 billion years in a short period of time, thus adding credence to their young earth theory. The aliens will probably be called demons, though, unless they miraculously look somewhat like humans (especially pretty humans), in which case they may be viewed as angels or some such. They'd probably also be pretty peeved at the fact that we're a flawed experiment, although I can imagine many people being liberal with their interpretation of what exactly constitutes a "flawed experiment"; after all, God himself created man imperfect.

I personally will just be thankful that they're not one of those groups of aliens who want to erase racism in all its form, despite the fact that it would be in the aliens' best interests to let us go around hating each other so we wouldn't form a united force against the aliens.



ROAR!!!!! says GOJIRA!!!!!

[Zero]

Well, perhaps some fundies will interpret that to mean that it aged those 14 billion years in a short period of time, thus adding credence to their young earth theory.

Well, from some perspectives, it has aged quite a bit in a short period of time. From the event horizon of a black hole, wouldn't time pass infinitely quick in the outside universe?

The aliens will probably be called demons, though, unless they miraculously look somewhat like humans (especially pretty humans), in which case they may be viewed as angels or some such.

If the religious types are to reguard these creatures as supernatural, I'd go for demons, because demons try and trick humanity. It must be some trick, since reality must be consistant with the old book of fair tales.

They'd probably also be pretty peeved at the fact that we're a flawed experiment, although I can imagine many people being liberal with their interpretation of what exactly constitutes a "flawed experiment"; after all, God himself created man imperfect.

Not according to most fundies I've talked to. They say we were perfect, but then Eve ate of the apple. Of course, to be able to do so, we must have been imperfect, but oh no! Fundies need to preserve this notion of free will.

I personally will just be thankful that they're not one of those groups of aliens who want to erase racism in all its form, despite the fact that it would be in the aliens' best interests to let us go around hating each other so we wouldn't form a united force against the aliens.

Why would we form said alliance anyways? At our current technological level, we couldn't even imagine taking on a species that had the technological level to utilize the energies necessary to create their own universe.

ROAR!!!!! says GOJIRA!!!!!

I'm sure GORIJA says a lot of things.

[Lusankya]

Why would we form said alliance anyways? At our current technological level, we couldn't even imagine taking on a species that had the technological level to utilize the energies necessary to create their own universe.

If they were trying to conquer us, then we'd be more of a nusiance allied than divided. The English got plenty of black slaves from africans who'd taken the slaves from other tribes to sell to the English. Unless they want us to help them (and ourselves) against a greater threat, there would be no real advantage for them for us to be united. Us being divided would simply increase the opportunities for them to screw us over.

But let's not take this off-topic.

Not according to most fundies I've talked to. They say we were perfect, but then Eve ate of the apple. Of course, to be able to do so, we must have been imperfect, but oh no! Fundies need to preserve this notion of free will.

So a fundie wouldn't react well to a hypothetical situation in which God actually made a hobby of creating worlds, and he made another world with another pair of humans (let's call them Reg and Irene) and neither Reg nor Irene ate the apple. Wouldn't that suggest that as far as God's ambition when creating the universe was concerned that Reg and Irene were more perfect creations than us, seeing as they did as they were told?

ROAR!!!!! says GOJIRA!!!!!

I'm sure GORIJA says a lot of things.

He does. Just try to humour him, because otherwise he might choose you to be the first target of his radioactive breath.


ROAR!!!!! says GOJIRA!!!!!

[Zero]

If they were trying to conquer us, then we'd be more of a nusiance allied than divided. The English got plenty of black slaves from africans who'd taken the slaves from other tribes to sell to the English. Unless they want us to help them (and ourselves) against a greater threat, there would be no real advantage for them for us to be united. Us being divided would simply increase the opportunities for them to screw us over.

But let's not take this off-topic.

I was simply pointing out that we couldn't hope to take on such an enemy anyways.

So a fundie wouldn't react well to a hypothetical situation in which God actually made a hobby of creating worlds, and he made another world with another pair of humans (let's call them Reg and Irene) and neither Reg nor Irene ate the apple. Wouldn't that suggest that as far as God's ambition when creating the universe was concerned that Reg and Irene were more perfect creations than us, seeing as they did as they were told?

