OPINION:
Legendary movie director Steven Spielberg sparked a viral reaction with recent comments questioning how alien disclosure could affect people’s religious beliefs.
“If this truth were just known overnight, if the government announced, ‘Yes, we have been keeping this from you since 1947,’ that would mess up a lot of people,” Mr. Spielberg said during a Sunday interview with “CBS Sunday Mornings” while promoting his highly anticipated, UFO-themed film “Disclosure Day.”
The “Jurassic Park” director went on to discuss how his movie tackles the question of how people of faith might react to the news that human beings aren’t the only intelligent life in the universe.
“And the movie also takes the position of the church,” Mr. Spielberg said. “What does this do to the fundamental beliefs that many of us have? Is God our God only on this planet, or is God a God for every system where there’s civilization, intelligent life and even developing life?”
Mr. Spielberg is hitting on something that’s been getting a fair bit of attention in theological circles: the potential impact the existence of alien life would have on Americans, and, in particular, the faithful.
I’ve had numerous conversations with devout Christians who have echoed Mr. Spielberg’s contentions. Some have even openly postulated that their own faith might be challenged if they discover that sentient alien life is a reality that’s been intentionally kept in the shadows.
But I’m not quite sure why alien life would be such a challenge or barrier to people’s faith. One element that has emerged in the faith conversation surrounds salvation. If Christians believe Jesus came, died and resurrected to save the sins of humanity, how do aliens — particularly if they’re floating around the universe exercising free will — fit into the mix?
Some would argue that such a reality would turn the Bible on its head, but a closer look at Scripture should lead us to dismiss such a notion. Let’s start with the Bible’s most popular verse: John 3:16. It reads, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (NKJV).
This verse proclaims Jesus died for “the world,” indicating the inhabitants of Earth. Another, 1 John 2:2 (NKJV), makes a similar proclamation: “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”
Other Scriptures make it clear that Jesus died for “all people.” This is indicated in Titus 2:11 and 1 Timothy 2:5–6, with other verses pointing to Christ’s sacrifice for humanity. Some might ponder why this matters to the conversation about aliens and UFOs.
Among other topics, some have wondered how Jesus could have died for aliens with hypothetical free will — creatures not mentioned in Scripture and who don’t reside on Earth. But such a concept isn’t biblically unprecedented.
In fact, angels, spiritual beings described in Scripture as “ministering spirits” created to serve humanity, also have free will. But according to the previous verses, these spiritual beings aren’t part of the biblical salvation plan, which appears to be intended exclusively for humanity.
Among other verses, 2 Peter 2:4 indicates that “God did not spare angels when they sinned” and that he “sent them to hell.” Even the Old Testament seems to paint a scenario in which angels “obey” the Lord. Such language seems to indicate that they have agency and choice.
“Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word,” Psalm 103:20 reads.
One of the most fascinating Scriptures — Revelation 12:9 — proclaims that both Satan and his angels were cast down from heaven.
“The great dragon was hurled down — that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray,” the verse reads. “He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.”
Taken collectively, it seems these verses suggest that angels have choice, have sinned and, as a result, have faced punishment. If true, this means there’s no conflict between nonhuman, thinking and reasoning beings existing, making choices, and yet not being covered under the Bible’s salvation paradigm.
Of course, as I cover in my new CBN film “Investigating the Supernatural: Angels and Demons,” many theologians and Christians would reject the alien theory entirely, pointing instead to the belief that apparitions and sightings of purported UFOs and extraterrestrial life are actually demonic manifestations — or simply a lens into the spiritual realm.
Others, of course, would reject any of these ideas, seeing natural causes for strange signs in the skies. Regardless of where one stands, though, there’s no reason to assume that the existence of aliens would create a crisis of biblical proportions for believers.
Plainly stated: There’s simply no basis for Mr. Spielberg’s statements on the matter. Or, at the least, there shouldn’t be any real theological conflict.
• Billy Hallowell is a digital TV host and interviewer for Faithwire and CBN News and the co-host of CBN’s “Quick Start Podcast.” Mr. Hallowell also is the author of four books.
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