A self-proclaimed spiritual collective operating out of a cryptic storefront in Los Angeles is pushing back against growing accusations that it functions as a cult.
Known as the Alien Church, the organization combines elements of religion, art, and extraterrestrial belief, according to its founder who calls himself ‘Mercury’.
The LA storefront features a glass-walled space, minimalist neon signs flashing words like ‘art’ and ‘love,’ alongside merchandise such as T-shirts, trucker hats, and water bottles branded ‘H2O Holy’.
A crucifix depicting an alien – not Jesus – and the message, ‘If you believe in Jesus, you believe in aliens’, can also be seen displayed above the entrance.
Inside, shelves hold 3D-printed objects including crowns of thorns, while a painting modeled after da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper’ replaces Jesus and his disciples with aliens.
The collective hosts events ranging from weekly ‘TGIF interfaith sermons’ on topics like ‘from angels to aliens’ to nightly energy healing sessions, according to SFGate.
Known as the Alien Church, the organization combines elements of religion, art, and extraterrestrial belief, according to its founder who calls himself ‘Mercury’
The LA storefront (pictured) features a glass-walled space, minimalist neon signs flashing words like ‘art’ and ‘love,’ alongside merchandise such as T-shirts, trucker hats, and water bottles branded ‘H2O Holy’
One member, Isaiah Dupree, even claims he was abducted by aliens as a child. He demonstrated a magnet sticking to his finger, which he says proves he was implanted by extraterrestrials.
In one image, published by SFGate, Dupree can be seen shining a light through the flesh of his finger where he believes a piece of metal was inserted under his skin during an alien abduction.
The Alien Church’s founder describes the center as a multipurpose space, one that can function as ‘an art gallery for artists,’ a venue for performers, and ‘a special place for positive actions.’
The group promotes ‘unity and belief in a higher power,’ along with the idea that ‘aliens have seen much more of God’s creation than humans,’ Mercury told SFGate, adding that he, ‘hopes to one day develop a missile capable of putting out wildfires in minutes.’
Mercury maintains that the center is privately funded through his other businesses, including print manufacturing and a truck rental service.
He says there is no profit motive and that merchandise sales are intended to help support the space.
‘I’m not seeking any type of profit from people who come to services,’ he said.
Mercury, who reportedly grew up in Mexico, comes from a Christian background but explains that he lost faith after he ‘saw a lot of contradictions in the religion’.
Isaiah Dupree, recognized by the Alien Church as ‘Isaiah The Alien Implant Survivor,’ delivers live testimony inside the Los Angeles storefront on December 21, 2024
Mercury (pictured), the Alien Church’s founder, describes the center as a multipurpose space, one that can function as ‘an art gallery for artists,’ a venue for performers, and ‘a special place for positive actions.’
An ‘Alien Priest’ can be seen inside the Los Angeles, California location
Mercury maintains that the center is privately funded through his other businesses, including print manufacturing and a truck rental service. Pictured: Alien Church’s minister Jah stands inside the company’s ‘mobile church’ parked in downtown Los Angeles on April 7, 2025
He was later inspired to start Alien Church, which he claims was initially a restaurant concept, to help others who were struggling.
Despite those claims, comparisons to other fringe religious movements in California have raised concerns.
The region has long been home to unconventional spiritual groups centered around extraterrestrial belief – from the Aetherius Society to the infamous Heaven’s Gate cult, which ended in mass suicide in 1997.
At the Alien Church, one minister known as Jah addressed the growing speculation saying: ‘We are not a cult’.
However, experts say such groups are not uncommon.
D.W. Pasulka, a professor of religious studies, argues that belief in extraterrestrials is emerging as a new form of religion.
Astronomer David Weintraub, who studies the intersection of science and belief, also noted that pop culture, technological advancement, and internet access have all helped fuel interest in UFO-based ideologies.
‘You don’t have to be a scientist or knowledgeable – let alone accurate about anything – to spread information or disinformation,’ he said.
