Toward a Constructive Naturalistic Cosmotheology

Abstract

Cosmotheology is a theology that takes into account what we know about the universe based on science. It is therefore a naturalistic theology in the tradition of religious naturalism. This chapter takes as its foundational assumption the concept that the supernatural does not exist. Following this concept, we present six principles of cosmotheology, including the idea that we are not physically, biologically, cognitively, or morally central in the universe; that any concept of God must be grounded in naturalistic cosmic evolution; that it must have an expansive moral dimension, an astroethics extending to all life in the universe; and that while a human destiny linked to cosmic evolution rather than supernaturalism is a radical departure from the past, it is in the end beneficial and liberating. Such a worldview resolves many ancient theological problems. Bad things happen to good people because the universe is hostile rather than loving. Yet the prospect of contact with life beyond Earth leaves open the possibility of interacting with that life, and the idea of a loving and compassionate God can be expressed naturally in the way we treat our fellow humans and other creatures in the universe without resorting to supernaturalism. Stripped of supernaturalism and other accoutrements, compassion is at the core of all religions, even if the ideal is not always met, and universal compassion is at the core of cosmotheology.

First published in Ted Peters, ed. Astrotheology : Science and Theology Meet Extraterrestrial Life (Wipf and Stock, Cascade Books: Eugene, Oregon, 2018), 228–244.