The only thing that doesn't sit right with me about beings on other planets existing in a prelapsarian state is that the Fall affected the entire nature of the universe. Would beings on other planets in a prelapsarian state be existing in a fallen universe but themselves be uncorrupted? How would that work?
The Blessed Virgin Mary existed in a fallen universe. She was in an even more glorious state than Adam and Eve, but her example helps to imagine a rational species in prelapsarian state living in a fallen universe.
"the Fall affected the entire nature of the universe"—as a genuine question, did it? My understanding is that it changed our relationship to creation and to God, but not that the rest of the universe went out of whack on that account. This was never my theological forte, however, so if you can point me to an authoritative source that says otherwise, I'm happy to be corrected.
Failing that, the observable universe is around 14 billion years old. That's time enough for a lot of things to have happened *before* Adam and Eve ever ate a certain bad apple, and also, given how much of the universe we *can't* see, there's plenty of space for other parts of creation that we may never interact with in this life.
In Romans 8, St. Paul talks about all of creation waiting for the redemption of humanity because all of creation was "subjected to futility" by the Fall.
St. Thomas Aquinas talks about how before the Fall, humanity had a harmonious relationship with themselves, creation, and God, and that the Fall disrupted this natural state.
And sure, there are lots of parts of creation that we never interact with and are even destructive, but not necessarily evil.
St. Augustine talks about how natural disasters, fire, frost, storms, earthquakes, are natural, and he surmises that they existed pre-Fall, but became worse after the Fall because of the affect the Fall had on all of creation.
"Perelandra" is even more interesting, because it seems to imply that Christ's incarnation cannot be repeated elsewhere - the Green Lady tells Ransom that the Incarnation is the reason why all intelligent creatures in "new" planets (like Venus/Perelandra) are humanoid in form, while intelligent creatures of "old" planets (like Mars/Malacandra) have very different shapes.
This is where the problem lies. What if the alien maintains that it is not fallen and exists as a creature of God and chosen to deliver new prophecy? What if that prophecy modifies our own interpretation of God's message, even if slightly? What if that message is "supported" by miracles?
Scripture does not necessarily contradict this scenario, but it is, nevertheless, opportunity for heresy. My thought is that God would not depart from His Word, nor change his method of Revelation. The Word is about clarity not confusion. For this reason, any extraordinary alien encounter is likely intended to mislead and comes from some other source. Wholesale rejection of any message from that source is paramount.
As I read your comment I thought of the LDS religion. Although a lot of creedal Christians dismiss Joseph Smith as a fraudster, I do think there’s a possibility of it having another origin (i.e., fallen angels).
I don’t consider the existence of rational alien creatures to be probable but I agree with your comment wholeheartedly.
Agree, I don't expect real aliens anytime soon. If they did exist, could they be one of God's creation? Certainly possibly. They could also be something else.
My concern is that I see people searching for good and thus God in sources such as science fiction and fantasy literature (eg Lord of the Rings). They are prime targets to be spiritually misled by "aliens", man-made or otherwise.
Eifelheim by Michael Flynn is also good -- about interdimensional beings that crash outside a medieval German village and the priest who befriends them.
"Of all visible creatures only man is "able to know and love his creator". He is "the only creature on earth that God has willed for its own sake", and he alone is called to share, by knowledge and love, in God's own life." - CCC 356
I'm in the camp that the universe is empty because God intends man to subdue it, not because it's inhabited by undiscovered image-bearers. At minimum, the Fall affected the cosmos, there's no way rational aliens would be unfallen. And if we're interacting with other fallen or unfallen rational creatures, in the material world, why did God say nothing about it in Scripture...? Just a personal opinion.
Surprised no one else has recommended--Jimmy Akin's mysterious world podcast. he deals with Aliens a lot. Basically his take is--if aliens ask for baptism, we give to them (that shows they are intelligent to be able to receive it). If they feel they aren't fallen and don't need it, then we deal with that later.
The only thing that doesn't sit right with me about beings on other planets existing in a prelapsarian state is that the Fall affected the entire nature of the universe. Would beings on other planets in a prelapsarian state be existing in a fallen universe but themselves be uncorrupted? How would that work?
