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94 results

Page 1 of 5

Astrobiology and Christian Doctrine
  • Exploring the Implications of Life in the Universe
  • Andrew Davison
  • Published online:
    27 July 2023
    Print publication:
    06 July 2023
  • 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.

  • Introduction

  • Andrew Davison, University of Cambridge
  • Book:
    Astrobiology and Christian Doctrine
    Published online:
    27 July 2023
    Print publication:
    06 July 2023, pp 1-16

  • Summary

    Christian theology has a long history of thinking about life beyond Earth, but it needs to be expanded. Theologians need to break fresh ground by looking at historical material that does not directly address this topic.

  • 3 - Life

  • from Part I - Creation
  • Andrew Davison, University of Cambridge
  • Book:
    Astrobiology and Christian Doctrine
    Published online:
    27 July 2023
    Print publication:
    06 July 2023, pp 61-74

  • Summary

    Discussion of life beyond Earth invites us to think about the nature of life itself. This topic has been relatively under-considered within Christian theology. Some of the most important resources are brought together and discussed.

  • 9 - Uniqueness, Convergence, and Embodied Cognition

  • from Part III - Imago Dei and Uniqueness
  • Andrew Davison, University of Cambridge
  • Book:
    Astrobiology and Christian Doctrine
    Published online:
    27 July 2023
    Print publication:
    06 July 2023, pp 169-186

  • Summary

    Human beings may be more or less different from any another rational life in the universe, on the basis of whether life elsewhere has converged to similar evolutionary solutions. This chapter also considers the contention, developed from Thomas Aquinas, that rational animals everywhere belong to one overarching shared category.

  • 5 - Revelation

  • from Part II - Revelation and Theological Knowledge
  • Andrew Davison, University of Cambridge
  • Book:
    Astrobiology and Christian Doctrine
    Published online:
    27 July 2023
    Print publication:
    06 July 2023, pp 99-110

  • Summary

    Thinking about life beyond Earth offers a good occasion to think about what the scriptures are thought to be for, and therefore what they do and do not contain, and why.

  • 12 - Multiple Incarnations

  • from Part IV - Christology, Salvation, and Grace
  • Andrew Davison, University of Cambridge
  • Book:
    Astrobiology and Christian Doctrine
    Published online:
    27 July 2023
    Print publication:
    06 July 2023, pp 225-244

  • Summary

    The idea that there might be more than one Incarnation was largely rejected until the twentieth century, but it has recently become one of the central topics in thinking about life beyond Earth from a Christian perspective.

  • 16 - Multiple Incarnations

  • from Part IV - Christology, Salvation, and Grace
  • Andrew Davison, University of Cambridge
  • Book:
    Astrobiology and Christian Doctrine
    Published online:
    27 July 2023
    Print publication:
    06 July 2023, pp 297-316

  • Summary

    Some writers have addressed the idea of multiple Incarnations in terms of whether it is necessary for the achievement of divine purposes. This chapter argues that ‘suitability’ is a better category than ‘necessity’, and that consideration of suitability points in the direction of accepting the idea of more than one Incarnation.

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