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Settlement of the Outer Planets of the Solar System will take humans far away from the Sun, its warmth, and the light on which humans depend. Most settlements will be small mining enclaves or research stations until well into the future. Lengthy travel times will satisfy the human needs for hope, patience, acceptance, self-study, and contemplation of God's role in the universe. The authors explore the potential roles of theology and religion in Deep Space, the Asteroids, and the icy moons of Jupiter and Saturn where life might be found in the liquid oceans under ice that is kilometers deep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors analyze the biblical roots of human responsibility for the earthly environment, and the forms of moral despoilment in the Bible that are later applied to environmental destruction. They then take the reader on an ecotheological journey of the Inner Planets Earth's Moon and Mars. For each location, authors explore (1) the planetary science, (2) human adaptation to those conditions, and (3) the future roles of religion, theology, and ecotheology. Religions and theologies borrowed from earthly populations will play important roles in helping to manage human off-world settlements, and in providing hope, education, social constraints, and values for governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]