What is Space Theology?

For the fundamental basis of Space Theology see God of Israel's outrageous claims

Why bother?
Shouldn't the theologians just give up on messing with the purest of sciences that astronomy represents? They have apologized to Galileo Galilei, haven't they - although some four hundred years later.

First of all, it happens to be true. In the beginning God has created heavens and earth. Science should not ignore what is true.

The truth of Creation is not a scientific observation, deduction or induction from what can be seen. Rather, it is based on an outrageous claim by the God of Israel, who is the only real God there is, that He has made everything, including you and me. The distinction between scientific observation and knowledge based on revelation is a vast subject for theological study.

God's outrageous claim is made in the Jewish scriptures and there is a right way to go about them and a wrong way. Hermeneutical analysis between the right and wrong way of understanding revelation and what the Scriptures are and are not is fundamentally important in today's confused Christian world.

Sun, moon and stars play a significant role in religions, not only in the Judeo-Christian heritage. Geocentric view of the world is natural for humanity before the arrival of better tools of observation. Calendars, yearly feasts of nature and religion, are intimately tied to the movement of stellar objects and astrology was the respected science of yesteryear. Theological study of all this is going on and belongs to the field of Astrotheology, as well.

Men and women of science, astronomers, cosmologists, theoretical physicists and others make themselves outrageous claims about religious matters. The theological statements from Albert Einstein to Carl Sagan, from Sir Isaac Newton to Sir Fred Hoyle, not to forget Stephan Hawking, require theological scrutiny.

Last but not least, it is a duty and privilege of all theologians to get better acquainted with modern scientific research of the heavens and earth made by God. Duty because not everyone has the possibility or time to study these things - and it takes hard work to gain even elementary understanding of what is going on in the fast developing fields of space research - and theologians should be guides and teachers assisting all to deal with the implications of ongoing research.


Science without Religion is lame - Religion without Science is blind
Albert Einstein



Hidden treasures in Christ
Uncritical and anti-scientific attitudes and opinions are unfortunately often considered signs of Christian piety and true faith. But how can anyone be a true believer without loving truth?

In contrast to blind faith on any religious authority Apostle Paul gives a challenging and wonderful view of true wisdom and knowledge in the Letter to the Colossians that was written in the early fifties A.D. Since the treasures of knowledge are all hidden in Christ we obviously need to search for them with all the means at our disposal!

My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.
Colossans 2:1-4 NIV

The One of Israel
The Jewish confession of faith Shema originally consisted of only one verse of the Bible

שׁמע ישׂראל יהוה אלהינו יהוה אחד׃

Shema, Israel, Adonai Elohim, Adonai ehad Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one.
Deut 6:4

No other branch of human knowledge have underlined the essential oneness of everything in the Universe as Astronomy and Cosmology - everything is contained in the one point from which all began.

And now these same sciences are busy smashing the Universe into an infinite Multiverse - what in Astrotheology could be more interesting and challenging then that!

People in Biblical time surely knew nothing of microwave scanning but there is an interesting expression telling about multi-layered reality when King Solomon talks about his plans to build a temple in Jerusalem for the God of Israel.

And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods. But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?
2 Chronicles 2:5-6

Terminology
 Space Theology is used here instead of Stellar Theology because theologians are supposed to be humble.

Astrotheology is better as it follows other astro- names, such as Astrobiology, Astrophysics, Astronomy and so on. Astrobiology is genuine Biology with all that it involves - it just focuses on researching life in the entire Solar system and beyond. Similarly, Astrophysics is Physics in grandiose scale that still cannot work without studying the microcosm in the tiniest structures of atoms. Similarly, Astrotheology is Theology in every sense of the word - it just focuses on researching the impact of scientific and other knowledge about space on Theology.

(There is a problem with this word that it is used in English language also for in the sense of Astral theology which has absolutely nothing to do with Theology.)


Definition
Astronomers and Cosmologists study the Universe using the Scientific methods available in penetrating ever deeper to the secrets of Nature. They may ask "what does this mean to us humans" also in terms of Philosophy and Religion and thus step into the realm of Astrotheology.  For as the term suggestrs, Astrotheology deals with past and present beliefs and knowledge about the Universe and what it means to us humans from a Theological point of view.

