Today we are continuing where we left off with part 2 of my interview with Kegan Chandler. In our last episode we spent most of our time talking about UAPs and the evidence that has come to light for their existence as well as non-human origin. Today, we are shifting gears to focus on the faith question. If aliens exist, what would that mean for Christian theology? What biblical categories exist to think about non-human intelligences (NHIs)? The answers Chandler provides may surprise you.
Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts
—— Links ——
- See other episodes with Kegan Chandler
- Follow Chandler on Adademia.edu
- Check out his books on Amazon
- Support Restitutio by donating here
- Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
- Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
- Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
- Who is Sean Finnegan? Read his bio here
—— Notes ——
5. You seem to be pointing to a potential overlap between science and what religions have been saying. How do you see this information impacting the ongoing discussion about “faith” versus “science”?
– History of separation of methodological categories
– a convergence of discussion with scientific or non-religious institutions
– example of Bohr, etc.
(short answer)
6. Do you think this is a difficult topic for Christians in particular to investigate?
– Explain (long answer)
7. Are Christian theological discussions about the existence of NHIs something new, or something that’s been motivated only by recent events in the news? Have Christian theologians been interested in this topic before?
– Brief history of this discussion in Western thought
– Greek philosophers
– anthroposolism vs. cosmic pluralism
– The Church Fathers
– Modern “exotheology” (CS Lewis, etc)
– Contemporary Evangelical UFO/Alien demonological and eschatological literature
(short answer)
8. In what ways have theologians imagined that the existence of extraterrestrial life or NHIs could affect Christian theology?
– soteriology
– Christology/The Incarnation
– doctrine of creation; evolution
(medium answer)
9. What are some interpretive options for UAPs/NHI from a Christian theological perspective?
Most important: a realization of our current category problem. “Aliens” vs. “angels.”<– explain in detail
>>>>Christians already believe in NHIs.<<<<< (!)
From here, the options:
– “Demons” or “fallen angels” (negative)
– “good angels” (positive)
– Or a mixture of the above
– The “gods” as referred to in the OT and in ANE literature; or the “divine council”
– Simply other creatures of god who aren’t referenced in the Bible
(long answer)
10. How might we begin to interpret the motivations of entities like these? Have you thought about what some of them or all of them might be up to?
Four basic options:
– Hinder us — explain motivations
– Use us —- explain
– Observe us — The Zoo hypothesis; science or entertainment
– Help us — explicitly warning us; or quietly guiding our evolution
(short answer)
11. Why do you think this is an important topic for human beings in general and for Christians in particular to take seriously?
-Potential technological / energy revolution
-A new awareness of the “human family”
-Survival preparedness as a species (see the Aztecs and Cortes)
-Christians should prepare themselves and their religious worldview for the possibility of ontological shock
-Christians should be thought leaders, not stifling the development of the human story
-Etc.
(long answer)
The two sessions with Keegan Chandler were very rewarding. His perceptions of the possibility of NHI included some that I had not considered. I take the matter seriously and wonder if Chandler has considered Hugh Ross’s Lights in the Sky and Little Green Men. Thanks for the interviews.
I love this! I am so happy to hear it covered by thoughtful believers such as yourselves. My wife and I have a lighthearted test/question that we like to ask our friends: if you collected all the passages in the Bible that have anything to say about God’s appearance, what do you get? My current answer is a 6 foot tall man-looking being with a long white beard sitting on a throne. There is very little in any other direction! All this was to connect on Kegan’s idea of Angels possibly being some king of real flesh NHI with similar genes to ours (both being made in God’s image?) Similar ideas are also covered on the Blurry Creatures podcast. Other NHI such as Bigfoot, Gen 6 “sons of god”, the gods of old mythologies, etc. I have no strong opinions but it sure is thought-provoking!
I remain skeptical about this topic, but I’m willing to exhibit epistemic humility if confronted with more convicting, or rather, unequivocally accurate evidence. I disagree with Kegan that the topic of accepting that UPA and NHI are given and undisputable — not that those were his exact words.
Chandler pointed out in episode 508 that there were claimed sightings before the 1940s. My view is that the topic of UFO was an exciting fantasy at the same time when the Atomic bomb was being discovered as well as the launch of ENIAC. The notion bewitched the mind, and the idea took off. Moreover, I have a distrust of the government and the fact that there are congressional hearings does not convince me of anything, in addition to the fact that those who were questioned were so underwhelming in evidence.
Additionally, I believe professional military pilots are not immune to optical illusions.
With that being said, I will not preclude the ideas of UAP and NHI.
I currently oscillate between atheism and dualism. As for the afterlife, I’m an Epicurean.
Nevertheless, I hold no dogma that rules out aliens. Kegan provided excellent points how angels could be identified as NHI. How much more so can deities? The gods preceding Izanagi and Izanami could be understood as NHI, as well as Shamash and Ishtar from Mesopotamia, and as Chandler pointed out, following the late Dr. Heiser, Yahweh and his heavenly Court. All of these and more allow for a coherent acceptance of NHI, from a religious worldview. Still, if we accept this, then was the angel that taught RamChal real, and actually a NHI? Or, was Moroni a legit NHI communicating with Joseph Smith? I think cases and claims like those would have to be revisited and not dismissed laughably.
I commend Kegan’s interest in this topic. Life is too short to “stay in your lane,” and I think it’s great to have multiple interests.
As for me, I’ll wait for more conclusive evidence, for UAPs to become ubiquitous to the point where they need to renamed as the U will be negated because they will have been indentified.
I will treat them like this Jewish view of the coming of Messiah:
If you have a sapling in your hand, and someone should say to you that the Messiah has come, stay and complete the planting, and then go to greet the Messiah.”
–Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai (Avot de Rabbi Nathan, 31b).
Best!