Cosmosis [Formerly The UFO Rabbit Hole] cover image

Cosmosis [Formerly The UFO Rabbit Hole]

Ep 6: Diana Walsh Pasulka on Levitation, Redaction, and the Ontological Shock of Contact

Apr 4, 2025
Diana Walsh Pasulka, a religious studies professor and author of 'American Cosmic,' discusses her fascinating research on UFOs and spirituality. She explores connections between ancient Catholic mysticism, like levitating saints, and contemporary UFO experiences. Diana shares insights about ontological shock from extraordinary encounters and the cultural significance of new religious movements. With a candid Q&A, she delves into redaction, the symbolism in religious experiences, and whether devotion can shield against malevolent entities.
54:46

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Diana Walsh-Pasulka highlights the parallels between modern UFO experiences and historical religious narratives, suggesting a continuum in spiritual phenomena.
  • The concept of redaction is pivotal in understanding how historical accounts of mystical experiences have been altered, impacting their perceived legitimacy.

Deep dives

Intersection of UFOs and Religious Experience

Diana Walsh-Pasolka emphasizes the intersection of UFO phenomena with religious experiences, suggesting that modern encounters often reflect historical narratives found in religious texts. She draws parallels between contemporary UFO narratives and ascent narratives from Catholic history, such as those of levitating saints. By analyzing original sources, she uncovers correlations between reported experiences of abductions and historical accounts of divine encounters, which evokes profound ontological questions about reality and belief. This examination reframes how society understands not just UFOs but spirituality itself, suggesting a continuum between the two.

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts

Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
App store bannerPlay store banner