The Sci Fi Catholic Yak Module
You would not believe how many folks get their knickers in a twist about the Mars probes (starting with Viking) and their search for life, even though microbial. If anything is found, even if its bacteria, that opens up the whole probability of other life of other kinds on other planets....and many peoples "universe" would come mightly CRASHING down... we would no longer "be unique" I guess the thought would be....
Then on the other end of the spectrum there are those of us who let their idle computers crunch data for the SETI@home project...
Thanks for the link and kind words! Although I would gently point out that "he" is actually a "she."
Thanks Deej also for the blog point--I read a couple of the articles this evening. It was quite refreshing to read a couple of ponderings that were science-based yet also had the religious aspect. I don't quite feel to be such the fence-sitter as to have to constantly defend the fact that I CAN be a scientist and also a Catholic Christian...especially since my work environment contains a large number of LDS and Fundamentalist Protestant perspectives...
Glad to find your blog. I wrote about Jesus in Space recently:
http://asksistermarymartha.blogs...y-in-
space.html
Sister Mary Martha--
Glad to have you join us..there are a couple of us lay Discalced Carmelites here too..
Hi!
Your blog is great.I've been reading it for a few weeks now, and have enjoyed it very much.
About those ETs receiving the Sacrament of the Holy Orders, I have one question which I have posted on the comment section of your previous blog post "Aliens Who Love Jesus" that you have linked to here.
I'd be glad to hear your answer to this doubt of mine.
Love and prayers,
Innocent
Just my take on the question..which may be a wishy-washy answer, but here goes....
We need to be careful about putting God "in a box", and the assumption that the Homo sapiens body shape is the only "right, true, correct" form. We have seen even in our own species that individuals with missing limbs or deprived of primary senses can have a very fulfilling life and place in our society. On another planet with the ET that you described there is no doubt a system in place that would take into account their physical form and features as part of their normal everyday life. To deny them Holy Orders or any of the Sacraments because they don't have a "standard human body shape" would be a haughtiness on our part of the highest degree. A secular example of this is swimming. A fish or dolphin could come up to us humans and say--"you don't have fins and a tail, so you can't swim. Stay on the dry land where you belong and leave the waters to US." Yet we all know that humans can learn to swim with some degree of compentancy--we can't make around-the-world trips like many whales--but we makes a good show. Just watch the swimmers in the upcoming Olympic Games Frogs, snakes, dogs, tigers, and many other animals can also swim. So the waters are not exclusive territory of the fish and dolphins, neither should the Holy Orders iF the only limitation is bodily configuration. That also would hold true on planets that are perhaps atmosphere-based or fluid-based, or whose gravity is significantly lesser or greater than ours..
So to summarize--yes I feel that your ET would be able to take Holy Orders. Now if I was attending a Mass where he was presiding, I am sure I would receive instruction on how to properly interact with him. A priest who comes from a society that are telepaths would be extremely valuable in the Confessional...I would definitely know for sure if I had made a good Confession 
No hiding anything or "overlooking" that's for sure
Sara--a telepath in the Confessional is pretty funny!
And your pastor has quite a sense of humor! The Star Wars stuff, esp. #3, was ROFLOL.
Meanwhile, I'm reading Edith Stein's autobiography. Have you read any of her stuff? AKA St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Carmelite Virgin & Martyr. It's pretty interesting & I haven't gotten to any of the religous bits yet.
Xena-- I visited Fr Erik's blog and saw the postings of the videos but haven't viewed them yet...I'll be sure to view them tomorrow... he DOES have an interesting sense of humor...I'll see him tomorrow at Sat am Mass and pass along your kind words.. He should also post an updated photo of his Bulldog puppy Gunny..he is SOOOO BIG now!! Bigger than his other Bulldog Katie although still a fun-loving puppy
A telepath in the Confessional would be MOST helpful to me...I usually have to write things down or I forget...so a little kind gentle prodding from a compassionate telepath would be a blessing
Last summer I read "on my own" --ie not part of my Carmelite studies-- "Edith Stein--The Life of a Philospher and Carmelite" by Teresia Renata Posselt OCD. She was a highly educated university professor (Philosophy) and of the Jewish faith....her conversion story is amazing. Understandingly any of her personal writings are very deep so don't be discouraged if she is hard to grasp....it's like reading JPII.. I wish history could tell us more of her martyrdom.. She along with St Maximillian Kolbe have much to teach us about the modern day crown of martyrdom...
