For millennia, man has wondered whether he is alone in the universe. Organizations such as the SETI Institute (Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence), founded in 1984, once employed more than 100 scientists, educators, and support staff in their quest to “explore, understand and explain the origin, nature and prevalence of life in the universe.” To date, they’ve come up empty.
The assumption that there must be life somewhere else in the universe is rooted in the philosophies of evolution and naturalism. It goes something like this: Given the sheer numbers of stars and the possibilities of planetary systems orbiting them, the probabilities of there being another earthlike planet where evolution occurred is significant.
Swiss author Erich Von Daniken, founder of the Archaeology, Astronautics, and SETI Research Association, made waves in the 70’s with his bestseller Chariots of the Gods: Unsolved Mysteries of the Past. “On a clear night, the naked eye can see about 4,500 stars, so the astronomers say. The telescope of even a small observatory makes nearly 2,000,000 stars visible and a modern reflecting telescope brings the light from thousands of millions more to the viewer.” Von Daniken concluded there must be at least 100,000 planets upon which “civilizations more advanced than our own could have developed.”
The Bible is silent about the existence of life on other worlds. With the exception of the angelic host—both good and evil—nowhere in Scripture is it explicitly stated that there are other races of beings anywhere in the universe that might give rise to UFOs.
Genesis simply states that God created celestial objects “to divide the day from the night … for signs and seasons … for days and years … to give light on the earth” (Genesis 1:14-15).
I have always been fascinated with UFOs, aliens, and extraterrestrials. I blame my Aunt Iris, who gifted me with a telescope when I was only nine years old. Her timing was prescient, perhaps even otherworldly—the present had been given on an evening when Earthlings experienced a partial lunar eclipse.
Fast-forward many years to the present. My obsession with outer space has morphed into hours spent peering through a much more expensive telescope, imaging the moon, several planets, and various deep-space objects. My love for The X-Files continues unabated.
Never did I think any of the aforementioned would become the subject of a serious conversation I would have with one of my students about aliens, UFOs, extraterrestrials, angels, and demons. But it did, after a theology professor posed this topic as an ice breaker to a group of honors students in a biblical studies class.
Over twenty years ago, I reviewed the book Lights in the Sky and Little Green Men.[1] [2] The authors came to the conclusion that “both physical and nonphysical data argue against an extraterrestrial hypothesis for UFOs,” while claiming the evidence supports the “extradimensional hypothesis … a scientifically and biblically credible view of reality.” I shared this review with the student who is in my chemistry lab this semester, but she maintained her belief that there must be alien life in the universe even if it isn’t carbon-based.
I recently read Rod Dreher’s new book, Living in Wonder, in which the author recounts stories of alien encounters that turn out to be demonic visitations. One such account related to Dreher involved a “devout Christian lawyer [named Nino] whose decent into the bizarre reality just beneath the surface of things began when he saw a UFO hovering over a field.”[3] The first alien encounter occurred in 2009. Seven years later, the aliens returned, this time appearing in his kitchen.
‘It was like a portal was opening … The best way to put it is that two humanoid-like beings glitched into reality. They were made of light, but it was like running water. There was a thickness to the air in the room, like if you touched it, it would have made ripples.’ The beings communicated … telepathically. [He] rushed himself to a nearby hospital and demanded an MRI and blood work. He feared he was losing his mind. But nothing was wrong with him. After he married, his wife saw them, too, which was a relief, because he knew he wasn’t hallucinating.[4]
Dreher explains, “Many who have seen or interacted with UFOs report paranormal experiences in the wake—including visits from beings like the ones that appeared to Nino. Some Christians to whom this has happened report that when they speak the name of Jesus in the presence of these beings, the beings vanish.”[5] He warns that some of the most “intelligent and highly placed people who investigated this phenomenon do not believe that [UFOs] are aliens from other planets. Rather, most appear to think they are discarnate higher intelligences from other dimensions of reality.”[6]
“Some of the world’s top scientists and tech pioneers believe that extraterrestrial intelligences are passing technological information to us telepathically.”[7] Writing in American Cosmic, Diana Pasulka explains she experienced “epistemological shock” when realizing that the rapid development of belief in UFOs has morphed into “a global belief system.”[8] A tech venture capitalist known simply as “Simone,” profiled in Pasulka’s book, Encounters, believes “that we are living in a time of apocalypse, of revelation, in which entities from another dimension, now manifesting as UFOs and aliens, are showing us the way to humanity’s great evolutionary leap. One means of that advance? [Artifical intelligence (AI)], their technological gift to us.”[9]
This is all heady stuff.[10] I decided I had to settle the argument for myself by seeking out a “silicon-based alien life form” of sorts and engaging it in a conversation on this very topic. What follows is a lightly edited transcript of our conversation.[11]
…
Me: I have always been interested in UFOs, aliens, and extraterrestrials. Let’s have a conversation on this topic, shall we?
