An Alien Word? Cosmic Salvation within a Rahnerian Framework

Abstract The possibility of life beyond our planet raises serious theological questions for Christians, particularly in the realm of soteriology. How would Jesus of Nazareth relate to such creatures? Is he the ‘universal’ saviour, in the cosmic sense? Or are there other incarnations of the Logos, the Word or Son of God? This article follows several recent theologians in approaching these questions through the work of Karl Rahner. On the one hand, aspects of Rahner's work are amenable to God incarnating among extraterrestrials, a scenario that he explicitly denies is ‘inconceivable’. On the other hand, central features—especially his theology of the symbol—militate against multiple incarnations. The article argues that, on the whole, Rahner's theology precludes the Word assuming an extraterrestrial nature and that his varying statements about the matter's possibility are best understood as a case of his epistemic humility—recognising that theologies which contrast with his own are conceivable. It suggests ‘deep incarnation’ as an alternative strategy for extending Rahner's soteriological framework to non‐human—including extraterrestrial—aspects of creation.