Recommended Reading – “Alone in the Universe?” (David Wilkinson)
Alone In The Universe?: The X-Files, Aliens And God
Author: David Wilkinson
Product Details:
ISBN: 9780830819386
Publication Date: 1998-03-01
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
Pages: 156
The search for life in the universe is not just the mission of Star Trek or science-fiction addicts. It is the serious business of many scientific and government studies. And UFO sightings continue to be made by many ordinary people. David Wilkinson has made an extensive survey of the data and the possibilities for extraterrestrial life, including– the evidence for life on Mars– the discovery of other planets that could sustain life– attempts to detect alien messages– UFOs and alien abductions– government conspiracy theories. He carefully weighs the facts and examines the scientific arguments for space travel and for life developing elsewhere in the universe. He also considers claims that the Bible actually describes alien encounters from the past. And if life does exist elsewhere, he asks, does that mean that human beings do not have a special relationship with God or that Jesus’ life and death did not have universal significance? Analyzing our interest in alien life from Star Wars to The X Files, from science to speculation, David Wilkinson offers a convincing answer to the question “Are we alone in the universe?”
About the Author:
Rev Prof David Wilkinson’s background is research in theoretical astrophysics, where he gained a PhD in the study of star formation, the chemical evolution of galaxies and terrestrial mass extinctions. He is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. His second PhD is in systematic theology, exploring how Christian eschatology relates to the end of the Universe.
His current work at the University of Durham involves the relationship of the Christian faith to contemporary culture, from science to pop culture.
He has written a number of books concerning science and the Christian faith including God, Time and Stephen Hawking (Monarch, 2001) and Alone in the Universe: The X-Files, Aliens and God (IVP, 1997). He travels widely to speak and broadcast on the relationship of science and faith, and other issues of the relationship of Christian faith to contemporary culture.
In addition he has written on the spirituality in contemporary cinema in The Power of the Force: The Spirituality of the Star Wars Films (Lion, 2000) and on the Christian doctrine of holiness for a new generation in A Holiness of the Heart ( Monarch, 2000).
His most recent book is an exposition of the biblical themes of creation in Creation: The Bible Speaks Today Bible Themes Series (IVP, 2002).
He has been a member of the World Methodist Council Executive Committee and World Methodist Evangelism and is currently a council member of the Evangelical Alliance in the UK.
Roger’s comment:
I found this book thoroughly enjoyable and readable. Wilkinson covers a lot of ground for such a concise book, including the search for ETI, aspects of cosmology and astrobiology, limitations of current SETI methods and the combined tyrannies of the limitations of physics (e.g. the speed of light) and distance when considering space travel (both radio transmissions travelling at the speed of light and spacecraft travelling at a fraction of this speed). Wilkinson also covers other more innovative ways to get around the limitations of known physics and distance in the search for ETI. The second part of the book is a critique of much of the popular literature over the last few decades on extraterrestrial life and close encounters, and also argues against those who would sound the death knell for established religion if we made future contact with ETI. In the final part of the book, Wilkinson explores models of exotheology and opinions about how the incarnation, death and resurrection of Christ relate to the possibility of many worlds and extra-terrestrial life, showing how future contact with ETI could be reconciled with traditional Christian theology. I give this book 5/5 (but this subject is a pet love for me, so I might be biased!).