Norwich, UK
Is there life in outer space? This perennial question is the focus of a talk next week by an Oxford professor at Gloucester Cathedral as part of its innovative exploration of the planet Mars.
“Apart from talk of angels, my research has shown that the first discussions of life beyond our planet came in the middle of the 15th century and it has been continuous since then,” said Rev Professor Andrew Davison, Regius Professor of Divinity at Oxford University and a founding member of the Leverhulme Centre for Life in the Universe.
Rev Professor Andrew Davison, Regius Professor of Divinity Oxford University and Canon of Christchurch Cathedral, Oxford. PICTURE: Courtesy of Andrew Davison.
By combining his scientific background as a biochemist with his theological training and knowledge of the thoughts of Christian theologians like Thomas Aquinas and Calvin, Davison has explored this subject in detail. He took part in NASA-funded research at Princetown University. His resultant book Astrobiology and Christian Doctrine was published earlier this year and combines studies of astronomy, science, biology, Christianity, theology within a cosmic setting.
“God is infinite, and there is no reason why complex variations of life should not exist,” he told Sight. “It is not impious or impossible. Life on other planets could be possible. In the 1990’s no-one was sure if moons existed around planets and other stars. Now we know that there may be 16 billion billion planets and moons. It is hard to say that none of those have some sort of life. God may be already there in ways we have not thought about.”
Even Mars may hold surprises as he points out.
“There have been lots of stories about life on Mars and I will be including references to those within the talk. Some of the results from the Viking landers are ambiguous. There are areas where there is liquid water for part of the year so there might have been things at depth.”
Such stories and questions are likely to be in the minds of many of the visitors exploring artist Luke Jerram’s touring exhibition Mars:War and Peace installation which is at Gloucester Cathedral this month.
“As this timely exhibition graces our sacred space, it not only reminds us of the beauty and mystery of God’s universe, but also provides us with the opportunity to reflect on the enduring hope for peace,” comments the Very Rev Andrew Zihni, Dean of Gloucester Cathedral.
He adds that “in the presence of this remarkable sculpture, we hope visitors will find the space to contemplate the injustices that are present all around us”.
“We hope this artwork can help us in our Christian mission to work tirelessly for a just future for our communities and for the world.”
The ‘Mars: War and Peace’ installation in Exeter Cathedral. PICTURE: Amy Haynes & Exeter Cathedral (provided by Gloucester Cathedral)
Hanging over the nave, this massive seven metre diameter version of the ‘Red Planet’ and features detailed NASA imagery of the Martian surface. Each centimetre of the internally lit sphere is the equivalent of 10 kilometres of the surface of Mars, enabling visitors to study the planet in detail.
Accompanying the artwork is a continuous immersive soundtrack created by Dan Jones, a BAFTA and Ivor Novello award-winning composer. It features relaxing sounds of seas and deserts, alongside the sounds of distant bombing and people marching to war, stressing peace, injustice and the impact of armed conflict.
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Visitors will be able to participate in numerous linked experiences including atmospheric night time viewing of the installation, taking part in sunrise or sunset yoga sessions held under the Red Planet, stargazing and space adventures, as well as a look at Gloucester, the city of war across 2,000 years from the arrival of the Roman army to modern links with NATO.
Another of the highlights of this Mars: War and Peace event will be a performance of Gustav Holst’s Planets Suite marking the 150th anniversary of the birth of this locally-born composer.
“Mars follows on from my other touring astronomical artworks Museum of the Moon and Gaia, and allows a close encounter with the Martian planet,” said Jerram. “I hope that visitors will feel transported to its inhospitable desert wasteland and in comparison, really value our life on Earth.”
Rev Professor Andrew Davison will be speaking at Gloucester Cathedral at 7pm on 22nd October.
‘Mars: War and Peace’ can be seen at Gloucester Cathedral until 3rd November.
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