Planetary Science Institute Senior Scientist and Senior Education and Communication Specialist Grace Wolf-Chase wrote a short response to Andrew Davison’s new book Astrobiology and Christian Doctrine: Exploring the Implications of Life in the Universe for the Taylor & Francis Journal, Theology & Science.
“This book is an excellent contribution to creative mutual interaction between science and Christian theology,” said Wolf-Chase, who is also a Lutheran Christian, in her response. However, she thinks traditional theology doesn’t emphasize human responsibility enough, with consequences for life on other planets and life on Earth.
One of her critiques of the book centered around the fact that traditional theology devalues non-human life on Earth and, by extent, life on other planets. This poses a problem for humans as well, in terms of environmental stability.
“Although Davison acknowledges that the future habitability of Earth lies in our hands, I see no real theological motivation to work toward mitigating the effects of our mismanagement of the Earth, when ‘ … God would at some stage … interrupt and call time on the proceedings.’” Wolf-Chase says in her response.
She also questions Davison’s hierarchical thinking in which he exalts humans for our capacity to reason.
“I see the hierarchical thinking as a slippery slope,” Wolf-Chase says. “Infants or people with certain neurological conditions are not as intelligent in some litmus tests of intelligence as adult primates, for example. If the focus shifts from this kind of hierarchical thinking to relational thinking that emphasizes love and relationships, we would find ourselves in a more humane and sustainable world.”
She also provides a potential answer to Davison’s suggestion that Christian theology may require a shift in its approach to “the end.”
“In traditional Christian thought and in this book, it’s all on God to transform our universe at the end,” Wolf-Chase says. “Which begs the question: Do we have a role to play in that transformation? Is there any meaningful role for humans as co-creators in transforming the universe? Furthermore, if there’s something beyond this life, for it to be meaningful, there has to be some sense of continuity.”
She applies an idea in physics called a phase transition to how theologians might frame a meaningful end. When water undergoes a phase transition from solid, to liquid, to gas, it has different properties, but it’s still made up of water molecules, so there’s a level of continuity.
She believes that Christianity can ultimately “survive” the discovery of life elsewhere in the universe, but is unsure whether life on Earth can “survive certain manifestations of ‘Christianity.’”
