Brother Guy Consolmagno is a Jesuit and director of the the Vatican Observatory, as well as president of its foundation. He is a frequent commentator on religion and science and wrote the pamphlet “Intelligent Life in the Universe: Catholic belief and the search for extraterrestrial life.” The observatory is in Tucson, Ariz.

Marc Kaufman is a science writer and author of First Contact: Scientific Breakthroughs in the Hunt for Life Beyond Earth. He writes the blog “Many Worlds.”

The Rev. Thomas O’Meara is a Catholic priest and professor emeritus at Notre Dame University. He is the author of Vast Universe: Extraterrestrials and Christian Revelation.

Robert Lawrence Kuhn is an investment banker, public intellectual and the creator of “Closer to Truth,” a PBS television show, website and series of videos and podcasts that examine the “big questions” of existence. Contact via his Facebook page.

Gary Bates is an evangelical Christian and young-Earth creationist associated with Creation Ministries International in Atlanta. He speaks frequently about UFOs and Christianity.

Christopher Benek is a Presbyterian pastor and frequent commentator on emerging technology and theology, including artificial intelligence and religion.

Kira Schlesinger is a priest at Episcopal Church of the Epiphany in Lebanon, Tenn., and author of Pro-Choice and Christian: Reconciling Faith, Politics and Justice. She wrote about sexual harassment in the church after the Harvey Weinstein accusations were published.

Phillis Sheppard is an associate professor of religion, psychology and culture at Vanderbilt Divinity School in Nashville, Tenn. She is an expert on the role religion plays in self-understanding, womanist theology and psycholanalysis.

Lindsay Wilkinson is an assistant professor of sociology at Baylor University, where she studies medical sociology, aging and social stratification. She has assisted in several Baylor religion studies, including research on religion and mental health.