Diana Pasulka, a religious studies professor at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, explores the intersection of spirituality and extraterrestrial life. Initially a skeptic of alien encounters, she shares how conversations with those claiming otherworldly experiences reshaped her beliefs. The discussion dives into the growing complexities of UFO sightings and their spiritual implications while drawing parallels to religious texts. Pasulka also examines how these encounters challenge our understanding of intelligence and what it means for humanity’s self-perception.
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insights INSIGHT
UFOs as Spiritual Reality
UFO events are transformative and resemble religious experiences, changing how people view reality.
People reinterpret their existing religions to incorporate these events, creating a new form of spirituality.
insights INSIGHT
Psychic Dimension of UFOs
Many UFO experiencers report psychic phenomena like telepathy and synchronicities.
This mirrors patterns in religious experiences throughout history, suggesting a shared mechanism for spiritual belief.
insights INSIGHT
UFOs as a Door to Non-Ordinary Reality
UFO encounters can open people to a non-ordinary world, altering their perceptions and assumptions about life.
This transformative effect can be similar to that of psychedelic experiences.
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The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be
Katy Milkman
In this ground-breaking book, Katy Milkman reveals a proven path to help readers move from where they are to where they want to be. Drawing on her original research and the work of her world-renowned scientific collaborators, Milkman shares strategic methods for identifying and overcoming common barriers to change, such as impulsivity, procrastination, and forgetfulness. The book offers innovative approaches like 'temptation bundling,' using timely reminders, and creating 'set-it-and-forget-it systems' to make change more achievable. It emphasizes the importance of tailoring solutions to specific roadblocks and using science to stack the deck in favor of successful change.
Encounters: Experiences with Nonhuman Intelligences
Diana Walsh Pasulka
In 'Encounters,' Diana Walsh Pasulka takes readers to the forefront of a revolution involving the possibility of contact with nonhuman life-forms, including UFOs, aliens, angels, demons, artificial intelligence, and dreams. The book features the work and stories of contemporary innovators who are rethinking our most basic assumptions about life and its manifestations beyond our experience. Pasulka invites readers to open their minds and consider the evidence and testimonies, exploring the implications and possibilities of these encounters without trying to prove or disprove their existence. The book is a profound reflection on the nature of reality and the meaning of existence, challenging readers to question their assumptions and beliefs.
Religious studies professor Diana Pasulka was a total nonbeliever in alien life, but she began to question this after speaking with many people who claim to have had otherworldly encounters. She also noticed how these accounts parallel the foundational texts of many religions. She has since written two books on the topic, the most recent of which is Encounters: Experiences with Nonhuman Intelligences. She joins Sean to talk about extraterrestrial life, God, angels, and the renewed interest in UFOs.
Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling), host, The Gray Area
The Gray Area with Sean Illing 
