The meaning and challenge of the quest for extraterrestrials

dc.contributor.author	Antonites, Alex
dc.date.accessioned	2013-10-16T10:01:27Z
dc.date.available	2013-10-16T10:01:27Z
dc.date.issued	2013-08
dc.identifier.citation	Studia Historiae Ecclesiastica, vol 39, Supplement, pp 71-91	en
dc.identifier.issn	1017-0499
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10500/11845
dc.description	Peer reviewed	en
dc.description.abstract	Today, human beings are venturing into deep space. As questioning beings who continuously seek to transcend ourselves, and as the scientific quest for extraterrestrials continues, we are prompted to philosophise about extraterrestrials in the event of detection. The search for extraterrestrials is also a search for ourselves. What is it to be human? This question is highlighted in arguments for and against this quest and in the discussion about communication with extraterrestrials. Constraints and convergence in our evolutionary context and a galaxy with so many similarities make a too different alien science unlikely. Aliens cannot be too alien. Strict protocols are in place before sightings can be confirmed. Some results seem very promising, others not. The detection of cosmic companions in our galaxy will bring humans together like never before	en
dc.language.iso	en	en
dc.publisher	Church History Society of Southern Africa	en
dc.title	The meaning and challenge of the quest for extraterrestrials	en
dc.type	Article	en