Science, Religion, and the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

by David Wilkinson

If the discovery of life elsewhere in the universe is just around the corner, what would be the consequences for religion? Would it represent another major conflict between science and religion, even leading to the death of faith? Some would suggest that the discovery of any suggestion of extraterrestrial life would have a greater impact than even the Copernican and Darwinian revolutions.

It is now over 50 years since the first modern scientific papers were published on the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI). Yet the religious implications of this search and possible discovery have never been systematically addressed in the scientific or theological arena. SETI is now entering its most important era of scientific development. New observation techniques are leading to the discovery of extra-solar planets daily, and the Kepler mission has already collected over 1000 planetary candidates. This deluge of data is transforming the scientific and popular view of the existence of extraterrestrial intelligence. Earth-like planets outside of our solar system can now be identified and searched for signs of life.

Now is a crucial time to assess the scientific and theological questions behind this search. This book sets out the scientific arguments undergirding SETI, with particular attention to the uncertainties in arguments and the strength of the data already assembled. It assesses not only the discovery of planets but other areas such as the Fermi paradox, the origin and evolution of intelligent life, and current SETI strategies. In all of this it reflects on how these questions are shaped by history and pop culture and their relationship with religion, especially Christian theology. It is argued that theologians need to take seriously SETI and to examine some central doctrines such as creation, incarnation, revelation, and salvation in the light of the possibility of extraterrestrial life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Religion

240 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2013

About the author

David Adam Wilkinson is a British Methodist minister, theologian, astrophysicist and academic. He was the Principal of St John's College, Durham (2006-2023), and is a professor in the Department of Theology and Religion at Durham University. He remains at St John's College, having been appointed, in September 2023, Director of Equipping Christian Leadership in an Age of Science (ECLAS), an international project based at St John’s College. He is the author of several books on the relationship between science and religion, and a regular contributor to Thought for the Day on BBC Radio 4. He has a PhD in astrophysics and is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Reviews

[Allan Bevere · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Wilkinson brings his keen mind to questions raised for theology and science and the relationship between the two on the possibility of extraterrestrial intelligence. In this carefully argued treatise, the writer explores the possibility of intelligent life outside of our world and what it might mean for the viability of the Christian faith.

For those of us who ponder such things, Wilkinson is a good conversation partner. It is a must-read.

[Micah Sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book says almost everything that needs to be said in the topic. Further, the author having a PhD in both relevant disciplines is eminently qualified to write a non-crazy person book on Aliens and Christianity. It is in almost every way the book that needed to be written before we have discovered ETI in order to serve the Church in a new era human experience. A new light will be shown own our dearest doctrines at the discovery of ETI but nothing substantive need be damaged. Indeed, the glories of Christ can be sung all the more. I especially appreciated the appropriate hope he places in the New Creation.
While the chapters on science were interesting and indeed necessary they did little to contribute or innovate in the conversation. The real content the book lies in chapters 8-11. On multiple occasions, he made a point I loved and wholeheartedly agreed with: even if ETI can be used to combat classic arguments for the existence of God as some prominent atheists claim (itself a doubtful claim) really matters not in the end because unbeknownst to them the real basis for Christian belief is not a generic philosophical argument but the real, historical events of the life, death, and especially resurrection of Jesus Christ. He throughout warns against erring too far on either side of the SETI discussion: certainty of existence in the negative or positive, the angelic perfection nor diabolical levels of among ETI. He cautiously makes suggestions but no proclamations of the relationship of ETI to the Image of God and the Cross.
I can think of three areas still that he leaves virtually untouched but could lead to rich exploration. First, angelic beings as an analog for ETI. For this I do not mean the ridiculous notion that angels are actually aliens nor vice versa, but rather that angelic beings offer a crucial second data point (or a third consider both the angels and demons) on how God deals with non-human intelligence. This is obviously qualified by the fundamental differences in nature between aliens and angels. Second, the use of the categories of particularity and universality, especially as they exist within Biblical Theology. I am pleased he made use of them to some extent on pages 167-168 but he leaves much to still be examined. I would like to see the Jew-Gentile relationship in regards to election and salvation as an analog to a human-alien relationship. I think this is the fruitful path forward in elucidating the possible logic of extraterrestrial redemption. Third, while he touches on some sci-if novels I think more extensive work could be on religion, Christianity especially, and missions in the context of ETI. He makes the most use of this in the final chapter referring Lewis, Blish, and Russell but not Card, Faber, and even Clarke.
Wilkinson does a great service to both the academy and the Church with this book. I am very glad it exists as a resource for the possibility of a First Contact. I’d love to see this and other similar works read more extensively in the Church.

