Institute of Biblical Defense

In my first post, I reviewed an educational video featuring,  Dr. Seth Shostak, a published and well respected astronomer. As a member of SETI (the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence), he gave his honest opinion as to why we haven’t yet heard from our galactic neighbors. In his lecture, he detailed how SETI can be more effective and efficient in targeting planets that may harbor intelligent life. He believes that, given the most conservative odds, we will make contact with extraterrestrial intelligence within the next “few dozen years”.

However, world renown theoretical physicist Michio Kaku offers some differing opinions in his video on Aliens and Physics. Although he agrees in some respects with Dr. Shostak, Dr. Kaku has a broader vision of technology and a less anthropocentric view of the universe. So he may either agree for different reasons or, in one case, side against Dr. Shostak and with the beliefs of a rival faction at SETI.

First, he agrees that SETI is going about the search in an ineffective way. He also agrees that an alien race would have no reason to see us as anything special. In addition, Dr. Kaku definitely concurs that robotic exploration is the most effective means to discover the galaxy.

That said, he doesn’t believe we’ll make contact soon nor does he side with Dr. Shostak on the methods of interstellar communication we’re likely to encounter. This leads him into a talk about how a type III civilization might communicate and explore the galaxy.

Extraterrestrial Communication

Dr. Kaku begins the video by confronting the anthropocentric view of interstellar communication. He asks why we’re monitoring only hydrogen based frequencies? Is it merely because that’s the easiest place for us to look with our present technology? Dr. Kaku posits that a type III or even a type II civilization might communicate in a very different way. Perhaps they use lasers or other methods that can travel faster than light; afterall, if you can’t communicate faster than light, interstellar conversations would take lifetimes. Would we continue to use slower-than-light communication if we lived in different solar systems thousands of light years apart?

Worlds first intergalactic communication

In addition to that, Dr. Kaku, taking a slightly anthropocentric stance himself, asks about how a possible extraterrestrial message itself might be “encoded”. Dr. Shostak agrees that we would probably never decode any communication we received, however, Dr. Kaku sides with the faction of SETI that asks if we even have the technology to detect it. Why wouldn’t an extraterrestrial civilization  encrypt their data in the same way we do? Even in a galactic civilization, privacy is probably still valued.

On top of that, perhaps this type II or III civilization sends information in small bits or packets. To ensure accurate communication, perhaps they use redundant channels to compensate for the massive interference found in space. We do it on the internet and that’s a just a small interplanetary network. So, imagine a message spread across several frequencies, broken into data packets and encrypted. Where would we begin to detect, collect, and decode that kind of communication? Dr. Kaku speculates that we could be in the midst of a huge intergalactic conversation and never know it.

Our problem, says Dr. Kaku, is that we see what is pragmatic at our technology level and assume that an extraterrestrial civilization should share those ideas; only if they’re at our level. He believes, rather,  in looking at what works at all technology levels (i.e. encrypting data, redundant packet based communication). It is his contention that we may not even have the technology to detect the communication; Is it light-based, electromagnetic, some form of subspace frequency, multidimensional? Until we can think outside-the-box, he contends, we will never hear what is really going on out there.

Extra Terrestrial Visitation

I should note that Dr. Kaku agrees, atleast tacitly, that by the time we detect another civilizations standard electromagnetic communications, they may be either destroyed or have died out naturally. It is his contention that moving from a type zero civilization (us) to a type I civilization is the most dangerous time for any beings. They have the power to destroy themselves and their planet. The question he asks is: will they choose to cooperate rather than implode? Will they unite or divide into power hungry factions with ever more powerful weapons? One, he believes, will lead to a type I civilization. The other to eventual destruction.

He compares the types of civilizations to movies and television programs. For example,  Buck Rogers lived on an earth under control with limited space travel. This is a type I civilization (despite Glen A Larson’s outright theft of props and ideas from BSG and Star Trek).  A type II civilization is interstellar, having established colonies and regular contact with any possible neighboring beings.  The “United Federation of Planets” of Star Trek represents a conglomeration of type II civilizations. A type III civilization is intergalactic, having established itself across galaxies with communication and control technology beyond our comprehension. The popular “Galactic Empire” of the Star Wars series is a good example of this level of technology.

