Aliens and apocalypticism: Christian End Times and alien conspiracy theories

Abstract

[EMBARGOED UNTIL 8/1/2023] The new millennium has brought with it new forms of Christian premillennialist thought. The rise of the Internet and self-publishing has allowed for new strands of theology to develop and flourish without having to answer to a wider Christian body. Developing biotechnology has also raised concerns about the way technology can impact the individual. In particular, a certain milieu has been arguing that these evolving technologies are a spiritual threat to believers, potentially stripping them of their role as a child of God. This thesis will look at a handful of modern Christian authors who combine the Bible with apocrypha, books on the occult, and other sources rejected by fundamentalist Christians to argue that mankind is endangered by demonic forces who puppeteer society. They also warn about transhumanism, which they read as a dangerous ideology that threatens human's genetic purity. This thesis will look at their interpretation of the End Times, their theology of spiritual warfare, and their anti-transhumanism, as well as how they differ from the wider culture of premillennialist Christianity, placing them within a broader context of improvisational millennialism. It will argue that these ideas are a continuation of long-running trends in premillennialism, while highlighting the aforementioned differences. It primarily looks at the works of five authors, but also branches out to other members of this milieu.