Theological Reflections on Space Exploration

What is it about?

As we envision constructive undertakings in the field of Religion & Science for the next decade, the emerging agenda of Astrotheology is opening up a new theater for enquiry. Astrotheology provides a critical theological response to the field of astrobiology while critically assessing exciting new research on life in our solar system and the discovery of exoplanets. This article proposes four tasks for the astrotheologian: deliberate on (1) the scope of creation: is God's creation Earth-centric or does it include the entire cosmos? (2) the question whether a single divine incarnation on Earth suffices for the cosmos or whether multiple incarnations--one for each inhabited planet--is required; (3) whether astrobiologists and other space scientists are sticking to their science or smuggling in ideology; and (4) readying terrestrial life for contact with extraterrestrial life by enumerating issues to be taken up by Astroethics.

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Why is it important?

Astrotheology and Astroethics expand what our scientists do so that we can think through the long term implications.

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