A former NASA astronaut has issued a chilling claim that UFOs are demonic beings rather than extraterrestrials, citing a warning in the Bible as proof.
Charles Duke, who served as lunar module pilot on Apollo 16 in 1972, shared his belief with the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), pointing to 2 Corinthians 11:14 in the Bible.
'The Lord says what we're seeing is real, but the devil can appear as an angel of light, the Bible says,' Duke said.
He claimed UFOs were drawing people away from their faith and encouraging them to pursue supposed alien beings. 'UFOs are trying to turn us away from the truth,' he said. 'They're demonic.'
Duke, 91, said he had long held this belief, recalling a moment when he prayed to God for a sign to confirm his suspicions.
He asked for something specific: that a close friend, a businessman who never discussed such topics, would bring up UFOs at breakfast the following morning.
According to Duke, that is exactly what happened. 'Charlie, come on over. I want to start talking to you about UFOs,' he recalled his friend saying.
Duke interpreted the exchange as an answer to his prayer, reinforcing his belief that the phenomena have a demonic origin.
Charles Duke, who served as lunar module pilot on Apollo 16 in 1972, discussed his belief about UFOs, saying they are demonic and are leading people away from Christianity
Duke’s comments echo 2 Corinthians 11:14, which says: 'And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.'
In the surrounding passage, the Apostle Paul warns believers about false apostles and deceitful workers who present themselves as representatives of Christ.
Duke appeared to apply that warning about deceptive appearances to UFOs, suggesting that supposed extraterrestrial visitors could conceal a demonic identity and draw people away from their faith.
Religious interpretations of UFOs have also been voiced by Vice President JD Vance and conservative commentator Tucker Carlson.
Vance has said he believes in supernatural phenomena and suggested that a powerful being that harms humans could be understood as a demon, while one that helps them might be seen as an angel.
He argued that such beings could appear indistinguishable from technologically advanced extraterrestrials to a human observer.
Speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast in 2024, Carlson said: 'They're from here, and they've been here for thousands of years, whatever they are.'
'And it's pretty clear to me that they're "spiritual entities,"' he continued, 'whatever that means.'
Charles Duke cited the verse that says the devil can appear as an angel of light, which he interprets as being UFOs seen in the skies
Apollo 16 was NASA's 10th crewed Apollo mission and the fifth human landing on the moon, launching on April 16, 1972, and returning on April 27, 1972. Above is Duke saluting the flag on the moon
While the belief that UFOs are demonic is gaining traction, Father Lee Taylor, who leads three churches in North Wales, told the Daily Mail that several passages of Scripture suggest the mysterious objects in our skies are better understood as non-human intelligence than demonic beings.
He pointed to Genesis' description of humanity as God's supreme creation on Earth, Ezekiel's vision of the 'wheel within a wheel,' and Jesus' statement in John 14:2 that 'in my Father's house are many rooms.'
Taylor said the Church should begin examining those passages now, arguing that Christians need to prepare theologically for the possibility of non-human intelligence before any official confirmation sparks confusion or fear.
He believes the discovery of intelligent life beyond Earth would not undermine Christianity, but instead expand humanity's understanding of God's creation.
'A bigger universe, or the discovery of a bigger universe, doesn't make God smaller,' Taylor, who has been ordained for 15 years, said. 'It just makes creation bigger.'
'I don't think it's a challenge to faith. I think it's a challenge to the limits of our theological imagination,' he added. 'I think a larger universe demands a larger theology.'
He also urged fellow Christians to reconsider the belief that UFOs are demonic, warning that it encourages people to respond with fear rather than to approach the phenomenon with an open mind.
'I don't think it's the most helpful framework for discussing an unknown phenomenon. It can encourage people to project fear or certainty onto something we don't yet understand,' Taylor said.
He argued that, if intelligent life exists beyond Earth, 'there's no reason to assume that every other form of intelligence would fit neatly into categories of absolute good or absolute evil.' Instead, he believes such beings would likely reflect the same diversity already found among humanity.