Fundamentalist Ufology: 'Aliens' Are Demons

[Hospitaller]

Haven't alien abduction experiences been very much linked with and to a certain extent explained by night terrors, the night hag etc? What was the inucbus to past generations is the grey to us?

Whether they're all products of the mind or actual intelligences is very difficult to discern beyond our own limited experience of actual reality, but either way, it's fascinating how such experiences are shaped to fit the culture of the experiencer (scareships etc.)
And on another note, didn't Kenneth Arnold eventually conclude that UFOs are actually amoeba-like shape-shifting organisms which live in our atmosphere? Interesting opinion!

 

[Anonymous]

Satan-Prince of the Power of the Air, Lord of those that Fly, is the intelligence behind UFO manifestations and alien encounters :

"[Theoccultist] is brought into intelligent communication with the spirits of the air, and can receive any knowledge which they possess, or any false impression they choose to impart...the demons seem permitted to do various wonders at their request." - G.H.Pember, "Earth's Earliest Ages and Their Connection with Modern Spiritualism and Theosophy" (1876)

"UFO behaviour is more akin to magic than to physics as we know it... the modern UFOnauts and the demons of past days are probably identical." -Dr. Pierre Guerin, FSR Vol. 25, No. 1

"The UFO manifestations seem to be, by and large, merely minor variations of the age-old demonological phenomenon..." - John A. Keel, "UFOs: Operation Trojan Horse"

The causes behind UFO sightings, abductions, and other paranormal phenomena are more malignant and awesome than any theory scientists have proposed . The tribulation, or End Times will officially begin when (Dan.9:27) Israel signs a treaty with the head of the government of unified Europe to establish a Jewish temple in Jerusalem and resume the ancient sacrificial system of worship there. The man who signs this treaty for Israel will be unique, he will be believed by many to be the long awaited Messiah of the Jews. Bible prophecy calls him the Antichrist. This Antichrist is described in detail in scripture. Careful investigation of these texts revealed a connection between Antichrist and the phenomena of UFOs.

Daniel 11 describes the Antichrist:

"He shall not regard the God of his fathers, YHWH, (Yahweh??)
nor the desire of women
nor love any god, for he shall magnify himself above all.
But in his place he shall honour the god of fortresses,
(the Hebrew phrase is, Ala Mahozine), and he shall honour a god
whom his fathers(the Jews), did not know (literally, AN ALIEN GOD)."

Baalhazor," Lord of the fortresses" provides a connection between Baal and the god of the Antichrist. Baal was lord of war and of the sky. Many titles were given to Baal by adding endings to his name. Some examples found in scripture are Baalbamoth= Lord of the high places, Baalzebub=Lord of those who fly, or, flit. Zebub is a Hebrew verb which means to flit from place to place.
Baal is identified as Satan by Jesus himself, Matt.10:25 Mark. 3:22 Luke 11:15.
The Antichrist will honour Satan, called Baal, Lord of Fortresses, Lord of the High Places , Lord of those who quickly fly (in the high places), Prince of the Power of the Air, and obviously Prince of the Power behind flying craft in the high places...UFOs.

The Bible explains where Satan currently resides, and connects him with forces in the atmosphere.. .
Paul says "we wrestle not with flesh and blood, but with principalities and powers, with wicked spirits in high places" literally, "in the heavens"" in the aerial regions" Eph.6:12. Hence Satan is called "the prince of the Power of the air" "the prince of the aerial host" Eph.2:2. The confederation of rebel angels is seated in the atmospheric heaven in the spaces above and around our world. This fundamental of scripture contradicts many traditional concepts of "hell" as the domain of the devil and his minions . King David recognised this fully when he wrote:

For who in the sky (the atmosphere),
shall be ranked with Jehovah,
who among the sons of the mighty
is like Jehovah? Psalm 89:6

Well...thats the UFO thing cleared up then.

 

[Hospitaller]

Damn! And I was convinced they were from Iarga!

