If my understanding of Judaism is correct, there is a tension between the particularism and the universalism within the Jewish faith. At one and the same time, the god of the Jewish People is both the creator of the universe and the “god of the entire world”, as well as at the same time having a special relationship with the Jewish People.

In my mind, it is within the context of this dichotomy that I frame the question oh how discovering that there is intelligent life on other planets might affect the beliefs of human beings.

I can only speak for myself, but in the same way that the god of the Bible has at one and at the same time the special relationship and special demands of the Jewish people within the framework of human history while at the same time being the “god of all humankind”, I see no contradiction in the idea that the same “creator of all existence” could have a special relationship with sentient beings on multiple worlds.

The Jewish People’s concept of chosenness, despite the bigotry of others, it’s far more akin to the idea that each social or cultural grouping in humanity has a unique an important contribution to make to the mosaic of mankind in human history. To say the Jewish People are special because of the role that has the been demanded of them is akin to saying that women are special because of the role that has been given to them of being the host of conception, pregnancy and the process of birthing yet another human being.

Who knows what special and unique contribution humanity will eventually be the source of, to the totality of sentient life, not just throughout our galaxy but the entire cosmos.