• La Civiltà Cattolica
  • Newsletters
  • Podcast
  • Contact us
  • Login
  • Register
SUBSCRIBE
LA CIVILTÀ CATTOLICA
Advertisement
  • Home
  • Church Life
    • Faith
    • Mission
    • People
    • Pope Francis
    • Spirituality
  • Church Thought
    • Doctrine
    • Scripture
    • Theology
  • Culture
  • Politics
  • Editions
  • Authors
  • Donate

No products in the cart.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Church Life
    • Faith
    • Mission
    • People
    • Pope Francis
    • Spirituality
  • Church Thought
    • Doctrine
    • Scripture
    • Theology
  • Culture
  • Politics
  • Editions
  • Authors
  • Donate

No products in the cart.

No Result
View All Result
LA CIVILTÀ CATTOLICA
No Result
View All Result
     
Home 1705

Astrobiology and Us: Social and political implications of a “new” science

Andrea Vicini, SJbyAndrea Vicini, SJ
June 15, 2017
in 1705, Church Thought, Edition, June 2017, Vol.1 no. 5, Politics, POPULORUM PROGRESSION: THE FULFILLMENT OF ITS PROPHECY, Theology
0
Astrobiology
0
SHARES
30
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

During the academic year 2015/16, an international group of twelve professors, including ten theologians, sponsored by the Center of Theological Inquiry in Princeton (New Jersey, USA), reflected on astrobiology – a rapidly developing field of interdisciplinary scientific research – and in particular on its social implications.1

Responsive interaction between theologians and astrobiologists allowed the group to achieve two objectives. Firstly, the astrobiologists enabled the theologians to acquire specific knowledge of this new area of research. Secondly, together they were able to define some of the social implications of astrobiology and make some suggestions for addressing them. With the shared intention of thoughtfully evaluating what kind of society and living conditions we want for ourselves and for future generations, they then broadened their reflection to consider what animates scientific research, both astrobiological and theological – what are its values, its concerns, the questions posed, and the answers formulated.

What is Astrobiology?

Astrobiology is still in the course of defining its scientific specificity, its areas of research, its disciplinary stature, and how it is situated within the social, political, and religious contexts.

According to astrobiologist David Catling, “astrobiology has emerged as a branch of science concerned with the study of the origin and evolution of life on Earth and the possible variety of life elsewhere.”2 He adds, “NASA has defined astrobiology as the study of the origins, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe. Other common definitions are the study of life in the universe or the study of life in a cosmic context.”3

According to astrobiologist and theologian Lucas Mix, “astrobiology is the scientific study of life in space. It happens when you put together what astronomy, physics, planetary science, geology, chemistry, biology, and a host of other disciplines have to say about life and try to make a single narrative.”4  We could incorporate other disciplines into this definition: molecular biology, ecology, geography, information sciences, and the various technologies enabling space exploration.

This article is reserved for paid subscribers. Please subscribe to continue reading this article
Subscribe

Welcome to
La Civiltà Cattolica !
This article is reserved for paid subscribers
Please login or subscribe to continue reading this article
LOGIN
SUBSCRIBE
What is La Civiltà Cattolica?

Previous Post

Silence: Interview with Martin Scorsese

Next Post

Evangelical Fundamentalism and Catholic Integralism in the USA: A surprising ecumenism

Andrea Vicini, SJ

Andrea Vicini, SJ

Professor of Moral Theology and Bioethics at Boston College, MA, USA

Related Posts

The famous Mae Klong Railway Market, Samut Songkhram, Thailand.
Church Life

The Real Obstacles to Ecological Transition

byGaël Giraud, SJand1 others
March 27, 2023
Mass in the Shrine of Guadalupe for the opening of the ecclesial Assembly (Photo: Vatican Media).
Church Life

The Latin American Church’s Synodal Conversion: Walking together from blindness to light

byDaniel De Ycaza, SJand1 others
March 24, 2023
What Form Will Future Christianity Take?
Church Life

What Form Will Future Christianity Take?

byJosé Frazão Correia, SJ
March 22, 2023
Pope Francis and his Ten-Year Journey with Displaced People
2303

Bergoglio’s Map: Literature in the formation of Pope Francis

byAntonio Spadaro, SJ
March 14, 2023
Refugees from Ukraine welcomed by JRS in Romania (photo: Sergi Cámara / Entreculturas – Alboan – JRS).
2303

Pope Francis and his Ten-Year Journey with Displaced People

byMichael Schopf, SJand1 others
March 13, 2023
Next Post
evangelical fundamentalism

Evangelical Fundamentalism and Catholic Integralism in the USA: A surprising ecumenism

Subscription Offers

Premium Content

Laudato Si’ and Ethical Business Management in Africa

Laudato Si’ and Ethical Business Management in Africa

June 15, 2018
Silence: Interview with Martin Scorsese

Silence: Interview with Martin Scorsese

June 8, 2017
Pope Francis meeting with Young People and Catechists, Kinshasa, DR Congo. February, 2, 2023. Photo: Vatican Media

Let Africa be the protagonist of its own destiny!

March 8, 2023

Browse by Category

BEATUS POPULUS CUIUS DOMINUS DEUS EIUS

The most respected digital Catholic journal from Rome. A must-read on all the present issues alive in the Church. Discover top Church scholars interpreting the history, politics, culture, science and art in the light of the Christian faith.

Categories

  Editions
  Church Thought
  Authors
  Church 
 
  Culture
  Perspective Series
  Politics & Socitey

 

About Us

   Contact Us
   La Civiltà Cattolica  
   China Forum
   Feedback
   Terms & Conditions
   Privacy Policy
    Email : [email protected]
My IP Address : 3.236.241.39
Facebook Twitter Instagram

© Union of Catholic Asian News 2023 | All Rights Reserved.
Except for any fair dealing permitted under the Hong Kong Copyright Ordinance, no part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without prior permission.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Church Life
    • Faith
    • Mission
    • People
    • Pope Francis
    • Spirituality
  • Church Thought
    • Doctrine
    • Scripture
    • Theology
  • Culture
  • Politics
  • Editions
  • Authors
  • Donate
SUBSCRIBE

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?
Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
  • Login
  • Sign Up
Forgot Password?
Lost your password? Please enter your username or email address. You will receive a link to create a new password via email.

laciviltacattolica.com uses cookies and similar technologies to optimize the user experience,  analyze site traffic and communicate with subscribers. To read more about how we use cookies and how you can control them click on settings, or click Accept to start browsing our site.

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?
LA CIVILTÀ CATTOLICA
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.