Xena--
I mentioned this before but a reminder... please keep in your prayers Gina of my community...she will be clothed with the Brown Scapular tomorrow at our community meeting...right now I'm preparing something yummy to bring
I also made blackberry jam yesterday using some of Utah's finest... I seem to not be able to make jam without making a TOTAL MESS of the entire kitchen... :/ But it is SO worth it
I also have pork ribs on the barby....will put the corn on in a little bit....
On a side note...I may be looking for another job..not because of layoffs but because of a meeting we had this past week where it was stated there will be ZERO promotions due to cost cutting...the raises the past couple of years have been non-existant..so will cast the lines out and see what happens...
Sara--I can do better than that-I'll pop an email to the Discalced sisters cloistered in town.
Reading 'Starship Troopers' today, after an early trip to the library, and frankly, I think the movie's better.
Xena--
Haven't read the print version of "Starship Troopers," I probably should some day...actually no reading this weekend either, just vegging out after spending last weekend working on my Math paper--turned in Monday Yah!! computer-based math programs sure make it alot easier to insert formulas and graphs...
To all--if you would like to see photos of our NEW stained glass windows at St James the Just parish (installed just last week!!), check out Fr Erik's blog (Orthometer), entry for Monday July 7. Also there is a close-up of the Immaculate Heart window on my friend Tara's blog Loved Sinner, entry for July 11. They are truely spectacular--the photos just don't do them justice. My only slight critique is that the artist made Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta look like Yoda....yes she DID have a few crinkles but PLEASE...
And just a side comment from the peanut gallery--the photo of our illustrious blogmeister Deej and Trish is VERY good...he is usually quite serious at Mass (well, I guess so am I, usually because I'm focusing on the music)...he also looks very good in a suit
Xena--
Gina's clothing has been rescheduled for next month...thanks for all of your good prayers and well-wishes..
Review here of Disch with tantalizing reference to Wolfe's Catholicism making him great:
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Ut...13&
R=13B491BFB7
Sara--sorry to hear Gina got delayed, but I got a nice little note back from my local Carmelites about praying for her & you.
My own devouring of Sci-Fi will be interrupted soon by various real-world forces till September. But when it's all done, I'm going to reward myself with an interlibrary loan Wolfe binge.
Xena--thanks for the review link... I did not realise that he had committed suicide until I read the article.
Musing a bit philosophical..a man who was a literary genius, ahead of his time, yet was blatently miserable. The life he embraced after "breaking the chains" was empty and unfulfilling, he succumed to the lies of Satan ..may God have mercy on his soul...
Enjoy your summer.. I myself have much studying to do--secular and spiritual--plus major housework and garage work...my reading time will be quite limited....perhaps this fall.
Thanks for the link and kind words! Although I would gently point out that "he" is actually a "she."
Oh no! Gender confusion! Don't let Snuffles in here or he'll lecture on that as a plot device and go on for hours!
I'll correct the post.
Hello!
Nice site - you have some great information about the Science Fiction genre including recent news and great movie reviews. I thought you'd be interested to know "The Cube," one of Jim Henson's early directorial forays into scifi, is now available for download on iTunes.
This experimental film depicts a man who finds himself in a white cubical room and has no idea how he got there. Although anyone can enter the cube, the man cannot leave. Panels in the cube open temporarily to admit various visitors, some of whom seem to know the man or want to offer advice.
Add the link to “The Cube” to your site to let others know:
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjec...457340&
s=143441
Or, add the iTunes Button linking to the film using the HTML generated here: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjec...a/
itmsLinkMaker
For larger, customizable Apple iTunes Buttons, download these: http://www.docurama.com/digitala.../
ituneslogo.zip
Earn 5% of sales by becoming an iTunes affiliate! Go to: http://www.apple.com/itunes/affiliates/
I can set up free downloads for contest giveaways. Please let me know if you are interested.
Thank you!
Rebecca C.
New Video Digital
902 Broadway, 9th Fl
New York, NY 10010
Commenting by HaloScan
