Summary CH 16

Commentary: This posting is in a series of posts summarizing the book, "Lights In The Sky and Little Green Men" by Hugh Ross, Kenneth Samples, and Mark Clark. Hugh Ross is a scientist in physics and Clark has a PHd in political science. The other authors specialize in social sciences, philosophies, and international relations.  The full series can be reviewed at UFOs an Alternative Look.

Summary

Speculations about lights in the sky and little green men will always persist in various forms. But answers do exist for them. One can bring to bear sciences, theology, philosophy, sociology, and political science to help solve the mysteries. 

People have for long periods observed aerial visitors and the flying saucer age set in during 1947.  Their nature makes them difficult to investigate but investigators have formulated classification systems. Many reports have been explained. A very small percentage of reports remain unexplained. these are residual UFOs or RUFOs.

There are two general hypothesis; extra-terrestrial hypothesis, ETH, and the interdimensional hypothesis, IDH. ETH does not standup to scientific investigation and findings. IDH holds promise. Investigators are on firmer ground with IDH as science and scripture demonstrate a remarkable correspondence. 

Closer inspection indicates that RUFOs are consistent with Biblical descriptions of demons. The RUFOs appear to be alive, intelligent, and acting in malevolent ways. There have been no formal tests that demonstrate the demonic connection but there is considerable anecotal evidence. People, victims, of RUFOs have been exposed to occultic related activities. 

The RUFO mystery is a solved mystery. The Earth is not being visited by aliens but instead some people are being visited by spirit beings who pose as aliens from another planet. By placing trust in the Judeo/Christian God, the fear of UFO demons evaporates. 

Comment: I have never observed nor experienced a UFO. The topic is curious to me as naturally I am inquisitive. Nonetheless, Ross makes a strong case that demons and fallen angels are behind the phenomenon. The choice to believe in UFOs is a personal one. I find it odd that some people are more receptive to UFOs than a God. 

References:

Ross, H., Samples, K., & Clark, M. (2002). Lights in the sky and little green men: a rational christian look at UFOs and extraterrestrials. Navpress. Colorado.

The Bible and UFOs CH 15

Commentary: This posting is in a series of posts summarizing the book, "Lights In The Sky and Little Green Men" by Hugh Ross, Kenneth Samples, and Mark Clark. Hugh Ross is a scientist in physics and Clark has a PHd in political science. The other authors specialize in social sciences, philosophies, and international relations.  The full series can be reviewed at UFOs an Alternative Look.

This post is a summary of chapter 15 and the historical orthodox view of Christology. It is not intended to apostletize, proselytize, or convert anyone. It is purely an academic look at the belief from Hugh Ross as summarized.

Introduction

Since the emergence of flying saucers, people have argued that the Bible describes UFOs.  The extra-dimensional hypothesis represents a credible scientific and Biblical view of reality. There is some connection between Biblical accounts and residual UFOs. Ministering spirits, angels who have not rebelled, faithfully serve God. These ministering spirits become visible to humans at certain times and situations. Ministering spirits never contradict the Bible and focus attention towards God. If the extra-dimensional hypothesis is accurate then fallen angels and demons are transitioning between Space-time and other dimensions.

The extra-dimensional hypothesis cousin is the extraterrestrial hypothesis.

Extraterrestrial Life

Whether of not the Judeo-Christian God placed sentient and intelligent life on other planets has been discussed, at least, since Thomas Aquinas discussed it nine centuries. Those who accept the authority of the Bible take a different  position than the secular world.

Scholars who believe that extraterrestrials physically exist claim it as a display of God's creativity and power. They claim God cannot be expected to be limited as he enjoys creativity. Ross and Samples argue this is defensible reasoning but evidence indicates otherwise. Throughout the series arguments were made against space travel and off planet life making them impossible. Philosophical questions were asked regarding the purpose of extraterrestrials traveling to Earth when the creator provided everything physically and spiritually needed for life on the Earth and even afterwards.

God will create again and the purpose of the current universe is not an ends but the means.

Secularists Views

The secularists, namely agnostics, atheists, and desists, are troubled by the loneliness of humanity in the cosmos. Stephen Hawkings comments that it is very difficult to believe that God would make so many useless stars if his intent were to make a home for humanity. Carl Sagan repeated this theme in books, lectures, and movies such as Contact. Hawkings and Sagan claim the Biblical God must abhor waste. One of two conclusions must follow: Either he is not the creator or he universe is teeming with life. A third alternative conclusion exists, a purposeful God created the universe suitable for one planet to have life placed on it for the purpose of demonstrating his awesomely wonderful power so that humans can begin to comprehend him.

The question begs how can physical life forms, aliens, be part of God's message as aliens life forms cannot match the knowledge, power, and love of the creator himself. For these reasons and others discussed in earlier posts the extra-terrestrial hypothesis is not supported. UFOs and extraterrestrials must instead be supernatural creatures of a malevolent nature.

Spiritual Dangers

Participation with the UFO phenomenon opens the door to occult phenomena. Such phenomenon carries negative consequences for one's overall health and vitality. Scriptures forbid involvement with the occult; Duet 18:10-12. UFO experiences involve  occult beliefs and practices. Such involvement separates one from the knowledge of God; Leviticus 19:31. Contactees are seeking revelation from divinely forbidden sources; Exo 22:18, 2 Kings 21:6,  Eze 13:9, Zech 10:2. If a connection is made then they have connected with the powers of the dark side; Eph 6:12. Being possessed by demons is a dreadful risk; Matt 4:24, 9:32-34, 12:22-24, Mark 3:19-12, Luke 11:14-26.

Many encounters with the dark side are not horrific but instead, at least initially uplifting and beautiful. Paul warns that the dark side often masquerades as angels of light and perform wonders and miracles; 2 Cor 11:14-15, 2 Thes 2:9-10, Matt 24:24.

Some contactees claim to receive messages from Christ and that he is an extra-terrestrial. This is a direct challenge to scriptural sourcing of the truth and that saints or Christians are entrusted with the truths; 1Cor 4:6, 2 Tim 3:16, 2Peter 1:20-21, Jude 3.

There is no need to further revelation and no revelation from God or his messengers will ever contradict the Bible; 2 Cor 11:4, Gal 1:8-9; 1 Tim 4:1, 6:3, Titus 1:9, 2Peter 2:1, 1John 7-11. UFO religions reject Jesus Christ as the cosmic creator, resurrected Savior of humankind, and in identity as both God and man.

Overall, the UFO worldview differs fundamentally from the historic Christian worldview and theism.

Defense Against UFOs

While it is true that demons are powerful and dangerous creatures, humans are NOT hopeless against their attacks. There is a greater power at hand. God. His power is available through Jesus Christ.  Demon oppression can be manifested in people in various degrees.  Humans tend to be derelict in putting on the full armour of God; EPH 6:10-18. The defenses are not complex. They are:

1. Examine your life for any access points for Demons
2. Close those access points by repenting and acknowledging those access points are wrong.
3. Confess the access points provided by parents or others were wrong. 
4. Take action to demonstrate repentance. 
5. Turn your life over to Jesus Christ.
6. Acknowledge publicly and privately his will is supreme.
7. Dedicate your mind, heart, soul, and strength to fulfill Christ's purpose.

A Point of Agreement

The authors of this book are convinced that both science and scripture point to supradimensional beings, demons, as malevolent sources of RUFOs. Moreover, one point stands alone among scientists and students of the Bible: The pursuit of truth where it may be found and tested, and beware of any pursuit that links with occultic power or secret knowledge.

John 8:32 The truth will set you free.

