Astrotheology

Astrotheology: Science and Theology Meet Extraterrestrial Life looks at both ends of the telescope: the unfathomable reaches of cosmic space and the excited stirrings within the human psyche. It takes a scientist to explain what we are looking at. It takes a theologian to understand who is doing the looking.This book's scientific authors update readers on astrobiology's search for extraterrestrial life. Theologians add to the science a theological analysis of the place of space in understanding God's creative work, the prospects of sharing God's creation with extraterrestrial neighbors, and the question of whether one or many incarnations are required for cosmic redemption.Finally, these scholars lay the foundations for an ethic of space exploration. This book introduces a comprehensive astrotheology with an accompanying astroethic.In this fascinating book, the authors not only update readers on contemporary cosmology and astrobiology's search for extraterrestrial life, but also develop the kind of public, interdisciplinary theology where both theology and the sciences are reshaped to contribute to a comprehensive understanding of what will be at stake for these widely divergent disciplines once extraterrestrial life is discovered.--J. Wentzel van Huyssteen, Princeton Theological SeminaryThis book is a treat for those who tire of treatments of astrobiology that focus only on the science and the technology of the subject. The very likely existence of intelligence and sentience elsewhere in the universe begs questions that center on philosophy and religion. This scholarly and entertaining treatment of these issues is very welcome.--Chris Impey, University of ArizonaHere is a much needed book by leading thinkers in the field--deeply grounded in Christian theology and sensitive to the scientific complexities.--David Wilkerson, St. John's CollegeTheologians and scientists at the Francisco J. Ayala Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences (CTNS) at the Graduate Theological Union (GTU) in Berkeley, California, have edited this comprehensive volume. Editor-in-chief Ted Peters teaches systematic theology and ethics at the GTU. Partner editors include Robert John Russell, Ian G. Barbour Professor of Theology and Science at the GTU; Joshua Moritz, managing editor of the journal Theology and Science on behalf of CTNS; and Martinez Hewlett, Professor Emeritus of Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Arizona and adjunct professor at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology at the GTU.