2006 11 00 Nova Religio - Vol 10 No 2 - Saliba

Magazine Overview

This document is a review essay titled "The Study of UFO Religions" by John A. Saliba, published in *Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions*, Volume 10, Issue 2, in November 2006. The review discusses several recent scholarly works, including encyclopedias and monographs, that focus on UFO religions.

Key Publications Reviewed

The essay reviews several key publications:

• *Aliens Adored: Raël's UFO Religion* by Susan Palmer (2004)
• *Encyclopedia of American Religions* by J. Gordon Melton (7th ed., 2003)
• *Encyclopedic Sourcebook of UFO Religions* edited by James R. Lewis (2003)
• *New Religions: A Guide: New Religious Movements, Sects and Alternative Spiritualities* edited by Christopher Partridge (2004)
• *UFO Religions* edited by Christopher Partridge (2003)
• *UFOs and Popular Culture: An Encyclopedia of Contemporary Myth* by James R. Lewis (2000)
• *When Prophecy Never Fails: Myth and Reality in a Flying-Saucer Group* by Diana Tumminia (2005)

Rise in Scholarly Interest and Key Incidents

Saliba notes a rise in scholarly interest in UFO religions, partly due to highly publicized events such as the 1997 Heaven's Gate incident, the rise and fall of Chen Tao's prophetic movement in 1998, and the 2002 announcement of human cloning by Clonaid, associated with the International Raëlian Movement.

Categorization of UFO Religions and Key Groups

The reviewed publications are categorized into three types:

1. Encyclopedias on new religious movements with short entries on UFO religions.
2. Collections of essays covering various UFO religions or discussing the contactee phenomenon and theoretical aspects.
3. Monographs on specific UFO religions.

Saliba intends to examine what encyclopedias reveal about UFO religions, focusing on questions like what constitutes a UFO religion, how many exist, and their membership numbers. He plans to review literature on four major groups: the Raëlian Movement, Unarius Academy of Science, the Aetherius Society, and Heaven's Gate. He also intends to discuss studies comparing UFO groups with other religious movements and to suggest areas for future research.

Defining UFO Religions

One of the challenges discussed is defining what constitutes a "UFO religion." Many believers in UFOs do not attach religious significance to their experiences. Some UFO groups deliberately avoid the term "religion," preferring to be called educational or scientific organizations. Saliba references Ninian Smart's seven dimensions of religion (ritual, doctrinal, mythic, experiential, ethical, organizational, material) and notes that while the "sacred" is central to traditional religion, its role in UFO groups can vary. He also notes that scholars have added "the sacred" as a separate dimension for assessment.

Six Main Characteristics of UFO Religions

Saliba outlines six main characteristics that set UFO religions apart:

1. Belief in extraterrestrial beings: Primarily residing in the solar system, with God often playing a minor or absent role.
2. Emphasis on alien-human relationship: Including myths of human origin and alien visits, sometimes adopting theories like Erich von Däniken's.
3. Belief in encounters and communication: Specific individuals act as channels or messengers, some claiming to be "walk-ins" (aliens inhabiting human bodies).
4. Conviction that aliens offer help: Warning of disasters and providing guidance, with aliens generally viewed as beneficent.
5. Belief in a coming millennial age: Ushered in by the public advent of aliens, leading to evolutionary strides.
6. Stress on human preparation: Usually spiritual preparations, but sometimes physical plans, like the Raëlian embassy.

Encyclopedic Sources and Membership Estimates

J. Gordon Melton's *Encyclopedia of American Religions* is cited as a reliable source, listing twenty-three "Flying Saucer Groups." James R. Lewis' *UFOs and Popular Culture* includes about twenty-five such groups, with some overlap with Melton's work. Christopher Partridge's *New Religions* offers lengthier entries on specific groups. However, these encyclopedias are noted for being brief and incomplete, often lacking references to online presences.

Estimating membership is difficult, as groups rarely report numbers. The Raëlians claimed 55,000 members in 2002. Deval UFO, Inc. is estimated to have 400 members. The Aetherius Society circulated 650 newsletters in 1987. Heaven's Gate had only 39 members at the time of their suicides in 1997. The Aquarian Concepts Community has eighty adult members and twenty children. The Lightside UFO Study Group has six core members. For the Raëlian Movement, Unarius, and Aetherius Society, scholars have provided estimates, with the Raëlians being the largest. Susan Palmer's research on the Raëlian Movement suggests a membership of around 45,000 to 65,000, though she notes these figures might be inflated and refer to baptized members rather than active ones.

Profiles of Members

Palmer describes Raëlian members as young, attractive adults, often from a Catholic background, upwardly mobile, ambitious, individualistic, and rejecting conventional values. Members of Unarius are described as largely white, with a mix of working-class and middle-class individuals, often single and apolitical. The Aetherius Society's membership details are less clear, but its organizational structure is described, with an estimated active membership of one to two thousand.

