God and Astrobiology

The perception that life on other planets would be, problematic for religious people, and indeed for religion itself, is a longstanding one. It is partially rooted in fact: astrobiological speculations have, on occasion, engendered religious controversies. Historical discussions are often far more nuanced, and less one-sided than often imagined. 'Exotheology' is a lively subdiscipline within several religious traditions. This Element offers a wide-ranging introduction to the multifarious 'problems of God and astrobiology', real and perceived. It covers major topics within Christian theology (e.g., creation, incarnation, salvation), as well as issues specific to Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism. It also discusses the very different perspectives offered by other (non)religious traditions, including Mormonism, various 'alien-positive' new religious movements (e.g., Heaven's Gate, Scientology, Raëlism), and the 'Ancient Astronaunt' theories popularized by Erich von D¿niken and the History channel's Ancient Aliens.

List of contents

1. 'Irreconcileable inconsistencies'? Introducing the problems; 2. What do we mean by Astrobiology?; 3. Christianity: incarnation, redemption, and soteriology; 4. Terrestrial religions and extraterrestrial life; 5. The problem of god in a lonely universe; 6. Atheism and (ancient); References.

Summary

This Element offers a wide-ranging introduction to the multifarious 'problems of God and astrobiology', real and perceived. It covers major topics within Christian theology (e.g., creation, incarnation, salvation), as well as issues specific to Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism.

Product details

• Authors: Stephen Bullivant, Stephen (St Mary’s University) Bullivant, Stephen (St Mary’s University) Bullivant, Bullivant Stephen, Richard Playford, Richard (Leeds Trinity University) Playford, Richard (Leeds Trinity University) Bulli Playford, Janet Siefert, Janet (Rice University) Siefert
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 22.02.2024
• EAN: 9781009478656
• ISBN: 978-1-0-0947865-6
• No. of pages: 74
• Series: Elements in the Problems of God
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Religion/theology > Christianity; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Religion: general, reference works; Islam, RELIGION / Philosophy, Christianity, Judaism, Nature & existence of God, UFOs and extraterrestrial beings, UFOs & extraterrestrial beings, Agnosticism and atheism, Agnosticism & Atheism, Other non-Christian religions, Nature and existence of God and of the Divine, Other religions and spiritual beliefs