The Blessed Virgin Mary existed in a fallen universe. She was in an even more glorious state than Adam and Eve, but her example helps to imagine a rational species in prelapsarian state living in a fallen universe.
That required an extraordinary grace, though - she wasn't like that by nature.
"the Fall affected the entire nature of the universe"—as a genuine question, did it? My understanding is that it changed our relationship to creation and to God, but not that the rest of the universe went out of whack on that account. This was never my theological forte, however, so if you can point me to an authoritative source that says otherwise, I'm happy to be corrected.
Failing that, the observable universe is around 14 billion years old. That's time enough for a lot of things to have happened *before* Adam and Eve ever ate a certain bad apple, and also, given how much of the universe we *can't* see, there's plenty of space for other parts of creation that we may never interact with in this life.
In Romans 8, St. Paul talks about all of creation waiting for the redemption of humanity because all of creation was "subjected to futility" by the Fall.
St. Thomas Aquinas talks about how before the Fall, humanity had a harmonious relationship with themselves, creation, and God, and that the Fall disrupted this natural state.
And sure, there are lots of parts of creation that we never interact with and are even destructive, but not necessarily evil.
St. Augustine talks about how natural disasters, fire, frost, storms, earthquakes, are natural, and he surmises that they existed pre-Fall, but became worse after the Fall because of the affect the Fall had on all of creation.
An oldy but goody that takes into account Catholic theology.
CS Lewis's science fiction book Out of the Silent Planet is a must-read for anyone interested in these questions!
His short essay "Religion and Rocketry" is also a beginner-friendly catechism on these questions.
"Perelandra" is even more interesting, because it seems to imply that Christ's incarnation cannot be repeated elsewhere - the Green Lady tells Ransom that the Incarnation is the reason why all intelligent creatures in "new" planets (like Venus/Perelandra) are humanoid in form, while intelligent creatures of "old" planets (like Mars/Malacandra) have very different shapes.
This is where the problem lies. What if the alien maintains that it is not fallen and exists as a creature of God and chosen to deliver new prophecy? What if that prophecy modifies our own interpretation of God's message, even if slightly? What if that message is "supported" by miracles?
Scripture does not necessarily contradict this scenario, but it is, nevertheless, opportunity for heresy. My thought is that God would not depart from His Word, nor change his method of Revelation. The Word is about clarity not confusion. For this reason, any extraordinary alien encounter is likely intended to mislead and comes from some other source. Wholesale rejection of any message from that source is paramount.
As I read your comment I thought of the LDS religion. Although a lot of creedal Christians dismiss Joseph Smith as a fraudster, I do think there’s a possibility of it having another origin (i.e., fallen angels).
I don’t consider the existence of rational alien creatures to be probable but I agree with your comment wholeheartedly.
Agree, I don't expect real aliens anytime soon. If they did exist, could they be one of God's creation? Certainly possibly. They could also be something else.
My concern is that I see people searching for good and thus God in sources such as science fiction and fantasy literature (eg Lord of the Rings). They are prime targets to be spiritually misled by "aliens", man-made or otherwise.
Highly recommend “Pilgrims” by M. R. Leonard. It’s a retelling of Augustine’s Confessions where aliens that want to be Catholic come to Earth.
Eifelheim by Michael Flynn is also good -- about interdimensional beings that crash outside a medieval German village and the priest who befriends them.
I’ll add to these recommendations, ‘The High Crusade’ by Poul Anderson. It’s a gas.
"Of all visible creatures only man is "able to know and love his creator". He is "the only creature on earth that God has willed for its own sake", and he alone is called to share, by knowledge and love, in God's own life." - CCC 356
Pretty sure they meant to exclude other earthly creatures.
I'm in the camp that the universe is empty because God intends man to subdue it, not because it's inhabited by undiscovered image-bearers. At minimum, the Fall affected the cosmos, there's no way rational aliens would be unfallen. And if we're interacting with other fallen or unfallen rational creatures, in the material world, why did God say nothing about it in Scripture...? Just a personal opinion.
Surprised no one else has recommended--Jimmy Akin's mysterious world podcast. he deals with Aliens a lot. Basically his take is--if aliens ask for baptism, we give to them (that shows they are intelligent to be able to receive it). If they feel they aren't fallen and don't need it, then we deal with that later.
I would suggest reading Eifelheim by Mike Flynn