Re: Is the Existence of Aliens Contrary to the Bible?
Brandon9000 wrote: The Bible seems to state that the universe was made for man's benefit,
I can see two possible interpretations for the literalist's. Either they are not human because only humans are on earth and the bible mentions on other place and we therefore have dominion over them. Or they are human because the universe was made for man's benefit and they are of the universe.
This is not as silly a question as some might think it is. In the late 15th century European Christians (and they all were) faced a similar issue with the discovery of the New World. None of the people found there were mentioned in the bible either. A debate was held with the Pope as moderator and the question was decided in favor of "granting" Native American the status of human. Interestingly enough the same question was present on the other side but the solution was achieved in a much more pragmatic manner. For example an Aztec general held a Spanish prisoners head in a bucket of water. Personal tragedy, the guy drowned, but it answered the question, he was not a god but human.