A genuinely Theological point of view is possible only in the presence of the Word of God through whom everything has been made.


Examples of Space Theology
A Hebrew poet over 2500 years ago wrote in a very deep and touching way theological thoughts that we can still fully share with him even the world view has changed so much from those days

The heavens declare the glory of God the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world. 
Psalm 19:1-4

J. L. Heilbron Harvard University Press 2001

Professor J.L. Heilbron^myBlogwould probably not call himself a theologian but rather an astronomer and historian. His books on Galileo Galilei, Catholic Church and the Sun are nevertheless outstanding examples of what Astrotheology (aka Space Theology) is also all about. Theology and Science of Religion meet here because of the subject of his research including detailed knowledge of both modern and historical Astronomy and an understanding of the ways religious and scientific humans relate to the heavenly objects and use their movements for calendars.

Cosmologists Carl Sagan ^myBlog may be called the High Priest of New Atheism. But his famous statement "We are all made of star stuff" is a resounding truth that brings the stars and the nuclear reactions in distant supernova explosions so much closer to us uniting us physically with the entire cosmos. Sagan's simple yet powerful words have deep Theological resonance, as well, bringing amazing new dimensions to the words "from dust to dust"..

Sir Fred Hoyle ^myBlog also defined himself as an Atheist. Yet, the Anthropic principle that led to deep  understanding of carbon production in the stars has important theological connotations.

Search for extraterrestrial intelligence SETI originally suggested by Sagan requires the scientific methods and techniques developed in radio-astronomy. This research obviously is also of utmost theological interest. Astrotheology also studies the various ways in which ideas about extraterrestrial life ET are expressed in popular modern ^myBlog and in ancient ^myBlog cultures.

Astrophysicist Stephen Hawking and his friend theoretical physicist Leonard Miodinow have asked "Is God necessary for the Cosmos to exist?"  This is a theological and philosophical question that does not belong to the field of hard sciences such as Astrophysics. Or does it?

Herrman J. Oberth ^myBlog, the father of modern rocket science, was quite a theologian and thinker besides helping humanity to reach the Moon. In a very deep manner Oberth emphasized the essential importance of teaching and learning. With the experiences of World War II Germany in fresh memory he was asking does humanity have any moral right to conquer space (Oberth's answer was a resounding yes, space exploration and travel is not only human right but a sacred obligation).



Astrobiology
Astrobiology searches for extraterrestrial life in Solar system, the Milky Way and in deep space. It involves also the study of the origins of life on planet Earth such as the study of the Ediacaran and Cambrian periods ^myBlog and even much earlier living things on our planet as well as theories about the origins of life here and out there (f.ex. Hoyle's pansperm).

But let us be honest with ourselves - the furious nuclear soup of Big Bang and the enormous astrophysical powers in early Universe are extremely hostile to life. Today we do not know what is life or from where it originally came to the Universe  - all we know for sure that planet Earth is full of life. And we suspect today that entire Universe is also full of life.

The meaning to humans of the search for life is one of the more important frontiers of Astrotheology, as well with so many ethical and moral underpinnings.

The Bible tells in mythological words that the path to the Tree of Life and eternal life is violently blocked for the children of Adam and Eve.

After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.
Genesis 3:24 NIV

However, this Biblical statement has not and does not prevent us humans from searching answers to the ultimate question - the origins of life and the cycle of birth, growth, getting old and death, stages of mass extinction and radiation of life on our planet and in the Cosmos.



Invitation
"It's my party, and I'll cry if I want to..."

This blog tries to present a proper mix of religion and science by taking both faith and reality seriously and by being critical.

Together we can achieve a more balanced and richer view then me alone.

So if you disagree with the methodology underlying these posts let me hear from you.

And let me hear of you if you do agree with the basic approach and/or if you have yourself write on Astrotheology.

Most importantly, let us all search for the hidden treasures in Christ - it takes quite an effort and plenty of prayer to find the beautiful jewels of knowledge and wisdom that are hidden in Jesus Christ through whom God of Israel has created everything. Everything - including me and you who are reading this text.

For the entire Universe even with everything it contains is a lonely place without Him.