In the past decade, several theologians have been exploring topics at the interface of Christian theology and the possible existence of Extra-Terrestrial Intelligent Life (ETIL). This interesting field is known as “Astrotheology.” Until now, there has been very little engagement from the evangelical theological community. The paper will begin with an overview of the field and its major thinkers (including Andrew Davidson, Ted Peters, Joshua Moritz, Thomas O’Meara, and others) to situate this paper within the literature. Although these authors address a range of theological loci in their writings, this paper will focus on the atonement. Many of these thinkers attempt to connect the possibility of ETIL and their need for salvation to the situation facing either animals or angels, neither of which are humans. Animals are sufficiently like us, it is argued, and angels are rational like us, even if not made in the image of God. These theologians attempt to link Christ’s atoning sacrifice to ETIL through one of these avenues (or both). The thesis of this paper is that both avenues fail.
After introducing the arguments from these thinkers, the next part of the paper will engage the argument that Christ’s atoning work is valid for (non-human) ETIL just like it is valid for (non-human) animals. I will examine this argument and show biblically how this avenue fails . Christ’s atoning work was exclusively for humans and human sin. I will address the problem of sin and the need for substitution; I will argue that Christ’s work applies salvifically to humans, even as it applies to the rest of creation in other ways. I will conclude that the theological move to connect animals to ETIL for the sake of atonement fails.
The next part of the paper will address the second avenue, that of angels. I will situate this work in the thinking of Anselm, Aquinas, and the church fathers. I will also engage with Adam Johnson’s stimulating work on Christ’s work and the non-fallen angels. These dialogue partners allow me to show that the mere possession of rationality does not necessitate a fall or guarantee redemption. Drawing on Anselm and Aquinas, I will also show that Christ acting as a substitute would be problematic in the case of angels. I will conclude this section by questioning whether the connection between ETIL and angelic beings is even helpful.
The paper concludes by restating that Christ’s atoning work is not ancillary to humanity’s image bearing. Instead, our image bearing is intimately connected to God’s plan for the second person of the Trinity to become incarnate as a man to atone for human sins.