This really would be a theological problem for Christianity. Since the clear choices would be to pack up their tents and go away or adapt, it's clear they would adapt. It would be interesting to see how the various sects would handle it, though. Although polio has been cured, or prevented, we still have the March of Dimes.

I can hear Pat Robertson, though. "Well, uh, Erin, I'm reading about something like 2800 civilizations out there right now. Imagine that, 2800 civilizations who haven't heard about our Lord yet. What a fertile field for missionaries, for our good Christians to provide an outreach and carry the Word to the heathen universe. Don't you think it's a good reason to increase NASAs budget."

"But Pat, since nothing can go faster than the speed of light, aren't we prevented from getting to those civilizations?"

"Erin, Erin, Erin, who do you think made that so-called limitation? Don't you think that God could and would allow missionaries to travel faster if it meant getting the word to those poor unfortunates? It's just going to take a little looking and a lot of prayer. I understand, don't ask me how, that our program, yes, the 700 Club, is travelling at faster than the speed of light into the Universe with a little bit of the message. Our Lord can do strange and wondrous things!"

"Pat, what if God sent Jesus to all of them?"

"Erin. Jesus was God's only begotten Son, and He perished on the Cross for our sins. He was only here, died and ascended to the Right Hand. It is up to us to carry the message."

"Pat, did Jesus die for their sins too? If Man was created in the image of God, what do those people look like. If they look different, is salvation possible for them?"

"You have a point there. Maybe tomorrow we can call Swaggart, Hinn, Osteen, Hagee and a few of the boys, maybe some of the girls, and figure this out. I do know this, if those poor people are going to have any chance at Salvation it's going to be up to us, and it's going to take a lot of money. Do we let those people exist forever without knowledge of our Lord, or do we reach into our pockets to find a way to take the Message to them? I don't think there is any real Christian out there who is willing to abandon those beings to an eternity without knowing our Saviour simply because there wasn't enough money.

"And now, Erin, is the tragic story of Amanda Higgenbottom, a single mother of 3 who did not believe Salvation's message and refused send in any of her welfare check. We'll see how the Lord reacted to her apostasy, and what happened to her children as the result of their Mother's actions. The vengeance of our Lord is a fearsome thing, and there are lessons to learn here."

(Switch from studio to video clip of a sobbing young woman at a cemetery being restrained from throwing herself into a freshly dug hole.)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44749017/ns/technology_and_science-space/