If humans discovered evidence or proof of life forms foreign to this planet in the universe or if an advanced alien species visited us, what would the philosophical and theological ramifications be? Would such a discovery threaten the notion that God exists or would it undermine Christianity in particular? No, as I will prove, it would not threaten theism or Christianity. Actually, it would be impossible for it to do so.
I want to quickly state that there is absolutely no evidence, much less proof, for the existence of extraterrestrial life. There is presently no way to verify alleged alien sightings or to explore the entire universe and thus find the answer to this question for sure. Because of this I, like any person responding rationally to this fact, am an agnostic on the issue of alien life. Still, it is important for me to say that there very well may exist an alien race, perhaps even one more intelligent and knowledgable than humans.
Now, time for an explanation on the relationship between possible alien life and theism. Theism is the position that there is one god or multiple deities, and alien life refers to biological life forms which inhabit planets other than our own. Nothing about these two concepts is contradictory or mutually exclusive. Regardless of whether an alien species is similar to humanity, comparatively simple (alien plant life or small animals, for instance), or intellectually and morally superior, learning they exist would simply add to the wonder and complexity of the universe, not detract from them. The discovery of sophisticated and sentient alien life would indeed obliterate the idea of the anthropic principle [1], but while many people view the anthropic principle as having theistic leanings (in that they claim God created the earth for life), theism does not hinge on it at all and would still be irrefutably true even if the principle were abolished and refuted entirely. However, it is possible were any aliens eventually found that they would be very simple or unsophisticated life forms instead of the intelligent or bipedal species often featured in entertainment such as the Star Wars films.
Theism's truth would definitely survive the identification of extraterrestrial beings. For instance, the Kalam cosmological argument remains an absolute proof of a god-like entity regardless of whether or not alien life exists. Since any possible material world that exists depends on what we would call God in order to exist, the presence of alien life--however intelligent or developed--cannot disprove God. It would only prove that aliens exist and that other species which are perhaps comparable to us also populate the universe and that the universe houses creatures more exotic and elusive than we are accustomed to thinking.
Christian doctrine in the Bible never comments on whether or not God created life on the other celestial bodies formed at the beginning of time, but nothing about Christianity would be compromised or contradicted were it one day demonstrated that he did create such entities. In reality, it would only serve as a further illustration of God's abundant creativity and splendor, not as a counter-argument to his existence. But if they do turn out to visit us and establish that they exist, this would prompt more questions. If they are sentient and intellectual beings, would they also have consciences? If so, would God have provided divine revelation to them as well? Would they have received Christ in a different form if they sinned or would the effects of Christ's terrestrial death extend to them?
Christians need not feel anxiety when unbelievers search for extraterrestrial life, but should instead encourage their questions about the possibility of aliens while reminding them that the knowledge a representative of an advanced alien civilization could bring does not surpass or negate the need for knowledge revealed from the Being who created the aliens themselves. Either way, Christians can know that God deeply cares for all humans even if they are not the exclusive race with a great intellectual and spiritual nature.
Summary of observations:
1. There is currently no reason whatsoever to believe in alien life.
2. Alien life could exist in our universe.
3. Even if alien life exists, it quite possibly would not be of the sentient or humanoid kind.
4. The existence of alien life would not and could not threaten the existence of God or Christianity.
[1]. The anthropic principle refers to the idea that the universe as a whole and earth in specific are fine-tuned with conditions just right to sustain life, and human life in particular.
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