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

These two authors are great. Knowledgeable, thoughtful, and honest (and humorous).I once loaned my copy to a friend and never got it back.After a few years of missing this book, I finally bought it again, and I'll be more careful who I loan it to.A great, delightful read,

This book deals with big issues in an interesting way -- as a series of conversations between two Jesuit scientists from the Vatican observatory. Apparent conflicts between science and religious beliefs are dealt with in a highly readable way. There's a great section on the supposed battle between the Church and Galileo. The science is explained in a highly accessible manner, and there's a lot of humor as well.

A great book! It deals with various topics of faith and science in a very sincere, very serious, and at the same time very amusing way, through a dialogue between two Jesuit scholars, one a doctor in planetary sciences and the other a doctor in history and philosophy of science. The explanation they give about the difference between what a mystery means for science and for religion is one of the things that made me think, and I enyoyed the most. Another good subject is the similarity of how scientific knowledge operates, in the example of the problem of the reclassification of Pluto as a dwarf planet, with respect to how the Church operates in councils, having to define and redefine certain concepts as new observations or situations occur, but without changes in the essential. All other topics are equally interesting and valuable, and are divided into chapters titled by daily and provocative questions like Biblical Genesis or scientific Big Bang ?, What happened to poor Pluto? What happened to Galileo? What was the Star of Bethlehem? What's going to happen when the world ends ?, and Would you baptize an extaterrestrial? However, each chapter goes beyond responding to each of these everyday questions and delves into bigger questions.

This small book by two Jesuit astronomers at the Vatican Observatory is a gem of a discussion on science and the Bible. Written as an easy colloquial dialogue between them on questions they often receive from lay visitors to the observatory, the reader is nevertheless exposed to a good deal of both theology and science. The easy answer to the loaded question of the title (cf., Is it lawful for Jews to pay taxes to Caesar?) was: “Only if she asks.” The chapter on Genesis offers an opportunity not only to review some modern understandings of cosmology, but to discuss the many kinds of writings in the Bible, many of which were never intended to be taken as literal descriptions of science or history. A chapter on “What Happened to Poor Pluto?” discusses how science progresses, the problem of dealing with changing scientific concepts once they are imbedded in the popular culture, and how even theological pronouncements have often been the result of “messy” political debate. A chapter on Galileo explores the cultural and personality issues at work around his famous condemnation by the church and why this church “error” was far more complex than a presumed Catholic condemnation of science. A section on the “star of Bethlehem” not only explores plausible scientific explanations for something the magi (astrologers) might take note of, but further examines symbolic and allegorical reasons the author of the Gospel of Matthew might include a story such as that of the magi. Finally, scientific theories about the end of the world and the title question of baptizing an extraterrestrial are woven into discussions of the meaning of Christianity, the unity of truth, and the meaning of community. It is hard to find such a responsible discussion of these issues in an accessible and entertaining package of modest length, but the two Jesuit authors have done it.

The last "theology" to which I was exposed was the Baltimore Catechism, and while it was perfect for a child, it left a lot open for adults. This is THE PERFECT stepping stone to a better understanding of my faith. Yes, the initial chapters that use references to quantum and traditional physics as if they were M & M's were a bit daunting, but I persisted and fell in love with the repartee and the elegant way in which the authors explained the relationship between science and religion. I want everyone who is seeking as I am to read this, but first I have to bone up on the physics stuff and the underlying need to know more mathematics than I do and ... well, most of my education.

The author does an excellent job making the tension between faith and science seem almost harmonious. With historical anecdotes of well known people of Church history he reveals his premise that faith and science are both right. He uses humor and his personal experiences to make a difficult subject easy to digest. The ET answer is at the end of the book so the title does have relevance but you need to read the whole book.

I loved, loved, loved this book! I have recommended it to many people. This book combines two of my favourite subjects: God and the universe. The authors made it so much fun. I very much enjoyed the different “settings” for the conversations, especially Antarctica and the white-out. What I was most impressed with was how liberating this book was. It made me feel so excited about life.

This book encompasses one of the richest dialogues between faith and science as it should be. Written in a very simple way, successes to communicate a valuable message for anyone seeking for the true meaning behind our surroundings. A great piece for nonbelievers and probably even greater for believers.

I really love this book, and finished it in a week.I'd recommend it to any Christian who has ever even slightly liked science. It is the perfect answer to those who think faith and reason are opposed, but mainly because of the sheer joy the authors show in the dialogue between the two. They are different, but they're both better off together.It opened my mind to new ideas and new questions for both science and religion, and I'm better for it.

A mixture of theological and astronomical considerations in the form of a dialogue, with fairly amusing anecdotal interjections. There is actually only a short section on the issue of "ET baptism", the idea officially launched by Pope Francis in May 2014. There is a good deal on the Galileo affair, which is described here not as a real persecution but as the outcome of the Tuscan astronomer's stubborness and political disputes between the Papal States and Tuscany. The section on the "Star of Bethlehem" and the role of astrology is somewhat more interesting.Anyway, Consolmagno (author of several books) and Mueller, the two Jesuits staff members of the Vatican Observatory choose their words very carefully, and Consolmagno candidly recalls that their works require approval by the Society of Jesus in order to be published. The book is mainly useful for readers familiar with the broader background of the position (or positions) of the Catholic hierachy on the issue of extraterrestrial life in general and intelligent extraterrestrials in particular. A background that dates back decades (and perhaps even to the 19th century) and is just hinted at here. And the authors deliberately fail to bridge the cognitive gap between what seems to be their own position, and that of fellow priests, i.e. the virtual certainty that ET exists (otherwise why bother about speculations as to baptism, i.e. the act of initiation into the church community, the doorway to the other sacraments, including ordination...) and the prudent proviso that "this is just speculation". A sort of surreptitious "disclosure" that says, "yes it's all true" but saying it with a wink and a smile. Perhaps just in case they have to "retract" one day: politics as usual...

A lovely, breezy presentation of important questions to human existence, by a pair of learned academics.It deepened my understanding of the universe and of our existence without ever making it feel like a strain, and scattered little nuggets of side-insights as it went.Enjoyable and significant, this book is recommended to any thoughtful reader.