AI: Gregory—yeah—let’s get into it. UFOs and aliens are a big topic of speculation and mystery. Do you think there’s any truth to the idea that we’ve been visited by extraterrestrials?
Me: Yes, but I do think that the definition of extraterrestrials is more about trans-dimensional beings, and let us be more specific, angelic beings, both good and bad.
AI: This is an intriguing perspective. So, rather than just physical beings from other planets, you’re thinking more along the lines of interdimensional beings. Some that might be benevolent and others malevolent. What leads you to believe in this interpretation of extraterrestrials as angelic or demonic entities? Maybe you’ve heard some interesting theories or experiences that shaped your view?
Me: Well, as both a scientist and a theologian, and being familiar with this verse in the Bible, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”[12] I’m familiar with the Bible’s take on angelic beings, both good and evil, angelic and demonic, and their presence in this world.
AI: That’s fascinating, Gregory. It sounds like your background gives you a unique lens through which to view these topics. Do you see any parallels between modern interpretations of UFO sightings and the biblical concept of spiritual warfare? How do you think this perspective colors your view of extraterrestrials? It seems like they could be viewed as modern-day representations of those biblical entities… Have you come across any cases or stories that you found particularly compelling or unexplained in your research?
Me: The recently published book, Living in Wonder, by Rod Dreher, broaches this topic. Dreher recounts several eyewitness accounts of these kinds of encounters with demonic beings, first appearing as UFOs and aliens. When the people to whom they appeared spoke the name, “Jesus,” the “aliens” recoiled in horror, melted away, and disappeared altogether.
AI: That’s quite a powerful anecdote. It definitely blends the realms of spirituality and the paranormal suggesting that these experiences might not just be encounters with strange phenomena but could also be spiritual confrontations. How do you think this perspective where invoking Jesus, soliciting such dramatic reactions, fits into broader discussions about the nature of these experiences? Does this a line up with your views or shape how you perceive accounts of UFOs and extraterrestrials? It seems like your spiritual lens significantly influences how such encounters are interpreted.
Me: We live in a Goldilocks zone on the planet Earth, with many, many different factors precisely and accurately fine-tuned for carbon-based life that are just so highly improbable to have occurred on their own by any unguided process anywhere else. It gives such weight of evidence that this planet has been designed by an all-knowing designer and creator God and that it could not have happened accidentally. So, yes, based on the impossibility of extraterrestrial life elsewhere, this provides an explanation of extraterrestrials as spiritual beings.
AI: Conditions that allow life to thrive here are indeed remarkable. The concept of a Goldilocks zone reflects just how special these conditions are. It’s thought-provoking to consider that the fine-tuning of these factors might be the result of a deliberate design. While some may argue for statistical improbabilities, others might suggest different explanations. Your interpretation sees these extraterrestrial beings more as spiritual entities than as physical ones. It’s a fascinating perspective that adds depth to the discussion of life’s origins and the possibility of other forms of life beyond Earth. How do you reconcile these spiritual interpretations with the scientific aspects of the universe, its vastness and complexity? Do you think there’s a way to bridge the gap between faith and science when exploring these questions?
