Life on Other Planets

In the vast and endless universe where countless galaxies and an infinitude of solar systems, each with planets that might be capable of producing life, there must surely be other human civilizations in various stages of physical and social evolution. In the light of such a context, is it logical for us to imagine that planet Earth has some special or central role to play in God’s plan for His Creation? And if there is human life elsewhere, why have they not contacted us or made themselves available to us? And were planet Earth to disappear, would God’s plan for Creation come to an end or be adversely affected? Once we use the Bahá’í Writings to respond to these questions, what should be our attitude about ourselves as individuals, as a community, and, in the long run, as a planetary commonwealth?