As you might have guessed, dear reader, The Chas worries a lot, especially about what the future may bring. One thing he is worrying about has come to the fore when he read a recent news item concerning the exploration of the planet Mars.
Sadly, humankind is taking its own sweet time exploring its own star system, least of all Deep Space, i.e. the rest of the Universe. We should have had footprints on Mars by this time, but we wasted our resources on space shuttles and space stations. Be that as it may, however, humankind eventually will emulate the crew of the starship Enterprise whose mission was “to explore new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before.”
The Chas firmly believes that we are not alone in the Universe. Thinking that we are reflects a gross arrogance, perpetuated by every religion to appear in our history. Probability – if not actual hard evidence, although there have been any number of reports of flying saucers which cannot be adequately explained, dictates otherwise. Our Sun is just one of 400 billion stars in our galaxy alone, and the Milky Way Galaxy is just one of countless galaxies in the Universe. Probability states that just one of anything is an impossibility. Life elsewhere does exist but may have taken a different path in its evolution, and it may have achieved sentience and an advanced civilization. If our various creation myths are any guide, one such alien wayfarer may have passed our way and taken some time to examine the curious creatures on this world.
So, what worries The Chas about all of this? The answer is two-fold.
The first scenario deals with human exploration into Deep Space and possible encounters with alien life-forms. Shameless self-aggrandizement: The Chas has written two novels in his Legacy of the Wayfarers series which describe what happens when two or more irrational species collide. Will we take our ancient superstitions and prejudices with us, or will we leave them behind and conduct ourselves as truly rational beings?
We carry a lot of baggage in this regard, dear reader. Differences in skin color, language, religion, gender, and now gender-identity, and education all have been our constant companions over the millennia. Imaginary beings, such as Santa Claus and a host of gods, however they are named, have lodged in our minds and required a prodigious effort in their extrication. If and when we encounter an alien species, we may pit our irrationality with theirs to the detriment of all; or, if they have discarded their irrationality, we are likely to be shunned to the detriment of all.
The second scenario deals with a close encounter of the third kind on our own world when the aliens decide to go beyond furtive monitoring of the technological and sociological progress of Planet Earth and risk first contact. A lot of sci-fi has dwelt obsessively on invading hordes of bug-eyed monsters bent upon conquest, looting, rapine, and enslavement, just as we might do if the tables were turned.
This scenario purports, however, to have a peaceful close encounter. First to arrive will be the explorers and the scientists to study Earth up close. Then the diplomats and the economists will offer to provide us with advanced technology (no weapons!), medical techniques, and agricultural practices. They even may help us with our governance and finances! They will not favor one group of humans over another group, but dole out their largesse to one and all equitably.
But what The Chas waits for is the arrival of the teachers, the philosophers, and the missionaries, especially the latter. How would humankind react to aliens preaching the gospel of their version of the One True God, assuming, of course, that they have not yet jettisoned their own ancient superstitions? Quite likely, we will react how the people of the Global South reacted to Christian and Muslim missionaries in centuries past and kill them. The countries of those missionaries retaliated by conquering the indigenous rabble and forcing them to convert. It is what an irrational species does. As our priests, rabbis, and imams sputter and spout about being treated like savages, The Chas will laugh his backside off.
If, however, the aliens are rational beings, they will not force themselves upon us. Rather, they might just pack up and leave and take their goodies with them. See you later, alligator, in maybe 1,000 years when you’ve learned how to behave yourselves.
Will good behavior require another 1,000 years, dear reader? The Chas would hope not, but he plans to check back with you from time to time from on high.
Just a thought.
P.S. In my previous essay, I mistakenly used “.com” in the URL of the website of the Organic Consumers Association. It should be “.org.” I regret the error.