From: mk_thisisit
The idea that humans could be visited by aliens is considered a logical possibility, but one that is often taken more seriously than warranted by evidence due to underlying human needs and desires [00:00:05], [00:01:17]. While the existence of intelligent life forms in the universe is believed to be a reality and that humanity is not alone [00:00:09], [00:06:30], direct visitation scenarios are seen as highly improbable due to the vast time scales involved in the development of intelligent life [00:01:32].
Human Predilection for Belief
There is a “predilection for believing in things that are clearly untrue” [00:07:04], such as “channeling” or membership in a “galactic family” [00:06:55], [00:07:01]. This inclination stems from a profound human desire for reality to possess a deeper dimension beyond superficial experience [00:07:17].
Psychological Needs Met by Belief
People are often driven by a “longing” to:
- Have a greater influence on the universe [00:07:28].
- Feel a deeper connection with the universe [00:07:30].
- Find more meaning in their lives [00:07:33].
Taking certain strange phenomena seriously, including UFO sightings, helps meet these psychological needs [00:07:45], [00:09:26]. Such beliefs can reinforce the idea that individuals are “chosen ones” or have access to a “deep truth” hidden from others, making them feel important [00:07:47]. This can also be described as a “fanciful imaginations of a mind desperately seeking something to cling to to give meaning to its life” [00:09:14].
Science as an Alternative Source of Wonder
It is suggested that if people understood science better, they might find similar fulfillment [00:08:00]. Quantum mechanics, for instance, is described as “magical enough,” “strange,” and “extraordinary,” even baffling Albert Einstein [00:08:06]. The realities revealed by science are presented as “stranger than the ideas of channeling” or even alien visitation [00:08:33]. Unlike speculative beliefs, scientific discoveries are “supported by experimental evidence” [00:08:43].
There is an opportunity to engage people with the “strange wonderful reality that science reveals,” rather than allowing them to rely on “fanciful imaginations” to find meaning [00:09:07].