Mary-Jane Rubenstein, a religion scholar at Wesleyan University, examines the implications of humanity’s venture into space in her 2022 book, Astrotopia: The Dangerous Religion of the Corporate Space Race, which was released in paperback in 2024. She traces this endeavor back to the book of Genesis, suggesting that the biblical narrative of dominion over Earth has historically justified colonialism and environmental degradation. According to Rubenstein, this same narrative underpins the contemporary push toward space exploration.
Rubenstein describes the current “NewSpace race” as not just a scientific endeavor but also a mythological construct that infuses these efforts with a sense of duty and purpose. She argues that the ideas stemming from Christian theology inform the aspirations of notable figures in space exploration, including Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, even if they may not identify as religious. In her view, space exploration represents a continuation of humanity’s quest for dominion, with some proponents viewing Earth merely as a temporary base for greater achievements beyond our planet.
Musk has famously stated that his focus is on colonizing Mars and beyond, encapsulating a mentality that seemingly prioritizes space over Earth. Conversely, Bezos frames his vision for space colonization as a solution to environmental degradation on Earth, proposing that relocating heavy industries and populations to space could allow Earth to recover. He envisions a future where a large population inhabits space, which he argues could foster significant human potential, mentioning the possibility of a trillion-person civilization.
Rubenstein critiques this perspective by pointing out that simply increasing the number of humans does not guarantee a better outcome, as it could also lead to the emergence of negative figures throughout history. The concern she raises highlights a critical question: will leaving Earth truly enable humanity to escape its flaws, or might it instead amplify them in new territories?
Source: https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/08/22/1121428/case-against-space-travel-book-reviews/