Theology, the Paranormal, and Popular Culture

This book argues that paranormal subjects like extraterrestrials, monsters, and spirits should be understood as serious forms of religious expression.Unfortunately, due to various forms of religious and cultural privilege, the paranormal is often belittled, if not outright denied, in conventional studies of faith and spirituality. Richard W. McCarty resists this turn, arguing that the paranormal can be a domain of religious belief and that encounters with UFOS, monsters, or spirit beings are proximate to, and should be taken as seriously as, narratives of supernatural phenomena within mainstream religious contexts. Moving beyond familiar, scholarly approaches of deconstruction, McCarty considers the paranormal through the lens of popular culture, folklore, and lived experience, delving into the representations of paranormal entities across a wide variety of media. Across nine chapters, McCarty’s discussion offers a unique insight into why some forms of supernatural belief are prioritized over others and the role popular culture can play in reshaping religious beliefs and values. Ultimately, this book wields popular culture and folklore to prioritize the experiences of those who have experienced paranormal phenomena, no matter how otherworldly or monstrous.