Comment:  Ross make the point that malevolent creatures are behind UFOs. If true, then humans must steer away from UFOs and discovering truth is a challenge. 

References:

Ross, H., Samples, K., & Clark, M. (2002). Lights in the sky and little green men: a rational christian look at UFOs and extraterrestrials. Navpress. Colorado.

UFO Cults CH 14

Commentary: This posting is in a series of posts summarizing the book, "Lights In The Sky and Little Green Men" by Hugh Ross, Kenneth Samples, and Mark Clark. Hugh Ross is a scientist in physics and Clark has a PHd in political science. The other authors specialize in social sciences, philosophies, and international relations.  The full series can be reviewed at UFOs an Alternative Look.

Introduction

The contactee phenomenon has lead to the emergence of UFO cults as it has strong connections to the occult. The cults have the same influences as the contactee phenomenon. The cults coalesced around the popularity of some of the contactees and remain popular. Most cults have folded when the founder dies but a few have grew to thousands of members. These cults represent some of the strangest elements in the UFO phenomenon.

Beliefs and Practices

Each cult group is individual but they demonstrate some common traits such as:

• Flying saucers are real; physical, psychic, or spiritual
• Humans communicate with alien intelligences associated with flying saucers usually by entering a trance state and by channeling.
• The messages are prophetic and revelatory being of immense importance to humanity

This forms the identity of the groups which are often led by charismatic and eccentric leaders. The group often takes on a mystical new age spiritualism aura. Some of the enduring groups are:

• The Unarius Academy of Science
• Heaven's Gate
• The Raelian Movement

The UFO Worldview

A worldview originating from abductees and contactees is a wide spread oblivion. There is no well formed, adequate, carefully considered, and solidly constructed worldview. The worldview protects an individual from irrational, even dangerous, thoughts and actions. However, the belief that aliens literally and physically exist comports well with a UFO-ET worldview. When assessing a worldview the following test are invaluable tools:

• A coherence test
• Mean test
• Explanatory power and scope test
• Correspondence test
• Verification test
• Pragmatic test
• Existential test
• Competition test
• Predictive test

The UFO-ET worldview has many weaknesses that standout and cannot be a basis for judging reality. Cultist prey on people's vulnerability to intellectual, emotional, and spiritual deception. Thus, having a foundation in the Biblical viewpoint can overcome those vulnerabilities and offer a basis for judging reality.

References:

Ross, H., Samples, K., and Clark, M. (2002). Lights in the sky and little green men: a rational christian look at UFOs and extraterrestrials. Navpress. Colorado.

Contactees CH 13

Commentary: This posting is in a series of posts summarizing the book, "Lights In The Sky and Little Green Men" by Hugh Ross, Kenneth Samples, and Mark Clark. Hugh Ross is a scientist in physics and Clark has a PHd in political science. The other authors specialize in social sciences, philosophies, and international relations.  The full series can be reviewed at UFOs an Alternative Look.

Introduction

Kenneth Samples authored this chapter. The claim is that alien life forms have insights for humanity and seek to share those insights through receptive individuals or contactees. There are four distinct differ experiences between abductees and contactees.

1. Abductees have negative experiences while contactees have positive experiences. 
2. Abductees have a single episode, but contactees have long term repeated episodes. 
3. Abductees are research subjects, contactees are messengers of revelations. 
4. Abductees change religious beliefs, while contactees form new religious groups. 

The point of this chapter is to make the connection between the occult and the contactee experience.

The Occult Ancestry of the Contactee Movement

The movement began in the 1950s at the height of the Flying Saucer Age but has roots that originate nearly two hundred years prior. The author attributes the contactee movement to a Swedish scientist, Emanuel Swedenborg, 1688-1772. In his book, Earths in the Solar World, he detailed a journey to several planets and beyond claiming he met extraterrestrials and describing their civilizations. The author claims that the journey was of occultic and psychic means. J Gordon Melton, a religious scholar, claims the contactee experience is in a spiritualist context much like a seance. Many other scholars have other theories but all agree that the episodes involve occultic religion.

There are three points for consideration:

1. Aliens entities are from neighboring planets; namely Mars and Venus. 
2. Alien messages are communicated via psychic experiences using mediums and channeling. 
3. When communicating, aliens use telepathy. 

Most contactees historically never involved flying saucers until the 1950s.

Controversial Contactees of the 1950's

The contactee movement peaked during the 1950s and its popularity died off in the early 1960s. New age and Eastern mystical teachings in the West expanded the contactee movement. But the overall conclusion of the investigations revealed an ephemeral and unsubstantiated belief.

The Typical Contactee Scenario

The typical episode has alien desires to communicate with human kind. The alien selects specific people as the point of contact. The message is then channeled to the human for the human race. The contact is made either psychically or face-to-face. Most of the face-to-face contacts were made during the 1950s. The contactee always presents himself as a faithful deliverer of the messages.

The Alien Dimension

Abductee and contactees describe the aliens in much the same manner with some differences. Contactees say the aliens appear as humanoids, animals, robots, or apparitions. The origin of contactee aliens are typically from Venus or Mars but has changed to match that of abductee aliens as science proves that there is no life on Mars. The aliens are life forms from outer space but has become increasingly from other dimensions. The aliens demonstrate either a benevolent intent or a malevolent intent.

The aliens seek to help humanity avoid catastrophes or help humans to the next evolutionary step. Negative or hostile intents are rare. The contactee experience may be appealing to some people and may lead to involvement in UFO cults.

References:

Ross, H., Samples, K., and Clark, M. (2002). Lights in the sky and little green men: a rational christian look at UFOs and extraterrestrials. Navpress. Colorado.

On the Pirates Coast

Comment:  This is part of my creative works.  From time-to-time, I will jot down some thoughts in the form of a story that may have some sort of moral to the story or may just be sort of whimsical. This is story originated from my James Bogg: Double Oh Gawd series originally written during the late 1990's. Please enjoy and provide feedback.

James Bogg: Double Oh Gawd

Authored by JT Bogden

The soft roar of the ships’ wash subtly bathed my ears while the warm Arabian breeze teased my hair then wisp around my body as though it was some kind of masseuse. Billions of stars speckled the night sky as a full moon sitting on the horizon cast dusty white beams onto the gently rolling seas. The moonlight danced off the swell caps letting my imagination go with each spectacle of sparklets.

When out of darkness, the silhouette of an old galleon pierced in front of the full moon as a backdrop. Upon the forecastle stood the staunch outline of a pirate! I shook my head and wiped my eyes thinking to myself, “Is this out of Peter Pan?”

Instantly, I knew that trouble was brewing. I had to do something quick. As the vessel neared, I could see a rigging line off one of the mast. With a flying bound I was airborne. The line snap taut. Then in a smooth arc, I swung across the deck with a clipping kick taking down on rushing pirates like dominoes. I lofted upon the opposite rail with the grace of a savvied swashbuckler. From there, I could see a fair princess who had been held captive by these ruthless pirates. Amidst the commotion, she was struggling for a whaleboat in an attempt to escape. Clamoring over debris and pirates she grabbed an axe. Swinging it in a wide arc over her head the axe sliced through the hoist ropes. The whaleboat broke free and dove into the water. Several pirates were rushing up as I spun around.

With a spring and burst of energy, I vaulted over them as they reach out for me then stumbled over each other falling to the deck. Grabbing hold of another line, I swung around the mast as a pirate dove from a stack of barrels. Spinning to his side, I pulled his sword from his holster. He came to rest on the rail delicately balancing himself from falling into the water. I poke him in the butt with the sword tip and he sprung erect covering his butt then he lost his balance slowing rotating over the side. There was a scream and a splash.

