Would You Baptize an Extraterrestrial?

. . . and Other Questions from the Astronomers' In-box at the Vatican Observatory

By: Guy Consolmagno SJ, Paul Mueller

Narrated by: Joe Ochman, Rob Shapiro

Witty and thought provoking, two Vatican astronomers shed provocative light on some of the strange places where religion and science meet.

“Imagine if a Martian showed up, all big ears and big nose like a child’s drawing, and he asked to be baptized. How would you react?” —Pope Francis, May, 2014

Pope Francis posed that question—without insisting on an answer!—to provoke deeper reflection about inclusiveness and diversity in the Church. But it's not the first time that question has been asked.

Brother Guy Consolmagno and Father Paul Mueller hear questions like that all the time. They’re scientists at the Vatican Observatory, the official astronomical research institute of the Catholic Church. In Would You Baptize an Extraterrestrial? they explore a variety of questions at the crossroads of faith and reason: How do you reconcile the The Big Bang with Genesis? Was the Star of Bethlehem just a pious religious story or an actual description of astronomical events? What really went down between Galileo and the Catholic Church—and why do the effects of that confrontation still reverberate to this day? Will the Universe come to an end? And… could you really baptize an extraterrestrial?

With disarming humor, Brother Guy and Father Paul explore these questions and more over the course of six days of dialogue. Would You Baptize an Extraterrestrial will make you laugh, make you think, and make you reflect more deeply on science, faith, and the nature of the universe.

Critic reviews

"Who knew that the Vatican owned an observatory run by Jesuit scientists? Consolmagno, an astronomer who studied at MIT, and Mueller, with a doctorate in the history and philosophy of science from the University of Chicago, are brilliant scientists and theologians, and they both possess a slightly irreverent and refreshing sense of humor. The authors attempt to highlight how the perceived conflict between religion and science is severely overblown. To do this they employ a dialogue format, which works for a while but ultimately becomes tired. The content, however, is absolutely enlightening. Some of the topics the authors tackle include the Galileo controversy, an explanation for the star of Bethlehem, and the discrepancies between the book of Genesis and the big bang theory. Heady stuff for sure, but the casual writing style makes for an enjoyable learning experience. An excellent primer for anyone remotely interest in building a bridge between religious faith and scientific investigation." —Publishers Weekly


"I can’t think of two people better suited to address some essential questions about science that Christians get asked (and ask themselves) on a regular basis. How can you reconcile the Big Bang theory with the belief in God as the Creator of the universe? Is the Catholic Church really against science? Can a scientific person be a believer? Can a believer look to science for answers that religion cannot provide? And what really happened with Galileo? These two talented Jesuit scientists answer these and many more of the most persistent questions about science and religion, in this fascinating, inviting, and frankly necessary new book." —James Martin, SJ, author of The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything

Insightful

Was best read a section at a time, but well worth it. The dialogue aspect was intriguing, but really helped with understanding the subject discussed.

Faith and Reason Kiss

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, because it shows religion and science in their true light as complimentary disciplines and not mutually exclusive.

What about Joe Ochman and Rob Shapiro ’s performance did you like?

It was casual, witty, and yet deeply insightful

Any additional comments?

Aside from one passing reference to Teilhard de Chardin , which they ascribed no doctrinal weight to, I was pleased with the whole performance. I love when authors narrate, it is so much more real and you get that emotion that you sometimes miss in print.

A primer on Catholic doctrine

I'm thinking of requiring all my astro 101 students to read this, for its beautiful discussion of how religion and science can dovetail and enhance each other. The readers have a strange pronunciation of Tycho Brahe that kept taking me out of the work every time they said his name though.

I enjoyed listening and I learned alot.

It helped me understand more about God and explained in great detail about Galileo.

Not all my questions you answered on the subject of God, but that would be impossible.

This is a central question explored in the thought

This book offers a fascinating exploration of science and religion. While humanists might prioritize the scientific, ethical, and cultural dimensions of encountering alien life, understanding these diverse perspectives enriches our conversation about humanity's place in a universe teeming with possibilities.