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.

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

Interstellar Space Travel CH 05

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.

Interstellar Space Travel

Hugh Ross writes that images of Star Trek’s Enterprise zooming at warp speeds around the universe coupled with the Apollo space missions during the late 1960’s made the realization of aliens travelling through space even more possible. The common man pondered if life did arise somewhere else and had the same curiosity to explore space as we do. What kind of technology would they need? Ross reflects that space travel is more about the laws and constants of physics than any technology which can never overcome those laws.

Scale of space travel

The vastness of space is not comprehensible by human imagination. For E.T. to travel on the fastest NASA spacecraft ever built it would 112,000 years to travel from the nearest star to reach the solar system. Even traveling at half the speed of light it would take nine years to make the trip. Given the requirements for life to exist discussed earlier, there are no possible stars within 50 light years that meet the requirements for life. Thus, space travel would have to be much longer than the nearest star.

The hazards of any trip are enormous. The spacecraft would have to zigzag through space avoiding neutron and supergiant star radiation, nova and supernova eruptions, Stay in the plane of the universe, and avoid dense dust fields.

Communications with the home world would be assumed as well if a space traveler. However, a SETI scan of 202 solar system type stars within 155 light years indicates no intelligible signals.

These numbers now push space travel out to 230 light years away when considering the zigzag flight path necessary to reach Earth.

The speed of space travel

This poses many problems. The laws of physics prohibit travelling faster than the speed of light. At the speed of light the energy required to move the mass is infinite. At half the speed of light the energy required 170 million times more than NASA’s faster spacecraft.

Other mass problems arise. Engines require mass to operate. At higher speeds the mass required is exponential more. The spacecraft’s mass increases geometrically in relation to the payload.

Speed also increases the risk of collisions with space debris. To protect against this requires mass and also increases the mass of the spacecraft. To protect against radiation mass needs to be added because the radioactive particles erode the spacecraft surface. Conservative estimates regarding space travel speeds are at 1% the speed of light. Otherwise, the dangers of space increase dramatically and the response to counter these dangers is prohibitive of travel.

Wormholes

Wormholes are the outcome of highly imaginative and technically trained space travel enthusiasts suggest that advance aliens pass through wormholes to distant locations in space. This idea offers no help in solving the distance and time problem.

A worm hole occurs when mass of an object causes the curvature of space to increase to a point of a singularity that connects to a like event somewhere else in space. The resulting ‘tunnel’ would allow a travel to short cut space and time.

Ross questions the practicality of this event citing the best established models demonstrate that the regions of space connected are already close. Hence there is little advantage to a wormhole. Moreover, the probability of two blackholes connecting in this manner is nearly improbable. The greatest evidence against a wormhole is the physical laws of matter would preclude passage without destruction.

Multi-generational Travel

Ross postulates with such long distances and expansive time frames, space travel may require many generations. Ross argues the best life span for carbon based life is about 1000 years even if hibernating. Ross concludes that the generational progeny would most likely become confused and the original mission would be lost. Survivability would be nearly impossible since a single ecological disaster could wipe out the travelers.

Machines versus aliens

Given the risks, distance, and time involved aliens would most likely send machines rather than themselves. The bottom line is that the physics of interstellar space travel make the sentient life form travel impossible.

Commentary:

While fantasy charms us with fanciful off world tales and adventures, the reality of space travel under the current paradigm is nearly impossible. Humans may travel short jaunts to the Moon or even Mars in the future under variations of the current technologies and known physics. It is doubtful that humans will be physically capable of traveling beyond those limits since the speed of light is a limiting factor. There cannot be the mach equivalent in light as in sound. Sound is a particle wave having mass whereas light is electromagnetic wave that is not only massless but also behavorially distinct from particle waves.

However, all particles are in instantenous communication faster than the speed of light. Gravity affects all particles instanteously. Perhaps as we begin to understand the mechanics of gravity some aspect of its nature can be exploited for human interstellar space travel. That was the hope of wormholes but the mechanics and practical application are not feasible.

Likewise, based on mathematical interpretation of the theory of relativity nothing can travel remotely close to or at the speed of light. Nonetheless, we have a wave-particle theory of light and light itself travels at the speed of light. Perhaps the particle collapses or attenuates into a waveform. If we understand how this occurs perhaps something like a Star Trek Transporter will become possible. People will travel in directed beams in this case. 

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

The UFO Craze CH 01

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 UFO Craze

All throughout history people have reported the unusual and unexplainable. In many cases, what people observed was a natural phenomenon that was explainable only after advances in science made the explanation possible. Nonetheless, many people have insisted on flying anomalies throughout time.

The reports are both subjective and objective often coming in waves. An increase in activity began with the advent of human aviation. During WWII numerous reports were made by pilots on both sides of strange aircraft that paced their flights. Questions began to arise about the existence of life elsewhere than on Earth.

