Society of Catholic Scientists Prepares for Conference on Non-Human Intelligence

[Michie]

Four of the invited speakers will discuss the possibility of extraterrestrial life from their respective fields of study - astrophysics, astrochemistry, evolutionary biology, and Catholic theology.

Artificial intelligence. (photo: Pixabay)
Perry West/CNANationApril 19, 2021

WASHINGTON — The Society of Catholic Scientists (SCS) will hold its 2021 conference in Washington D.C. on the subject of non-human intelligence.

The conference is titled “Extraterrestrials, AI, and Minds Beyond the Human” and will take place at the Hilton Hotel from June 4-6. The event will also be live-streamed.

Conference discussions will provide scientific and theological insights on the subjects of real and hypothetical intelligences, especially extraterrestrial and artificial intelligences.

“There'll be 13 talks. Half of the talks are going to be about extraterrestrial life, and there's going to be talks by some big experts on that subject,” Dr. Stephen Barr, president of the Society of Catholic Scientists, told CNA.

Continued below.
Society of Catholic Scientists Prepares for Conference on Non-Human Intelligence

 

[Bob Crowley]

Of the two, artificial intelligence is the more pressing concern at the moment.

Extraterrestrial intelligence already exists - in the spiritual world, and it's a lot smarter than we are. It's always been there.

In "Interview with an Exorcist" Fr. Jose Fortea had this to say about demons thinking, and demons are just fallen angels.

"8. What does a demon think about?

Every demon retains the intelligence of its angelic nature. Demons know and inquire with their minds about the material and spiritual worlds, the real and conceptual worlds. As spiritual beings, demons are eminently intellectual; there is no doubt that they are deeply interested in conceptual questions. They know very well that philosophy is the most elevated of the sciences and that theology is built upon philosophy. In spite of this knowledge, every demon hates God.

Though demons find pleasure in knowing, they also suffer as a result of their knowledge - especially when this knowledge leads them to think about God. Demons constantly perceive the order and beauty of the Creator is all created things. Even in apparently neutral things, they see the reflection of the divine attributes.

Demons are not constantly engaged in tempting human beings. Much of the time they spend thinking. They suffer during those moments when they remember God and become conscious of their miserable state, that is, their separation from God. As we have previously noted, the amount of this suffering varies in intensity according to each demon's degree of moral deformation."

Extraterrestrial intelligence already exists, and has since humans have been around. For society the main challenge now is artificial intelligence, and its potential for abuse and misuse.

As for alien intelligence, which is what most people think of when they talk of extraterrestrial intelligence, in my opinion that can wait until we know there is any.