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Astrotheology’s contribution to public theology: From the extraterrestrial intelligence myth to astroethics


Ted Peters

Abstract

Public theology is conceived in the church, reflected on critically in the academy and addressed to the world for the sake of the world. The  development of a theology of nature is included in the public theologian’s list of tasks of nature that is scripturally based and heavily informed by  the natural sciences. Astrotheology is one product. Astrotheology engages astrobiology and other space sciences, firstly, by critically exposing the  extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI) myth at the heart of science and secondly, by partnering in thinking through public policy proposals with  astroethicists.


Contribution: The HTS collection on ‘Theology and Nature’ sparks theological discussion both within and beyond the church. By developing the  fields of astrotheology and astroethics, this article contributes to a ‘Theology of Nature’ as an exercise in Public Theology. 


Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 2072-8050
print ISSN: 0259-9422