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The modern fascination with Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), commonly known as UFOs, took flight in 2017 with a New York Times report on strange encounters by U.S. military pilots. Since then, congressional hearings, whistleblowers, and public discussions have fueled speculation about what the government truly knows. While some remain skeptical of extraterrestrial visitation, the era has unearthed questions about government knowledge, potential agendas, and the very nature of UAP experiences.
Religious studies professor Diana Walsh Pasulka, who examines UAP experiences as a unique form of American religion, journey began during her research into Catholic history, specifically how belief in the afterlife and other worlds manifested in popular culture.
Pasulka’s archival work on the Catholic doctrine of Purgatory uncovered centuries-old documents detailing aerial phenomena witnessed by Europeans. These accounts, often interpreted through a religious lens, described “flying houses,” “little beings about three feet tall and shiny,” and even balls of light entering convents, believed to be souls from Purgatory.
These historical sightings struck Pasulka with their uncanny resemblance to modern UAP reports.
Her skepticism began to decrease after attending a MUFON (Mutual UFO Network) conference, where firsthand accounts of UAP encounters mirrored the historical narratives she had discovered.