 

[Anonymous]

And on another note, didn't Kenneth Arnold eventually conclude that UFOs are actually amoeba-like shape-shifting organisms which live in our atmosphere? Interesting opinion!

I am reminded of Conan Doyle's short story, "The Horror Of The Heights".

http://www.forgottenfutures.com/game/ff3/heights.htm

OK it doesn't add anything to this particular debate, but I've always thought it a bloody good read.

PB

 

[uair01]

I like to browse through the "serious" scientific databases looking for Fortean subjects. This is another good article I found. It's from a serious Theological journal and it describes how aliens started as positive entities and the turned evil. The author blames this change on Christian demonological role models. And there are a few interesting factoids in the article too. I can't give you all the 27 pages, but I hope to have made an interesting selection.

Title:

Alien demonology: the Christian roots of the malevolent extraterrestrial in UFO religions and abduction spiritualities
Christopher Partridge, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University College Chester
(Religion 34 (2004))

Part of abstract and summary:

Initially, the sacralisation of the extraterrestrial led to an understanding of the alien as a fundamentally benevolent, messianic figure—a ‘technological angel’. This was largely because of the Cold War environment in which much UFO religion arose. Furthermore, because UFO religions have their roots in the Theosophical tradition, the religious understanding of the extraterrestrial tended to be fundamentally indebted to the concept of the wise and benevolent ascended master.

In their construction of the malevolent alien, UFO religionists and abductees turn not to Theosophy and Eastern religious traditions but to the myths and symbols of Christian demonology. Moreover, in exploring the origins and nature of the demonologies of contemporary UFO religions and abduction spiritualities, the article also draws attention to the importance of popular culture in the West, which, itself influenced by the Christian tradition, contributes to the formation of both popular demonology and also UFO mythology, which are in turn synthesised in UFO demonologies.

I had never realized there was a link between Theosophy and UFO lore:

It is also worth noting at this stage that the Theosophical tradition has proved to be enormously significant in the history of UFO religion. The reason can be found in Theosophical speculation about other worlds and extraterrestrial civilizations.

H.P. Blavatsky, the founder of modern Theosophy, had speculated about the Venusian ‘Lords of the Flame’, which, according to Charles Leadbeater’s interpretation of the concept (Leadbeater, 1912), were of the highest rank in the hierarchy of ascended masters.

Subsequent leaders within the tradition such as Guy Ballard, the founder of the I AM Religious Activity, claimed, under the pseudonym Godfre Ray King, to have met twelve Venusians who revealed Venus to be home to a race of technologically and spiritually advanced beings (see King, 1935).

Hence it is unsurprising that UFO religion has been dominated by those from within the Theosophical tradition. Theosophists include both George Adamski, the first and arguably the most influential contactee (see Adamski, 1949), and George King, the founder (in 1954) of one of the oldest UFO religions, the Aetherius Society (see Smith, 2003; Wallis, 1974).

And there is a very interesting analysis of the "reptilian agenda" belief system starting in the 1930 and endig with David Icke:

Having looked at UFO religion, I now want to focus on a new breed of demonic alien evolving within contemporary ‘abduction spiritualities’, which almost certainly has its origins in popular culture, especially the popular fantasy magazine Weird Tales. H.P. Lovecraft, Clarke Ashton Smith and particularly Robert E. Howard wrote stories for Weird Tales, which included malign, subterranean serpent creatures. In one of Howard’s stories, ‘The Shadow Kingdom’, the creatures were able to change into human form in order to insinuate themselves into positions of power in human society (see Barkun, 2003, p. 121). This theme is developed by other writers and conspiracy theorists who produce ‘fact-fiction reversals’ (see Barkun, 2003, pp. 29e33), or accounts which significantly blur the distinction between fact and fiction. Of particular note is Maurice Doreal, who had been involved in the Theosophical subculture and subsequently founded the Brotherhood of the White Temple (c. 1930). Doreal developed elaborate theories about a subterranean serpent race and, subsequently, incorporated extraterrestrials into his thinking in the early 1950s. These themes were later elided in order to produce a theory of a Serpent Race which, he claimed, in the latter half of the twentieth century would become an ally of the Antichrist (Doreal, 1992, pp. 29, 47e50; Barkun, 2003, p. 119).