I spun a rope around my wrist and with a swift chop, a tending line severed dropping a sandbag on approaching pirates and hoisting me into the rigging. From the higher vantage point, I could see the princess was afloat of the port quarter. Glancing down, the pirates were  swarming like ants in a frenzy clamoring up the mast. The sword arced once again, over my head and sliced through a rigging line. Wind in the sails pulled the remaining rope through the blocks and the sails settled atop of the advancing pirates. In a swift shove, I was off the beam swooping across malay underneath the sail. I grabbed a torch from its cradle and dropped it into a stack of gunpowder barrels and swung out over the water. Letting go of the rope, I glided into the water just short of the whaleboat.

Adrift without sails the current carried the Pirate ship further away. As I wiped the water from my face, pirates crowded to the rails shouting and wielding their swords. The clanking swords could be heard as the low glow of torches lit their angry faces. Suddenly, a flash lit the night. Screaming pirates soared into the seas. Others were falling over the sides as the ship burned and began to list. I turned to the whaleboat, a sense of accomplishment filled me. I save the world from menacing pirates and yet nobody would probably know.

The princess called out in the night to me and I swam to the calls. With her arms out stretched, I grabbed hold and she help pull me into the boat. The boat rolled to the side the princess fell back as I landed in her arms. All was quiet, the moon cast its magical dusty white beams onto the calm seas once again and the stars pulsed. There was more in store for me and I knew I was not going to see my home for awhile. I knew not what the adventure could be only that it would be.

Then next episode is The Temple of Doom.

Abductees CH 12

Commentary: This posting is in a series of posts summarizing the book, "Lights In The Sky and Little Green Men" by Hugh Ross, Kenneth Samples, and Mark Clark. Hugh Ross is a scientist in physics and Clark has a PHd in political science. The other authors specialize in social sciences, philosophies, and international relations.  The full series can be reviewed at UFOs an Alternative Look.

Introduction

Kenneth Samples authored this chapter. Samples discusses the 'high strangeness' of alien abductions as they are the most controversial aspect of the UFO phenomenon. Researchers call abductions "Close Encounters of the fourth kind."

Samples claims abductions are not unique to a specific group of people. Thomas Ballard, a folklorist, notes that abductees have no telltale signs distinguishing them from the population. Abduction reports have captured the imagine of the public providing the theme for many books, movies, and TV shows. The persistence of reports combined with a pattern raises questions if there is something to UFOs and abductions.

A Short History of Alien Abductions

Thomas E. Ballard has studied and catalogued hundreds of abduction cases. Early abduction cases were considered the lunatic fringe. Two abduction cases, one during the 1960s and the other during the 1970s, brought alien abductions into the public consciousness.

The first case occurred September 19, 1961 to Barney and Betty Hill in New Hampshire.  The case was highlighted in the book The Interrupted Journey by John G Fuller.

The second case occurred November 5, 1975 to Travis Walton near Snowflake, Az. The case was highlighted in the book The Walton Experience by Travis Walton and became the movie Fire in the Sky.

During the 1980s reports of abductions flourished as perhaps books on the topic stirred increased interest in the topic. Scientists and the mental health industry viewed UFO abductions with skepticism until 1992 when Massachusetts Institute of Technology held a abduction conference. From this point on scholars and researchers deemed the subject worthy of careful evaluation.

The Abduction Scenario

Thomas E. Bullard created a generalized model for the abduction phenomenon. There are eight episodes during an abduction event. However, not all events include all eight episodes and they may occur in various sequences. Each event is considered on its own merits and does not fit into a cookie cutter approach. Moreover, the media reports of these events often do not fit the research data. 

1. Capture - Usually late night in bed or with traveling in an automobile.
2. Examination - Usually crude and painful with a focus on reproductive organs.
3. Conference - Aliens communicate telepathically and usually hostile and decietful. 
4. Tour of the Ship - Shown the engine room, bridge, and/or incubatorium.
5. Other Worldly Tours - 25% visit another world.
6. Theophany - Abductees may experience a religious or spiritual event. 
7. Return - Aliens return the abductee to the point of capture.
8. Aftermath - Abductees experience a life changing event often relive fragments of the abduction.

Half of the abductees report multiple abductions, observe apparitions, experience poltergiest, develop psychic and ESP skills, as well as report additional sightings. In general, the abduction marks people permanently.

The Abductors

Everyone wants to know something about the abductors.

Appearance: Most are humanoid forms that fall into two general categories. The 'grays' and the 'Nordics'.  The Grays are short, grotesque, and have gray skin.  They also are hairess, have large heads and a frail build. Grays are associated mostly with North America. The Nordics are tall, blonde hair, blue eyes, and typically command when with Grays. Nordics are friendlier than Grays.

Origin: Abductees are unable to report much on the origin of the abductors other than either from somewhere else in the universe or from another reality. 

Nature: Reports different widely about the true nature of the aliens. Most indicate physical humanoids. Others report spiritual, psychic, or extra-dimensional vistors.

Intentions: Two views; benevolent or malevolent. The benevolent visitations warn of catastrophe. The experience is general positive and uplifting. The malovent visitations attempt to recondition or control belief systems and conduct physiological explotation. 

Explanatory Hypothesis

The question asked is, "What can be made of abductee claims?" Bullard writes, "Abduction reports combine outstanding information with problematic veracity, the testimony of persons too credible to doubt with descriptions too fantastic to believe."

Some believe that alien abductions are real as abductees have consistency in thier reports with no reason to decieve. They point to physical evidence left behind.  Others dismiss this position as based upon anecdotal evidence, glory grabbers, and other decietful acts. Popular UFO theorist have the following theories:

Brain Effect:  A belief that natural occuring phenomenon product electrical fields that stimulate the temporal or other lobes of the brain resulting in hallucinatory episodes.

Hoax or Fantasy: No basis in reality. Events are staged or drawn from the subconscious.

Dormant Memory of Birth: Parallels occur between natural birth and abduction episodes suggesting that latent memories resurface later in life.

Dream or Hallicunation: The abduction is an outcome of a vivid dream or an hallicunary episode.

Psychological Cover for Abuse: Most abductee's have had physical, sexual, and/or psychological abuse as children. The alien abductions may be a cover for the painful memories.

Transformation of Human Consciousness: Alien abductions have a benevolent purpose of enlightenment and spiritual development of the abductee.

Extraterrestrial Experimentation: Millions of humans are being abducted and used like lab animals for the purpose of creating a hybrid race. This accounts for the genetic material extractions and incubacutories.

Contact with ExtraDimensional Beings: Malevolent intelligences from dimensions beyond space-time appear in space-time consistent with Biblical accounts of demons.

Demonic Implementation of Memories: Demonic implantation of false memories which are usually an outcome occultic practices.

In general, people want to believe what they want to believe.  The human mind shows an uncanny ability to create fiction as reality. People create counterfeit realities to suppress truth and avoid God as well as moral accountability to him.

Comment:  What ever the issues and theories are the RUFO seems to have been increasing in activities since the 1940's. The fact the scholarly attention is refocused on RUFOs indicates that there is some sort of strength to these claims.  Since the Universe is principally of natural order there is most likely a natural cause for the abduction experience. However, the human expereince is both natural and spiritual. There may be a spiritual edge to the experiences. 

References:

Ross, H., Samples, K., and Clark, M. (2002). Lights in the sky and little green men: a rational christian look at UFOs and extraterrestrials. Navpress. Colorado.

A Closer Look at UFOs CH 11

Commentary: This posting is in a series of posts summarizing the book, "Lights In The Sky and Little Green Men" by Hugh Ross, Kenneth Samples, and Mark Clark. Hugh Ross is a scientist in physics and Clark has a PHd in political science. The other authors specialize in social sciences, philosophies, and international relations.  The full series can be reviewed at UFOs an Alternative Look.

