The Possibility of the Extraterrestrial Incarnation of the Logos
Abstract
What would be the consequences of finding intelligent extraterrestrial lifeforms in the context of the incarnation of Christ? If these creatures are sinners, is the earthly death of Jesus enough for their salvation, or does the Redeemer have to take the likeness of their species and die for them, too? What is the goal of incarnation after all? In this paper, the author seeks an answer for these questions. And since there exist reasonable arguments for both a single and multiple incarnations, the author aims to present the theological foundations of these views. After these considerations, the paper focuses on a question that has very little literature: is the human species the only intelligent life form on Earth, or are there any other species on this planet in need of redemption?
References
Burgess, Andrew J. 1976. Earth Chauvinism. Christian Century, 93. évf. 1098–1102. o.
Crowe, Michael J. 2008. The Extraterrestrial Life Debate. Antiquity to 1915. University of Notre Dame Press, Notre Dame.
Delio, Ilia 2007a. Christ and extraterrestrial life. Theology and Science, 5. évf. 3. sz. 249–265. o. https://doi.org/10.1080/14746700701622008
Delio, Ilia 2007b. Cosmic Christology in the Thought of Zachary Hayes. Franciscan Studies, 65. évf. 1. sz. 107–120. o. https://doi.org/10.1353/frc.2007.0000
McMullin, Ernan 2000. Life and Intelligence Far from Earth. Formulating Theological Issues. In: Dick, Steven J.: Many Worlds – The New Universe, Extraterrestrial Life, and the Theological Implications. Templeton Foundation Press, Philadelhia–London.
Heiser, James D. 2006. A Shining City on a Higher Hill. Repristination Press, Malone.
Kress, Robert 1982. A Rahner Handbook. John Knox Press, Atlanta.
Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell: Why We Should NOT Look For Aliens. YouTube, 2021. december 14. https://youtu.be/xAUJYP8tnRE.
Losch, Andreas – Krebs, Andreas 2015. Implications for the Discovery of Extraterrestrial Life. A Theological Approach. Theology and Science, 13. évf. 2. sz. 230–244. o. https://doi.org/10.1080/14746700.2015.1023522
Losch, Andreas 2016. Kant’s wager. Kant’s strong belief in extra-terrestrial life, the history of this question and its challenge for theology today. International Journal of Astrobiology, 15. évf. 4. sz. 261–270. o. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1473550416000112
Lossky, Vladimir 1978. Orthodox Theology. St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, Crestwood.
McGrath, Alister E. 1995. Bevezetés a keresztény teológiába. Ford. Zsengellér József. Osiris, Budapest.
O’Meara, Thomas F. 1999. Christian Theology and Extraterrestrial Intelligent Life. Theological Studies, 60. évf. 3–30. o. https://doi.org/10.1177/004056399906000101
O’Meara, Thomas F. 2012. Vast Universe – Extraterrestrials and Christian Revelation. Liturgical Press, Collegeville.
Pannenberg, Wolfhart 2006. Rendszeres teológia. 1–2. köt. Ford. Görföl Tibor. Osiris, Budapest. ISBN 9633898471
Peters, Ted 2009. Astrotheology and the ETI Myth. Theology and Science, 7. évf. 1. sz. 3–29. o. https://doi.org/10.1080/14746700802617097
Peters, Ted 2011. The implications of the discovery of extra-terrestrial life for religion. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A, 369. évf. 644–655. o. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2010.0234
Peters, Ted 2016. Astrobiology and Astrochristology. Zygon, 51. évf. 2. sz. 480–496. o. https://doi.org/10.1111/zygo.12249
Polkinghorne, John C. 2005. Science and Providence. Templeton Foundation Press, Philadelphia–London.
Polkinghorne, John C. 1996. God’s still in his heaven. The Observer, augusztus 11. 20. o.
Precht, Richard David 2012. Ki vagyok én? És ha igen, akkor hány? Ford. Bozai Ágota. HVG Könyvek, Budapest.
Thomas, Sean 2024. Have we just discovered aliens? The Spectator, január 8. https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/have-we-just-discovered-aliens/. (Megtekintés: 2024. június 10.)
Tillich, Paul 2002. Rendszeres teológia. Ford. Szabó István. Osiris, Budapest.
Webb, Stephen 2002. If the Universe Is Teeming with Aliens… Where Is Everybody? – Fifty Solutions to the Fermi Paradox and the Problem of Extraterrestrial Life. Copernicus Books, New York.
Wilkinson, David 2013. Science, Religion, and the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. Oxford University Press, Oxford. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199680207.001.0001
Zubek, T. J. 1961. Theological Questions on Space Creatures. The American Ecclesiastical Review, 145. évf. 6. sz. 393–399. o.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