And there is mention of UFO personalities that I had never heard of before, and a good link to classic demonology:

Tony Dodd, a British UFO researcher, describes ‘a seven-foot-tall lizard, only with arms and legs’ which is aggressive and highly intelligent (Dodd, 1999, pp. 203, 232). Whilst the greys—the slim aliens with large, dark, almond-shaped eyes—are sometimes understood to be malevolent in that they experiment on humans, it is the reptilians and reptoids that are beginning to dominate contemporary extraterrestrial demonology.

Gail Seymour, a contactee and psychic healer specialising in the treatment of abductees, claims that they rape, torture, and murder. She recounts how she first became aware of the reptilians. ‘About six months ago I noticed that all of my new clients were being raped and tortured by an ‘‘unseen force’’—a force that was definitely not the greys’. As to why this species of alien is suddenly becoming prominent, according to Seymour, since mid-August 1999 (she is very specific about the pre-millennium timing) ‘there has been a change of command. The greys, formerly intermediaries for the reptilians, acting as their front line of attack, seem to have stepped backward. The reptilians are now coming forward’ (Seymour, 2002a). Not only has popular fiction become fact, but also the parallels with pre-modern accounts of incubi and succubi are often conspicuous.

Then we get to David Icke, and I find the term "surreal conspiracy theories" quite original and fitting:

This myth of an ancient battle between good and evil aliens, the result of which is the dominance of the reptilians, is particularly developed in the surreal conspiracy theories of David Icke. Indeed, Icke is perhaps most responsible for developing and popularising the demonology. This is particularly interesting, since his ideas can be traced back very clearly to Doreal (and thus to Robert Howard’s fiction). For example, Doreal produced a long poem, ‘The Emerald Tablets’, which, he claimed, was the work of Thoth, a Priest who had lived in Atlantis. This text is important not only because it mentions demonic serpent creatures but also because it is used extensively by David Icke (see particularly Icke, 2001). Indeed, many of Doreal’s themes are explicit in Icke’s work. In recent years Icke has devoted his career to exposing ‘the reptilian agenda’, the ultimate aim of which is the ‘control of planet Earth and its entire population’. Icke’s conspiracy theory, which Seymour told me she shared, [*10*] includes the belief that the world’s leaders, including US Presidents, the British royal family and even leading religious figures, belong to a shape-shifting, reptilianehuman hybrid bloodline (see Icke, 1999). This is perhaps the most recent manifestation of another widespread conspiracy theory, one which concerns a group of malevolent individuals, collectively referred to as ‘the Illuminati’ (see Barkun, 2003, pp. 45e64). The original thesis can betraced back to John Robison, a Professor of Natural Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh, who published a work in 1798 claiming to expose ‘a conspiracy against all the religions and governments of Europe’ (Robison, 1967).

Footnote: [*10*] I have been surprised at the number of those I have spoken to who find Icke’s ideas, if not entirely convincing, at least plausible.

Finally an interesting analysis of the link between David Icke's ideas and popular culture:

This mythology is, as noted, reinforced through popular culture. However, in Icke’s case, this reinforcement is not passive but active. That is to say, Icke urges those new to his ideas to study, for example, Kenneth Johnson’s TV series V(NBC, 1984e85), which, he claims, will educate people about ‘what is REALLY going on’ (Icke, 2003b). The overlap between the basic structure of Icke’s demonology and the storyline of V is so striking that it hard to avoid the conclusion that it has been a significant factor in its construction—particularly bearing in mind that it was written before Icke produced his own demonology. Essentially, V is about reptilian extraterrestrials which, while appearing respectable and friendly, are actually a malevolent, vampiric species who eat humans and plot to take over the planet. Other films he explicitly endorses include The Matrix 1999), which is clearly viewed by him as an important expose´ (Icke, 2001, p. xvii); John Carpenter’s They Live (1988), which tells the story of a drifter who accidentally uncovers an alien plot to take over America; and David Schmoeller’s The Arrival (1990), in which an alien parasite turns a human into a vampire. ‘I urge you’, he writes, ‘to think about watching these movies to get up to speed if you are new to all of this’ (Icke, 2003b).

