Book Review: Christianity and Extraterrestrials? A Catholic Perspective by Marie I. George

Christianity and Extraterrestrials? A Catholic Perspective by Marie I. George

Many people consider the likelihood of extra-terrestrial intelligence (ETI) as a sure sign that most religions on earth, especially Christianity, will become irrelevant. The Judeo-Christian tradition makes humans the central figures in history and special darlings of God. If other intelligent species exist on other planets, surely the centrality of humanity is farcical. But is that really the case?

Marie George argues from a Catholic point of view on ETI existence, but is fully open to various possibilities. She argues that Christian belief can include the existence of other intelligent, material beings in the universe. She looks at both Scriptures and Roman Catholic teaching to reach her conclusions. Certainly these sources say that mankind is special, but nothing inherently contradicts the possibility of other intelligent beings in the universe.

While she sees no dire consequences for Christianity, she does argue that ETI is unlikely given the Catholic understanding of reality. She considers various possible ETI scenarios, including both fallen and unfallen races from other worlds, and the possibility that the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity could have incarnated more than once. She proceeds quite logically and thoroughly through many scenarios and gives highly plausible assessments.

She also examines the various scientific arguments in favor of ETI existence and their various weaknesses. The most striking for me was her argument against the idea that the universe is so huge that it seems impossible that there is not another inhabited planet with intelligent life somewhere. She compares it to a mushroom generating thousands of spores only to make one or two other mushrooms. Nothing about nature says it is superabundant in producing life. Also, the fragile process of evolving intelligent life makes it seem very unlikely that it could happen in other environments without just the right conditions. To argue from one instance and say that it could easily happen elsewhere is the worst form of induction.

She has a section speculating on what the Church might say on ETI existence. Much like the Church's dealing with evolution, teachings are more likely to point out what the faithful need to believe (e.g. God intervened especially in the creation of the first parents) and leaving the mechanics of how things happened to other fields of human investigation (so evolution is perfectly acceptable given certain key points).

The book is technical and uses extended arguments, which can be challenging in this day and age when people want McNuggets of televisual information. The issue is very complicated, though, so a more in-depth understand is surely needed.

Recommended.