Andrew Davison: aliens and incarnation

Oxford's Regius Professor of Theology on what life on other planets could mean.

Nick Jones

Nick is the senior editor of Seen & Unseen.

Tarantula Nebula, by the James Webb Space Telescope.

NASA, via Wikimedia Commons.

Listen now

What does the possibility of life on other planets mean for the incarnation? Why is there so much fear and panic around theology? Is it merely a set of rigid rules, or is it something more expansive than that?

These are just some of the questions pondered by our three presenters – Jane Williams, Michael Lloyd and Graham Tomlin – along with Andrew Davison, Canon and Regius Professor of Divinity at Oxford University.

Find out more about Professor Andrew Davison's new role.

Podcast

Podcasts

Seen & Unseen Aloud

21 July 2025

1 min read

Don Quixote liberating spirit, and the five-hour outdoor drama that wowed

Jonathan Rowlands feels liberated by reading Don Quixote and Rachel Luckett is uncharacteristically effusive

Natalie Garrett

Natalie produces and narrates The Seen & Unseen Aloud podcast. She's an Anglican minister and a trained actor.

Statues of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza point toward a windmill

Don Quixote and Sancho Panza statues, Tandil, Argentina.

Alena Grebneva, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Listen now

About this episode

This week we explore the world of art in literature and drama: Jonathan Rowlands feels liberated by reading Don Quixote and Rachel Luckett is uncharacteristically effusive about her experience attending The Life of Christ at Wintershall.

Support this podcast

Since Spring 2023, thousands of people have enjoyed hundreds of podcast episodes and over 1,500 articles.

All for free.

This is made possible through the generosity of our amazing community of supporters.

If you enjoy Seen & Unseen Aloud, would you consider making a gift towards our work?

Do so by joining Behind The Seen. Alongside other benefits, you’ll receive an extra fortnightly email from me sharing my reading and reflections on the ideas that are shaping our times.

Graham Tomlin
Editor-in-Chief

Pledge now