What can we learn from Job and from Saint Macarius the Egyptian?
One of the most disturbing readings in the entire Bible is the Book of Job. Particularly striking is the prologue of the book, in which we witness how all the angels take part in a council in Heaven, gathered before God. Among them is also Satan. (Job 1: 6) And it’s not just a passive presence! On the contrary, God speaks to him. From this conversation will result all the trials to which Job is subjected, in order to test his faithfulness to the Creator of all that exists.
The commentators explain to us that this entire discussion in heaven demonstrates, above all, the devil’s absolute submission – though certainly involuntary – to God. For no malevolent being can exert any kind of influence in our world without God’s permission. The same lesson is taught to us through the famous exorcism of the two demon-possessed in the country of the Gadarenes by our Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 8:28-34). Terrified by the presence of God, “the devils besought him, saying: If thou cast us out hence, send us into the herd of swine.” Only with His permission can they indeed enter the pigs. As in other similar cases, the ending of the herd shows us that the destructive capacity of the demons is strictly limited by divine intervention. Everything underscores that the power of manifestation and action of demons is under strict divine control. Without God’s permission, they can do nothing.
However, when God permits demonic actions, they are dreadful: everything that belonged to righteous Job was destroyed – his herds of animals, slaves, camels, and ultimately, his children (Job 1:13-19). And still, it wasn’t enough. The devil would receive permission to even touch “his bone and his flesh” (Job 2:5). Afflicted with leprosy, unrecognizable, Job endures the most terrible torments.
Where the true Christian faith is widespread, heresies and superstitions disappear. And vice-versa, where the true faith is in crisis and tends to be abandoned through heresies and ultimately apostasy, on the contrary, superstitions and idolatry increase.
This book of Holy Scriptures always disturbs us whenever we read it. The greatest saints and doctors do everything to elucidate, as much as possible, the mystery of evil and the demonic actions permitted by God. For instance, Saint Pope Gregory the Great wrote one of the longest treatises of the patristic era titled Moralia in Job. Similarly, the longest biblical commentary by Saint Thomas Aquinas is also a substantial Expositio super Iob ad litteram. These examples show us how important and at the same time how challenging the teaching about Divine Providence and the “mysterium iniquitatis” (II Thessalonians 2:7) is.
In addition to the testimony of Holy Scripture, we also have a great wealth of lives of saints from which we learn about those actions that, with God’s permission, demons can perform in the world. Being nearly contemporaneous with us, we all know about the assaults upon Padre Pio of Pietrelcina. However, such things were known from ancient times as well, during the life of Anthony the Great (also known as Anthony of Egypt). One of the stories about him, passed down to us through that collection of texts called the Sayings of the Desert Fathers (i.e., Paterikon), holds a special interest for our discussion. Here it is:
“Some brothers came to find Abba Anthony to tell him about the visions they were having, and to find out from him if they were true or if they came from the demons. They had a donkey which died on the way. When they reached the place where the old man was, he said to them before they could ask him anything, ‘How was is that the little donkey died on the way here?’ They said, ‘How do you know about that, Father?’ And he told them, ‘The demons showed me what happened.’ So they said, ‘That was what we came to question you about, for fear we were being deceived, for we have visions which often turn out to be true.’ Thus the old man convinced them, by the example of the donkey, that their visions came from the demons.”
Treatises of practical theology, such as Father Jordan Aumann’s titled Spiritual Theology, contain a distinct chapter dedicated to exceptional mystical phenomena. Named “discernment of spirits,” this chapter discusses even the issue of demonic influences. The aforementioned history, about Saint Anthony the Great, demonstrates that indeed there are demonic visions and revelations. Saint John Chrysostom also revealed, in a series of sermons dedicated to the works of darkness, that the devil can produce – with God’s permission – imaginative visions. This very thing happened in the case of Saint Anthony mentioned above. For those incapable of discernment, the outcome is always disastrous: beginning to be convinced that they possess great divine gifts as “chosen” ones, they find themselves led to commit abominable acts under such malevolent influences. Therefore, the holy fathers of desert strongly recommend never taking such phenomena seriously but rather minimizing them.
