if we colonize other solar systems....

[space toker]

no space travel of that kind is not impossible. either you travel through conventional space at near but under the speed of light, and 50-200 years passes on Earth, for you only weeks or months or a few years pass. Or travelling through worm holes, or warp drive is theoretically quite possible. Hard yes, maybe not attainable for decades or centuries, but far from impossible.

[basementjungle]

You want the truth?


The truth is the question misses the point.


First off, the idea that "by the time we colonise another planet, the word god wont be in the dictionary" is naive. There's the simple fact that it would be in the dictionary regardless of whether anyone believed in a god for centuries. But even that is ridiculous. There will always be stupid people.

Now I'm not saying that believing in a deity is stupid, or that only stupid people believe in a deity. But as long as there are stupid people there will be unscrupulous smart people who seek to exploit their stupidity with religion. So there will always be religions. Some good, some bad, just as there are today.


Second, to ask whether we'll create new gods when we colonize other planets presumes that we need some excuse (like living on a new planet) to create new gods. History clearly indicates otherwise.

I would expect realistically that we'll see no less than 2 significant new religions invented prior to any kind of serious attempt at extra-solar colonization.



The human race doesn't need an excuse to invent a new god. All there needs to be is someone who honestly believes they've found a new, better morality, or someone who believes they can use it to organize a power base underneath them.

Not until mankind banishes hate, jealousy, greed, and so on will man stop looking for a higher power. And probably not even then (though that won't ever happen.)

[bhouncy]

We wont colonize other solar systems. They are too far away. We will however send probes with DNA that will start new life once we have the technology to do so. Probably much like life started on this planet maybe.

[andruejaysin]

It would be possible to build (in orbit) a spacecraft to travel to another star, even if it would be the children or grandchildren of the crew who would finish the journey. It would require a large portion of the resources of the entire world, both economically and intellectually, and it would require them for generations. That seems more than a little unlikely.

[sammer]

We wont colonize other solar systems. They are too far away. We will however send probes with DNA that will start new life once we have the technology to do so. Probably much like life started on this planet maybe.

The solar systems seem far away now, but they wont seem far when we are able to travel through space at 99% of light speed. Eventually humans will need to spread through the cosmos, and we will find a way. even if it means drifting for aeons on hulking ships which support immense populations, it is unavoidable: Humans will spread through the universe.

[BlueBlazer]

... it is unavoidable: Humans will spread through the universe.

Like a virus.

[sammer]

Like a virus.

You may scoff but that is how our species has spread through history, just like a rapidly mutating and reproducing virus..It makes sense that we will spread throughout the galaxy once the technology allows for it.

[BlueBlazer]

You may scoff but that is how our species has spread through history, just like a rapidly mutating and reproducing virus..It makes sense that we will spread throughout the galaxy once the technology allows for it.

I was funning a bit, but I wasn't scoffing. If we don't destroy ourselves first, I have no doubt that mankind will reach for and attain the stars. :thumbsup:

[sammer]

I was funning a bit, but I wasn't scoffing. If we don't destroy ourselves first, I have no doubt that mankind will reach for and attain the stars. :thumbsup:

Yes, we have to end our constant warfare if we are to become truly civilized.

[thebumheads]

On our solar system there are two M class planets. On our planet we worship the great bum in the sky, on the other one they worship this weird guy with a grey beard, looks a bit like the wizard guy from this Lord of the Rings film.