Does anyone know this "V" TV-series?

 

[GNC]

Yes, V started out as a science fiction miniseries that was talk of the playground when I was at school. Basically the aliens arrive on Earth with much fanfare, looking like us, claiming to be peaceful, and turn out to be evil lizard people in disguise. V stood for visitors, then victory when the humans realised what the aliens were up to and fought back. Presumably Mr Icke stole most of his act from it. Another miniseries and a proper series followed, neither as good as the original.

According to the IMDB there's a sequel to V coming out in the next couple of years. More fuel for Icke - he may even be writing the script.

 

[OldTimeRadio]

"I can't give you all the 27 pages...."

Fine. Understood. Thanks much for what you HAVE given us. But if this is an online article, can you please give us a link TO the full text?

Thanks again.

 

[OldTimeRadio]

Caveat

I have mixed emotions about approaches of this kind. That's the main reason I want to read the full article.

I'm a Christian who has spent decades as a Fortean and paranormalist and that certainly makes me something of a UFOlogist as well.

But I most assuredly ascribe to no "UFOlogical religion." My old if quiet one is more than enough for me.

And I likewise don't believe that the earth is controlled by a cabal of interstellar lizards, nor that the world's political leaders are reptilians attired in ill-fitting human suits. On the other hand it's difficult to study the Old Testament or the mythologies of ancient Sumeria and Egypt, for just two nations, without coming to the conclusion that there at least seems to have been some type of interplay going on between humans and something morally and spiritually "scaly" for a very long time, and that that interplay has never been for humanity's benefit.

Likewise, I don't believe that "Capt. Satan" goes scooting around the Universe in space ships. What a dreadfully crude "theology"! Even so, I have no good reason to believe that a peripatetic Malignancy ("going to and from in the world") which can appear as an "angel of light" should not be just as as capable of portraying itself as Solarayama of Strontium-Six or a Bird Witch from Asteroid Zee.

 

[uair01]

But if this is an online article, can you please give us a link TO the full text?

Unfortunately it comes from one of those science article databases where you must be a paying member. So I can cite the material, but I can't redistribute it.

The links are:
http://www.jstor.org/
http://www.sciencedirect.com/

If you have a good big (university) library nearby they might have access.

 

[Graylien]

The author seems to be grossly oversimplifying things. If I understand their argument correctly, they are claiming that in the 1950's aliens were all sweetness and light, whereas now they are demonical.

In fact, there were plenty of 'demonical' aliens around even while George Adamski was trotting around the world giving lectures about Utopian Nordics from planet Venus. There were aggressive hairy dwarves in Latin America, grotesque goblins in Kentucky, maelovent blobs in Sweden, and a plague of mischievous humanoids in France. They just didn't get as much press as the likes of Adamski and George King.

Nowadays, despite the paranoid view of aliens promoted by the likes of David Jacobs and Mr Icke, the Aetherius movement is still going strong, and the Raelians have a growing membership. People are still reporting conversations with friendly - or at least non-threatening - humanoids, and you can find plenty of New Age mediums who claim to channel angelic 'beings of light' from Andromeda.

Like any folklore, Ufo belief has had both its 'dark' and 'light' sides right from the beginning, and will no doubt continue to do so.

And if the author of the report thinks that there are no demonic entities in Eastern mythology, then their research is seriously lacking.

 

[stu neville]

Science direct is free membership - just sign up.

