Date

8-20-2026

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)

Chair

Patrick Slowinski

Keywords

UAP, nonhuman intelligence, Christian leaders, phenomenology, pastoral theology, cognitive dissonance, religious coping, disclosure

Disciplines

Psychology

Abstract

The researcher examined how Christian leaders interpret, respond to, and navigate questions surrounding Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) and nonhuman intelligence (NHI) within their theological and ministerial contexts. Despite growing cultural and governmental attention to these phenomena, little empirical research has explored how Christian leaders engage these questions pastorally or theologically. Using a transcendental phenomenological design informed by Moustakas (1994), the researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with twelve Christian leaders across multiple traditions. Analysis produced ten major themes organized around three research questions addressing theological interpretation, pastoral ministry, and lived experience. Findings revealed a participant group marked by intellectual humility, theological seriousness, and a shared commitment to guiding congregants through uncertainty without dismissing the phenomena or surrendering to sensationalism. A significant cross-cutting finding was the experiencer subgroup, five of twelve participants who reported confirmed or probable personal UAP or NHI encounters and demonstrated distinctive patterns of theological reorientation. Findings contribute to Cognitive Dissonance Theory and extend Pargament's religious coping framework by documenting the fear-to-love interpretive arc as a form of transformative religious coping among Christian leaders engaging UAP and NHI, a population and context not previously studied empirically. Implications are identified for pastoral formation, seminary education, and denominational leadership.

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