WHEN THEOLOGY MEETS ALIENS

Stefano Visintin, priest, Pontificio Ateneo Sant’Anselmo, Roma in dialogue with Lorenzo Spina, researcher, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica, Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova

What if tomorrow we discovered that we are not alone in the universe? A global survey reveals that the vast majority of believers across various religions do not fear that the discovery of intelligent extraterrestrial life could compromise their faith. For almost all religious traditions, the existence of aliens would merely represent an extension of the greatness of creation, without altering their core principles. Nevertheless, for the Judeo-Christian tradition, complex theological questions remain open concerning the concepts of creation, revelation, and redemption on other planets.