Why do people believe?
Series: Supernaturalism and Materialism
“Scientific” worldview is materialist (not as in greedy)
EMPIRICISM (Empire?) What can be measured.
Closed universe—Carl Sagan:
“The cosmos is all there is, all that ever was, and
all that will every be.”
Science(empiricism) excludes the supernatural/metaphysics
Most people dislike materialism—even Scientists
because we can imagine so much more than a closed cosmos
People always have--the supernatural is still compelling.
I Have loved UFO stories since high school
Not because of the flying saucers, but the people who believe.
As a Christian, I am fascinated to know: “How do people believe?”
UFO groups resemble cults
Fellowships of reinforcement—they gather & bolster beliefs
Is that what Christianity is? Could be for some, but that is just
club-ness and tribalism, not authentic faith.
May it not be so.
This Series on the Supernatural explores these questions:
We seek the Truth of Christ, not tribal belief support.
Why does the ufo phenomenon matter?
Because Truth matters. Our only comfort is in Truth.
Life is hard; it is even harder when built on falsehoods.
Good faith constantly sheds falsehoods.
Good faith never puts truth and falsehood on a level.
The Church of Jesus is constantly vigilant against falsehoods
=The idolatries of culture
Why do people believe in UFOs?
Unexplained experiences (not to be doubted!)
All point to bigger reality than closed cosmos
People WANT to believe
People NEED to believe
People don’t like explanations “Mansplaining”
Sagan: Universe all there ever was, is, will be, etc.
Better = Hamlet: “There are more things in heaven and earth,
Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy”
Explanations do not satisfy. We CRAVE the bigger reality.
We WANT to be saved; we NEED to be saved.
Human beings are hardwired for faith, religion, and mythological belief.
What if IT REALLY happened, like the movies?
Imagine: REAL Arrival….
How would it affect us?
Should we trust them? Why? Nature proves unkind and merciless.
Any civilization in this cosmos battles death and decay as we do.
Vatican: Since 2002, an Italian think tank has held
six conferences at the Vatican about the prospect
of non-human intelligence. Why…
Would Christian Faith be threatened?
1. What if they said there is no God?
We would let them know they are wrong.
Could they tell us anything about God?
Only what God has self-revealed, because there
is no “discovering” God from the cosmos UP.
Likelihood. Low. READ HUGH ROSS.
God can do what He wants “other sheep” text.
Observed so far—CHANCE—we’re it.
God’s love could require an entire cosmos for 1 planet our physics to exist.
Looking to the skies? Want to believe?
THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE?
We know the truth. God has revealed himself in Christ.
The Incarnation & Resurrection are Supernatural events
That occurred in the natural cosmos.