Fundies don't obey logic, and their beliefs in no way relate to reality. They wouldn't believe such a thing, because it isn't in the bible. As a hypothetical, they'd probably just say that God didn't create another world, so it didn't matter. The fundamentalist position is largely characterized by an absolute rejection of logic and observation in favor of faith.

[GrandMasterTerwynn]

One day, aliens pop out of the sky and use our existing satellite system to make a mass broadcast that explains to the entire world that our universe is the product of an experiment done in their universe to create a baby universe, and that our entire existance is a design flaw that caused our universe to have aged 14 billion years since its creation before they had any contact with it.

How will those with religious beliefs reconcile their belief systems if these creatures can prove that they did, in fact, create the universe?

How will society react to the revelation that we're a flawed experiment?

What kind of public outbursts should be expected?

It probably won't matter much, if they're telling the truth. Mostly because they're announcing that they've fucked up. A general announcement like that to us peons with absolutely nothing to offer them, beyond the satisfaction of their curiosity, would probably mean they're getting ready to wipe the whole lot of us from the fabric of reality and start over again.

[Lusankya]

Why would they say hello if they were just going to wipe out the fabric of existance? I got the impression from the OP that the design flaw caused us to appear naturally because they couldn't fiddle around and play god themselves because they couldn't actually contact this universe any earlier, not that the design flaw was such that they were going to call it a failure and get rid of it all.

For all we know, they might be interested in studying us because we'd be a good example of what kind of life a universe can create when left to its own devices.

[GrandMasterTerwynn]

Why would they say hello if they were just going to wipe out the fabric of existance? I got the impression from the OP that the design flaw caused us to appear naturally because they couldn't fiddle around and play god themselves because they couldn't actually contact this universe any earlier, not that the design flaw was such that they were going to call it a failure and get rid of it all.

For all we know, they might be interested in studying us because we'd be a good example of what kind of life a universe can create when left to its own devices.

But, if they were powerful enough to spawn an entire universe, then they could concievably study us without going through the trouble of contacting us. I wouldn't think a race of aliens would contact us and, essentially, announce their godhood without wanting something in return, or they have plans for us that we might not like, or they're frauds with both of the previous motives still applying.

[Lusankya]

I'm just of the opinion that they wouldn't come and say hello to us if they didn't have something to do with us that required us being alive. If they were going to destroy the universe because they didn't like it anymore, then why would they go and announce what they were doing to every sapient creature in existence.

If they're alien enough that they think that going around the universe and saying "hi, we're about to kill you all because you're a failed experiment" is anything other than screwing with people's heads, then they're alien enough that we'd probably get involved in a misunderstanding of catastrophic proportions quickly enough regardless of their intentions.


ROAR!!!!! says GOJIRA!!!!!

[Guardsman Bass]

How will those with religious beliefs reconcile their belief systems if these creatures can prove that they did, in fact, create the universe?

I'd imagine quite a large number of people worldwide would think that the message was from God, even if the aliens identified themselves as beings from another world, and the major religions would either go along with this, or call the message 'words of the Devil.'

How will society react to the revelation that we're a flawed experiment?

A renewed burst of religion, most likely.

What kind of public outbursts should be expected?

Riots against various authorities, and mass religious rallies bemoaning the imperfection of man and the glory of the Gods.

[Zero]

It probably won't matter much, if they're telling the truth. Mostly because they're announcing that they've fucked up. A general announcement like that to us peons with absolutely nothing to offer them, beyond the satisfaction of their curiosity, would probably mean they're getting ready to wipe the whole lot of us from the fabric of reality and start over again.

It could also be possible that as the result of their flawed experiment, they feel they owe us, and wish to help us. I don't quite see why wiping us from the fabric of existance could possibly benefit them in any way. And if they were going to wipe us from existance and just start over, there's no reason they'd want to tell us. A more benevolent possibility seems more likely, at least to me.

[wilfulton]

Hmm... do alien rich kids have nothing better to do than fly around to other planets and start messing with people?

[wolveraptor]

Well, they might be introducing themselves to answer the OP question: how would we react? If the whole purpose is study, then they must be trying to explore every possible scenario.