It may seem that the existence of life on other planets is incompatible with belief in God. However, as the BBC Future columnist writes, many theologians accept the possibility of aliens.
In 2014, the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) awarded a $1.1 million grant to the Centre for Theological Studies (an ecumenical research institute based in New Jersey) - to study "the social aspects of astrobiology".
This has infuriated some. The Freedom from Religion Foundation, which advocates a clear separation of church and state, demanded that NASA withdraw the grant, thr