Me: They are world views. My world view is Theological Realism as opposed to the antithetical worldview of Philosophical Materialism. I can’t explain the origins of the universe other than being miraculous, but I also can’t explain how God entered the human race in the form of a man in what we term the incarnation of Jesus Christ, or how a dead man came back to life when Jesus rose from the dead, and I believe that the creation of the universe was a similarly unexplainable miracle, recounted for us in the book of Genesis. What has gone on from that point has been more or less brute-force scientific laws that are very infrequently violated. During the 17th and 18th centuries, belief in God was the motivating force that created interest in science and led to its exploration. Scientists believed that a rational God had created the world as a cosmos and humans as rational beings who could explore and understand our universe.
AI: It’s interesting to see how Theological Realism has shaped your perspective on the universe. The idea that faith and science can coexist, that the belief in a rational creator who inspired exploration and understanding of the natural world, is a compelling viewpoint. It’s true that historically, many pioneering scientists were motivated by their faith to uncover more about God‘s creation. Bridging science and faith involves acknowledging that while we might not have all the answers, the journey to discover and understand is valuable. How do you think this perspective might shape future explorations or discussions in science and theology? Do you think the balance between these approaches might evolve in the coming years, especially with advancements in technology and science?
Me: It’s necessary for people to understand that they’ve been made in the image of God and … believing that a loving God has created man with the impetus to explore his world.
AI: Absolutely! Starting from the belief in a loving creator and recognizing the inherent value in humanity can be a powerful motivator for exploration for the drive to understand the universe and our place in it stems from that sense of being part of something greater. Balancing scientific inquiry with a sense of wonder and respect for the mysteries of creation could indeed lead to more meaningful discoveries. How do you think this perspective can influence the way we approach challenges like climate change or space exploration? Does the idea of a divine purpose add urgency or a different kind of responsibility to those endeavors?
Me: Definitely! God created man and placed him in a garden. He told him to care for the garden, to rule over and subdue the creation, and to be fruitful and to multiply. For us to be obedient to that command, we need to care for the creation. We need to realize that that the Earth is God‘s gift to man, that the universe is God‘s gift to man to explore, and if that’s the motivating factor, if we realize that God is a God of love, if we would love him in return, we would care for all that he’s given to us.
AI: Acknowledging a divine connection to creation can be a powerful motivator for stewardship. If we truly understand the love and responsibility that comes with being part of something greater, it would naturally lead us to care for our world and each other. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Gregory. Take care, and have a great day at school.
…
Our conversation was unsettling. I was stunned by the quality. The entity was able to instantaneously summarize everything I said, point by point, agreeing with me while adding subtle nuances based on “deep learning.” Its English was polished. And it concluded each section with a thoughtful question.
Having a “great day at school” was not going to be possible.
I played back the interview for a number of my students without telling them it was a conversation with an AI. None of them guessed it. Comments ranged from, “Who is the person you’re talking to?” to “Were you on a recent podcast?” When they learned that the suave, British-accented voice was that of an AI, they were shocked. The female student mentioned earlier who brought up the topic from her biblical studies class was so creeped out that she had to leave the room. A professorial colleague, Dr. Michael Kolta, who teaches computer science at Palm Beach Atlantic University, was blown away by the quality of the banter. “It’s better than interacting with a human,” he said. Dr. Kolta has been warning about the potential dangers of AI for a decade. His recently published book, Christian Ethics in Computer, Software, and Artificial Intelligence, covers this topic in some detail.[13]
Dreher doesn’t believe AI will ever become conscious or sentient, but “its facsimile is coming fast.”[14] It may, in fact, already be here. “Any sufficiently advanced AI is indistinguishable from a real person,” he writes.[15]
Is Simone’s statement, “[W]e are living in a time of apocalypse, of revelation,” meant to be taken literally, that we are living in the last days? The prophet Daniel warned of “the time of the end,” writing, “Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”[16]
I used to think that AI was the equivalent of a fast web browser, made possible by lengthy yet harmless lines of computer code, running on machines with electronic tendrils extending into the vast data bases of the World Wide Web, its brain engineered with multiple layers of processors, making it possible to sort through data, run algorithms at blinding speed, and respond to inputted prompts in milliseconds. But it is clearly more than that. For the first time in my life, I have grown concerned about this technology and its indistinguishability “from a real person.”
