As you know I study, write about, and podcast about beliefs that are untrue (or unproven) and yet widely and passionately held by a lot of people. Some episodes of my Skeptoid podcast deal with religious questions; and I’m also producing a feature documentary on the science behind today’s UFO phenomenon. And one thing I’ve learned is that there is more crossover between evangelical megachurch culture and UFO/alien culture than I ever would have guessed initially.
Here are some examples:
Both cultures are faith-based. Evidence of either God or of alien visitation has never been better than anecdotal.
Both cultures worship holy relics. Evangelicals have their shroud of Turin and their weeping statues (which crumble under skeptical scrutiny) and UFOlogists have their balloons and Navy videos (which crumble under skeptical scrutiny).