"Edge of Belief"

UFOs, Aliens, and the Catholic Imagination

Friday, I attended the world premiere (intergalactic premiere!) of “Edge of Belief,” a half-hour documentary subtitled “UFOs, Aliens, and the Catholic Imagination.” It was just one of many outstanding colloquia of the annual Fall Conference of the De Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture at the University of Notre Dame. This year’s theme: “Ever Ancient, Ever New: On the Catholic Imagination.”

The film, produced by Brett Robinson of the McGrath Institute for Church Life at Notre Dame, does not promote a narrative trying to prove or disprove the existence of extraterrestrial life, rather it seeks to beg religious questions.

The film and the discussion following it addressed theological and philosophical questions surrounding the mysteries of existence. Those interviewed in the film include C.S. Lewis-scholar Michael Ward, Diana Walsh Pasulka, author of American Cosmic: UFOs, Religion, Technology, and Georgetown philosophy professor Marie George.

UFOs, now popularly referred to as UAPs—unidentified anomalous (or aerial) phenomena, were the subject of a Congressional hearing July 27 with another scheduled for November 13.

The in-person discussion panel following the film included Robinson, theologian Christopher Baglow, and French-Canadian artist Jonathan Pageau. Among the fascinating questions and commentary:

• How our understanding of space changed with photos of Earth taken from the Moon.

• We live among innumerable stars, innumerable planets; is our worldview expansive enough to consider life on other planets?

• Effect on/of Divine Revelation.

• Fallen and unfallen angels in literature; stories of good and evil that play out in the cosmic realm; religion and rocketry.

• Aerial phenomena in medieval art; Holy wisdom of the centuries.

• Applying Catholic principles to a universe that perhaps has surprises in it.

• Baglow: “We want to know what, how, but above all, why?”

• Pageau: “To do justice to the mystery, we must be cautious as we enter these narratives, with the wisdom our tradition brings.”

I can highly recommend “Edge of Belief.” I’m told the film will eventually be uploaded to McGrath’s YouTube channel. It’s not there as of this morning but if interested you can keep checking the channel here. I’ll certainly post a link when it is.