 

[Graylien]

I did, but it still insisted that I pay $30 to download the article. It seems that only some of the articles are free. And neither the demonology article, nor for that matter Hair barbering in mice: Implications for neurobehavioural research or Male expulsion in cooperative Mongolian Gerbils were among them.

 

[stu neville]

Bastards!

I just went in via my Athens password, and they weren't too happy about letting me in then, either .

 

[Mighty_Emperor]

Bastards!

I just went in via my Athens password, and they weren't too happy about letting me in then, either .

I just got an Athens password has expired notice. Just doing a bit of checking and I suspect the CHEST agreement doesn't cover the last 5 years of Religion (at least thats the score through my OU account).

I have a cunning plan - back in a mo.

 

[Mighty_Emperor]

OK I have dropped him a line to see if he'd be interested in making it available online (we could host it here if there is no way for him to do it persoanlly). He is doing a lot of interesting work in this area and he is working on a book, "UFO Religions." which could have a lot of potential too:

www.chester.ac.uk/trs/chris.html

---------
Also Stu seems the Athens system (or at my bit) has changed so you might want to check that but even when that bit is sorted it still isn't available through Science Direct (and the journal isn't covered by JSTOR). Fingers crossed he will make it available somewhere as it looks to be an important study - I notice it was #2 on ScienceDirect's most popular papers for that journal:

http://top25.sciencedirect.com/?journal_id=0048721X

 

[uair01]

At least he is working on some very Fortean subjects:

‘Pagan Fundamentalism?’, in C. H. Partridge (ed), Fundamentalisms (2002)

‘Alternative Spiritualities, New Religions and the Re-enchantment of the West’, in J. R. Lewis (ed), New Religions (forthcoming).

‘Sacred Chemicals? Psychedelic Drugs and Mystical Experience’, in C. H. Partridge and T. Gabriel (eds), Mysticism East and West: Studies in Mysticism (forthcoming).

 

[Mighty_Emperor]

At least he is working on some very Fortean subjects:

Yep - if he gets back to me I might see if he is interested in an interview when that UFO book comes out. Should cover some interesting territory.

 

[OldTimeRadio]

Adamski's Aliens

Graylien, I personally found George Adamski's "Christ-like" Venusians pretty creepy even back during the 1950s. (I turned 18 in 1959 and had then been following Adamski's career for at least five years.)

Creepy AND cardboardish, which makes for a really queasy combination.

 

[OldTimeRadio]

Thanks, Emps

Emps, thanks very much for all of your efforts to obtain for us the full text of the article under discussion.

 

[Mighty_Emperor]

Re: Thanks, Emps

Emps, thanks very much for all of your efforts to obtain for us the full text of the article under discussion.

No worries

I'm not having much luck mind - the email I sent didn't get through. However, as it failed to connect to the mail server that suggests it might be a temporary thing so I'll try again later.

 

[Mighty_Emperor]

Emps, thanks very much for all of your efforts to obtain for us the full text of the article under discussion.

No worries

I'm not having much luck mind - the email I sent didn't get through. However, as it failed to connect to the mail server that suggests it might be a temporary thing so I'll try again later.

OK I've got a reply.

He is checking to see if the publsihers will allow an online copy - they usually do allow people to put up one copy so fingers crossed.

I should have checked but the UFO Religions book is actually out:

UFO Religions

Book Description

The spectre of the UFO, as popularised by shows such as The X-Files, has brought an astonishing slant to the face of modern religious practice. But what motivates the fantastical and sometimes sinister beliefs of UFO worshippers? UFO Religions critically examines some of the fascinating issues surrounding UFO worship - abduction narratives, UFO-based interpretations of other religions, the growth of pseudo-sciences purporting to explain UFOs, and the responses of the core scientific community to such claims. Focusing on contemporary global UFO groups including the Raelian Movement, Heaven's Gate, Unarius and the Ansaaru Allah Community, it gives a clear profile of modern UFO controversies and beliefs.

