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An Unidentified Flying Message in a Bottle

When Worlds Collide

From intertribal skirmishes to the greatest clashes between civilizations, the "us-versus-them" instinct is one of the core primitive emotions within human beings. Clearly, individuals build unity among one another by searching for common ground; we are inspired to team up when our sense of self-preservation kicks in. In fact, some of the greatest stories in history highlight moments when, led by larger-than-life personalities against a common enemy, a group of people puts aside their differences and band together to fight for what's right … or at least what they think is right.

Now, consider the possibility of intelligent life on other planets. It should come as no surprise (after getting past the initial curiosity that something else just might be out there in the universe) that questions begin to arise — questions that are deeply rooted in our us-versus-them instinct.

When it comes to the subject of astrobiology, we aren't even sure if anything is out there at all. Still, many science fiction writers and forward-thinking scientists have grappled with the possibility of life elsewhere in the cosmos. In doing so, much broader questions have arisen: Would intelligent extraterrestrials be like us in any way whatsoever? How would we recognize life on other planets and by what method will we determine that they are intelligent? Would communication be possible?

In this arena, all the questions remain unanswered; nonetheless, the search for intelligent life in the universe is on … and it's gaining momentum.

Are We Sending the Right Signal?

So, how do we even carry on a conversation with "them"? Let's start by talking about basic communication, which has three parts: a transmitter, a signal, and a receiver. Someone has to speak first, that is, to be the transmitter.

And we have spoken. On Nov. 16, 1974, an encoded message was beamed over a three-minute period from the Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico to the M13 globular star cluster 25,000 light-years away.¹ That binary encoded message provided basic information about human beings, including a number key along with chemical and structural information about DNA. To date, that message has traveled 194 trillion miles, or 33 light-years, which is about 0.13 percent of the trip.

More recently, a company began commercial transmissions into space with classified listings from craigslist.com as its inaugural signal.²

So, does it really matter what signal is being transmitted? In other words, will the makeup of the human genetic code or "AWESOME OFF-WHITE COUCH — PRACTICALLY NEW — WILL SELL FAST $50, OBO" have any meaning to an alien? Would aliens interpret either signal as "intelligent"? At the heart of intelligent communication is either a common language or a means of translation.

Finally, it's not too difficult to start a conversation, but it is difficult to know if someone is actually listening. How would we know if anyone ever gets the message? Parents monitor changes in their kids' communication and actions to figure out if they are really "getting through to them." However, it is much more difficult to know you're getting through when there is no way to observe the other party's actions directly. All you can do is send messages, look for indications that someone is in the area, and hope they're receiving the message.

A Message Over Our Heads?

Now, what if aliens tried to contact us?

One of the fundamental assumptions in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (often referred to as SETI) is that intelligent civilizations would try to communicate with other intelligent life in the universe. So, SETI is really about searching for intelligent extraterrestrial communication. To this end, the National Science Foundation, UC Berkeley and various foundations and companies have fronted $50 million to build the better radio telescope.³ On Oct. 11, 2007, the first 42 of 350 radio dishes of the Allen Telescope Array (ATA) were dedicated for its dual mission to study galaxies and search for intelligence in the cosmos. As each new Earth-like planet is discovered, ATA promises to be there searching for a sign of "them."

No "Two-Way" About It

For all that this telescope array and other radio telescopes promise, there are inherent problems with intergalactic communication. We only have to look at the aforementioned Arecibo message to understand this. For instance:

• It is improbable that the message will hit its target, the M13 globular star cluster. It was transmitted into space over a period of three minutes, and in that time, the Earth, the Sun, and the Milky Way moved — as did any of the Earth-like planet orbiting a star in the M13 globular star cluster.
• It is improbable that there is even a "target" there. The probability that an intelligent civilization exists and will be in the path of the signal is incredibly small.
• The Arecibo signal was coded in binary, based on our mathematical logic. There is no reason to assume that an intelligent civilization would be as fond of 0s and 1s as we are.
• The message would have to be decoded by a civilization that uses language like we do. They would not only have to recognize a pattern in the signal, but also decipher it "in the dark," that is, without any knowledge of our kind of intelligence and linguistics.
• We may change drastically. This message must travel such a great distance that the very civilization that sent it (us) could undergo huge changes in language so that by the time the aliens figure out our language and send a response, we don’t understand it — effectively ending the "two-way" aspect of communication.

Though making great headlines, the Arecibo message and other attempts at intergalactic communication are more wishful thinking than scientific reasoning.

Love and Fear of the Unknown

Clearly, certain scientists and laypeople are convinced that efforts to communicate with aliens are not only worthwhile, but one of the highest endeavors for human beings. For some of them, the desire to connect, to form community with others, and to enlarge their sense of "us" is the motivation behind searching the heavens. Seeing the frontier of space and being excited about a first contact with other intelligent beings, they are willing to spend millions of dollars on what seems to be, in this cosmic lottery, very slim odds.

On the other hand, the discussion of life on other planets generates fear in some people, a fear derived from their us-versus-them instinct. Concerned that another race will come along and take us over, they feel threatened by the idea of communicating with aliens. Or, if they are in favor of SETI, they view it as a form of interstellar diplomatic relations, a way to learn more about "them" in order to protect ourselves. After all, if we want to preserve our way of life, we ought to figure out if something out in space is doing anything that might threaten it. From a biblical worldview, both of these views reflect misplaced priorities.

There Is No "Them"

There isn't necessarily anything wrong with desiring to be a part of something bigger. One could even say this same desire causes people to pray to God. As Christians, we believe we have an innate need for God, and desiring to connect to a greater "us" is part of the human experience. In being part of God's "us," Christ called us to be like Him. How did He treat the "them" of His days? Just consider the woman at the well, the tax collector, the story of the Good Samaritan, and so on. From these examples we see there is no "them."

C O F F E E  S H O P

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How does the possibility of life on other planets affect your worldview?

Join the discussion!

The root issue is that Jesus demonstrated how to live beyond the us-versus-them game. If we are the only life in the universe, we should be amazed at what God has done. If the universe has advanced civilizations everywhere, we should still be in awe of God's works.

In either case, Christ has shown us we are supposed to be at peace with our brothers and sisters, terrestrial or extraterrestrial.