Astrobiology and Christian Doctrine

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.