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KARL RAHNER AND THE EXTRA‐TERRESTRIAL INTELLIGENCE QUESTION
Author(s) -
FISHER CHRISTOPHER L.,
FERGUSSON DAVID
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the heythrop journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.127
H-Index - 10
eISSN - 1468-2265
pISSN - 0018-1196
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-2265.2006.00288.x
Subject(s) - incarnation , existentialism , philosophy , speculation , epistemology , theology , economics , macroeconomics
The prospect of extra‐terrestrial intelligence has become a central topic of scientific investigation and popular speculation. This has generated questions of ethical and theological significance that now receive growing coverage. Throughout his writings, Karl Rahner remained open to the prospect that the process of cosmic evolution had yielded sentient life form in other galaxies. He argued against any theological veto on this notion, while also distinguishing the existential significance of such life forms from that of angels. Furthermore, the possibility of multiple incarnations is raised though not affirmed. With its christological intensity, his theology seems to militate against any repetition of the incarnation. This essay examines some of the arguments for and against the possibility of multiple incarnations, before assessing the current state of the extra‐terrestrial intelligence debate. In the light of inconclusive scientific findings, the cautionary position of Rahner is re‐affirmed.