What is the Link Between Religion and Aliens?

From dragons and angels in ancient times to flying saucers and abducted aliens in the 20th century, humankind has a penchant for imagining and explaining the unknown using metaphoric and sometimes supernatural terms. This article delves into the connection between religion and aliens, examining whether they are related and discussing the nature of the experiences people have had.

Experiencing the Unknown: From Dragons to Aliens

Myths and legends from centuries past often featured fantastical beings such as dragons, angels, gods, and witches flying on broomsticks. These were tales ascribed to human imagination, influenced by the culture and limited scientific understanding of the era. In the 20th century, the focus shifted to more modern interpretations, with people suggesting that the sightings of flying saucers and abduction stories by extraterrestrial beings stemmed from either mass hysteria or genuine experiences of an unexplained phenomenon.

Theories and Explanations

Authors like Erich von D?niken suggested that human evolution, ancient civilizations, and even religions were influenced by extraterrestrial contact in his book 'Chariots of the Gods?' This idea captivated many fans, including my younger self, as it offered a rational and plausible explanation for these phenomena. However, upon consulting historians and reading critiques such as 'Crash Go the Chariots,' the rational and scientific explanations began to seem more plausible. Still, the idea of aliens remains compelling for their potential impact on spiritual and religious beliefs.

Religious Perspectives on the Unexplained

Many religious texts describe unexplainable phenomena in terms familiar to people of the time. For example, a 5th-century BCE sheepherder might describe a gas emission in a swamp as the actions of a supernatural force. Today, with our greater scientific understanding, such explanations seem inadequate or even false in the face of confirmed evidence.

Shared Experience and Rational Explanation

People often describe their experiences based on their current understanding and may repeat claims without doubting their truth. These experiences, whether they involve angels, miracles, or extraterrestrial beings, can be powerful enough to motivate people to share their stories. How then do we rationally account for these experiences?

Supernatural versus Natural Explanations

One approach is to consider whether the experiences are supernatural or natural. If they are supernatural, then the explanation lies outside the realm of scientific study. Miracles and religious phenomena fall into this category, as they are by definition a-causal and un-reasonable.

Rare or Common Events

If the experiences are natural, they could be classified as either rare or common events. Rare events are those that have not yet been fully understood or replicated, while common events are those that occur frequently enough to be studied.

For rare events, further study could help us understand and possibly replicate the phenomena. For common events, there may be a psychological or perceptual explanation that we have not yet discovered. It is possible that our understanding of the world is flawed, leading us to misinterpret these experiences.

Conclusion

While the connection between religion and aliens remains intriguing, it is important to approach these experiences with a critical and scientific mindset. Although the idea of aliens as a source of religious inspiration may appeal to some, a more grounded and evidence-based understanding might provide a clearer picture of the phenomena at hand.