Astrotheology is a discipline combining the methods and domains of

space science Space is a three-dimensional continuum containing positions and directions. In classical physics, physical space is often conceived in three linear dimensions. Modern physicists usually consider it, with time, to be part of a boundless ...

with

systematic theology Systematic theology, or systematics, is a discipline of Christian theology that formulates an orderly, rational, and coherent account of the doctrines of the Christian faith. It addresses issues such as what the Bible teaches about certain topics ...

. Astrotheology concerns the theological, cultural, and ethical implications of space exploration and identifies the elements of myth and religion in space science. Astrotheology is a "multi-disciplinary branch of theology that takes up the relationship between God and the creation, especially the creation of the universe over time." Ted F. Peters envisions astrotheology as "the meeting point between theologians and astrobiologists." A.C. Pieterse describes the field as a "prophetic wormhole that relates

space-time In physics, spacetime, also called the space-time continuum, is a mathematical model that fuses the three-dimensional space, three dimensions of space and the one dimension of time into a single four-dimensional continuum (measurement), continu ...

to eschatological transformation", a theology of nature rather than a

natural theology Natural theology is a type of theology that seeks to provide arguments for theological topics, such as the existence of a deity, based on human reason. It is distinguished from revealed theology, which is based on supernatural sources such as ...

History

A.. C. Pieterse traces the "seeds" of astrotheology to the works of Greek philosophers such as

Leucippus Leucippus (; , ''Leúkippos''; ) was a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher. He is traditionally credited as the founder of atomism, which he developed with his student Democritus. Leucippus divided the world into two entities: atoms, indivisible ...

Democritus Democritus (, ; , ''Dēmókritos'', meaning "chosen of the people"; – ) was an Ancient Greece, Ancient Greek Pre-Socratic philosophy, pre-Socratic philosopher from Abdera, Thrace, Abdera, primarily remembered today for his formulation of an ...

Epicurus Epicurus (, ; ; 341–270 BC) was an Greek philosophy, ancient Greek philosopher who founded Epicureanism, a highly influential school of philosophy that asserted that philosophy's purpose is to attain as well as to help others attain tranqui ...

, and

Lucretius Titus Lucretius Carus ( ; ; – October 15, 55 BC) was a Roman poet and philosopher. His only known work is the philosophical poem '' De rerum natura'', a didactic work about the tenets and philosophy of Epicureanism, which usually is t ...

who "held that hecosmos is infinitely large, with an infinite number of patterns that could sustain intelligence." The theologian Ted Peters similarly identifies ancient debates on the plurality of worlds () as a starting point for astrotheology, tracing it from

Aristotle Aristotle (; 384–322 BC) was an Ancient Greek philosophy, Ancient Greek philosopher and polymath. His writings cover a broad range of subjects spanning the natural sciences, philosophy, linguistics, economics, politics, psychology, a ...

through to

Thomas Aquinas Thomas Aquinas ( ; ; – 7 March 1274) was an Italian Dominican Order, Dominican friar and Catholic priest, priest, the foremost Scholasticism, Scholastic thinker, as well as one of the most influential philosophers and theologians in the W ...

Jean Buridan Jean Buridan (; ; Latin: ''Johannes Buridanus''; – ) was an influential 14thcentury French scholastic philosopher. Buridan taught in the faculty of arts at the University of Paris for his entire career and focused in particular on logic and ...

, and

William of Ockham William of Ockham or Occam ( ; ; 9/10 April 1347) was an English Franciscan friar, scholastic philosopher, apologist, and theologian, who was born in Ockham, a small village in Surrey. He is considered to be one of the major figures of medie ...

. The word , hyphenated as , first appears in a tract by the Anglican clergyman William Derham. For Derham, the task of this discipline was to "glorify God by stressing the immensity and magnificence of God's creation." Derham advocated a chronology of space science broken into three eras, the Ptolemaic, the Copernican, and post-Copernican. In 1855,

Edward Higginson Edward Higginson (9 January 1807 – 12 February 1880) was an English Unitarian minister and author. Life He was born at Heaton Norris, Lancashire, on 9 January 1807. His father, Edward Higginson the elder (b. 20 March 1781, d. 24 May 1832), wa ...

published a series of four lectures, separating astrotheology into an earlier Jewish period and a modern period, the former regarding the mythology of ancient

Israelite Israelites were a Hebrew language, Hebrew-speaking ethnoreligious group, consisting of tribes that lived in Canaan during the Iron Age. Modern scholarship describes the Israelites as emerging from indigenous Canaanites, Canaanite populations ...

s and the latter encompassing "modern philosophical views of the solar system and the fixed stars."Edward Higginson, 1855. ''Astro-Theology; Or, the Religion of Astronomy: Four Lectures, in Reference to the Controversy On the "Plurality of Worlds," As Lately Sustained Between Sir David Brewster and an Essayist''

Relationship to other fields

For Peters, astrotheology is "at minimum, a theology of space science". It connects with

astrobiology Astrobiology (also xenology or exobiology) is a scientific field within the List of life sciences, life and environmental sciences that studies the abiogenesis, origins, Protocell, early evolution, distribution, and future of life in the univ ...

, challenging the concept of extraterrestrial intelligence and engaging in discussions about the extent of God's creation. Astrotheology explores the spiritual dimensions inspired by

space sciences The following outline is provided as an overview and topical guide to space science: Space science – field that encompasses all of the scientific disciplines that involve space exploration and study natural phenomena and physical bodie ...

, and uncovers hidden religious meanings in secular experiences. Astrotheology collaborates with astroethicists to propose

public policies Public policy is an institutionalized proposal or a decided set of elements like laws, regulations, guidelines, and actions to solve or address relevant and problematic social issues, guided by a conception and often implemented by programs. T ...

related to scientific space exploration and ethical considerations. These policies may include guidelines for responsible space exploration, regulations for the protection of celestial bodies and ecosystems, protocols for interactions with potential

extraterrestrial life Extraterrestrial life, or alien life (colloquially, aliens), is life that originates from another world rather than on Earth. No extraterrestrial life has yet been scientifically conclusively detected. Such life might range from simple forms ...

, and frameworks for international cooperation in space exploration efforts.

Notes

Works cited

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History

Relationship to other fields

See also

Notes

Works cited

Further reading