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Theology
is typically more responsive than predictive.
Of course, a few prophetic voices can read the signs of the times and
issue appropriate warnings about what is to come. But by and large religious thought, undertaken as it is by finite
and shortsighted humans, seldom accurately anticipates, much less prepares us
for the crises that occur in connection with unprecedented events in human
history or new discoveries in the realm of science. Indeed, most of the theological content of the dominant
traditions comes from religion's reaction to crises rather than anticipation of
them. Undoubtedly, then, the actual
shape theology would take on if we ever do encounter ETI cannot be accurately
predicted here and now, but must await the event itself.
Still, I would suggest, all
too briefly here, that the cosmic vision of Teilhard de Chardin as well as the
process theology (based on concepts of the philosopher Alfred North Whitehead)
are both already inherently open to being developed into a "theology after
contact." Not the least of the
reasons for their adaptability is that they have already enthusiastically
embraced the Darwinian portrait of life as well as the notion that the entire
universe is still in the process of being created. Though Teilhard reflected only occasionally on the possibility
of ETI, keeping most of his speculation firmly anchored to our planet, the
general thrust of his visionary writings is cosmic in scope. As such, the urge toward increasing complexity
and consciousness so evident to Teilhard in his surveys of the history of life
on Earth could be a trend that is occurring throughout the cosmos. For this famous Jesuit paleontologist
(1881-1955) the "point" or purpose of the universe has something to
do with the emergence and intensification of
"complexity-consciousness."
As physical complexity increases in the universe, Teilhard claims, so
does consciousness. But, he
acknowledges, the cosmic evolution of consciousness is still far from being
finished. Here on Earth the
"noosphere," the cerebralization now taking place on a planetary
scale is still in process. And it is
not inconceivable that parallel worlds of consciousness are evolving elsewhere.
Finally, contemporary
"process theology" with its vision of cosmic purpose is also
expansive enough to accommodate the discovery of ETI. For the "process philosopher" Alfred North Whitehead
and his theological followers, the purpose of the cosmos consists of its aim
toward the intensification of beauty.Since - at least for Whitehead - beauty is an intrinsic value, any process that
leads toward its establishment could be called "teleological," at
least in a loose sense.
"Beauty," in Whitehead's thought, means the "harmony of
contrasts" or the "ordering of novelty," many diverse instances
of which have appeared in the evolution of the cosmos and in the emergence of
life, mind and culture in our terrestrial setting.
Intelligent life, however,
is only one instance of cosmic beauty.
We really have no idea of the many forms the cosmic aim toward bringing
about beauty might assume within the totality of the universe. Perhaps, then, SETI has set its goals too
narrowly for theology. What we call
intelligent life might turn out to be too trivial a notion to capture what is
already "out there," or the incalculable cosmic outcomes that may yet
occur in the future of this unfinished universe. The notion of "beauty," however, is encompassing enough
to anticipate a wide variety of cosmic evolutionary phenomena. As we explore the universe we should ask not
only about the meaning of intelligence, but also about what the existence of
beauty implies as far as the essential character of the whole universe is
concerned. It is clear that the
universe has always been dissatisfied with the monotony of the status quo, and
so has produced innumerable instances of ordered novelty. Perhaps the aim toward beauty, then, is
enough to endow the universe with purpose - though it is not necessary for us to
add that we would not be able to arrive at such a conclusion unless there were
also intelligent subjects capable of enjoying it.
Contributed by: Dr. Jack Haught
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