The topic of extraterrestrial beings and reimagining life as we know it has become popular in recent years. In this episode of the podcast series: Pulled Up Short, host Dean Stanton Wortham is joined by featured guest Andrea Vicini, who holds a Ph.D. in theological ethics from Boston College and a Doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Faculty of Theology of Southern Italy. Dean Wortham, Andrea Vicini, and commentator Kristina Wirtz tackle one of the most pressing questions regarding extraterrestrial life and its implications: What if we are not alone in the universe?
Vicini explains that one approach in thinking about biological life is that life on earth is not unique, and it can be replicated in other parts of the universe. Searching for signs of additional biological life and extraterrestrial beings in our world allows us the unique opportunity to explore how life on earth began. It also allows us to gain insights into how life could have begun elsewhere in the universe. However, these discoveries could uproot how we as humans understand our place in the world, especially since for so long we have seen ourselves as the center of the universe.
Vicini illustrates that there is an ongoing dispute on whether there is definitive evidence of extraterrestrial life elsewhere in our universe at this point in time. Some believe that concrete data from scientists, researchers, etc. have already occurred, such as exploring objects like Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO’s), or diverse forms of intelligence: extra-terrestrial (ETI), and interdimensional (IDI).
The subject of extraterrestrial life beyond earth teaches us about ourselves and affects us in both positive and negative ways. Thinking about the unknown and how additional life forms could threaten us and our way of life can be intimidating. However, exploring this subject can pull us up short in positive ways, as the search for diverse forms of intelligence teaches us to be open-minded to the unfamiliar, and allows us to trust in our abilities to handle new discoveries.
If you are looking to learn more about whether or not we’re alone in this universe, listen now. Pulled Up Short is a podcast that aims to create moments of being “pulled up short”— addressing our assumptions about the world by using our curious minds to facilitate conversation and reflection about various topics. Make sure to follow us on Twitter @PulledUpShort in order to stay connected with our podcast!