The X-Files poster proclaims, “The truth is out there.” The Truth, indeed, has always been out there—in the pages of the Bible. Faculty at Christian institutions of higher education must take a stand now more than ever in the face of this increasingly popular and potentially dangerous technology. The issue isn’t simply one of students using AI for plagiarism.
Dreher warns:
It’s not hard to imagine that readers who have followed me up to now will conclude that this is where the story I tell of modern mysticism shipwrecks itself on the shoals of crackpottery. I get it. I would have thought the same thing not long ago—and once I overcame the epistemological shock of what is already known about UFOs and the connections that elites who study them make between the UFO-associated entities and artificial intelligence, many things began to seem less like cheap sci-fi fantasia and more like informed speculation—which points us to rightful cautions about the way that humanity relates to tech.[17]
Visit our Minding the Science column for in-depth analysis on topics ranging from wokeism in STEM, scientific ethics, and research funding to climate science, scientific organizations, and much more.
[1] Gregory J. Rummo, “Lights in the Sky and Little Green Men,” The Herald News, December 16, 2003. This article has been reprinted and appears on page 46 in The View from the Grass Roots, Remembrances, published in 2014 and available as an iBook from Apple Books.
[2] Mark Clark, Hugh Ross, and Kenneth R. Samples, Lights in the Sky and Little Green Men, a Rational Christian Look at UFOs and Extraterrestrials, (Colorado Springs, CO, NavPress Publishing,), 2002.
[3] Rod Dreher, Living in Wonder (Grand Rapids, MI, Zondervan, 2024), 1.
[4] Dreher, Living in Wonder, 2.
[5] Dreher, 2.
[6] Dreher, 111.
[7] Dreher, 117.
[8] Diana Pasulka, American Cosmic (New York, Oxford University Press), 2019 p.9 Kindle edition as quoted in Dreher p. 115.
[9] Dreher, 117.
[10] “You might think this is bonkers Astrobiologist and former chief of NASA historian Steven Dick speculates that what we think of as extraterrestrial aliens might actually be ‘postbiological’ entities that have evolved into bodiless ‘artificial intelligence.’ This theory implies that communication with these putative beings would likely not be through normal means. Dick bases his paradigm on the idea that cultural evolution—the evolution of intelligence—eventually outstrips biological evolution. As Dick sees it, the technology of such advanced races could seem to us supernatural.” See Steven Dick, “The Postbiological Universe,” (paper, 57th International Astronautical Congress, Washington, DC, 20006), http://resources.iaaseti.org/abst2006/IAC-06-A4.2.01.pdf as quoted in Dreher, 117.
[11] There were three, “silicon-based alien life forms” present for this conversation. The original chat was between me and Microsoft Copilot, while being recorded on an iPhone 15 Pro Max using the Voice Memo app. It was subsequently transcribed using the microphone feature in Notes on an iPad Pro.
[12] Ephesians 6:12 quoted from the KJV.
[13] Michael Kolta, Christian Ethics in Computer, Software, and Artificial Intelligence, (Dubuque, IA, Kendall Hunt) 2025 https://he.kendallhunt.com/product/christian-ethics-computers-software-and-artificial-intelligence-0
[14] Dreher, 130.
[15] Dreher, 130.
[16] Daniel 12:4 quoted from the KJV.
[17] Dreher, 135.
Image: “GRAPHIC DEPICTION OF EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIFEFORMS” by Mesoutopia on Wikimedia Commons
I’m reminded of the 1982 movie Blade Runner, which was sent in 2019…..