"Two possibilities exist: Either we are alone in the universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying." - Arthur C. Clarke

This quotation from Clarke comes to mind when considering the essay below by Physicist Lawrence Fagg, emeritus at Catholic University. Writing in response to an article by Paul Davies that discusses the theological implications of extraterrestrial intelligence, Fagg instead considers the theological import of our aloneness in the universe. Confronting the likelihood of failure to detect verifiable extraterrestrial signals, Fagg suggests that the characteristics of the universe that yield this likelihood may help us to understand God.

Lawrence Fagg received a B.S. in Military Engineering from the US Military Academy. After discharge he pursued a career in physics, obtaining two masters degrees, and then receiving a Ph.D from Johns Hopkins University. Some 28 years later he earned an M.A. in religion from George Washington University. Fagg has worked in the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) and at Catholic University. Fagg has published some 65 papers, two review monographs, and chapters in four edited books and is a Fellow of the American Physical Society. Fagg has been active in the science and religion dialogue since 1974. He has written three books: "Two Faces of Time", "The Becoming of Time: Integrating Physical and Religious Time", and "Electromagnetism and the Sacred: at the Frontier of Spirit and Matter", some 15 articles in journals and edited books, all on science and religion themes.

--Editor

=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-==-=

EXTRATERRESTRIAL INTELIGENCE AND THEOLOGY

Lawrence Fagg

Paul Davies, long a supporter of the Search Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), has written an engaging article on an aspect of the subject in the September issue of the Atlantic Monthly. He discussed some theological problems that the religions might face if an extraterrestrial intelligence were detected. He cited in particular the difficulty that Christianity could have interpreting such a discovery given its belief in Christ's resurrection.

In contrast, this article suggests considering the theological implications of the failure to detect verifiable extraterrestrial signals. This is clearly relevant because there are a number of compelling reasons why we have not seen such signals and indeed may never see them, at least not for a very long time.

First, we are fundamentally isolated by the light's finite speed of 186,000 miles per second. Another serious consideration is the "time overlap" problem. That is, consider the lifetime of our sun, an average star that has lived for about 4.5 billion years and is estimated to live roughly another 6 billion before it consumes all of its nuclear fuel. Perhaps another star in our galaxy was born a billion years earlier (or later) and hosted a planetary civilization.

Suppose that after this civilization achieved a technology comparable to ours today it lived another 900 years before becoming extinct due to any of a number of causes, such as nuclear holocaust, asteroid impact, disease, over-population, etc. Comparing the time scale of a billion years to 900 years is like comparing a year to 30 seconds.

Then there are the remarkable features of the earth and its place in the solar system that are uniquely favorable to life. Its orbit is essentially circular with a diameter that allows an appropriate life-supporting temperature range. The angle of its axis with respect to the axis of the orbital plane is stabilized by the motion of a moon of the appropriate mass, thus giving us the regularity of the seasons. Experts in the theory of planetary motion tell us that such a combination of these characteristics is a very rare phenomenon. The list of extraordinary circumstances fortunate for life goes on: from the existence and movement of tectonic plates giving us our supply of iron and other metals for our technology, to the timing of the appearance of water and oxygen, to the timing of global extinctions, etc. After the discovery of well over one hundred extra-solar planets, none approach the Earth's special properties.

While it is clear that we must respond to our innate wonder and continue the extraterrestrial search, it is also clear that the search may possibly reveal nothing. So, as a complement to Davies' essay, I share here some speculative thoughts on the implications of the latter outcome. If we are truly alone, then we may be the only means the universe has of being aware of itself. This realization brings with it an awesome responsibility, namely that for the self-consciousness of the universe, or at least that part of it with which we can communicate given the finiteness of our lives and the speed of light.

We can derive some theological reflections from this isolation through the use of analogy, which has been a tool for theologians for millennia. That is, the characteristics of the universe may help us through analogy to understand something about God. For example, the very oneness of our isolation is analogous to the Oneness of God, and in a sense beings us closer to God. Furthermore, the possibility that extraterrestrials may exist that are beyond our observation renders much of the universe unknowable. This is analogous to God never being completely knowable, reflecting the mystery of God's divine nature.

Also, I cannot help wondering if there is not a very distant harbinger of our utter aloneness. We now know that the universe is expanding at an accelerating rate so that in many billions of years even the closest galaxy, Andromeda, will fade from view, leaving the universe a vast distribution of non-communicating galactic islands. Is this analogous to some kind of far off divine whisper telling us of the profound nature of our lonely responsibility - to preserve consciousness and spirituality at all costs?

So it appears that we must pursue a balanced approach. On the one hand we must nourish our primal curiosity as to whether someone is out there, for not to look would be stifling a thirst for knowledge that will not die. On the other hand, while it is therefore important and understandable that we seek to contact an "other" somewhere in the universe, we may have to accept the possibility that the only one with which we can communicate is the transcendent Other, God.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
This discussion list, SOPHIA, is hosted by Metanexus Online . The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of Metanexus or its sponsors.

Metanexus welcomes submissions between 1000 to 3000 words of essays and book reviews that seek to explore and interpret science and religion in original and insightful ways for a general educated audience. Previous columns give a good indication of the topical range and tone for acceptable essays. Please send all inquiries and submissions to editor@metanexus.net. Metanexus consists of a number of topically focused forums (Anthropos, Bios, Cogito, Cosmos, Salus, Sophia, and Techne) and periodic HTML enriched composite digests from each of the lists.

Copyright notice: Except when otherwise noted, articles may be forwarded, quoted, or republished in full with attribution to the author of the column and "Metanexus: The Online Forum on Religion and Science". Republication for commercial purposes in print or electronic format requires the permission of the author. Copyright 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 by Metanexus Institute.

To unsubscribe from this list: Send an email message to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.METANEXUS.NET. In the body of your email, write: UNSUB SOPHIA. This method requires verification by an email sent to your address.

Published   2004.03.12