As we have seen in the case of the warnings and miracles at Fátima, God does not act except in an intelligible manner, with a clear message – a call to repentance and to the true virtue of religion – and a well-defined purpose – the salvation of souls or the punishment of those who refuse to heed Heaven’s requests.
But what about extraterrestrials?
The crisis of faith and the spread of superstitions
Before opening a concrete discussion about whether UFO phenomena can be considered demonic manifestations, I will share a quote not from Chesterton (who is also well-known for such insights) but from a German philosopher, Max Ferdinand Scheler (1874-1928). To appreciate the significance of this particular thinker, it suffices to recall that he was a professor who profoundly influenced Edith Stein (known as Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross OCD, 1891-1942). So, here is the quote:
“Man either believes in God, or he believes in an idol.”
This short sentence carries implications as profound as those known to the great Fathers of the Church, Doctors, and theologians who have studied demonic influence. Firstly, the quote implies an axiomatic truth proven throughout the history of Christian missions. It states that where the true Christian faith is widespread, heresies and superstitions disappear. And vice-versa, where the true faith is in crisis and tends to be abandoned through heresies and ultimately apostasy, on the contrary, superstitions and idolatry increase. Naturally, demonic actions intensify where divine Truth and holiness vanish. Apply this axiom to the Pachamama episode that took place at the Vatican in October 2019, and you will easily understand the underlying basis of such an event.
Furthermore, in order to properly judge the UFO issue – just like any type of “paranormal” phenomenon – it is necessary to consistently apply the most important virtue in such situations: prudence. Taking prudence seriously will lead us to a rule outlined by Father Jordan Aumann O.P. in the previously mentioned work:
“One may not definitely attribute to a supernatural cause that which could possibly have a natural (or diabolical) explanation. Thus two extremes will be avoided, namely, to see supernatural or miraculous in every unusual phenomenon or to refuse to recognize anything but the natural in any kind of phenomenon.”
Father Aumann’s statements are based on that fundamental teaching which informs us that the phenomena occurring in our world can only have three kinds of causes: natural, demonic (i.e., preternatural – when the devil acts with divine permission), and divine (i.e., supernatural – when God Himself acts). Usually, those who lack a prudent and accurate understanding of things tend to exaggerate the preternatural dimension. And they do so without conclusive evidence – because obtaining such evidence is often very difficult, if not possible. In the case of UFO manifestations, first and foremost, all possible natural explanations must be carefully evaluated: atmospheric phenomena, weather balloons, aerial vehicles, and so on.
Demons can produce paranormal phenomena such as: moving or levitating bodies and objects; false visions and hallucinations; phenomena of combustion and luminosity; appearances and disappearances of beings, bodies, or objects through the placement of obstacles that hinder sight or through direct actions on the sense of sight.
If all of these natural possibilities are ruled out and the observation withstands careful analysis, then it can be discussed from the perspective of a preternatural or supernatural influence. Usually, the latter is excluded: as we have seen in the case of the warnings and miracles at Fátima, God does not act except in an intelligible manner, with a clear message – a call to repentance and to the true virtue of religion – and a well-defined purpose – the salvation of souls or the punishment of those who refuse to heed Heaven’s requests.
On the other hand, we must admit based on what the Holy Fathers and Doctors of the Church teach, along with the theologians who follow their teachings, that demons can produce paranormal phenomena such as: moving or levitating bodies and objects; false visions and hallucinations; phenomena of combustion and luminosity; appearances and disappearances of beings, bodies, or objects through the placement of obstacles that hinder sight or through direct actions on the sense of sight. All of these can explain any type of UFO experience – including the so-called “close encounters of the third kind” where contact between extraterrestrial beings and Earthlings is said to have occurred. Personally, however, I am inclined to believe that in most cases, we are not dealing with such occurrences. To propose the explanation I consider most likely, I will first show you an extremely interesting map:[ii]
It is instantly evident that when it comes to the “density” of reported UFO experiences spanning over 100 years, the United States of America and England hold a significant lead.
