Final answer:
The scenario of Earth's major religions uniting against an alien invasion exemplifies the impact of superordinate goals, which are shared goals that require cooperative effort and the setting aside of prior conflicts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The scenario described in your question best illustrates the impact of superordinate goals. Superordinate goals refer to shared goals that necessitate cooperative effort; a situation wherein prior conflicts must be set aside to achieve a common objective. In the hypothetical situation of an alien invasion threatening Earth in the 2050s, the major world's religions finding a near-standstill in their conflicts to unite against a common alien threat is an example of differing groups uniting to achieve a superordinate goal, which in this context is the survival and safety of the planet.
Such a goal would likely demand collaboration, coordination, and the setting aside of individual or group-specific agendas in favor of the collective welfare. This is a fundamental concept in understanding how conflicting groups can find common ground and work together in situations where their ultimate interests align, such as environmental sustainability or collective security.