Contact: Post Video Questions

1. As a young girl Ellie Arroway’s father used to tell her, “Small moves Ellie, small moves.” In
context of the theme of the whole movie what does this mean?
2. As a girl Ellie asks her father whether or not there is other life in the universe. Her father says,
“If it is just us it would be an awful waste of space.” What does that statement mean?
3. Dr. Drumlin thinks that the area of research is involved in (S.E.T.I) will lead to professional
suicide. Why?
4. Palmer Joss makes the comment that “The pursuit of science is the search for truth.” What
does that mean? Do you think that science is the only reliable method of knowing what is true
about the universe and man’s place within it? Explain.
5. Palmer Joss says that he is not anti-science, but he is, “…against those who deify it at the
expense of human truth.” Explain what this means.
6. Palmer Joss said that experiences he had lead him to a belief in God. What kinds of experiences
do you think he may have had that couldn’t be explained in any other way?
7. After Ellie’s father died a priest visiting the house said to her, “We can’t always make sense of
things. Sometimes we have to accept it as God’s will.” Ellie says, “I should have kept some
medicine in the downstairs bathroom. I could have gotten to it sooner.” What does this say
about Ellie’s outlook on life?
8. Ellie feels that the search for extra-terrestrials is one of the most important areas of research
in astronomy. Why? Do you agree?
9. David Drumlin, the Presidential Science Advisor, responds to Ellie’s outburst that there are two
possibilities concerning extra-terrestrial life:
1. There is life, but it’s so far away that you’ll never contact it in your lifetime.
2. All that’s out there are noble gases and carbon compounds and you’re wasting your time.
Evaluate these two statements, choose one that that fit’s closest with your point of view, and
explain why you agree with one more than the other.
10. Concerning the above question, are there other possibilities? Explain.
11. Palmer Joss has written a best selling novel whose underlying premise is that technology has made
the world a less happy place. Why does he feel this way and what is your opinion on the matter?
12. The signal from space that Ellie receives comes in bursts corresponding to prime numbers. Ellie
says there’s no way this could be a naturally occurring phenomenon. Why would she say this?
13. Why would the aliens send a signal using prime numbers instead of simply using their own
language, using English, or other non-prime numbers?
14. Ellie says that mathematics is the only true universal language. If this is true, why is it true?
Suggest another language that could be possibly be understood by everyone?
15. When Drumlin asks why the aliens would start transmitting the signal at this time Ellie explains
that the signal was actually transmitted 26 years ago. What did she mean?
16. In a meeting at the Whitehouse one of the attendees brings up the point that the message has
serious religious implications. What kinds of religious implications would a message from space
have?
17. At a party Ellie and Palmer get into a discussion regarding the existence of God. Ellie says she
would need some form of proof (unambiguous empirical data) before she accepted the existence
of God. Palmer counters with the question, “Did you love your dad?” Ellie says, “Yes, of course.”
Palmer says, “Prove it.” What is the point of his question and how does it serve as a proof for
God’s existence?
18. A committee has been formed to choose someone to travel in the pod. The fundamental question
that arises is; how do you choose someone to represent humanity? If you were on the
committee what criteria would be on your list (minimum of 5)?
19. If you were permitted the opportunity to meet the “Vegans” and were permitted to ask only one
question what would it be?
20. Palmer sabotages Ellie’s candidacy by asking if she believes in God. Why would he do that and in
your opinion should that have made any difference? Explain!
21. Throughout the movie there appears to be a constant tension between religion and science. Do
you think the two are incompatible or at odds with one another?
22. Mr. Hadden (of Hadden enterprises) seems to always be one step ahead of everyone else and to
have knowledge that others don’t concerning the project. What is your explanation for that?
23. Why was the first transport pod destroyed by the religious group?
24. The “alien” that Ellie meets tells her that no one else can follow her on a return trip. When asked
why he tells her that this is the way it has been done for millions of years. She asks if there
will be other contacts. “In time. Small steps Ellie, small steps.” What would the wisdom be in
staggering the contacts throughout large time intervals?
25. When Ellie returns from meeting with the alien no one believes she went anywhere because the
pod appeared to pass straight on through to the water below the transport. She, however, is
convinced that her experience was real. On what did she base her certainty?
26. At the hearing she admits that she has no proof that she went anywhere, but that every fiber in
her body told her that what she experienced was real. Is personal experience enough to serve
as proof that something actually happened or exists as you experienced it?
27. Is Ellie open to the idea that the whole experience could have been a hoax perpetrated by Mr.
Hadden or that she is suffering from some sort of delusion? How likely do you think she
thought this was?
28. Does Ellie think it unreasonable that others don’t accept her personal testimony as proof that
what she experienced was real? Explain.
29. Suppose many thousands of people experienced what Ellie experienced, but like Ellie, also lacked
any empirical evidence for their experience; should people who still reject the testimonies be
considered irrational or hard headed? Explain.
30. Near the end of the movie we find out that in the recording Ellie made of her trip there was
approximately 16 hours of static. What does this suggest? Does this serve as proof that the
experience she testified to in fact happened?
31. Does scientific evidence for any phenomenon, regardless of the quantity or quality of the
evidence, serve to “prove” that something is as we think it is? For example, the evidence
STRONGLY suggests that the Earth orbits the Sun. Could we be mistaken?
32. Throughout the movie there seems to be a constant conflict between science and religion. Do you
think this conflict exists in reality? In your opinion can you be intensely scientific and
religious? Explain!