Introduction:

Ross writes that the problem is not the need for more data or if RUFOs exist. The evidence unequivocally indicates they do exist. Instead, the need is to determine what are they?  This chapter gets at RUFO nature.

RUFO Characteristics:

Ross points to the observation that RUFOs are both real and nonphysical manifesting specific characteristics that leave the impression of intelligent and strategic purpose. RUFO have these characteristics:

• Favor certain times and locales; remote locations and at 3 am, 6 am, and 8 am.
• Make repeated visits to specific witnesses and sites
• Visits are to a select few
• Keep pace with human technology and science fiction
• Match scientific literacy of their witnesses
• Seem to persist throughout human history
• Appear to be alive
• Arouse distrurbing emotions
• Cause bodily and psychological harm
• Deceive human contacts

Skeptics attribute RUFOs to elaborate hoaxes.  Humans and their associate witnesses are not the perpetrators.  Chapter 6 established that RUFOs and their physical effects are not created by humans. Humans and their associate witnesses are victims of super-human authors. 

The Culprits:

Ross arrives at a point that identifying additional characteristics is unnecessary. He concludes that the characteristics point to activities of demons then supports this conclusion citing numerous secular and agnostic scientist who concluded closely the same. Among the scientist include; Jacques Valle, J Allen Hynek, Paul Davies, John Keel, Lynn Catoe, James McCampbell, Jacques Lemaitre, and many others. The conclusion is that malevolent manifestations from beyond space-time are RUFOs.

Tests for the Hypothesis:

The conclusion that demons are behind the residual UFO phenonmenon is testable.  The Bible states that demons can only attack those individuals who invite demons to attack; Leviticus 17:7, Dueteronomy 32:15-43, Judges 9:22-57, 1 Samuel 15:1-16:23, Pslam 106:36-43, Luke 11:14-26, Acts 13:6-11, 17:12-20, 1 Corinthians 10:18-22, Revelation 9:20-21.  Ross cites research that demonstrates people who ascertained RUFO encounters had activities and practices that invited demons to attack.

Ross further explains that scientist are relunctant to acknowledge demon attacks are behind RUFOs because the answer points to strongly toward the Christian understanding.  Nonetheless, the only defense against RUFOs or demon attacks is in the Bible and Christianity.

Comment: A common problem is Analysis Paralysis which is an effort to gather more data than necessary resulting in stagnation. The opposite of analysis paralysis is collecting too little data. Ross states that there is sufficient evidence to conclude the RUFOs are in evidence. He claims that the source of RUFOs are supernatural then looks to the Bible for tests. Many of the readers may find this preposterous while still believing the in absurdity and outlandishness of UFOs.  The best approach is to research and study for yourself. 

References:

Ross, H., Samples, K., & Clark, M. (2002). Lights in the sky and little green men: a rational christian look at UFOs and extraterrestrials. Navpress. Colorado.

The Interdimensional Hypothesis CH 10

Commentary: This posting is in a series of posts summarizing the book, "Lights In The Sky and Little Green Men" by Hugh Ross, Kenneth Samples, and Mark Clark. Hugh Ross is a scientist in physics and Clark has a PHd in political science. The other authors specialize in social sciences, philosophies, and international relations.  The full series can be reviewed at UFOs an Alternative Look.

The Interdimensional Hypothesis, IDH

The point of this chapter as posed by Hugh Ross is the debate regarding whether or not science opens a Pandora's Box affirming that the natural and supernatural interface. This situation stirs apprehension in many scientists who avoid any connection between science and religion as well as the paranormal. Ross points out that humanity is relentlessly curious about the paranormal and supernatural.

Ross reviews his previous discussions on the topics of supernatural, natural explanations of UFO’s, cover-ups, conspiracies, and the abundant evidence of residual UFO’s. He offers that science’s methodical approach to questions of the tangible and intangible incorporates principles of logic that have been applied for centuries testing truths. Then Ross seeks to apply the scientific method to IDH which seems to be beyond the reach of objective analysis.

Ross explains that M-Theory, a ten dimensional model, solves the objective analysis problem, the troubling contradiction between gravity and quantum physics, and then corroborates special and general relativity. With respect to the supernatural these findings do more than settle the contradiction. The findings establish limits regarding origins and provide new testing tools for those who root their religious and philosophical beliefs in verifiable truths answering the validity of interdimensional hypothesis.

Comment:  Scientific methods in atom smashing, M-Theory, and others have confirmed that the universe is bounded. There is an upper, 10⁺⁴⁰ meter, and lower limit, 10^-30 meters. There is nothing physical beyond these limits that affect the natural. Thus, science cannot apply beyond these limits. Although there maybe some use of the scientific method applied beyond these limits.  The question begs, what is on the other side of these limits?  That is an exploration of cosmology, philosophy, or theology. 

Versions of IDH

In general, proponents of IDH conclude that RUFOs enter physical dimensions of space-time from other dimensions. Ross discusses numerous 'good ideas' about alternative dimensions in which RUFOs reside. He points out any suggestion that RUFOs come from dimensions between space-time dimensions or from between any other dimension attributed by M-theory misconstrues or misrepresents the science. Comment: I agree as the M-Theory brief was an attempt to illustrate the science and dimensional realms.  Ross further argues that physicists Jacques Valle's realm of a multi-verse is irrelevant from a physics standpoint.

Ross claims that there are forms of IDH completely consistent with scientific understanding. The principles of physics do not rule out a reality beyond the cosmos. In fact, the demonstrated reliability of space-time theorems of general relativity affirm a reality beyond space-time. Rational human speculation must reflect what evidence reveals about the cause and source of the universe. Science characteristics of constancy, consistency, order, freedom from contradiction, causality, and so on provide the litmus test for any deity or divine revelation. The science method can be applied to aid in determining which if any holy book affirms reality.

Comment:  The book The Privileged Planet argues that the Judeo-Christian God structured the universe for human exploration and discovery.  Hence, the scientific methods apply to Judeo-Christianity affirming and revealing the fingerprints of God on the universe. 

The ExtraDimensional Hypothesis

Science attests to a transcendent cause for the origin of the universe. Most books, theories, and doctrines relate the God or Gods to the boundaries of space-time or the other six dimensions. Only one book, the Bible, claims the existence of a God who is a personal creator and who can act outside the universe that includes space-time and six other tiny dimensions. The God of the Bible is said to be the one creator of the universe. Only the Bible makes the claim that the creator brought time into existence. Thus, time has a beginning and an end. The Bible also claims that the creator can act and does act with cause and effect capability outside of time.  For example, Genesis 1:1, Hebrews 11:3, 2Timothy 1:9, Titus 1:2, John 1:3, Colossians 1:16-17. In other words, the universe was made transcendantly from a source apart from matter, energy, length, width, height, and time. 

These verses attest to a creator outside the universe and creating from supernatural powers. The Bible asks us to place confidence in these claims which requires faith or trust in God. This faith is not blind nor does the Bible ask us for blind faith. God provides a framework or frame of reference for us the verify claims. Nonetheless, since the creator brought the universe into existence, he can certainly interact with the universe. The Bible does depict miracles that are non-repeatable phenomenon which cannot be verified by scientific rigor directly. For example, John 20:19, Luke 24:37-43. Christ appeared in physical form in rooms without entering through doors or windows. Within space-time this is impossible without access to other dimensions.