Synopsis

In France, a UFO group known as the Raelian Movement works to create the first Embassy welcoming extra terrestrials from space, claiming that the world is the work of an alien people who built it from DNA. The Aetherius Society of Great Britain claims to receive cosmic transmissions from space intelligences, offering the chance to listen to online recordings of a spoken transmission from Jesus Christ. In San Diego, March 1997, 39 members of the Heaven's Gate group commit mass suicide at the appearance of the Hale-Bopp comet, believing that heavenly beings on a UFO wait there to gather them into the Kingdom of Heaven. There is no doubt that the spectre of the UFO, as popularised by shows such as The X-Files, has brought an astonishing and often apocalyptic slant to the motley face of modern religious practice. But what motivates the fantastical and occasionally sinister beliefs of UFO worshippers? Why are people apparently so keen to believe that the truth really is 'out there'? Does the image of the extra-terrestrial ever inspire love, or rather fundamentalism, instability and violence? UFO Religions is an essential introduction to UFO-based belief throughout the Western world. Composed entirely of readable new articles by leading international scholars, it critically examines some of the most fascinating issues surrounding UFO worship - abduction narratives, UFO-based interpretations of Biblical and other religions, the growth of pseudo-sciences purporting to explain UFOs and extra-terrestrials, and the responses of the core scientific community to such claims. Focusing on contemporary global UFO groups including the Raelian Movement, Heaven's Gate, Australia's Ashtar Command network, Unarius and the Ansaaru Allah Community, it combines sociological, psychological and anthropological perspectives to give a clear profile of modern UFO societies, controversies and beliefs.

www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/04152 ... ntmagaz-21
www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0415263 ... enantmc-20

------------------------
He also mentions that his second volume of his "Re-Enchantment of the West " contains a chapter on aliens and one on demonology. His two volumes:

The Re-Enchantment of the West: Volume 1 Alternative Spiritualities, Sacralization, Popular Culture, and Occulture

Synopsis

'In this lively and rigorous study, Chris Partridge refutes the accepted argument that religion is in decline in western societies, and demonstrates that alternative spiritualities are flourishing today. In my view this is a monumental work and should become a classic.' Daniel Wojcik, University of Oregon in Eugene 'This is among the most important books exploring the nature of contemporary life and makes an invaluable and unrivalled contribution to the study of contemporary culture.' Graham Harvey, King Alfred's College, Winchester Western society and culture is often described in sociological and theological texts as increasingly secular. This work challenges this thesis and introduces the reader to the principal theories and debates about the state of religion in the West (secularization, sacralization, Easternization, the development of New Religious Movements etc.) In so doing it demonstrates the significance of popular culture in the construction of eclectic alternative spiritual worldviews in the West. One of the principal theses posited in this book is that there is a broad 'occulture' -- a reservoir of ideas, beliefs, theories, and practices from which new religions, alternative spiritualities, and popular culture all drink.

PB:
www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/05670 ... ntmagaz-21
www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0567084 ... enantmc-20
HB:
www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/05670 ... ntmagaz-21

-------------
The Re-enchantment of the West: Alternative Spiritualities, Sacralization, Popular Culture and Occulture v. 2

Synopsis

The Re-Enchantment of the West challenges those theories that predict widespread secularization beyond traditional institutional religiosity. Spiritualities are emerging that are not only quite different from the those forms of religion that are in decline, but are often defined over against them and articulated and passed on in ways quite different from those of traditional religion. In particular, it is argued that such contemporary Western spirituality is fed by a constantly replenished reservoir of ideas, practices, and methodologies, which is here termed 'occulture'. Moreover, such occultural ideas both feed into and are resourced by popular culture. Indeed, popular occulture is a key feature of the re-enchantment of the West. Demonstrating the significance and ubiquity of these ideas, this book examines, for example, healthcare and nursing, contemporary environmentalism, psychedelia and drug use, the Internet and cyberspirituality, belief in UFOs and extraterrestrial life, demonology and the contemporary fascination with the figure of Satan, the heavy metal subculture, popular apocalypticism, and millennial violence.

