Ancient astronaut theories propose that extraterrestrials have visited Earth in the past and have originated or developed human religion, culture and/or technology.
Is there any evidence to support such theories?
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
3
|
The quick answer is "no". A slightly longer answer is that there is no physical evidence for the presence of extraterrestrials in the past of humanity. The development of so much basic human technology is well documented from experimental beginnings to increasing sophistication (for instance, metalworking, ceramics or agriculture). Those who make the claims for extraterrestrial intervention in human achievement never produce evidence for the aliens themselves: it is always something mediated through human hands (artistic representations, myths, supposedly 'anomalous' artefacts). When one considers the requirements of a highly technologically accomplished civilisation - one that could bridge the immense distances between stellar systems - one can appreciate the needs of that civilisation for raw materials, for energy production, for the disposal of unwanted and waste products. It could hardly disappear without trace! |
||
|
|
|
1
|
There are two schools of thought, essentially, regarding the potential existence of other life in the universe; one is to consider the overwhelming degree of possibility when it comes to elemental combinations existing in other planets which might be conducive to life existing, the other is the equally overwhelming set of unlikely and fragile circumstances which have allowed life to flourish on this planet. I would tend towards the first opinion, that, in all likelihood, similar conditions should exist somewhere in the universe to create a planet which is home to life - a fellow 'mutant' planet, perhaps. However, if the said life is anything like our own version (i.e. born from DNA, dependent on the whims of DNA), then it is highly unlikely to have visited us. We, setting off from our own elderly planet for the nearest possible planet which may, possibly, have the right conditions for life, would have had to have done so quite a bit before we evolved as a species, even going on at something like the speed of light. So, if anything did visit us, it would have to be something beyond our perception of 'life' (and getting well into speculative ideas now), and it would seem unlikely that it would come all this way and introduce itself to us. So, to all intents and purposes, it doesn't exist, we don't know about it, there's no real evidence for it, and nor is there ever likely to be, and so the whole thing becomes redundant. |
||
|
|
|
1
|
Interestingly, a brief bit of research led me to a few examples of supposed evidence for ancient astronauts. The usual suspects were there, the pyramids, cave paintings that look like modern astronauts (because, of course, interstellar adventurers would be using suits that looked like the kind we had in the 1960's, the kind which definitely wouldn't let us survive a hundred-thousand year journey...), but also the so-called 'Baghdad Batteries'. I was a little disappointed at this, because it seems to suggest a swell of opinion that favours the idea of chronologically linear human ingenuity; a genius from Iraq 1,500 years ago could NEVER have constructed such a thing, they say. Well, of course he could - it's a piece of iron with some copper wire wrapped around it, dipped into lemon juice. Hey presto, electric battery cells a long time before Volta. Human ingenuity is not linear, it occurs at random moments in life, and is of most value when it is recognised (as Volta's was), but not to say valueless or impossible when it isn't. There's every chance that this little invention made one Iraqi genius a very wealthy man, but the idea was not, it seems, developed any further. This brings me to my broader point, that science ought not be taken for granted as something that is inherent in human nature, something that will look after itself. It is a distinctly human construct, and particularly our modern scientific conventions of hypothesis, testing, evidence and experimentation. As advanced as Babylonian thought clearly was at that stage, they evidently did not have in place a scientific system like we do that would have made the most of his extraordinary discovery. And so, a great mind has been lost to obscurity, only dug up by people who think that only aliens could have built the pyramids (same situation again). Science is a relatively new and fragile human entity, and a very important one, we must do what we can to look after it and defend its marvellous principles. |
||
|
|
|
1
|
I thought I would add an addedum to the previous answers regarding the "Where are they now, then?" question. Part one - given that Titan has been found to have chemicals which will provide for life (if only the sun was a bit closer) and given also that planets were formed through interstellar collisions the remaining space matter i.e. comets epsecially which contain hydrogen and oxygen is believed to have travelled to Earth depositing such chemicals. Therefore it stands to reason that "astronauts" did indeed land here to provide life n the first place and that those astronausts are now us. However, I know this is not quite what the question is asking, which leads me to part two Part Two - no construction on Earth appears to be impossible to build my mere mortal humans. Pyramids, Stonehenge, the giant artwork in Peru. However many groups of people do refer to returning beings. Dogons and the Mayan (two different continents both refer to fish / lizard men (unfortunately so do David Icke and Scientologists) who gave them information about the universe. Most significantly the Dogon tribe knew about Sirrus B star (where the lizard men are supposed to be from) and this star is not visible to the naked eye or crude telescopes and yet the Dogon have charted the exact position of this star. I'm not sure what to make of this so I admit defeat on this especially as we have not determined if the planets could sustain life. I do remember a book (I can get back to you on the citation) which attempted to argue that the Ark of the Covenant was a nuclear device hence why no one could go near it and to look inside brought boils, burning and death. Essentially arguing that God was a spaceman - Chariot of the Gods was the name of the book, I remember now. In conclusion no one has stated there is evidence and I suppose, like Superman, maybe if they were here, their planet blew up so there is no no one left to return(!) |
|||
|
|
0
|
Your question requires an answer that will not fit here. There are in fact logical arguments, based on evidence (circumstantial), which suggest the possibility of extra-terrestrials. However, there has been no evidence to actively confirms such a thing as having occurred, and thus most people discount such theories. One has to ask, of course, had extra-terrestrials been here previously, why do we no longer encounter them? |
|||
|
|
-1
|
My answer is this. If u look at ancient sumerian texts that have been found within the last century, they provide a more detailed account of the biblical Genesis. "Let us create them in our image" is a direct quote from the sumerian texts. Both accounts have this ( or these ) beings creating us from the dust. This sounds to me (and others) like they genetically engineered us from the existing Homo-erectus with their own DNA and created us. The Anunnaki, as the sumerians called them, called us the Adamu (sounds kind of like adam huh). There is in fact direct evidence of extra-terrestrial intervention, and even creation of the human race. Sorry religion. |
|||
|
|
-1
|
the evidence is there. and the fact that the sumerian texts predate the book of genesis is direct evidence that genesis was a COPY of the sumerian tablets. the babylonian account (enuma elish look it up) is another direct COPY of the sumerian texts. sorry i was not clear before. here is a link if you want to look for yourself... it is my conclusion that religion is nothing more than a conglomeration of many texts mixed together and served raw to the public. if you have any questions or arguments, please feel free to send me an email. jonesie110@yahoo.com peace |
|||
|