[Bridget Jeffries · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating volume. I picked it up after reading the first two books in *The Three Body Problem* trilogy. I was interested in the Fermi Paradox and how this applies to arguments for or against the existence of God, and this book provided a lot of food for thought. Wilkinson is very irenic in tone and spirit, not combative. He tries to examine questions from a variety of angles and give equivalent consideration to opposing views. He also provides some fascinating history on the question of faith and extraterrestrial life. It turns out Christians have been pondering the subject for a VERY long time.

Wilkinson's tone is an optimistic one. He doesn't think the Fermi paradox is a good one, though he doubts we'll ever find *intelligent* extraterrestrial life. He doesn't think ET life poses a threat to Christian theology (and cites several fascinating studies wherein believers consistently say that the discovery of ET life would not change their faith, while atheists/unbelievers say that the discover of ET life *would* pose a threat to Christian faith).

At first I was going to give this book 4 stars, saying that the final theology chapters were weak, but they actually get better, and he sticks the ending really beautifully. In pondering what we might someday learn from ET civilizations, there is plenty of room for reflection on what we may now learn from one another.

[Anthony Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not entirely what I expected, the first part is a laymen’s guide to the universe and the 2nd part delves more into the relationship between SETI and religion, well Christianity really. There are lot of references to other people’s work and then some commentary by the author. It is a short book so I stuck with it. I did not come away with any new truths or feel to need to think deeper about the subject.

[Chris Rousell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Admittedly my view of this book is clouded somewhat by knowing the author and very much appreciating his contributions to the intersection of science and faith, but this work is indeed a Tour de Force. Skirting the line between writing that is readable without detracting from scholarly input perfectly, Wilkinson's book should be the first place one should turn when ruminating on the implications of SETI on both science and faith.

[Zackary Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my simultaneously favorite and least favorite films from childhood is CONTACT. I loved watching Ellie Arroway's thrill of discovery, the challenge of decoding a message, and pondering the deeper questions of SETI and faith. I also hated the way that all Christians besides Palmer Joss were portrayed, as I had recently become one. Equally, though, I've come to be irritated when fellow Christians dismiss the entire film for how some parts of it malign us. There's a lot of incredible insight in it, as well as an olive branch to believers. Ever since watching that film, though, it's like there's a inherent conflict set up between SETI and the Church, and you have to choose one side or the other.

I don't think it has to be that way, and this book did an excellent job analyzing these issues. First and foremost would be the matter of, "If aliens are discovered, won't all religions collapse?" I'm sure there are some who would want that to happen, but the fact is, alien life is a concept that has long been discussed by Christian theologians. This book has presents tons of research on just that. Certainly, there are some conclusions and assumptions within SETI that are incompatible with Christianity, but the author points out that "Christian theology demystified nature, and led to the experimental method" (p 24). He further talks about how God freely created the universe according to His own will. Therefore the process of empirical discovery, wherever it leads, should never worry the Christian. Our theology, in fact, can "make a contribution to the wider perspective on SETI" (p 162). And SETI, in turn, "is of value to Christian theology because it has the possibility of showing more of the greater glory of God" (p 180).

I highly recommend this book, whichever camp you consider yourself to be in.