You are welcome; just be prepared for the bad writing I did back then. I still do not write as well as I wish, but I am capable of seeing how much I’ve improved when I go back to things I wrote in the 90s.

Cool man looks interesting.

Thanks.

No, other rational life is not a problem. The theological discussion and debates were, of course, focusing on the question of other rational creatures (and not just angels).

Personally, I believe rational alien life exists (not just spirits), and that Christ’s work affects them (following the cosmic soteriology of Scripture and many of the Church Fathers like St Maximus the Confessor). I also think the universe, as a whole, is fallen (so the suggestion of Lewis, or Fr Funes, that they would not need salvation is not my view).

If you are interested, years ago, I had an e-mail discussion with one of my friends on this issue. I wrote three letters answering his questions; they are old, the style of my replies are clunky, and in need of serious editing — however, if you are interested you can read my examination of the topic and what I said as to why I believe in alien life here (I could and would say things differently now, developing some things much further, while also adding a greater discussion on God’s freedom and why freedom in love is greater freedom and yet can allow us to discuss how love would act, even if, in freedom, it is not necessity):

http://geocities.com/hckarlso/aliens.html

Just remember, I wrote them over a decade ago, and they were originally written as e-mails. Be glad, no matter how unstylistic my writing might still be, that I’ve at least improved (I am always embarassed at how much my earlier writings need to be edited); you will see my tendency for “thuses” and “hences” to be multiplied back them.

Is it a valid opinion to hold that other rational life could exist?

The article mentions intelligent life, but I suppose this does not mean necessarily mean rational life.

I would think other rational life would be a problem?

I thought it helps put things in perspective — and demonstrates how badly the mainstream media portrays things like this.

In all actuality, one of the classes I hope to teach one day is on “alien theology.” In part because it raises many of the basic theological questions (soteriology, nature of God, etc) in a way which might get undergraduates to think who would not otherwise want to think theologically. Of course, being a science fiction fan helps.