skygiants

I have to say, first off, that the idea that the first expedition to another planet would be piloted by, specifically, a religious group (in total secrecy, no less) makes me profoundly uncomfortable.

You know, I had thought of this, too, when I first read it, because the Jesuits (or the Black Robes, as my mom, who most definitely left the church of her youth calls them)are not known for their loving and compassionate encounters with indigenous tribes. However, I think why it was not an issue for the crew in the novel (and therefore not for me as I read) was because they trusted Sandoz and not the order as a whole, necessarily. It was less a "church expedition" and more an "expedition we're going on with Sandoz who trust to do the right thing". That's how I thought of it, anyway, along with the 'yay field trip!' aspect.

I've often wondered what would happen if we found alien races with as strong (or stronger) religious beliefs as our own (or they found us). I don't think it would be pretty.