Rush for gold, rush for extraterrestrials
The English language culture has been and is dominated by a sensationalist-driven mass media. Let’s not think that the desire for instant success and virality were “discovered” only with the current social networks! They have existed and evolved for decades in the New World across the ocean. A unique feature of the United States of America has been, from the very beginning, its incredible creativity in marketing. If Isaac Newton was tirelessly conducting alchemical experiments to obtain gold, Mark Twain eagerly sought something that seemed more accessible: the best formula to promote his own books. He had understood that the “image” of the brand, the product, or the promoted individuals is crucial.
Today, the desire to achieve a notoriety filled with benefits – in short, success – is the driving force behind the actions of many contemporaries. Nourished by an entire journalistic industry that reports on everything done by film stars and music superstars, it’s no wonder that this desire has reached colossal dimensions wherever it can genuinely generate success. Social networks have transformed this into a veritable tsunami. In such a context, the simple ability to draw attention to oneself through a narrative made credible by numerous highly successful films like Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Independence Day (1996), Signs (2002), and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) explains why the number of such testimonies is gigantic. However, I assure you that primarily, it’s – simultaneously – a matter of self-deception and deceiving others.
The Savior warned us gravely to beware not of extraterrestrials, but of false shepherds – “wolves in sheep's clothing.” (Matthew 7:15) I’m afraid that their number might be even greater than that of the UFOs on the map above.
I personally knew people who were striving with all their might to convince others that they had seen “something.” After a few serious questions, the fragility of such testimonies wavers and those being interrogated can admit that what they saw is not conclusive. However, if this can lead to wealth through the publication of a successful book, we are already moving to another level of experience. I assure you that those who can produce a successful story will do everything in their power to convince us that they are telling the truth. One such case is the Swiss pseudo-historian Erich von Däniken. For decades he has been trying to persuade us that the most spectacular architectural monuments of antiquity – starting with the Egyptian pyramids – are nothing more than evidence of extraterrestrial visits in the past. The famous podcaster Joe Rogan backed out of doing a show with him after realizing – following a private discussion – how inconsistent his “evidence” was.
Fine. So most UFO experiences are fake. But what do we do with those few that pass all the tests? My question suggests that I do indeed believe that such cases can exist. They deserve a careful approach. First and foremost, all possible natural alternatives must be examined. If these are ruled out, then it can be conceded that, indeed, there might be influences of a demonic (i.e., preternatural) nature. The weakening of our supernatural faith in revealed teachings – such as the existence of original sin, its consequences, the uniqueness of Adam and Eve, and the theory of monogenesis – is the precise target of the dark powers. This is because even a hypothetical acceptance of the existence of extraterrestrials puts all these teachings into question. Unfortunately, someone who doesn’t have a strong and deep faith wouldn’t even notice any of the mentioned dangers. On the other hand, I hasten to draw your attention to the fact that associating the UFO phenomenon with the apocalypse is a major mistake.
I have read authors who explicitly or implicitly identify UFO phenomena with those heavenly signs prophesied by Joel (2: 30-31) and also by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself (Matthew 24: 29). Such speculations, particularly within certain neo-Protestant sects, may seem very coherent at first glance. But what they achieve is something entirely different: they divert our attention away from the true celestial signs which are by no means UFOs. One thing that truly seems apocalyptic is the disappearance of orthodox Christian faith, eclipsed by the cloud of heresies summed up in what Pope Pius X called “modernism.” And the Savior warned us gravely to beware not of extraterrestrials, but of false shepherds – “wolves in sheep's clothing.” (Matthew 7:15) I’m afraid that their number might be even greater than that of the UFOs on the map above.
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[i]Robert Lazu Kmita, "Can we believe in Extraterrestrials? A Theological Answer." Available at: https://remnantnewspaper.com/web/index.php/articles/item/6706-can-we-believe-in-extraterrestrials-a-theological-answer (Accessed: 31 August 2023)
[ii]I discovered this map thanks to a tweet from Dr. Simon Goddek.: https://twitter.com/goddeketal/status/1684705899749765120 (Accessed: 25 July 2023)
The main source is here: https://github.com/wlouie1/UFO-Sightings (Accessed: 25 July 2023)