Comparisons aside, although Dr. Shostak believes that mechanical life will eventually rule (Terminator, BSG and The Matrix aside), Dr. Kaku does not agree. He doesn’t think the problem of space travel will necessitaite such a drastic move on the part of intellgent life. That said, he still doesn’t believe in “little green men.”  He agrees that the use of self-propagating machines for exploration is the best way to go; the pillars seen in the movie  2001: A Space Odyssey are an example of this type of technology.That said, life will find a way to travel great distances without having to sleep for hundreds of years at a time.

Adding to that, Dr. Kaku wonders about our arrogance. Are we really that interesting? Would a type III civilizaiton really take time out of ther intergalactic schedule to stop by and visit us? More likely they’d either ignore us outright or, in the spirit of the Star Gate series, arrogantly ask us to call back once we’ve grown up as a civilization. And even if they did decide to visit, in the spirit of the Star Trek series, they’d most likely keep out of sight. And even if they did decide to empart some technology to us, if we could fathom what to do with it, we’d only use it to destroy ourselves anyways. According to Dr. Kaku, we are a young and arrogant race of beings just beginning to see our place in the universe.

A Biblical Perspective

Now that I’ve reviewed both SETI perspectives on extraterrestrial contact and visitation, let me give you a Biblical perspective. The first question that comes to mind is: Did God create aliens? That’s a great question. To answer it correctly, we must also ask ourselves  some other questions. Is it possible for life to exist elsewhere in the universe? If so, are we a special planet in to cosmos or just one of many life bearing worlds?  What about supposed UFO’s and alien visitation / abductions? These are all excellent questions that deserve answers.

Okay, from a strictly biblical point of view, the Bible makes no mention of physical life apart from our planet. There isn’t even a hint of it. In terms of physical life, it talks about all the life on earth we are familiar with (mammals, birds, reptiles, etc). It also mentions spiritual life, including angels and demons. I should also mention that it touches on the mysterious Nephilim (giants) in the book of Genesis chapter 6.

My own opinion comes from the great minds of Answers In Genesis and Guy Malone of Alien Resistance. Their opinion seems to lean more in a spiritual direction. It’s not that we’re being visited by aliens from some different world, as both Dr. Shostak and Dr. Kaku seem to agree upon, rather we are experiencing either an inter-dimensional or spiritual presence. Dr. Kaku was actually quite open to the concept of inter-dimensional life, however he never fleshed it out.  Life that lives in a dimension or dimensions other than our own didn’t seem a topic of great interest.

In the views of AIG and Alien Resistance, the alien visitations are actually demonic experiences intended to distract us from the truth of the Bible. They’re here to create a belief system more compatible with New Age than with Christianity. Indeed, if coast-to-coast is any indication, it looks like that mission has been accomplished.

Why do we believe the aliens are not normal, corporeal beings? There are three very simple reasons: Alien likenesses tend to evolve in-line with popular Hollywood depictions, alien abduction experiences tend to lack any physical evidence, and the number of alien species seems to be growing. Each of these areas seems to support the notion that the alien experience is being “staged” in accordance with our own beliefs.

If we think aliens should look a certain way, that is how they appear. In the 1940′s to 1960′s, aliens were reported as mysterious lights leading to greek god-like characters in togas. After the release of Close Encounters, the face of the aliens changed to, amazingly, resemble the characters depicted in that movie. That said, sometimes people unfamiliar with the look of these popular “aliens” encounter them. This lends credence to the idea that there is an intelligence behind the phenomena (as opposed to it being chalked up to mere delusion).

Of course, there is never any conclusive physical evidence of a visitation. There is plenty of psychological evidence, but never any real “wow, this is from an alien” evidence. Once again, this lends credence to the non-physical nature of the visitations.

Lastly, it has been shown that envoking the name of Jesus does have a profound effect on supposed “alien” life, driving them away at frightening speed. This is especially true during abduction experiences. Would a true alien be afraid of that name. Only demons fear that name … and tremble. Jesus said to resist the devil and he will flee, and I believe this is what’s happening.

Of course, I’ve only touched on the subject, and there is alot more to read. I just wanted to give you a flavor of the debate from a secular end. If you are really interested in learning more about the spiritual nature of alien visitations from a Biblical point of view, the Ph.D.’s and experts out there are meeting this summer in Roswell. Or visit AlienResistance.org and read on.

The truth is out there.

Blessings and joy in Christ.