Page Content (OCR)
It is sad that, as the twentieth century draws to an end and as new discoveries become possible, the minds of many scientists remain closed to this problem. In its June 1987 issue the popular astrology magazine Sky & Telescope noted with sneering, fashionable skepticism that: Unidentified Flying Objects have faded from popularity in recent years, perhaps as the news media become more aware how little is behind every UFO tale that has ever been well sod investigated. Ironically, during the same month, two books climbed the popularity charts to the top of the New York Times bestseller list. Communion and Intruders contained sensational first-person accounts of aworma 1 c , 4 rs Part eC 1 encounters with UFOs and confrontation or spiritual contact with their alleged occupants. This coincidence between scientific arrogance and a new social trend illustrates an important fact in our society: while science consistently refuses to consider phenomena that lie outside the safe regions of its current understanding, the public is eagerly reaching for explanations that fit its experience. While our scientists remain unaware of important data that could stimulate new theories of the universe, the rest of us miss an opportunity to make serious progress in what should be an important spiritual quest. This book is an attempt to close the gap be examining the evidence for the existence of UFOs, not only in our time, but in earlier ages as well. Such a historical perspective, which is summarized in Part One under "The Alien Chronicles," is entertaining and often captivating. But more importantly, it is critical to a full understanding of the problem. Jf these objects have been seen from time immemorial, as I will show, and if their occupants have always performed similar actions along similar lines of behavior, then it is not reasonable to assume that they are "simply" extraterrestrial visitors. They must be something more. Perhaps they have always been here. On earth. With us. In my view, the widespread belief among researchers of the field in the literal truth of the "abductions" is only a very crude approximation of a much more complex tapestry. Another reality is involved here. A reality characterized by cosmic seduction, strange signs in heaven, and paranormal events that present a rich panoply of psychic phenomena. Part Two is devoted to its analysis, paving the way for Part Three, which I have called "A Challenge to Research," for we can no longer avoid seriously studying UFO phenomena. For a long time, the U.S. military has dismissed the problem because "it did not show any hostile intent and did not threaten national security." This argument is no longer tenable. At a time when our government is proposing to deploy the Strategic Defense Initiative, commonly known as the "Star Wars" system, in space, how long can we tolerate an unexplained phenomenon in the upper atmosphere? UFOs, whatever they are, remain visible to the naked eye and detectable by reconnaissance satellites, electronic sensors, and radar. A future wave of unidentified objects similar to those that were recorded in 1952, 1954, 1966, or 1973 could trigger the SDI network and augment the risk of starting the next world war accidentally. It could even mask a real attack. This possibility is not acceptable in terms of our national security, even if these objects are not hostile. It is equally unacceptable to any of the advanced nations. It can be argued that UFO phenomena are so complex and so far beyond our ability to classify them that no solution can be expected for a long time to come. This is a point well taken, but it should not discourage us from doing active research. Even if we never understand the whole phenomenon, there still may be useful lessons to learn from its smaller components. I would be very happy, for instance, to simply understand how these objects manipulate electromagnetic waves to create retractable light beams with gravity effects capable of pulling objects, people, and animals through the air; or to understand how they paralyze witnesses who come close to them. Imagine a primitive bushman watching a Boeing 747 land. He has no chance, from this single occurrence, of understanding the intricate technology that controls the aircraft's powered flight. But