Close Encountersof a spiritual kind

Religious DimensionsMysteryExplain earthly mysteries:Bermuda TriangleDogon of West AfricaThe BibleAtlantis/LemuriaGive us new mysteries:Flight patternsCrop circlesHow and why are they here?

TranscendenceUFOs transcend our perceptions and experiencesFree of laws of physics, time-spaceEvoke awe, humility, faith

Supernatural BeingsExtraterrestrials have abilities, and powers, that transcend natureContactees/abductees sometimes develop similar powersSix Extraterrestrial types:

The GreysFour feet tall, hairless, sexless, big eyesZeta ReticululsBarney Barnett, Betty & Barney HillLinked to technolgy, alien abduction, medical experimentation, hybridization, government conspiracy

The BluesSimilar in appearance to Greys, but with blue tint to skinArrived shortly after Greys, 1947Warned US government of evil intentions of Greys, were rejectedWent to Arizona, allied with Hopi IndiansRobert Morningsky & Sky Warriors - The Terra Papers

PleiadiansHighly spiritually evolved, benevolent, fourth dimensional beingsPhysical appearance either none (only speak through channels), or nordic blond, beautifulBarbara Marciniak, Billy MeierEarth reaching point of spiritual transformation Pleiadians will help

The Pleiadians

Extraterrestrial entities channeled by Barbara MarciniakSimilar message of personal responsibility, we are god, etc.Added element = extraterrestrial origins of humans created by aliens to fulfill spiritual destiny.We have forgotten our destiny, however, and been led astray by poorly evolved aliens who fear our potential. Bad aliens are in league with American government a theme we will see more of in next section of our course.Pleiadians are here to guide us back to spiritual path

Other Alien speciesLyrians channeled by Lyssa RoyaleSirians water-based, spiritual, concerned with humans, dolphins, whalesOrion Empire Council of Light, Evil OrionsReptoids/Reptilians reptilian, possible masters of Greys, ancestors of humans, intent on conquest & stopping human spiritual evolution

PerfectionUFO shape symbolic of perfectionExtraterrestrial societies vastly superior: free from poverty, violence, prejudice, etc.Technology vastly superior: UFOs, etc.Pursuit of perfection = religious goal

SalvationMission of Extraterrestrials often understood as one of salvation from nuclear, environmental disaster, or from spiritual lapseSalvation needs supernatural (alien) aidSalvation comes from outside, not inside

CosmologiesWho are we, why are we here? Traditional religious answers now found inadequate by someTraditional Scientific answers also found inadequateExtraterrestrials add new dimension to quest combines science i.e. alien DNA, etc. with religion Places human evolution in cosmic frameworkTransformationLike mystical experiences, close encounters (esp. of 3-5th kinds) transform effected individualPerson must reevaluate whole worldview, belief systems, religious faith, personal historyBecome set apart, ostracized due to new faith often witness to new truth

Mystical ExperiencesSix basic elements of close encounter of 3rd or 4th kind:SolitaryIsolated locationWise superior beings take initiative in contactLight is dominant symbolSexual elementAbsence of natural sounds

Mystical ExperiencesReason one: von Danikens thesis when mystics thought they were talking to supernatural beings, they were really talking to aliens

Reason two: Extraterrestrials are wise spiritual beings, like gods, so human spiritual response to them is similar

Reason three: human mind capable of producing certain mental stimuli, variously interpreted as contact with gods, or aliens

Abduction experiencesJohn E. MackHarvard psychologist, Cambridge psychiatristPulitzer Prize winnerReluctant believer in alien abductionsClaims alien abductions have religious implications

Religious transformation of consciousness8 ways abduction experiences trigger spiritual transformation:

Pushing Through overcoming victim emphasis

Aliens as Intermediaries coming to see aliens as halfway between human mortality & divine consciousness

Homecoming sense of joy at relatedness to extraterrestrials genetic link

Religious transformation of consciousnessPast Life Experiences under hypnotic regression, abduction experiences traced back to infancy, plus memories of earlier lives Altered view of human identity humanness centered in consciousness, not biology Transpersonal experiences identification with other species aliens, animals (dolphins, whales)

Religious transformation of consciousnessDouble Alien/Human Identity sense of double identity: fully human, but also alien self as other, abduction a positive experience despite temporary fearCollapse of Space/Time Dichotomies past, present, future collapse; near/far dichotomies collapse monistic sense of time/space emerges

Abductee video

Responses to religious dimensions of UFO phenomeonMany UFO enthusiasts simply reject religious dimensions in favour of pure science/technology emphasisOthers explore spiritual dimensions, and become convinced that extraterrestrials have spiritual agendaIn latter case, religious texts become source texts for showing ongoing interest of extraterrestrials in our spiritual evolutionFor small minority, spiritual dimensions of UFO experiences become central focus of organized religious convictions UFO groups, next week!