What I'm Reading: Would You Baptize an Extraterrestrial? by Guy Consolmagno

Would You Baptize an Extraterrestrial?: . . . and Other Questions from the Astronomers' In-box at the Vatican Observatory by Guy Consolmagno



Got an advance e-book from the publisher. Am waiting for the actual book to show up but couldn't stop from taking a quick peek. And was off and running because this book grabbed me. I'm halfway through.

The authors want to discuss two things.

1. The fact that science and faith are not things that live in separate categories but can inform each other.

2. What are the deeper questions behind the ones which materialize in their in-boxes.
(How do you reconcile the The Big Bang with Genesis? Was the Star of Bethlehem just a pious religious story or an actual description of astronomical events? What really went down between Galileo and the Catholic Church – and why do the effects of that confrontation still reverberate to this day? Will the Universe come to an end? And… could you really baptize an extraterrestrial?)

This dual intent leads to rich, interesting dialogues. I use the word dialogues intentionally because the book is structured as a conversation between the two authors who are astronomers for the Vatican. Each is a highly accredited scientist and a Jesuit.

They are really good so far at talking about both science and faith in ways that are eminently reasonable and understandable. I think this would be an excellent book to share with all sorts of folks, whether Catholic or not.

More after I finish the book.