(ANALYSIS) Earlier this year, “God Versus Aliens” premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. The documentary,  directed by award-winning filmmaker Mark Christopher Lee, shines a light on the Vatican’s secretive investigations into UFOs. It suggests, in no uncertain terms, that the Vatican has been quietly exploring extraterrestrial phenomena for years. Lee, to his credit, raises some fascinating questions about how the church views the unknown.

The documentary argues that recent Vatican guidelines on apparitions, which have stirred much debate, may signal a deeper understanding of UFOs. According to Lee, these guidelines imply that the church isn't merely considering UFOs as physical objects from another world, but also entertaining the possibility that they could involve paranormal or supernatural elements.

This idea isn’t as outrageous as it might seem. The Vatican has a history of grappling with cosmic questions. For centuries, the church has been involved in discussions about the nature of the universe and our place within it.

READ: The ‘Pope’s Astronomer’ Finds Harmony Between Science And Dogma

In the 16th century, Giordano Bruno, a Jesuit priest and astronomer, proposed that the universe was filled with countless other worlds. His radical ideas led to his execution, reflecting the tension between emerging scientific views and established religious beliefs.

During more recent times, the Vatican has approached the question of extraterrestrial life with caution. Church officials have suggested that discovering life beyond Earth wouldn’t necessarily conflict with Christian teachings. Instead, it could enhance our understanding of God’s creation. This view has been reflected in the work of various Vatican-affiliated scholars who continue to explore cosmic phenomena.

However, Lee's documentary introduces a more intriguing and somewhat unsettling idea: That the Vatican — along with certain governmental agencies — might perceive UFOs not just as unknown vehicles but potentially as entities of a darker nature.

Some researchers speculate that the church’s involvement in UFO research might be part of a broader effort to cover up the truth, perhaps because the reality of these phenomena is too disturbing for the public to handle. The theory suggests that while we might be open to the idea of extraterrestrial life, the notion of beings from other dimensions or realms could be too unsettling for us to grasp. In simpler terms, our primitive instincts might struggle to comprehend the full impact of such a revelation. Our brains would struggle to compute the potential consequences. 

The idea of UFOs having supernatural or demonic origins reflects a historical pattern of interpreting the unknown through a spiritual lens. Across cultures and religions, encounters with the unexplained have often been framed in terms of moral or supernatural significance. This pattern can be seen in various religious traditions beyond Christianity.

For instance, in Islam, there are references to jinn — supernatural beings that exist alongside humans. While jinn are not exactly the same as extraterrestrial beings, they represent an acknowledgment of nonhuman entities that exist in a different realm. Some interpretations of Islamic texts suggest that encounters with jinn could be akin to UFO sightings, viewed through a religious and supernatural framework.

Hinduism, with its innumerable deities and cosmic beings, also provides a context for understanding encounters with the unknown. Ancient Hindu texts describe various flying machines and celestial beings, which some modern readers interpret as possible references to advanced technology or extraterrestrial life. The concept of multiple worlds and beings with extraordinary powers aligns with the idea of a universe full of diverse forms of life.

Buddhism, too, includes the notion of multiple realms of existence. In Buddhist cosmology, there are various heavens and hells, and beings that inhabit these realms can have attributes that might be seen as otherworldly or alien. These beliefs suggest that the universe is far more complex than what we experience in our immediate physical reality. The truth, whatever it may be, could be hidden somewhere in the vast expanse of the cosmos.

In addition to these religious perspectives, many Indigenous cultures have their own interpretations of extraterrestrial encounters. For instance, some Native American tribes have stories of star beings or sky people who come from the stars, reflecting a deep connection between their spiritual beliefs and the cosmos.

Interestingly, and perhaps not surprisingly, “God Versus Aliens” also explores how artificial intelligence could play a role in the search for extraterrestrial life. Unless you happen to live under a rock on a distant planet, you're no doubt aware of AI's impact. It's quickly penetrating every aspect of our lives, from health care to space exploration.

Harvard Professor Avi Loeb, featured in the documentary, provocatively proposes that extraterrestrial intelligence might choose to interact directly with AI on Earth rather than making contact with humans. While this idea may seem far-fetched, it’s not implausible.

If extraterrestrial life does exist, it is likely far more advanced than humanity. Meanwhile, AI is advancing rapidly, with some experts predicting that it could soon surpass human capabilities in virtually every task, including the search for and potentially communication with alien civilizations.

Whether through ancient texts, the Vatican’s Observatory or advancements in technology, the search for extraterrestrial life raises deep-seated questions about our place in the universe and the nature of existence itself.

John Mac Ghlionn is a researcher and essayist. He covers psychology and social relations. His writing has appeared in places including UnHerd, The US Sun and The Spectator World.