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.

©2014 Guy Sj Consolmagno and Paul Sj Mueller (P)2014 Random House Audio

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.

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.

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.

Wrong title but a worthwhile listen

First off, the title is misleading. I got this book because of all the ufo news and was wondering what the Catholic Church had to say. But the extraterrestrial talk is only for the last hour.

The book is actually about the interaction of faith and religion. And lots of physics and astrology talk. The framework is like Cosmos, but with a slightly less annoying host. I learned a lot and it’s a good listen, but it’s loses a star for the misdirection.

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.

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.

Sincere & Honest

It's time that both religion & science admit that they've made mistakes in the past. I learned a lot from this book. I didn't know that the Vatican had an observatory. Also priests that are astronomers & on the cutting edge as far as modern technology. One wouldn't think so, given the Spanish Inquisition & other injustices from the past. However, these guys are showing that the Catholic church isn't that way any more. I liked the title of the book, which in itself is a conversation starter. Also liked the first chapter about how science & religion can coexist. Also the inside information they gave about Galileo & the damage control they were doing about that event. Didn't care to hear about the complicated process of deciding how Pluto wasn't a planet, or about different kinds of meteorites.

Interesting topic

Interesting topic. Performance is kinda slow. But, really the idea of it is really good.