PB:
www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/08264 ... ntmagaz-21
HB:
www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/05670 ... ntmagaz-21

 

[Graylien]

Streiber published the pick of the bunch in a book called the Communion Letters. If I remember correctly, a lot of the letter writers claimed that their memories of alien abduction were somehow 'triggered' by the sight of the grey pictured on the cover of Communion.

The book featured some very odd stories. One correspondent claimed that a bunch of aliens visited the art shop she worked in and bought some pencils. Another claimed that he was in a lift at a department store when suddenly his fellow occupants were 'switched off'. The lift halted, and the doors opened to reveal a view of a vast futuristic complex. And then there was the woman who visited a 24-hour garage which was really a spaceship...

It's an interesting book, although it reads more like a collection of visionary experiences rather than encounters with flesh-and-blood alien explorers.

 

[Graylien]

Whilst browsing the web for related articles on Demonology, I came across this Life Of St Anthony written by his near-contemporary, St Athanasius.

Anthony's teachings on demons reminded me of John Keel's Ultraterrestrials in many respects. They can assume any shape, even that of angels, can travel at great speeds, and have a knack for fortelling the future with indifferent accuracy. Yet despite their often forbidding appearance, they are essentially powerless to cause harm - other than driving a man out of his wits.

The demons... when they cannot deceive the heart openly with foul pleasures, approach in different guise, and thenceforth shaping displays they attempt to strike fear, changing their shapes, taking the forms of women, wild beasts, creeping things, gigantic bodies, and troops of soldiers.

But not even then need ye fear their deceitful displays. For they are nothing and quickly disappear, especially if a man fortify himself beforehand with faith and the sign of the cross.

Yet are they bold and very shameless, for if thus they are worsted they make an onslaught in another manner, and pretend to prophesy and foretell the future, and to shew themselves of a height reaching to the roof and of great breadth; that they may stealthily catch by such displays those who could not be deceived by their arguments.

...Wherefore if they pretend to foretell the future, let no one give heed, for often they announce beforehand that the brethren are coming days after. And they do come. The demons, however, do this not from any care for the hearers, but to gain their trust, and that then at length, having got them in their power, they may destroy them...

For what wonder is it, if with more subtle bodies than men haves, when they have seen them start on their journey, they surpass them in speed, and announce their coming? Just as a horseman getting a start of a man on foot announces the arrival of the latter beforehand, so in this there is no need for us to wonder at them.

So, too, with respect to the water of the river, they sometimes make foolish statements, For having seen that there has been much rain in the regions of Ethiopia, and knowing that they are the cause of the flood of the river before the water has come to Egypt they run on and announce it. And this men could have told, if they had as great power of running as the demons...

...And let this also be a token for you: whenever the soul remains fearful there is a presence of the enemies. For the demons do not take away the fear of their presence as the great archangel Gabriel did for Mary and Zacharias, and as he did who appeared to the women at the tomb; but rather whenever they see men afraid they increase their delusions that men may be terrified the more.

...And for your fearlessness against them hold this sure sign--whenever there is any apparition, be not prostrate with fear, but whatsoever it be, first boldly ask, Who art thou? And from whence comest thou? And if it should be a vision of holy ones they will assure you, and change your fear into joy. But if the vision should be from the devil, immediately it becomes feeble, beholding your firm purpose of mind.

 

[Graylien]

Having read the demonology article, it seems to me that the author appears rather ignorant of the background to the modern UFO era. Kenneth Arnold reported seeing 9 flying crescents, not 10 flying discs (although his story subtly changed over time), the Scandanavian ghost rockets were not "disc shaped" and there is no discussion of the very first modern UFO flap - the phantom airship sightings of 1896-7.

