Blog Assignment 3: Reflections on Contact.

This is an amazing science-based fantasy story. The process of story is consisted by advanced science and technology. As far as I am concerned, I prefer to look it as a universe scientific documentary in a sense. In reality, this is basically a heated debate on religion and science.

“If humans were the only life in the universe it would be a terrible waste of space.”
The famous novel’s words arouse many of my adolescent nice memories.
I was born in a small remote plateau city, and in summer night the sky of hometown was so beautiful, I gazed at the shining stars, they were so closed to me. At that time I always ask myself: any other alien in the universe and can we contact them?
When I grew up, I learned more scientific knowledge and came to a modern city for my study, the lights of the city is so dazzling and I can’t recall it any more.

When I first time left China and went to the abroad, I chatted with an Arabic passenger on the plane and he asked me “what is the religion in China?” That is a question I never thought about it, quickly searching answer in my mind but no result, “I have no idea, maybe most Chinese like me they don’t have religions.” “Oh how could that be!” he was very surprised and had much sympathy for that.

“Oh, my god Where is my god?”
I searched some information through internet and found that there are many religion organizations in China like Taoism, Buddhism, Islam and also Christian, but the number of religious is less than 5%. Compare to religious, there are 100 million 10% Communists in Chine, it is nearly 10% of the whole population!
Can we consider that the Communism is the religion of the 100 million people? No, I don’t think so. Because religion is a kind of belief which come from the bottom of heart, and should not contain other poppers.

Just as described in the novel, even through human has created brilliant culture today, but in a vast and mysterious universe, we are still so tiny and helpless. I believe that the effect of religions on people is also very important. In my opinion, people who ignore the religions are arrogant, but completely compliance with religion maybe meant weak and fragile.


I am an atheist and I was inspired by Ellie, she encountered so many difficulties and setbacks: her father’s death, the shortage of research funds, engineering blue print technical problems, distrust by government due to religious beliefs and so on. However, for pursuit truth, she reached the end bravely.