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A review by nealalex
Alien Worlds: Social and Religious Dimensions of Extraterrestrial Contact by
4.0
Sociological studies of religious and scientific networks of believers in extra-terrestrial contact. Typically, the charismatic founder of such a group draws on their transformative experiences to teach how to gain enlightenment. The largest such group may be the Raëlians, who initially defined themselves in scientific terms but more recently “possibly for tax purposes or public tolerance” they have “accepted the religious classification”, while still claiming to have be at the forefront of science, in particular cloning.
Several chapters remind us that UFOlogy was originally mainstream science, and was supported by governments after World War II. The authors point out that the same kind of evidence coming to light now would not be considered on its merits due to the reputational risk to scientists of getting involved. One chapter looks at the tension between, on the one hand, those who examine eyewitness accounts and, on the other, alien abduction groups, with the former trying to distinguish themselves from the latter, whom they seen as lamentably unscientific.
An appendix describes “Some Types of Aliens”, such as Greys, most associated with abductions, and the more benevolent Betas.
Although the dramatic characters don’t really fit the rubric, there’s a chapter on Klingon role-players which left me much less dismissive of ‘trekkies’. Typically highly educated, they explain via the interviews how the Klingon values of honour and forthrightness let them take on a radically different alter ego.
Several chapters remind us that UFOlogy was originally mainstream science, and was supported by governments after World War II. The authors point out that the same kind of evidence coming to light now would not be considered on its merits due to the reputational risk to scientists of getting involved. One chapter looks at the tension between, on the one hand, those who examine eyewitness accounts and, on the other, alien abduction groups, with the former trying to distinguish themselves from the latter, whom they seen as lamentably unscientific.
An appendix describes “Some Types of Aliens”, such as Greys, most associated with abductions, and the more benevolent Betas.
Although the dramatic characters don’t really fit the rubric, there’s a chapter on Klingon role-players which left me much less dismissive of ‘trekkies’. Typically highly educated, they explain via the interviews how the Klingon values of honour and forthrightness let them take on a radically different alter ego.