UFOs, ETs AND THE NEW AGE: A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE

This paper, authored by Doug Potter and presented at the 1997 National Conference on Apologetics, Cults and Other Religions, examines the UFO phenomenon from a Christian perspective. The author traces the history of UFO sightings from ancient times to the modern era, noting the rise of the UFO movement following the 1947 sightings by Ken Arnold and the Roswell incident. Potter discusses various government investigations, including Project Sign, Project Grudge, and Project Blue Book, noting that while some sightings remain unexplained, many are attributed to natural phenomena, hoaxes, or military activities. The paper argues that the UFO movement has increasingly become intertwined with New Age occultism, with some enthusiasts claiming that aliens are here to announce a 'coming new age' or a 'second coming' of a common teacher. Potter critiques these beliefs, asserting that they are incompatible with Christian teachings regarding the nature of God, the divinity of Jesus Christ, and the prohibition of occult practices. The author further suggests that some UFO reports, particularly those involving abductions or contact, share characteristics with demonic possession and psychic phenomena. He cites various researchers, including Hugh Ross and Bill Alnor, to support the argument that there is no scientific or scriptural evidence for extraterrestrial life and that the pursuit of UFO research can be spiritually and physically dangerous. The paper concludes by dismissing the idea of extraterrestrial visitation as statistically improbable and spiritually misguided, urging Christians to focus on their faith rather than the search for alien life.