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'''Cosmotheology''' is to be distinguished from Derham's eighteenth-century [[astrotheology]] in that the main thrust of the former is not to offer proof of God or God's attributes, but to use [[Nature]] to inform a much broader range of theological discussion. The history of the [[extraterrestrial life debate]] gives us some idea of the elements of a cosmotheology as perceived by our predecessors. Although we need not be bound by their limits, the problems of the new universe for Christianity are fairly clear, and will become clearer for other religions as their attitudes toward life on other worlds become better known. Whatever the tenets of a specific religion, we offer five general principles for cosmotheology.

'''Cosmotheology''' is to be distinguished from Derham's eighteenth-century [[astrotheology]] in that the main thrust of the former is not to offer proof of God or God's attributes, but to use [[Nature]] to inform a much broader range of theological discussion. The history of the [[extraterrestrial life debate]] gives us some idea of the elements of a cosmotheology as perceived by our predecessors. Although we need not be bound by their limits, the problems of the new universe for Christianity are fairly clear, and will become clearer for other religions as their attitudes toward life on other worlds become better known. Whatever the tenets of a specific religion, we offer five general principles for cosmotheology.

*5. Cosmotheology must have a moral dimension, extended to include all species in the universe — a reverence and respect for life that we find difficult enough to foster on Earth. While the challenge of this principle should not be underestimated, it will perhaps also make us realize that homo sapiens is one, after all, despite superficial differences.

*5. Cosmotheology must have a moral dimension, extended to include all species in the universe — a reverence and respect for life that we find difficult enough to foster on Earth. While the challenge of this principle should not be underestimated, it will perhaps also make us realize that homo sapiens is one, after all, despite superficial differences.

In my opinion, religions will adjust to these cosmotheological principles because the alternative is extinction. The adjustment will be most wrenching for those monotheistic religions that see man in the image of God (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), a one-to-one relationship with a single Godhead. It will be less wrenching for Eastern religions that teach salvation through individual enlightenment (Buddhism and Hinduism) rather than through a Savior, or that are this-worldly (Confucianism) rather than otherworldly. The adjustment will not be to the physical world, as in [[Copernicanism]], nor to the biological world, as in [[Darwinism]], where man descended from the apes but still remained at the top of the terrestrial world. Rather the adjustment will be to the biological universe, in which intelligences are likely to be superior to us for reasons stated above.[http://www.nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php/Many_Worlds:_The_New_Universe_and_Its_Theological_Implications]

In my opinion, religions will adjust to these cosmotheological principles because the alternative is extinction. The adjustment will be most wrenching for those monotheistic religions that see man in the image of God (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), a one-to-one relationship with a single Godhead. It will be less wrenching for Eastern religions that teach salvation through individual enlightenment (Buddhism and Hinduism) rather than through a Savior, or that are this-worldly (Confucianism) rather than otherworldly. The adjustment will not be to the physical world, as in [[Copernicanism]], nor to the biological world, as in [[Darwinism]], where man descended from the apes but still remained at the top of the terrestrial world. Rather the adjustment will be to the biological universe, in which intelligences are likely to be superior to us for reasons stated above.[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Many_Worlds:_The_New_Universe_and_Its_Theological_Implications]

[[Category: Cosmology]]

[[Category: Cosmology]]

[[Category: Religion]]

[[Category: Religion]]