No other sacred book communicates so accurately about the natural realm than the Bible. The Bible demonstrates several points:

1. Correctly describes the personal chracterisitics of the creator as manifested in the natural
2. Predicts scientific discovery thousands of years prior to humanity's discovery
3. Invites and encourages testing as no other spiritual communication known to humanity

RUFO Options

Ross remarks that the Bible extensively, accurately, and uniquely describes the spiritual realm on any and all points that can be confirmed by scientific inquiry. Ross claims the spiritual realm is beyond matter, energy, and the associated 10 dimensional universe. Ross argues that no other Holy book or revelation including the UFO cult body of works depicts reality as accurately as the Bible. The Bible stands alone as the best source of trustworthy revelation about the spirit realm.

Ross presents the notion that the Bible declares the existence of God and two other distinct spiritual creatures; humans and angels. Humans and angels are spiritually aware and capable. Humans, at least for now, are Earthbound but angels are not and can manifest themselves in physical form within the framework God provides. A sizable minority of angels rebelled against God lead by Satan aka Lucifer and other designations. Those angels who followed Satan in rebellion are often called evil spirits, fallen angels, and/or demons; Matthew 25:41; Luke 10:18; Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Revelation 20:2.

Ross postulates that humans remain physically bound to the dimensions of the cosmos. Therefore, they cannot account for the unexplained or RUFO phenomena. While much of the UFO hysteria is of the human mind, fallen angels, in particular, remain as a possible cause. Ross then points to the character, behavior, and framework that God provides for ministering spirits, righteous angels, or evil spirits, fallen angels, and even God. God never acts out of character. Miracles that razzle-dazzle are not consistent with God's purposes or conduct. Thus, razzle-dazzle miracles are efforts to distract humans from God and consistent with evil purposes leading to the conclusion that RUFOs are efforts by fallen angels.

References:

Ross, H., Samples, K., and Clark, M. (2002). Lights in the sky and little green men: a rational christian look at UFOs and extraterrestrials. Navpress. Colorado.

Nature and SuperNature CH 09

Commentary: This posting is in a series of posts summarizing the book, "Lights In The Sky and Little Green Men" by Hugh Ross, Kenneth Samples, and Mark Clark. Hugh Ross is a scientist in physics and Clark has a PHd in political science. The other authors specialize in social sciences, philosophies, and international relations.  The full series can be reviewed at UFOs an Alternative Look.

Nature and SuperNature

Ever since Robert Jastrow's publication in 1978, God and the Astronomer, physicists and astronomers have flooded the shelves with books relating science to God. This is not a mass conversion but instead the outcome of a growing body of compelling evidence that there is a reality beyond the universe. The big bang model implies a reality beyond space-time. This has a serious implication regarding the nature of RUFO's.

Beyond Space and Time

Throughout the twentieth century scientists tirelessly constructed every conceivable model of the universe in an attempt to circumvent Einstein's equations of general relativity. They tried to push the beginning off into infinity as evolutionary processes demanded infinite time but they failed.

In a series of papers written by George Ellis, Stephen Hawking, and Roger Penrose from 1966 to 1970, these scientist extended Einstein's equations beyond matter and energy to include the fabric of space-time. They did so and developed the space-time theorems of general relativity. These theorems declared that space-time has limits and hold true under all possible physical conditions.

Therefore, general relativity stands as the most thoroughly tested and firmly established principle in science. Some scientist suggest the theorem will be referred to as a law. Recent testing has also expanded the reach of the model into inflationary models.

The First Cause

Science is the cause and effect study of relationships in the physical universe. Einstein demonstrated that the universe is an effect in itself.  Based on the work on innumerable scientists in astrophysics the universe began with ten dimensions. Six stopped expanding just after the point of origin and space-time continued to expand. Scientist differ in the details but these differences are becoming fewer as research continues.

By the rules that govern rationality and the entire scientific community one must ask, "What caused the first physical effect?"  

The space-time theorems of general relativity dictate that the cause of the universe exists and acts beyond and unconstrained by anything within the universe. The cause can be described then as transcendent and has the capacity to initiate the dimensions of space-time. In essence, science has crashed through the physical limits to discover the supernatural.

The Nature of the Supernatural

  

Most philosophers, scientists, and political scientist would agree that an individual has the right to believe whatever they want to believe. However, that does not settle any arguments and many simply do not care about the truth.  For the people who care about the rational validity of their belief, the universe holds abundant clues to the supernatural. Such an investigation, would yield clues regarding RUFOs.

A measured characteristic in the universe known as 'fine tuning' reveals a delicate balance of life giving qualities. Should one of these, some 38 critical qualities, vary slightly the existence of life would disappear or let alone never emerge any where in the universe. The existence of life goes beyond the wide sweeping qualities. At least 153 qualities must persist in the Earth's solar system for life to emerge. Molecules inside the simplest cell demonstrate complexity far beyond the best human inspired machines. The overall impression is compelling evidence of intellect, design, creativity, will, and awesome power. The clues point to a person rather than an abstract entity or force as the designer and default of the universe.

Comment: Physicists Paul Davies remarks, "The evidence of design is overwhelming and compelling."

The Anthropic Principle

The impression of purpose and care has become so strong that it has now achieved the name Anthropic principle. The features of the universe point towards a human being, a complex and sentient creature, as the beneficiary of the transcendent design. There are scores of carefully balanced natural qualities that exist permitting life to emerge. Within the laws of nature are indicators of the creator's character. As one of the features, the universe provides sufficient information to propose, test, and refine human understanding of truth. The reality that the natural and supernatural intersect leads to an inter-dimensional hypothesis regarding RUFOs.

Comment: This chapter has enormous implications not only for RUFOs but much of the psuedo-science of evolution and climate change. The challenge is communicating this knowledge to the common masses in a productive manner.  Unfortunately, political and personal agendas assert themself over rational consideration.

References

Ross, H., Samples, K., and Clark, M. (2002). Lights in the sky and little green men: a rational christian look at UFOs and extraterrestrials. Navpress: Colorado

Government Conspiracies CH 08

Commentary: This posting is in a series of posts summarizing the book, "Lights In The Sky and Little Green Men" by Hugh Ross, Kenneth Samples, and Mark Clark. Hugh Ross is a scientist in physics and Clark has a PHd in political science. The other authors specialize in social sciences, philosophies, and international relations.  The full series can be reviewed at UFOs an Alternative Look.

Government Conspiracies

The concept of a conspiracy theory is that a small cabal of people are operating against a larger weaker group. The cabal secretly orchestrates situations to their benefit and to the detriment of the larger group. A small number of people in the larger group work to expose the cabal that is well resourced, organized, and powerful.

UFO buffs claim the US Government secretly is covering up the existence of aliens. These buffs claim that the absence of proof, is proof itself of a well orchestrated cover up. Conspiracy theorist rarely consider the possibility that they misrepresent facts and allow assumptions to rule judgments. They do not allow for a scientific method and ignore or find fault with evidence amassed.

Real conspiracies do exist. Most of them are compromised or discovered quickly. Few, if any, conspiracies can be kept secret for long periods. Keeping a UFO coverup for 50 years would be nearly impossible. Yet, UFO conspiracy theorist tout Roswell, Project Blue Book, Area 51, and other pet subjects in a loud voice as evidence of a Government coverup.

Political Culture

The United States has had a history of anti-governmental conspiracy theories. Americans are naturally suspicious people. The American Framers intentionally designed a government that institutionalizes a battle for power knowing that human tendency is to accumulate power. Conspiracy theories are not uniquely American. Although, evidence suggest that the UFO conspiracy theory is more common in the West than elsewhere.

The Psychological Dynamic

Many models exist to describe how people process information. The model that applies to UFO conspiracy theorist is the Cognitive Psychological Model.

