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Alone in the Universe? The X-Files, Aliens and God

Alone in the Universe?
The X-Files, Aliens and God
By David Wilkinson
Monarch Publications. 160 pages. £7.99
ISBN 1 85424 373 X

There is currently a great deal of public interest in the question of extra-terrestrial life. As Christians, it is surely important to know what God's Word says about this and how we can see this as an opportunity to advance the gospel, by pointing a searching world towards Christ.
David Wilkinson, a Methodist chaplain at Liverpool University and a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society with a PhD in Theoretical Astrophysics, has applied himself to examining the questions of evidence for primitive life on Mars; the discovery of other planets that could sustain life; whether evolution means that all life converges to humanity; alien politics and religion; the nature of consciousness; relativistic limitations on faster than light travel; attempts to detect alien messages; UFOs and alien abductions; government conspiracy theories; and the consequences that all this has on Christianity. Can 138 pages of text do justice to so many large questions?
The book's size, style and content suggest that it is written for a wide Christian readership, without a scientific background, who are intrigued by the question: 'Are we alone?'. The trouble is that it attempts to cover too much material and so is forced to avoid in-depth study.
Broadly speaking, this book divides into three sections: the current secular search for and thought about alien life; investigating the validity of the related accusations that the world often uses to denigrate the claims of Christianity; and finally our response as Christians to the world's searching and our own questions about the universe.
The first section provides a useful and engaging glossary but it fails to properly present or discuss the vast range of secular theory or technique that it covers. A lot of complicated and yet accessible concepts could be explained more fully to a wider audience, if time was given to them. I also don't think that this section was designed to be a glossary, but a serious examination and discussion of the probability of alien life, based upon the author's personal acceptance of the evolutionary model.
The second section brings up several attempts in the recent past to question biblical integrity or traditional interpretation. As Christians, we know that God is the creator and sustainer of the universe and the definer of reality, so we have nothing to fear from such questions. It is also good that the author presents answers, but again, detailed discussion is missing - something that is needed for credible refutation.
Although, again, it lacked detail, I liked the third section because it discusses the alien question within a biblical framework and brings in the gospel very clearly. It is right that our thinking about such subjects should bring us immediately to the Bible. This section centres our thoughts on the Cross, its possible implications for alien life but its certain implications for humanity.
Important questions are being raised by the world that give us opportunities: detailed, in-depth, Spirit-led study is called for. I just don't think that this book is a tremendously helpful tool in doing this.

Andrew Hodder
Cambridge