This book investigates the sociological mechanisms that have elevated belief in extraterrestrial intelligence to a status comparable to traditional religious faith in contemporary American culture. Diana Walsh Pasulka, a professor of religious studies, utilizes ethnographic research and field interviews to argue that media, technology, and Silicon Valley culture have replaced traditional religious institutions as the primary authorities for answering existential questions about non-human intelligence. Her framework examines how these modern belief systems are constructed and disseminated through digital platforms and high-tech industries.

Scholars and readers frequently note the book's unique ability to bridge the gap between religious studies and the subculture of ufology. Experts highlight this as a significant contribution to understanding how technology functions as a modern mythology in secular societies.