People process information either in a theory or data driven manner. Theory driven processing is interpreting information based prior beliefs and knowledge. This processing begins with an assumption and is filter through that lens. Data driven processing begins with data collection and assimilation. The theory is formulated based on the raw information.

Commentary: These information processing theories get at the notion of truth theory. On one end of the scale of truths is a correspondent truth. At the other end of the scale is an epistemic truth. A correspondent truth is similar to data driven information processing and correlates to a fact or is self evident. An epistemic truth is based on a set of relatively 'good' assumptions similar to theory driven information processing. One has to evaluate the assumptions usually based on inferential logic to determine the strength of it's virtue and validity.

Theory driven thinking is less taxing than inductive time consuming data driven thinking. Theory driven thinking is simply more efficient. For this reason alone, psychologist point to theory driven thinking as employed more frequently. The are five reasons for theory driven thinking given by scholar Robert Jervis:

• Most people construct their own personal image of reality.
• Most people develop a set of beliefs and images about their physical and social environment as they mature.
• The construction of a person's experience is highly selective.
• People see what they expect to see based on personal experience, prior advice, or on cultural bias.
• People assimilate information according to their pre-existing beliefs.
• Additionally, people maintain cognitive consistency.

The problem with theory driven thinking is that it leads to errors as an outcome of perceptions and predispositions that people seek information to confirm. This is known as hypothesis-confirming bias which keeps people from considering the full body of knowledge. If they do consider discrepant information they tend to dismiss as irrelevant or not credible. These bias undermines people's ability to value alternative interpretations and theories of a given event or behavior. People tend to look at their assumptions first then the data interpreting it in terms of the assumptions. Their other problem is that peoples beliefs resist change under normal circumstances.

There are three points used to judge if someone is engaged in irrational cognitive consistency.

1. They fail to consider a large amount of information contrary to their views.
2. They fail to consider obvious and important events that warrant attention.
3. They fail look for evidence that is clearly available.

UFO conspiracy theorists generally meet, at least, one or two if not all three of these criteria.

Contrary Evidence

Credible information exists that contradicts the UFO conspiracy theorist. Yet the theorist have never been able to produce credible evidence or data of their own other than a few hoaxes on community bulletins. These theorist also never explain how the Government or a small clique of rogue officials could keep a lid on an operation of the scale that UFO theorist purport. Keeping secrets is virtually impossible in the modern day as dribbles of information leak in various ways.

UFO reports seem to pace the technological advance of stealth aircraft design efforts. Theorist rarely have situational awareness. Thus, these advances would appear near revolutionary. Contact to solid reasoning based on factual evidence, UFO theorist often present spurious search and wild speculations based on questionable sources. They also retell stories over and over with 'evidence' or testimony elicited from suspicious characters. The stories are retold to the point they become truths in the theorist minds.

Popular Opinion

UFO conspiracy theory has become a fade in America. In 1996, a Gallup poll indicated that 70% of Americans believe in Governmental coverups regarding UFOs. This may hold true since for the 40 years prior the US Government has many questionable events such as Watergate, Vietnam, questionable electoral processes, etc... The UFO phenomenon is cast as a negative which is impossible to disprove. There is always one more person, hangar, or shred of evidence that keeps resurfacing.

The theory is more of an ideology than a true theory. In a natural science lab experiments are conducted to verify the hypothesis. In social sciences, the hypothesis is tested against historical evidence. If the evidence is contrary the to the explanation the assumptions must be adjusted. The same is true for rational cognitive consistency regarding UFOs. Yet the ideologue is under no such compulsion to adjust the ideology. So they constantly reinterpret the evidence as one more person, document, or event becomes known. The public is endlessly duped into believing in the conspiracy mill theories.

Ockham's Razor

This dictum states when two or more competing theories explain an event then the simplest one is probably closer to the truth. The razor slices away unnecessary assumptions. No one has to be a scholar to do this.

Common sense and a healthy respect for the interests of the Government go a long way towards explaining the Government's behavior. For a variety of reasons, conspiracy theorists engage in irrational cognitive consistency and maintain their cognitive balance  in an irrational way ignoring the absence of evidence. They also fail to provide evidence for their position and refuse to acknowledge contrary valid evidence.

References

Ross, H., Samples, K., & Clark, M. (2002). Lights in the sky and little green men: a rational christian look at UFOs and extraterrestrials. Navpress: Colorado

Chronos' Anomaly

This post was inspired while I was driving along Sunday morning 21Oct12. I started school during the 1960s. We were living in Hawaii. My school room was open air on three sides sitting atop a bluff over looking the North Shore on Ohau. I would sit in class looking down the beach watching the waves wash up underneath the palm trees. Despite the serene and picturesque views, I recall the Vietnam War, a War in Angola, and the Six Day War against Israel. I saw many images of drugged out people and my grandparents had to put sympathizer flags on their door to prevent civil rights rioters in Camden, New Jersey from destroying their home. At a young age, it seemed to me that war and violence was a way of life. The socialist were marching and rioting as well. Jane Fonda was pleading that if we only understood communism we would be on our knees praying for it before sitting in a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft battery sighting US war birds flying overhead in 1972. Is today as it was then?

Chronos' Anomaly

I walked out the door early this Sunday morning into a comfortably crisp temperature and brilliant blue sky. Dew on my pickup truck was glowing crimson as morning sun beams pierced the green canvas. The birds sang out. I jumped in, put the windows down, and headed out for a coffee at the local coffee shop. With that nostalgic crack and a hiss, the AM radio station was playing songs from the 1960's. The truck seemed to pierce through heatwaves that began to warbled off the pavement as the day set in. In a resounding snap, I was flashed back to the era of the music and driving an ole Ford pickup coming up on a 1960's coffee house.

Pulling straight into a Mayberry styled street parking spot, I climbed out and slammed the door shut with a heavy weighted thud and hollow sound of a solid steel door. The bell on the door jingled announcing my arrival. The shop's musty smell and aroma of fresh brewed coffee mixed in waves churned up by the ceiling fans. From a high shelf above the counter, a radio reverberated the canny sound of music and news throughout the shop. Swirls of dust spun in the beams of sun light flooding through blinds and store front glass. I sat upon an aluminum stool at a cheesy green Formica counter lined with an aluminum strip, ordered a coffee while pulling the stacked sections of a disheveled newspaper towards me, the date was July 1969.

As I sipped on the coffee, the 1965 song Eve of Destruction drummed in, "The Eastern world, it is exploding; Violence flarin’, bullets loadin’..." The people next to me spun around and walked out. The song continued, "Yeah, my blood’s so mad feels like coagulatin’; I’m sitting here just contemplatin’; I can’t twist the truth, it knows no regulation; Handful of senators don’t pass legislation... When human respect is disintegratin’; This whole crazy world is just too frustratin’... Think of all the hate there is in Red China."

Fresh from church, a man and woman stepped up to the coffee bar. As I glanced over, the woman held her purse up in front of her bright yellow outfit, smiled, slowly nodding her head downward then back up. The radio hissed and cracked again as the 1967 song For What it is Worth hauntily echoed, "Paranoia strikes deep; Into your life it will creep; It starts when you're always afraid; You step out of line, the man come and take you away. It's time we stop, hey, what's that sound?; Everybody look what's going down."

Taking the last sips from my ceramic cup, I spun off the stool and headed out the door. The truck chugged as it turned over then sputtered to a smokey start. As I drove along the path that brought me here, the Sun was bearing down on the road ahead. Heat puddled and the horizon warbled in the rising heat. I reached down twisting the radio knob in a loud click and buzz the radio faded in. The tinny sound of Elvis let out the 1962 song Return to Sender.