The Age of the Flying Saucer emerged precisely on June 24th of 1947. That is the moment when Kenneth Arnold, a credible witness, reported nine bright lights in the sky near Mt Rainier. Nearly 20 other people corroborated the event. The associated press carried the story and the age of the flying saucer had begun. Following this event and numerous others that followed America began its crazed obsession. The "Flying Saucer" was dubbed UFO's by the U.S. Military whose concern was that these were Soviet aircraft during the Cold War.  The military closed their investigation into UFO's in the late 1960's remarking there was no scientific value to gain.

During the 1970's and 1980's the phenomenon began associating UFO's to the paranormal, occult, and extraterrestrials. The close encounters began to surface more frequently and abductions took center stage. By the 1990's people began speculating about crashed spaceships and retrieved alien bodies. Also in the 1990's, a UFO cult became deadly when the Heaven's Gate Cult committed suicide.  

UFO's and alien creatures have not identified themself in an undeniable way. That sort of evidence is lacking in the UFO phenomenon.  UFO's have such an increasing ambiguous and complex definition that many researchers are now remarking "UFO phenomena" instead of saying UFO's which is suggestive of difficulty in grasping the issue. Specifically, six difficulties arise:

1. An adequate definition that combines logical, scientific, sociological, psychological, and religious assessments is missing.
2. It is a paradox to define an Unidentified Flying Object when it is still unidentified.
3. UFO phenomenon research is second hand based on subjective human reports creating difficulty in performing objective, scientific, and logical analysis.
4. UFO phenomenon are increasingly bizarre, causing previous definitions to be adjusted.
5. UFO definitions suffer from both vagueness and ambiguity because of the nature of UFOs.
6. UFO connotations have morphed from a simple object to spaceships having extra-terrestrials

Given these complexities people still dialogue intelligently about UFOs. Thus, the study of UFOs is a worth while pursuit.

There are about nine groups of people typcially interested in UFOs; Natural scientists, US Government Officials, Professional UFOlogists, social scientists, Popular UFO enthusiasts, UFO debunkers, New agers, UFO cult members, and Christian Theologians and Apologists. Lastly, there is the general populace that are fascinated by UFOs and may be served well by the discussion in this book.

Commentary: No remarks.

This completes the first chapter. I'll summarize chapter two in the next posting. From time-to-time, I may post a commentary section highlighting a specific point.

References:

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

UFOs: An Alternative Look Series

Comment: This series is a look at the bizarre and outlandish. The claims made on both sides to many people may be even more bizarre. Please stay with the series and explore with me the UFO phenomenon. 

Many people are familiar with the UFO phenomenon as it has been sensationalized  in broadcast media, news media, books, and movies.  The belief that UFOs exist is widespread. UFO bystanders, enthusiast, and cultists predominantly have believed that aliens or physical beings from elsewhere in the universe visit the Earth. However, as time has passed and scientific discovery increasingly points against physical beings from elsewhere in the universe the origin of UFOs has shifted to dimensions beyond space-time.

This is a series centered on UFOs summarizing the works of Dr Hugh Ross (Physicists), Kenneth Samples (Theological Scholar), and Dr Mark Clark (Political Science Philosopher).  Also included in this series is the works of Dr. Guillermo Gonzalez (Astronomer) and Dr. Jay W. Richards (Theological Scholar). Commentary from popular broadcast shows such as Star Trek will also be included and more. These scholars take a look at UFOs from a unique perspective which presents some very interesting thoughts counter to the mainstream views.

Click to Buy

The picture they paint is interesting and has profound implications for much of the post-modern thought. The picture contributes to a much broader spectrum of issues than just UFOs. Please stay with the series and feel to comment.

• Science Briefs
• Alien Encounters - A Christian Perspective 

1. The UFO Craze
2. Types of UFOs
3. Life on Other Planets
• Side Bar: The Privileged Planet Look
4. Evolution's Probabilities
5. Interstellar Space Travel
6. RUFOs The Unexplained UFOs
7. Government Cover-Ups
8. Government Conspiracies
9. Nature and SuperNature
10. The Interdimensional Hypothesis
11. A Closer Look at RUFOs
12. Abductees
13. Contactees
14. UFO Cults
15. The Bible and UFOs
• Side Bar: Who is Watching the Watcher?
16. Summary

Note: Many ongoing investigations in the paranormal and UFO phenomenon are revealing natural origins for the events. For example, the Bermuda Triangle has been discovered to be an underwater mega volcano which releases methane and sulfuric gases from time-to-time accounting for the churning white water reports, magnetic anomalies, and aircraft suddenly loosing altitude or engines dying off.  Also discovered is the presence of large electo-static charges in quartz bearing rock.  These charges are released during seismic activity appearing as bluish glowing plasma fields and if the charge is large enough as spinning lightning bowls. The spinning lightning bowls are electric acting at right angles accounting for erratic seemingly unnatural motion. Additionally, the spinning flattens the bowls to look like a saucer. This rare natural phenomenon of lightning bowls has been known to chase people and knock homes off of foundations when discharging. 

References:

Gonzales, G and Richardson, J (2004). The privileged planet. Eagle Publishing Company. Washington DC.

Roddenberry, G. (1993). Star trek: the next generation. who is watching the watcher. 3rd season, 4th episode. Universal Pictures.

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.