A cosmic journey took flight at Legacy Hall on Thursday, October 24 as Dr. Diana Walsh Pasulka, UNCW professor of religion and technology in the College of Humanities, Social Sciences and the Arts (CHSSA), led more than 150 alumni, faculty, staff and students on a captivating exploration of her research - a presentation that bridged the gap between religious studies, technological advancements and the enigmatic realm of UFO phenomena (now called UAP).
"The way we study religion in religious studies is interdisciplinary, as archaeologists, as historians and through the study of languages," said Dr. Walsh-Pasulka. "We study from a perspective of non-belief, we're neutral, and I'm not going to advocate any religion or that you believe in UFOs."
From her research, she noticed that "the representations of the souls from purgatory and angels from Jewish and Christian historical records looked like modern reports of UFOs." Intrigued, she started a comparative religious study in 2012 - "a comparative, phenomenon, cross-cultural and transhistorical analysis" that has ultimately led her on a more than decade-long journey to becoming a world-renowned expert in her field.
Referencing the work of Jeffrey Kripal, department chair in Philosophy and Religious Thought at Rice University, Dr. Walsh Pasulka shared that when you look at the history of religions, there appears to be a history of contact events and assent narratives. "The description of a contact event is some type of deity or superpower coming down from the sky and meeting with people on earth," she said. "From that contact event comes the various descriptions of what that meant for people and that becomes religious traditions - contact events are at the very beginning of religious traditions."
Dr. Walsh Pasulka's thought-provoking work continues to transcend academic boundaries and explore contemporary UFO accounts, spiritual narratives and the similarities of ancient religious experiences. Though her research and travels have taken her around the world - most notably to the desert of New Mexico, the Vatican's Secret Archives and the Vatican Observatory - she continues to make an impact on the UNCW community, including her former student Christopher Moreland '06, '10M, now an academic advisor and adjunct instructor in the Department of Philosophy and Religion at UNCW.
"UNCW is a place like no other, and Dr. Walsh Pasulka is a professor like no other," said Moreland. "She's always pushed the boundaries of academia, and she's taught me that we can study anything if we employ the academic, critical and historical methodology - the method of religious studies."
View event photos and learn more about Dr. Walsh Pasulka, her research, travels and books at dwpasulka.com - and explore CHSSA and the Philosophy and Religion Department to learn more about UNCW programs, news and events.
The Pints with Professors series provides an opportunity for alumni and friends to kick back, relax and enjoy an evening of cold brews and campus news while networking with fellow Seahawks. Every event is hosted in a different North Carolina region; features a different academic area and emphasis; and provides alumni an exciting opportunity to meet and greet with professors, explore student and faculty research across various disciplines, and learn more about the many academic advances and impacts UNCW is making around the world.
Stay tuned to the alumni events schedule at alumni.uncw.edu/calendar for the next event in the Pints with Professors series - upcoming dates, featured professors and topics will be announced soon.