The dusty road swirled behind me when in a flash the road became newly paved ahead of me. I arrived home and clicked the TV on. The news anchor was highlighting fighting in the Middle East, failure to pass budget legislation in Congress, and China holding the US debt over us. Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan was speaking out. The newspaper on my table talked of socialism and takeover of the economy by the government. For what it's worth, "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances.” Perhaps the acts are in rerun or it just that history repeats itself. I reflected back to a song sung by Sonny and Cher...

History has turned the page, 
The miniskirt WAS the current thing, 
Teenybopper WAS our newborn king, 
And the beat goes on, the beat goes on.

Those Darn Teenyboppers!

Those darn teenyboppers are back! We begin life as infants and become infant-like in late-life. On the way to late-life, perhaps we pass through the Teenybopper years. As a young boy during the 60’s I recall the time when my father used to grumble beneath his voice, “That darn Teenybopper.” On occasions when things did not go well after a Teenybopper encounter he would add, “Those darn Teenyboppers, they mess everything up.”

I thought at that time the Teenybopper was some kind of major social problem. No one could get away from the Teenybopper as it seemed they were everywhere working in fast food, checkouts in grocery and retail stores, at the swimming pools. They even had environmental concerns performing yard work and collecting redeemable bottles. Many times because of their inexperience, happy-go-lucky style, and carefree ways; things would get screwed up and frustrations would run high amongst older people. Based on my father’s frustration with them, I thought the Teenyboppers were ripe for unleashing civil disobedience riots that were common in those days.

As I grew older, I learned the term Teenybopper is used to describe those years between childhood adolescence and adult life when people cling onto their childhood innocence and excitement, yet are expected to behave more seriously. Nonetheless, the term was attached to baby boomers especially during the 1960’s as a catch phrase. It showed up in their music groups uniquely like the Beatles, Monkeys, and Archies who often appealed to the Teenybopper.

Some 40 years have gone by and those darn Teenyboppers are back. Today, I visit stores and restaurants where the clerks are not so young anymore. Incredibly, life has not seemed to teach them much and the happy-go-lucky zeal has turned a little cranky. Recently, while at a retail outlet the checkout clerk was a baby boomer in her late 50’s, possibly early 60's. She complained that the credit card swiper did not work, she had been on her feet way too long, her back hurt, and the merchandise I bought was too much work for her.  Frustrated by technology, the clerk asked the much younger manager to clear the register in order to ‘ring’ the purchase a second time.

Meanwhile, the line behind me lengthened. As mumblings grew louder she remarked, “I was working check outs before you were in diapers, honey.” Then cocking her head to one side, she handed me my purchase and smiled as though she had never uttered a cranky note singing, ”Have a nice day.” As I walked away I mumbled, ‘Those Darn Teenyboppers’. Then I paused for a moment wondering if she waited on my father some 40 years ago?

Note: This was written during 2003 after a trip the the local Bed, Bath, and Beyond. While checking out, I was inspired by the older New York twanged female grumpy cashier who had a heavily wrinkled face, bright red lipstick, and wiry hair that was overly buffed up. She actually did act out these events. 

RUFOs The Unexplained UFOs CH 06

Commentary: This posting is in a series of posts summarizing the book, "Lights In The Sky and Little Green Men" by Hugh Ross, Kenneth Samples, and Mark Clark. Hugh Ross is a scientist in physics and Clark has a PHd in political science. The other authors specialize in social sciences, philosophies, and international relations.  The full series can be reviewed at UFOs an Alternative Look.

RUFOs The Unexplained UFOs

Hugh Ross explains that many intelligent well educated people have difficulty dismissing all UFOs. Respected ufologists agree that after most of the reports are reasonably explained there are a few residual reports that cannot be explained. They seem to produce physical effects but a not physical themselves. This contradicts fundamental assumptions of science and cannot be glossed over. This raises the question of how prevalent are RUFOs?

Jacque Valle, computer scientist and astronautical researcher, studied the files from Project BlueBook. He concluded that 23% of the files could not be identified as having a natural or human devised source. Astronomer J. Allen Hynek, founder and director of the center for UFOs Studies and official consultant to Project Blue Book, concurs with Vallee's numbers roughly remarking that 1 in 5 is a RUFO. Others have estimates too but none are claiming that all are identifiable.

In a reality check, a dozen scientists reviewed the RUFO database to dispel cases finding that many left physical effects without physical explanations. The physical evidence ranges from depressions, burns, scorching patterns to human trauma. One curious incident in Trans-en-Provence, France on July 8, 1981, leave physical evidence of extreme aging which does not resemble anything known to exist, natural, or man-made. Animals often become agitated specifically dogs and cattle. Machinery has been observed to malfunction or cease to operate during the UFO event then return to normal operations afterwards.  In a reality check, UFOs disobey firmly established physical laws. RUFOs exhibit the following behaviors:

1. They leave no physical artifacts even after crashing
2. They cause no sonic booms
3. They do not seem to be affected by air resistance
4. UFOs are seen but rarely photographed, photographs are always low resolution which changes at times
5. They may be detected but not seen or seen but not detected on radar.
6. They make sharp turns, sudden stops, and impossible accelerations to 15,000 MPH.
7. They hover above ground or harm buildings and trees without downward thrust of air
8. They change momentum without an equal and opposite reactions
9. They change size, shape, and color randomly
10. They disappear and reappear or disintegrate then reintegrate
11. They emit no detectable electromagnetic energy
12. They emit lint that cast no shadows, twinkles sometimes, that is finite in length and changes the color of people or objects
13. They sometimes remain indistinguishable in shape despite close observation
14. They consistently succeed in evasive action, sometimes vanishing into the ground without a trace or vanishing instantly.
15. They melt asphalt and metal, burn grass and leaves without fire or flames.
16. They physically injure and kill humans apart from any physical agent.

RUFOs prefer rural areas, lonely roads, and fewer than six witnesses. They appear mostly at 3 AM as opposed to other times. Rarely do they appear to large cities. They are not physical or more skywatchers would have observed them. NASA turned down a request by President Carter to study RUFO phenomenon citing that the lack of natural evidence as physical entities NASA cannot engage in such a study.

Hence, if NASA refuses to pursue UFOs on the basis that they lack evidence of being physical then this has implications for a scientific case.

Commentary: RUFOs seem to be ambiguous and ethereal and acting in a psychotic sensibility. They leave physical effects but lack evidence of a natural physical presence. These events seem to be delusional at best but there has to be a strong answer given the physical evidence remaining such as injuries and animal reactions. It is discomforting to science that this RUFO phenomenon exists without reasonable explanations. 

More recent research is pointing towards natural phenomenon affecting the human brian. Research is indicating that naturally occurring frequencies that form electromagnetic loops similar to the lines of force can pass through regions of the human brian stimulating hallucinogenic experiences. The research shows that the subjects have lucid religious, spiritual, and UFO-like experiences. 

References:

Ross, H., Samples, K., & Clark, M. (2002). Lights in the sky and little green men: a rational christian look at UFOs and extraterrestrials. Navpress. Colorad

Government Cover-Ups CH 07

Commentary: This posting is in a series of posts summarizing the book, "Lights In The Sky and Little Green Men" by Hugh Ross, Kenneth Samples, and Mark Clark. Hugh Ross is a scientist in physics and Clark has a PHd in political science. The other authors specialize in social sciences, philosophies, and international relations.  The full series can be reviewed at UFOs an Alternative Look.

Government Cover-Ups 

Mark Clark writes that UFO believers are strongly supportive of the UFO phenomenon and frustrated that alternative explanations of residual UFOs are real. In support their claims they point to government cover ups and conspiracies. Three of the most prominent arguments are the 1947 Roswell, New Mexico crash site, the Air Force's project blue book, and Nevada's Area 51.

