How would such a discovery alter religous beliefs?
213150
It wouldnt, no discovieres have changed them in there ways. Case in point. The solar system is not geocentric, the earth is round, and evolution GET OVER IT ITS NOT A FING THEORY. sorry had to get my two sense in, just has some LDS folks come to teh door.
28730
Consider yourself blessed that you are able to perceive such signs and find compassion for those who have yet to learn to do so. If you could prove something scientifically it would be a state of fact or otherwise it would be an opinion. The definition of a belief is that it cannot be proven. I propose you let those know about your religious experiances who want to listen to you about them. The others are not ready to do so and thus just let them be.
199600
The scintific reformation had bigger inpact as it started to change many peoples views on God, for the first time science didn't revolve or make reasons for things concerning God, so it made people for the first time in English history actually challenge the existance of any God.
604660
wow thanks, thats amaising, i didn't know about that,i'm going to go tell my family they'll find that really wierd! maybe its a sign from god!
361224
For one thing, it would show that life isn't unique to our own planet,  that given the chance, life can and will evolve to intelligent beings that are capable of communication over vast distances.  Scientifically it would give us great insight into the evolution of life in the universe; we are not "alone" or particularly special.  I think it will have a tremendous impact on religion, particularly Christianity.  Unless the beings looked exactly like us, Christians will have to rethink the whole "we were made in God's image" thing.
396590
I could have written this question myself, and I look forward to your answers received.  I too am of the mind that it is what we are taught, and in the worst cases what we are taught to fear the questioning of.\n\nI always thought it would be an interesting (although possibly psycologically cruel) experiment to take a child or two from each of the major religions and raise them with no mention or concept of "god" or religion.  Would the develop a belief of their own?  At least it would be interesting to see what an intelligent person would lean toward if they only learn of the concept of god after growing to an age where they can decide on their own.\n\nI feel that is what I did, but in reverse, and it sounds like what happened to you as well.  As I got older and learned more about our world, I found that I didn't really believe what I was taught all my life.  Frankly, I don't feel the need to believe in a god or religion.\n\nI believe in being a good person as much as I can be, and that is fundamentally based in not causing other creatures intentional harm and living a moral and decent life.  Very similar ideas to what most religions teach.\n\nI also think it is a fine line between a religion and a cult.  Religions just have broad acceptance.  Kind of like if in 3000 years, the Branch Davidians were the most popular religion and David Coresh is referred to as Jesus is today.  Obviously that won't happen, and I really only used that example because I think it is the one most people will know of whom I am speaking.
628549
Wouldn't it defy many religions?  I think the religious world will say they "aren't real" and the are just a figment of our imagination and should be banned . . . . .
648256
Anybody who is honest will admit that throughout their lifetime their beliefs change.  Only a child can honestly say, "my beliefs haven't change."  Only a child could think that they never will.\n\nLife teaches lessons.  If a person goes through their life and never learns anything new they become spiritually retarded.  They also become more vulnerable to deception.\n\nI cannot list all the things I have learned I was once wrong about.  There isn't enough bandwidth.\n\nI'm looking forward to finding out what I'm currently wrong about.  I embrace the learning process.  Doctrines and beliefs are human inventions and are flawed.
375216
Interesting theory....I'm not sure how well that's going to work for you, especially because so many people see so many things in the bible differently.  If you do find something let me know though, like I said, sounds interesting.
303649
a HUGE impact. look at the da vinci code. even the author said it was completely fiction and people still took it seriously and started to question their ways of life and religion. or take the red book everyone carried in communist china. that little book ruled their lives (along with mao, but he was the author so it's all connected). there you go. it can change a person's whole point of view almost instantly
430800
It wouldn't change it at all. I don't assume there is a god. I try to be a good person "for Goodness' Sake," not to receive some heavenly reward from a bearded man in the sky.
28042
It actually seems that a predisposition to believe in god may exist on a genetic level. This idea has been popularized by Dean Hamer, a bigwig at the National Cancer Institute.\n\nI haven't yet read the book, but I'm very curious as I seem to lack whatever genetic component this is.\n\nI certainly can't accept this as proof of a deity, but I'd like to know more about it.
559937
This is very difficult to answer. Knowledge effects you on many levels. Whether something is true or factual is not relevant to a believer of faith. If you have been told something all your life and even if new evidence presents itself - you will tend to support the former idea. You have to understand the Christian mind. Most Christians see the world as black and white: no shades of grey. Either you are or are not a Christian. There is no other way to look at it. If you are not a Christian you are lost. Part of every Christian’s salvation and “Ticket to Heaven” is inextricably linked to several essential factors and one of which is to “Spread the Good News.” This is known as Evangelism. Yes. You have to endure the Christian’s witty incite filled pejorative analysis with cut downs and invidious diminutive behavior. It is their duty to explain to you what a looser you are for not being a Christian and what winners they are for being on the winning side. Although it seems like insecurity at first glance I feel it somehow reenforces some need to show they are superior. Wait, that's the same thing. . .right? Typical Christian comments are, “Are you still practicing that Witchcraft. . .come BACK to Christ.” “Hinduism is just a bunch of Pagans. . .FIND the Lord.” “You KNOW you are lost without Christ.” “The Bible SAYS. . .” They assume you should agree with them because they assume what they are saying is the ONLY way to look at it.
377425
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/76/story_7665_1.html\n\nQuiz that will ask numerous questions and the relative importance to you of each issue, and return results of what religions your current beliefs are most in sync with.
454271
You can teach that - just don't pass it off as science (its like pushing your pamphlets under the door), put it in a religious instruction class.
133211
My research says it will be returned to the Egyptian authority after it is preserved. It was taken illegally from Egypt, kept in a shoe box and sold to the highest bidder.So legally it still belongs to them.\n Whether it impacts our faith is up to us. whether it affects the Catholic church? Who can say? I believe we have a voice to "Cry in the wilderness" about the way the Catholic church keeps alot of the ancient writings hidden from public knowledge. Maybe if we "Cry" loud and long enough the overwhelming volume will open the dusty vaults and let the light of knowing the truth in. Seek and you will find, much of todays Christian belief is questionable. How much is defined by what the Big Bad Catholic church has hidden from us we can only guess. Jesus axtolls us to 'Heed not that we be deceived.'It scares me to no end how we have already been so deceived
125546
I've heard about this theory before and it makes complete sense if you've read the bible.Some of the stuff that they say happened, especially in the old testament, could easily be explained by a hallucinogenic trip.It would also explain the metaphorical prose in the book of revelations.