Ancient Alien Theorists Suggest…

I watch very little television.  When I say I watch very little television, I mean very little.  I really don’t care for sit-coms or dramas.  And don ‘t even talk to me about game shows or daytime television.  Blech!  My viewing is mostly limited to sports, news and documentaries.

Having said that, there is one program that I make a special effort to watch:  Ancient Aliens on the History Channel.  That’s right, I said Ancient Aliens.  If you’re familiar with the show, you probably think I’ve lost my mind.  If you’re not familiar with it, let me try and describe it to you.  Ancient Aliens features a colorful cast of ‘alternative’ theorists who believe that our planet was visited in the distant past by extraterrestrials.  These visitors from space, it is asserted, modified human DNA in an effort to guide human evolution.  They are also able to make astonishing connections between aliens and oh, let’s see:  Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, angels, Atlantis, various religious scriptures, giants, the British Royal family (they’re actually alien lizards in disguise), miracles…really anything.

Their leaps in logic are truly breathtaking.  And hilarious.  The presenters seem to say whatever pops into their minds regardless if it makes any sense or not.  Often, the conclusions of one episode will contradict the conclusions of a previous episode.  It doesn’t seem to matter; if you say something crazy, but say it quickly and sprinkle it with a few facts, you can fool a number of folks.  I’ve heard celebrities on television talk about their belief in what’s presented on Ancient Aliens.  I’ve even overheard conversations in restaurants where claims made on the program are repeated as fact. 

Which leads me to ask, what has happened to our ability to think critically?  It’s not just that we believe crackpot theories about ancient alien visitors; look at the whole QAnon movement.  The things they believe are absolutely bonkers.  But, unlike the views shared by Ancient Alien theorists which are amusing but harmless, the lies spread by the QAnon cult are actually dangerous.  Not only did their lies help get people killed on January 6^th, but those same lies are tearing our country apart.

It just goes to show that the truth matters.  But, truth alone is not enough; truth alone will not bring unity.  As St. Bernard of Clairvaux said (see the home page), “Truth without grace is bitter.”  Truth must go hand in hand with grace.  There is one person who personified both truth and grace:  Jesus.  Jesus spoke truth, but he did it with grace and love.  He didn’t speak truth merely to win arguments or convert people to his view; he spoke truth tempered by love in order to change hearts.  He wasn’t always successful.  He spoke truth to power and the political and religious authorities turned a deaf ear.  They heard only enough to bring about his execution.

We need both grace and truth at this moment in our history.  We need open ears that are willing to listen to the truth and tongues that are willing to speak it gracefully.  Who knows, we might even learn something in the process.  We might even learn to love one another.

This is especially true for the church.  For example, I am very upset with the – I’ll say it, lies – Franklin Graham is spreading about the election, etc.  I believe he is doing real damage both to the country and to our faith, so I wrote him a very nasty letter.  While it contained the truth (in my view), it was devoid of grace. Thankfully, I had the good sense not to mail it.  Instead, I have added Franklin to my prayer list.

Is it possible that praying for our enemies instead of vilifying them could lead to healing and understanding?  Can love unite us?  Ancient Alien theorists say yes.

Grace to you and peace. 

(Tune-in Fridays for Ancient Aliens on the History Channel and also check this site on Friday for a bonus Ancient Alien poem.  In the meantime, keep watching the skies!)