Roswell

There is a flurry of stories and myths about the Roswell, New Mexico incident that occurred in mid-June 1947. Researchers have complicated the situation by changing the story between 1980 and 1996 as new information became known, to dispel the wilder claims, and attempts to promote forgeries. Researchers from Brandeis University detected six variations of the incidents.

Clark gives the account that in mid-June 1947, something landed on  the Foster's sheep ranch operated by W.W. "Mac" Brazel. This was located 75 miles north of Roswell. Brazel first discovered the materials on June 14th but did not collect the materials until July 4th. Brazel reported the findings on July 7th.  In a concurrent event on June 24th, Kenneth Arnold observed and reported nine dislike objects while flying near Mt Rainier, Washington. While Brazel was unaware of UFOs on June 14th he became aware of them by time he turned in the materials.

The physical evidence recovered from the Foster Ranch included an aluminum like material, scotch tape, some other tape with markings as flowers, wood, and other materials weighing no more than five pounds.  Photos of the recovered material are widely available.

Conspiracy theorists disagree on a wide number of points regarding nature of the event and the events that followed. One account has the Army performing autopsies on aliens. The current theory is that the experiment was disabled or aborted producing the debris found and the 'real stuff' is hidden by the Government.

The appearance of a cover up was inadvertently caused by a hasty press release. First Lt Walter Haut released under orders from Major Marcel, the base's intelligence officer, that the Roswell Army Air Field captured a flying saucer. In the meantime, the materials were taken to Fort Worth, Texas to the Eight Air Force Headquarters. The next day, a Warrant Officer Irving Newton and  Brigadier General Roger Ramey issued a contradictory press release stating that the debris was remnants of a weather balloon. Thus, the contradictory statements by Government officials set the conditions for a cover up conspiracy.

The weather balloon account is based on research being conducted at the nearby Alamogondo Army Air Force Base. The research was unclassified but some balloons were carrying a classified payload to sonically detect a soviet nuclear detonation. Most on the project were unaware of the purpose. A senior scientist, Charles Moore, working on the project known as Mogul learned of the purpose in 1992. Moore identified the Roswell debris as being NYU Balloon flight 4. His notes indicated the identical materials found including a tape from New York Toy Store having the purple and green flowers described by conspiracy theorist as "hieroglyphics".

Clark concludes no one had questioned the official story for thirty years until UFO conspiracy theorist resurrected the Roswell account on shaky memories, second and third hand testimony, and hypnosis of key "witnesses". He also postulates that the need for the Government to maintain secrecy and how it classifies information can create the circumstances for conspiracies. 

Classified Information

Clark felt it important to discuss how the Government classifies information and the implications of secrecy. He pointed out that the government classifies information by levels from confidential to above top secret. Then the government compartmentalizes information. The idea is to increase protection based on a need to know. The sets of information are then further protected using code words.

Security classifications create problems when the free flow of information is essential.for scholars and often creates issues when the right and left hands should be talking. This sets the initial conditions for people to make contradictory comments based on the limited information available. This confusion is an additional level of security but also creates conspiracy theories as well.  

Project Blue Book

This project was an outcome of two earlier projects, Sign and Grudge, and was commissioned to explain the rash of UFO sightings demanding attention. Project researchers concluded that UFOs were explainable quickly.  The mission changed from assessing UFOs to tracking accounts and alleviate public anxiety. Later, the CIA became involved and explored the use of the phenomenon for use in psychological warfare. However, a CIA panel to assess the use of the phenomenon feared unjustifiable public hysteria if the UFO phenomenon were to be exploited for national defense purposes. Instead, the panel suggested that the U.S. downplay the UFO mystery and develop a program to help people assess between real and imaginary threats.

In the same year, U-2 flights began and were reflecting sunlight from 60,000 feet after it was dark on the ground. A new wave of UFO reports dramatically increased and the Government was pressed for answers. Aware of the reconnaissance aircraft, U-2s and SR-71s, they explained the sightings referring to natural phenomenon such as ice crystals and temperature inversions in order to protect the secrecy of the reconnaissance aircraft programs.

By the mid 1960's, the Air Force was looking for a way out of the project and contracted the University of Colorado to study the program. Physicists Edward Condon lead the project and was heavily criticized by even his own research team members.. J Allen Hynek of Northwestern University and Project Blue Book adviser criticized the methodology.  Hynek argued there was no government cover up despite his criticism and later founded the center for UFO studies. In April 1969, a special panel reviewed Condon's report that concluded extensive study of UFOs was unwarranted then concurred. The Air Force shutdown Project Blue Book.

Bureaucratic  Politics

Bureaucracies compete for limited resources; are slow to make decisions taking them in new directions; operate using standard operating procedures; and promote themselves and their staff. These characteristics make bureaucracies resistant to change and a tendency to increase in size, operation, and reach.

The Air Force was new in 1948 and looking to justify its existence. The UFO phenomenon was a preeminent reason based on the Cold War Threat of Soviet air power and ability to deliver atomic munitions. The Air Force quick deemed the UFO threat low. Once into the UFO business the Air Force was stuck with it. Since the project was not high visibility with no real threat and obscure due to its secrecy, it was not attractive to promotion hungry leadership. They viewed it more as a nuisance and assigned low ranking officers to the project.  As the program grew it sucked resources that the Air Force wanted to redirect to other things. So they sought to contract the University of Colorado to give them an out.

Area 51

This is an "Officially Unacknowledged" military base meaning the existence is not confirmed or denied.  Area 51 sits on a dry lake bed the geographic size of Connecticut. The base was built as a landing strip for highly classified aircraft. All of the projects at Area are "Black Budget" which are hidden in publicly released documents. The reason for this is simple. The military wants to keep its research and development dollars hidden from the enemies of the United States so it creates "Black Projects".

Espionage is still a problem and black projects are ongoing contributing to speculation.  This sets an ideal stage for UFO theorist who insist on Government cover ups that evolve into conspiracies.

Commentary: People's imaginations often get the better of them. They piece together disparate information, innuendos, and government attempts to manage espionage filling in the gaps with fantasy notions. Often these notions are based upon the maturity of their worldview whether a secular, Christian, or some other type of worldview. They then seek justification of the notions by searching for information that seems to fit. The problem may lay in the fact that they are driven by the view more than by the knowledge. Thus, they attempt to make the knowledge fit the view rather than permit the knowledge to form the view.

It seems, to me, that many people also have a desperate need for off Earth sentient life to exist. The fantasy cast by Star Trek zooming around the Universe meeting new sentient life forms is overtly appealing to many. In most Sci-Fi when a physical problem is encountered in the storyline a technology is often invented to get around the problem such as gravity boots or universal language translators. The imagery of this technology is usually dated. The original Star Trek tricorders looked like cassette players of the times. Later the tricorder became minaturized as electronics minaturized.  It seems that the world is forming the view rather than the honest knowledge. The same seems to be of UFOs.

Current Roswell Crash Site Photos. You should check out the inscribe saying at Roswell. I wonder if some future civilization will find the inscription, as we have found cave drawings, and surmise an actual visitation event. 

• WE DON'T KNOW WHO THEY WERE, 
• WE DON'T KNOW WHY THEY CAME, 
• WE ONLY KNOW, 
• THEY CHANGED OUR VIEW OF THE UNIVERSE... 

References

Ross, H., Samples, K., & Clark, M. (2002). Lights in the sky and little green men: a rational christian look at UFOs and extraterrestrials. Navpress: Colorado