Is it easier to believe in God or in UFOs?

I suppose this sounds like a joke or a trick question, maybe even a riddle, but it’s not.

Who knew they study this kind of stuff?

Over the last several years some prestigious institutions have learned that people who don’t believe in God are very likely to believe in the paranormal and UFOs. To the contrary people who believe in God and who attend church are rather unlikely to believe in the paranormal.

It really does sound like a strange turn of events.

What is it that makes these polar opposite sets of belief?

As a follower of Christ, a faithful church member, and a believer in God, here are some areas I see.

First, studying Scripture and following Christ make you less likely to fall for just anything. In my view, believing in the paranormal is falling for anything. In fact, those without religious underpinnings are twice as likely to believe in ghosts.

Popular culture would lead you to think that a person who believes in God and follows Scripture would be less likely to live in reality. According to the study, the reverse is true. The person who is steeped in Scripture has a much more healthy view of the world.

Second, people who believe in God are actually more scientific than those who don’t think God exists. In addition to being more likely to believe in ghosts those who are less religious are also more likely to believe in UFOs and the paranormal.

Why is this the case? One author suggested that we all need meaning in our lives.

Religious people have meaning. They see themselves as called for a purpose. That purpose has to do with the God they worship–the God who created all things for His purpose.

Pascal reminded us that we have a God shaped vacuum that only God can fill. People without religious beliefs still need that hole filled. They look for it in most anything, even ghosts and UFOs.

One author who commented on this (who didn’t seem to have religious beliefs) stated that everyone wants to think that maybe there is someone looking after him (even an alien) who will rescue him from the chaos of the world.

I thank God that I worship the Lord who said: “I will never leave you or abandon you” (Hebrews 13:5).

As I study Scripture, I don’t believe less. I believe more. The writer of Psalm 8 expressed my sentiments. “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? Yet you have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor” (Psalm 8:3-5).

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