And by concentrating on "UFO religion's and spiritualities" such as the Ashtar Command, Heaven's Gate, and David Icke (!) (BTW, why no mention of Rael - the most successful UFO prophet of all?), the author is neglecting a wealth of individual contact reports which show an intriguing similarity to the demonlogical beliefs of earlier times. And what about Mothman, hairy dwarves, MIBs, and goblin-like entities - none of which rate a mention? There's a lot more to UFO folklore than reptilians and greys. Mr Partridge needs to spend a little longer doing his research, methinks.

 

[L_double]

I think i am aware of most of the main stream explanations or theories that offer to explain the origins or existence of UFO/AAP ... and more than likely some of the less common as well but the most fasinating and for me the most disturbing is that of demonic interference or manipulation..In certain cases there seem to be the most bizzare elements and details that seem to serve no other purpose than to simply confuse or decieve...
Something which also strikes me as being worth consideration in regard to evidence to support this is the fact that many UFO/AAP witness are so utterly effected by the experience that their whole belief system is altered .. who they are or were more to the point at a very basic fundemental level has been changed or manipulated in some way...

I know this is beating down the same paths as Fort,keel & Vallee but i feel it still merits discussion...so any thoughts peolpe ?

 

[Mythopoeika]

Isn't it more likely that what people consider to be 'demonic manifestation' is caused by aliens or interdimensional travellers - i.e. the other way round?

 

[Phoenix176]

L_double

Can you provide some specific examples...

That is right than in the Middle Ages peoples also talked about being abducted by non humans beings ....maybe the little greys are the same kind of manifestations.
Exampleeoples in that time reported being abducted by fairies inside a "cloud"

 

[_Lizard23_]

Isn't it more likely that what people consider to be 'demonic manifestation' is caused by aliens or interdimensional travellers - i.e. the other way round?

Or that both are caused by something else and the religious/technological spin is just local cultural interpretation?

 

[jefflovestone]

I think i am aware of most of the main stream explanations or theories that offer to explain the origins or existence of UFO/AAP ... and more than likely some of the less common as well but the most fasinating and for me the most disturbing is that of demonic interference or manipulation..In certain cases there seem to be the most bizzare elements and details that seem to serve no other purpose than to simply confuse or decieve...
Something which also strikes me as being worth consideration in regard to evidence to support this is the fact that many UFO/AAP witness are so utterly effected by the experience that their whole belief system is altered .. who they are or were more to the point at a very basic fundemental level has been changed or manipulated in some way...

I know this is beating down the same paths as Fort,keel & Vallee but i feel it still merits discussion...so any thoughts peolpe ?

I thought the part of the text that I emboldened was particularly interesting. Surely, this is only based on expectation? That we expect something to either mean what we normally assume it to mean or for something to have meaning at all? Perhaps for beings advanced/different enough to be able to travel across space or interdimensionally, they are bound to have a wholly different set of symbolic references and the things that may seem to have "no purpose than to simply confuse or decieve" may be elementary connotations for them.

 

[L_double]

The cases i am refering to are scenarios where contact is made and dialoge achieved between witness(s) and u.t/e.t/demon ect .. often supposedly phrophetic information is passed to the witness warning of impending danger or the like.. or in some cases strange some what cyrptic clues or hints are made at sinister agenda's ...
From a religous(Christian) perspective demons are supposed to decieve and apparently will do anything to obscure the truth ... the truth being if you entertain the belief that our souls are up for grabs and when you die your either going up or down depending on a whole series of different factors the main one being your belief or faith.. So would it not seem plausable that if demonic entities to exist and their purpose amongst other things is to help decieve the sons and daughters of adam into if not willingly but certainly unwillingly signing up for an iternity in hell or the equivilent then they would manifest in a whole spectrum of guises with the sole purpose of manipulation through extreme deciept..
I think this would also explain why mankind has been haunted or hunted by some shape or form of this spiritual intent since the dawn of mankind....allways reflecting our collective sub concious as we progress and adapt as a society as a whole... it used to be the creatures of folklore and mythology that we encountered but since we entered an age of technology this has altered the characteristics and nature of the deciept once again making it seem plausable and relevant.....