Aeons, Archons, Angels, or Aliens? A Gnostic Interpretation of Ancient Aliens Theory

During the long months of the 2020 shutdown, I spent a surprising amount of time watching the History Channel series Ancient Aliens. I began as a skeptic, but the sheer variety of evidence presented gradually challenged my assumptions.

Many years earlier I had read Erich von Däniken’s Chariots of the Gods?, so I was already familiar with the basic outline of ancient alien theory. I had also read Whitley Strieber’s Communion when it was first published, giving me a passing familiarity with the subject of alien abductions. But the evidence presented on Ancient Aliens goes far beyond those early books. At this point, only the most dedicated naysayer could remain completely unmoved by the questions the series raises.

For those unfamiliar with the theory, the basic claim is that various extraterrestrial civilizations have been visiting Earth for thousands, perhaps even millions, of years. The stories told around the world of gods descending from the sky and living among ancient peoples are interpreted not as myths, but as historical accounts. According to the theory, these visitors shared knowledge with humanity, particularly technological knowledge, helping advance civilization.

Some theorists go even further. They propose that extraterrestrials may have altered human DNA, contributing to the emergence of modern humanity, and that they may continue to influence our evolution through the phenomenon of alien abduction. Others suggest that Earth’s entire ecosystem was seeded from elsewhere (panspermia), including the possibility that our moon was deliberately positioned to stabilize Earth’s axis and create the tides necessary for life.

I eventually persuaded my brother Bill to watch the series with me. Over the past several years we have viewed and discussed virtually every episode in its fifteen-season run, some more than once. Yes, many of the stories overlap. The same evidence often appears repeatedly, accompanied by familiar commentary. Yet we found the repetition useful. It allowed us to compare claims, identify recurring themes, and test the internal consistency of the arguments being made.

Bill and I pride ourselves on being open-minded, but we also anchor that openness in logic and critical thinking. As you know, we are both PhDs, with backgrounds in philosophy and rhetoric, and we have both taught critical thinking at the university level. So don’t come away with the notion that we accepted every claim hook, line, and sinker.

One question in particular has occupied much of our attention. Were the gods of antiquity really gods? Were the fallen angels described in the Book of Enoch truly angels sent from God? Or were these figures actually advanced extraterrestrials whose technology was interpreted as divine power?

The Book of Enoch tells of heavenly beings who descended to Earth, mingled with humanity, and even took human wives. Their offspring became known as the Nephilim. The biblical flood is said to have been sent to eradicate these hybrids. But what exactly were the Nephilim? What sort of God would destroy nearly all life on Earth to remove them? And why do angelic beings appear throughout the story warning certain humans to prepare for what was coming?

As the theorists on Ancient Aliens frequently point out, such stories can be viewed either as myths or as history. If they are history, however, who are the actors involved? Are we truly dealing with God, angels, and the deities of ancient cultures? Or are these accounts describing advanced off-world intelligences engaged in competing visions of humanity’s destiny, sometimes with catastrophic consequences?

These questions have fueled countless discussions between Bill and me. Interestingly, they have unfolded alongside our ongoing exploration of Gnostic theology. As we’ve continued untangling the distinctions between Aeons, Archons, angels, fallen angels, the God Above All Gods, and the god of this world, we’ve gradually arrived at a framework that makes surprisi