Are Reports of Aliens Really Encounters With Demons?

With recent statements by Donald Trump that he will release information about extraterrestrial life, the debate about the possible existence of alien life has ignited once more among Christians.

Science-Based Debate

For some people, the conversation revolves around science, or at least our interpretations. There are those who look at our vast universe and reason that it seems strange for us to be the only ones in such a mind-boggling large universe.

There are others who question that this is a matter of just probabilities and natural features. It does not necessarily follow that certain amount of planets that are the right distance from their sun and have liquid water will have life.

Then there are those who are not against it in principle but based on the huge distances between solar systems, even if there was life on other planets, the chances of us encountering one another are almost nil.

Theology-Based Debate

However, there are others that look at this from an entirely different lens. They do not necessarily doubt that those who have claimed to have encountered aliens or UFOs have really experienced something.

The number and similarity of reports may point to something real. But is it aliens? For some Christians, the possibility of alien life is ruled out by the Bible. The Bible, they believe, teaches that human beings are the pinnacle of God’s creation.

What people are experiencing, according to some, is not encounters with beings from other planets but with demonic forces. This is the ultimate example of demonizing the unknown.

It is a useful belief for sowing fear and getting people to take on the mindset that we are besieged by the forces of evil and that there are people among us who are cooperating by promoting aliens.

What Does the Bible Say?

Truly, the Bible says nothing about the presence or absence of life on other planets. We should not be surprised as there are countless topics that the Bible does not address.

But doesn’t the Bible implicitly suggest that humanity is the pinnacle of creation? The Bible is a book that is written for human readers and addresses human concerns, that is all that we can say.

What would be the theological implications of finding alien life, intelligent or simple?

It depends on how much of our theology embraces mystery and how much of it attempts to explain everything. Alien life would not contradict the basic Christian message. Nothing about what Jesus has for us would be threatened by life on other planets. We have nothing to be afraid of (unless sci fi movies are accurate!).

What I Believe

I am not dogmatic on this issue. I believe it is more likely than not that there is life on other planets somewhere in the universe. I have no views on whether this is intelligent or unintelligent life. However, I am very skeptical that alien life has travelled to earth because of the great distances.

I have no reason to believe that aliens or claimed interactions with aliens are demons.

If you are interested in a great Christian reflection on these questions, I highly recommend C.S. Lewis’s Space Trilogy (this is an Amazon affiliate link), I actually enjoy these stories more than his Narnia stories.