Article Overview
The people at CBN (The Christian Broadcasting Network) like to repeat what Hugh Ross speaks about in his book: "Lights In the Sky & Little Green Men: A Rational Christian Look at UFOs and Extraterrestrials" by Kenneth Samples , Hugh Ross, Mark Clark May 2002. In this book and as repeated on his interview with CBN (2019). That UFO's encounters are actually encountered with inter-dimensional demons and then goes on to build a very bad an unconvincing argument.
I break each one of these claims down and explain why I do not believe them and consider them to be made in bad faith. Why Are UFOs Interpreted as Demons?
When it comes to things such as "unidentified flying objects" which was a term that replaced the previous 'flying saucers" term and was coined by a Edward Ruppert of Project Blue Book.[1] This term was used to capture encounters or objects seen that had no explanation, naturally the military felt it necessary to record these incidents for security reasons.[2] But what they actually are is well, "unknown" that is the "U" in UFO. It stands for unidentified. Assuming they are not American military craft or drones is more likely than something extraterrestrial. When we start speculating beyond this, the possibilities become almost endless; they are time travelers, sprits, sprites, gaseous bulbs, wormholes, inter-dimensional beings, the list could go on and on.
But to stop at inter-dimensional demons is arbitrary and only centered around a biblical belief in evil beings as found in the stories of the bible. And in the bible demonic beings are not described as being inter-dimensional but rather of the earth. In the Bible, demons are primarily described as spiritual beings—specifically fallen angels—who rebelled against God under the leadership of Satan. Rather than featuring the horned, cloven-hoofed monsters of modern pop culture, the scriptures define them by their malevolent nature, spiritual origins, and moral corruption.
How the Bible Describes Demons
In the bible demons are described as: Fallen angels, invisible spirit beings that are unclean and evil that who Satan uses to deceive and lead people astray from God. They possess and afflict people and animals to cause mental and physical affliction; muteness, blindness and violent seizures.I personally do not believe in demons, but according to the bible if they do exist, they would first off be "unseen" .
- Colossians 1:16 (KJV): "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers..."
- 2 Corinthians 11:14 (KJV): "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light."
They would more likely take the form of a bird or other deceiving form and most likely they would leave the viewer mute or blind.
- Matthew 12:22: "Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw."
- Luke 13:11: "And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself." Luke 7:21: "And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight."
If these things were demons (according to Christian mythology) then it only makes sense that they would conform to how the bible describes them. The fact that they are seen goes against (their) scripture, that the being does not possess an animal or take that form goes against scripture, the fact that they do not leave the viewer afflicted goes against scripture.
Examining Hugh Ross’s Argument
Hugh Ross seems to be a proponent of this theory, even though it seems to go directly against what the bible states and Ross claims they are seen and they take the form of these "UFO's" even going so far as to believe the alleged abductees are actually possessed, and yet these "possessions" leave the abductee not mute, not blind and not inflicted with seizures.
He believes that whatever is behind the occult, witchcraft, demonology is also behind the residual of UFO encounters? I don't see how the study of esoteric topics has anything to do with what people believe to have seen and can not be absolutely certain of without question.
Claim #1: The closer the encounter with UFO's it's 100% deleterious No, that is not the case. There have been thousands of encounters with UFO's that were a positive and even considered a spiritual experience by those having the encounter.
No, they are not always deleterious.
"What may be the most significant aspect of the interim results is that approximately 70% (N=2,279) of the study population claimed that their CE changed their life in a “positive way.” In contrast, only 15-20% reported a “negative” impact from their CE. Further, the majority of subjects did not report events typically associated with the traditional held beliefs regarding the “alien-abduction” phenomena." [3]
Claim #2: A correlation between the degree of occult activity in the individuals life and their UFO experiences. Of the studies I briefly researched none provided any "occult" activity such as those who study any esoteric topics. They did have higher degrees of paranormal belief and self-reported psychic ability, but that is not limited to only those who study esoteric topics such as Witchcraft, Paganism, Ceremonial Magic, Alchemy, Hermetic, Astrology, Natural Magic, Herbalism or Philosophy.[4]
"Experiencers were found to show higher levels of dissociative, absorption, paranormal belief, paranormal experience, self-reported psychic ability, fantasy proneness, tendency to hallucinate, and self-reported incidence of sleep paralysis."
As for those of a particular religious background, not surprisingly the majority were from a Christian faith.[5]
Considering that in 2021 there were 31% of Catholics that agreed aliens visited us, and "other" religions were 23% which probably contains an even smaller proportion of Pagan spirituality, the answer is no.
There is no correlation.
Claim #3: It is scientifically testable?
How could what people believe that they saw be scientifically tested, if what they saw was never discovered as to what it actually is? to the best of my knowledge is there no study of localized "occult activity" and the proliferation of UFO sighting. For the studies I did look into referenced above. Those people who believe to either been abducted or seen a UFo that they believe is an alien extraterrestrial craft those people are prone to:
"...higher levels of disassociative, absorption, paranormal belief, paranormal experience, self-reported psychic ability, fantasy proneness, tendency to hallucinate, and self-reported incidence of sleep paralysis." [ibid 5]
Claim #4: Close the door to occult activity and this will be the end of these UFO experiences. How? First there is no correlation between these UFO sightings and occult activity, so how would "closing the door" to occult activity end UFI experiences?
In Conclusion
Hugh Ross’s theory attempts to merge UFO phenomena with Christian demonology, but in doing so it introduces serious theological and evidential inconsistencies. If demons are to be understood according to biblical descriptions, then many of the characteristics attributed to UFO encounters do not align.
By extending these claims toward Witchcraft, Paganism, and other esoteric traditions, Ross risks reinforcing suspicion and misunderstanding toward minority spiritual traditions without sufficient evidence. At best, the theory is speculative. At worst, it becomes a framework for fear- based apologetics rather than meaningful investigation.
- https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/1947-year-flying-saucer
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_J._Ruppelt
- https://philpapers.org/rec/HERASO-8
- https://www.thearda.com/categories/ahead-of-the-trend/the-truth-isnt-out-there-religion-and-belief-in-aliens
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0010945208001408
