Knowledge Tree
David DeSteno
Facts (16)
Sources
Are UFOs Spawning a New Religious Movement? news.northeastern.edu Nov 22, 2024 16 facts
perspectiveDavid DeSteno argues that the term 'cult' is problematic because small religious groups are often labeled as such, even though they may eventually evolve into mainstream religious movements.
claimDavid DeSteno notes that conspiracy theories regarding UFOs often allege that the government is intricately and intimately involved in suppressing evidence of extraterrestrial life.
quoteDavid DeSteno states: "Whether they’re here or not, or whether they’d be friend or foe, remains an open question."
claimIndividuals who have abandoned mainstream faith practices are increasingly turning to beliefs in superior alien technology and guidance to fulfill spiritual needs, which David DeSteno describes as filling a 'God-sized hole'.
claimDavid DeSteno advises that members of new religious movements should ensure they are not being exploited by charismatic leaders.
claimDavid DeSteno hosts a podcast titled 'How God Works: The Science Behind Spirituality.'
perspectiveDavid DeSteno states that belief in superior alien technology 'fills that God-sized hole' for individuals who have abandoned mainstream religious practices because they feel traditional churches and temples do not meet their needs.
quoteDavid DeSteno states: “It’s a common view among religious scholars that religion has always been about powerful beings coming down from the sky and human beings going up.”
quoteDavid DeSteno stated: "When more powerful groups conquer other groups, they enslave them. We have no idea if (aliens) are beneficent beings."
perspectiveDavid DeSteno, a psychology professor at Northeastern University, asserts that the public fascination with unidentified flying objects is driven by a yearning for enlightenment and transcendence, which can lead to the formation of new spiritual movements that may replace or integrate with traditional religions.
claimDavid DeSteno observes that hundreds of new religions form annually, and those that succeed are the ones that effectively 'speak to the moment'.
perspectiveDavid DeSteno notes that while many people attempting to commune with aliens believe the entities are here to help humanity heal and become more spiritual, some Christian communities hold beliefs that these entities might be demons.
claimDavid DeSteno observes that various religious texts, ranging from epic Hindu poetry to the Judeo-Christian Bible, describe phenomena that appear similar to modern descriptions of UFOs and aliens.
perspectiveDavid DeSteno states that it would be incredibly surprising if there were no other life in the vastness of the universe, though whether such life is present or friendly remains an open question.
claimDavid DeSteno notes that the term 'cult' is often used to describe small religions, even though these groups may eventually evolve into mainstream religious movements.
claimDavid DeSteno identifies conspiracy theories as problematic because they allege that the government is intricately and intimately involved in suppressing evidence of UFOs.