Astrobiology and Christian Doctrine
Exploring the Implications of Life in the Universe
£30.00
Part of Current Issues in Theology
- Author: Andrew Davison, University of Cambridge
- Date Published: July 2023
- availability: Available
- format: Hardback
- isbn: 9781009303156
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In recent decades, powerful telescopes have enabled astrophysicists to uncover startling new worlds and solar systems. An epochal moment came in 1995, when a planet – 51 Pegasi b – was located orbiting a star other than our own sun. Since then, thousands of new planets have followed, and the question of life beyond earth has become one of the principal topics in discussions between science and religion. Attention to this topic has a long history in Christian theology, but has rarely been pursued at any depth. Writing with both passion and precision, Andrew Davison brings his extensive knowledge of Christian thought to bear, drawing particularly on the thought of Thomas Aquinas, as well as his training as a scientist. No book to date better prepares the Christian community for responding to evidence of other life, if it is found. And yet, we do not need to wait for that to have happened before this book shows its worth. In thinking about planets, creatures, and ecosystems beyond our planet, Davison already reinvigorates our theology for the earth.
Read more- Presents discussion of central topics in Christian theology in relation to life beyond Earth that are not covered elsewhere
- Explores topics in such a way that each complements the others, so the reader emerges with a broad and connected perspective
- Applies a scholarly approach - resourcing principally from the work of Thomas Aquinas – and includes detailed references
Reviews & endorsements
'This innovative and immensely readable work is easily the best introduction currently available to the theological questions raised by the possibility of extraterrestrial life. It offers both a critical analysis of issues such as multiple incarnations and a constructive response to them, deeply rooted in the Christian tradition.' Alister McGrath, Senior Research Fellow, Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion, & Emeritus Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion, University of Oxford
See more reviews'If you feel that religion has nothing to tell us about the space-age challenges we face, you may be surprised to learn that theologians have been writing about life beyond Earth for nearly six centuries. Read this book and let Andrew Davison be your guide to the thousands of years of thinking about our place in the universe. From Plato through 'The Force', he illuminates the issues and arguments with clarity and humour. This is a must-read.' William D. Barry, Ph.D., NASA Chief Historian, retired
'… a very readable, informative, and, indeed, theologically exciting book … a magnificently fair, informative, trustworthy, and mind-expanding work of theology, surely a modern classic in the field.' Canon Kevin Ward, Church Times
'… I believe that Davison makes a strong case for the multiple incarnation position. [His book] provides us with a mini-systematic theology that addresses God, creation, fall, sin, Christology, and even eschatology … I commend Professor Davison for tackling the implications of astrobiology in this fashion.' Ted Peters, The Heythrop Journal
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×Product details
- Date Published: July 2023
- format: Hardback
- isbn: 9781009303156
- length: 350 pages
- dimensions: 222 x 149 x 28 mm
- weight: 0.65kg
- availability: Available
Table of Contents
Introduction
Part I. Creation:
1. Many worlds
2. Angels
3. Life
4. Emptiness and plenitude
Part II. Revelation and Theological Knowledge:
5. Revelation
6. Knowledge of God and the language of the trinity
Part III. Imago Dei and Uniqueness:
7. A Copernican demotion? 8. Uniqueness and sharing the imago dei
9. Uniqueness, convergence and embodied cognition
Part IV. Christology, Salvation and Grace:
10. Sin and fall
11. Responses to sin: one incarnation
12. Multiple incarnations: introduction
13. Distinct incarnations: possibility and christological detail
14. The word unchanging and unchanged
15. Person assuming and natures assumed
16. Multiple incarnations: necessity and suitability
17. The dealings of God with unfallen creatures
Part V. Eschatology:
18. The final state
19. The arrival of the end.
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