The Search for Aliens

Last summer I had a chance to co-teach a class on the End Times with Pastor Israel. We looked at different cultural theories of the end of the world (basically movies that show the end of days) and talked about how they reflect different fears of humanity.

One of the ones we looked at was the theory of alien invasion. These stories have long been a part of the culture. “War of the Worlds” was originally a novel written in 1898 by H.G. Wells. It is listed as the first depiction of the conflict between mankind and aliens. And it certainly preyed up people’s fear of the unknown.

In 1938, Orson Welles took that a step further as he produced a radio drama based on “War of the Worlds.” The first two-thirds of the 60-minute drama were presented as a series of news bulletins, and there was no disclaimer that it was a piece of entertainment. Due to the content, and the style of the broadcast, the radio drama engendered fear and paranoia as many people believed the Earth was actually falling under alien attack. In the days following the adaptation, however, there was widespread outrage and panic by certain listeners who believed the events described in the program were real. The program's news-bulletin format was decried as cruelly deceptive by some newspapers and public figures, leading to an outcry against the perpetrators of the broadcast, but the episode secured Orson Welles' fame.

Stories like “War of the Worlds” prey on our fears and curiosity. Our curiosity about what exists in worlds beyond our own, and fears about our lack of technological and intellectual superiority. Consider, when aliens come they are almost always of advanced intelligence and technology, and their coming always proclaims a change in the history of mankind, at least in some way.

And that continues today with "Prometheus," which is another story of aliens that seems to also be about the quest to answer the mysteries of life and the question of whether God exists. Of course, as Christians, we probably have similar questions, but we also understand that we can't explain the unexplainable, something Paul touches on in 1 Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 12:13 says, “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” The Apostle Paul, in that passage, is speaking to our limited ability to fathom the complexity of God. But "Prometheus" is a reminder that we won't ever stop trying.