j Jamie Boulding PhD Candidate Corpus Christi College February 20 2016 2 The Search for Extraterrestrial Life2016 We havent actually made direct contact with aliens yet When we do Ill let you know ID: 477416
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Astrobiology, Theology, and Society
jJamie Boulding, PhD Candidate, Corpus Christi CollegeFebruary 20, 2016Slide2
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The Search for Extraterrestrial Life—2016
“We haven’t actually made direct contact with aliens
yet. When we do, I’ll let you know.”-
President Barack Obama, February 12, 2016Slide3
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The Search for Extraterrestrial Life—2015
“I think we may have been visited already.
We don't know for sure.”
- Hillary Clinton, December 2015Slide4
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September 2015—NASA Confirms Flowing Water on Mars
“It seems that the more we study Mars, the more we learn how life could be supported and where there are resources to support life in the
future.”
- Michael Meyer, head of NASA’s Mars Exploration ProgramSlide5
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Historical Perspectives—Nicholas of CusaRejected Aristotelian idea of spatially limited universe
Argued for a boundless universe whose
centre
can be found only in God (not Earth)
Assumed other planets with extraterrestrial life, including higher spiritual beings near the Sun and ‘lunatics’ on the Moon
Nicholas of
Cusa
(1401-1464)Slide6
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Historical Perspectives—Giordano BrunoBurned at the stake in 1600 for cosmic
pluarlism and other heresies
Like
Cusa
, argued for an infinite universe with other planets inhabited by intelligent beings
His vision of an infinity of worlds foreshadows ‘many worlds’ interpretation of quantum mechanics?
Giordano Bruno
(1548-1600)Slide7
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Historical Perspectives—John WilkinsBishop of Chester, founder of Royal Society
Suggested that intelligent beings in other worlds need not be fallen, but even if so, Christ could have died for them too
Based on apparent similarities between Earth and Moon, speculated that living beings would inhabit the Moon
John Wilkins
(1614-1672)Slide8
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Theological ImplicationsMultiple incarnations?
Yes: Paul Tillich, John
Polkinghorne
No: Wolfhart
Pannenberg, Arthur
Peacocke, Brian Hebblethwaite
Other questions – creation, sin, eschatology?
“If little green men on Mars need saving, then God will take little green
flesh.”- John Polkinghorne, former Cambridge professor of Mathematical Physics and Anglican priestSlide9
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The Search for Extraterrestrial Life—Three PathwaysAnalysis of our own solar system
Mars and other satellites (e.g. Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons)
Space-based telescopes
NASA’s Terrestrial Planet Finder
SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence)
Transmission of signals across interstellar distancesSlide10
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Christian Contributions to SETI and Society (1)Christian engagement should be constructive
and critical
Affirm importance and value of SETI...
…
while also examining and challenging its assumptions
“Salvation is the liberating gift, not of benevolent aliens, but of a preexistent, creating and redeeming God.”
-
J. A. HerrickSlide11
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Christian Contributions to SETI and Society (2)Christian engagement can help
expand the perspective of SETI
Introduction of wider religious, metaphysical, ethical dimensionsSlide12
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Christian Contributions to SETI and Society (3)Christians can help prepare public for extraterrestrial contact
Collaboration and cooperation with other faith traditions and scientists
“We assume that mathematics is universal and that extraterrestrials will understand it. Perhaps theology has a similar endemic truth. It may be that the best way to know is to ask others.”
-
Seth
ShostakSlide13
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Questions?