We've reached the point in my class about the search for life in the universe when we will discuss alien abductions, UFOs, Roswell, and "are they or have they been among us."
It reminds me of the years leading up to the turn of the century. I discovered the world of late night radio host Art Bell and his guests and followers. There was a frenzy of speculation surrounding what would happen when the calendar would contain those zeros. (Remember Y2K?)
One of the saddest events around this time was the mass suicide of young men convinced that there was a space ship approaching Earth on the tail of the Hale-Bopp comet. They shed their bodies in a quest for a better existence in outer space. At some level, I get it.
Intellectually, I totally believe --because of the vast universe -- that it is impossible we are the only conscious ones. Emotionally, because it's so remote, I feel left out.
Maybe it was an overwhelming urge to participate that took those Heaven's Gate guys.
Interesting Joan, I actually am more on the side of thinking there may not be life out there, or at least, not human life, but there could be life in other forms.
ReplyDeleteI think it entirely reasonable to consider that we are not the only conscious beings in the universe. Maybe we will meet with them someday. Exciting
ReplyDeleteWe are conscious? All of us? Your more forgiving than I thought, Joan! ;)
ReplyDeleteConsidering the vastness of the universe, I have always thought it to be unreasonable to think that we are the only life form like ourselves out there. Has someone out there figured it out better than we have?
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