Literature Review and Specific Groups

The "Literature Review" section highlights the two edited volumes by Partridge and Lewis, and the monographs by Palmer and Tumminia, as key sources. These works cover eight specific UFO religions: Raëlian Movement, Unarius Academy of Science, Aetherius Society, Heaven's Gate, United Nuwaubian Nation, Ashtar Command, Chen Tao, and The Ground Crew.

The Raëlian Movement

Susan Palmer is identified as a leading researcher on the Raëlian Movement. Her work describes Raël as the prophet, the movement's goals, ideals, and practices, and internal issues, including the cloning announcement. Palmer concludes that Raëlians bridge the gap between science and religion, viewing them as "post modernists" with a "scientific creationism" accepted on faith. Mikael Rothstein examines the structure of the Embassy Raël is instructed to build, seeing it as a symbol of the millennium and a sacred space for communication with aliens. George Chryssides describes the Raëlian religion as scientific, materialistic, and atheistic, appealing due to its engagement with secularization and modern science, but notes limitations due to its reliance on faith for its "scientific creationism."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The review essay implicitly adopts a scholarly and analytical stance, examining UFO religions through sociological and religious studies frameworks. Recurring themes include the definition and classification of UFO religions, their unique characteristics, membership demographics, and the scholarly approaches to studying them. The essay highlights the growing academic interest in these phenomena and their connection to broader societal interests in extraterrestrial life and the future of humanity.

This issue of *Nova Religio*, titled "The Study of UFO Religions," is a scholarly examination of various new religious movements that incorporate beliefs about UFOs and extraterrestrial life. The articles explore the theological, sociological, and psychological dimensions of these groups, drawing on academic research and theoretical frameworks.

The Raëlian Movement

The issue begins by discussing the Raëlian movement, with Chryssides arguing that religious dialogue with them is difficult due to their uncritical acceptance of Raël's interpretations of the Bible and his encounters with the Elohim. He notes their obliviousness to the moral and philosophical problems associated with human cloning. Chryssides concludes that the movement suffers from intellectual introversion, failing to critically examine beliefs that challenge dominant culture, such as the belief in extraterrestrial contact, Raël's biblical exegesis, their élitism, and their avoidance of ethical issues in politics and genetics.

Unarius Academy of Science

The Unarius Academy of Science is examined through the research of Diana Tumminia, who has studied the group for two decades. Her work, particularly her book *When Prophecy Never Fails*, applies Peter Berger and Thomas Luckmann's theory of the social construction of reality to understand how Unarius members make sense of their world and retain faith despite failed prophecies. Tumminia highlights how the myth of flying saucers is integral to their perceived reality, maintained through social interactions, dreams, and past life experiences. She also analyzes Unarius through Weber's model of charismatic authority and discusses how members interpreted the failure of archangel Uriel's prophecies as Uriel experiencing a past life as the Egyptian goddess Isis. Tumminia's research also contributes to the methodology of studying new religions, detailing the practical and theoretical challenges of participant-observation.

The author of this article also provides their own examination of Unarius, suggesting that it attempts to bridge the gap between religion and science by offering a broader worldview that aligns with astronomical discoveries. However, they deem this attempt not entirely successful.

The Aetherius Society

The Aetherius Society, one of the oldest UFO religions, is discussed through various scholarly contributions. The author's own ethnographic study describes the movement's history, organization, beliefs, and ritual practices, noting its apocalyptic and millenarian concerns and its belief that a future master will arrive when humanity is ready. The author argues that the Society will likely persist due to the institutionalization of charisma before the founder's death. Like Unarius, the Aetherius Society is seen as making a weak effort to unite religion and science and emphasizing healing.

Other essays on the Aetherius Society include ethnographic descriptions of its ritual services and a history of the movement from its origins, focusing on the evolving role of its founder, George King. King's role shifted from being a primary messenger of extraterrestrials to a more active participant in the mission to save Earth. The importance of karma in the Society's ritual and spiritual activity is suggested as a factor in its survival after the founder's death. Mikael Rothstein's essay offers a theoretical perspective on how Aetherius Society members conceive of past, present, and future, and how these conceptions contribute to their millennial vision.

Heaven's Gate

Studies on Heaven's Gate by Robert Balch, David Taylor, Ted Peters, and James Lewis are reviewed. Balch and Taylor focus on the commitment process of members, explaining it through social drift and social influence models, and highlighting its implications for understanding profound psychological change. Ted Peters argues that the UFO phenomenon is intrinsically religious and that Heaven's Gate members did not view their actions as suicide but as a transition to salvation. James Lewis examines Weber's concept of charisma and places Heaven's Gate within broader spiritual sub-cultural settings, particularly the New Age, suggesting that the belief in death as a positive experience and conscious re-emergence in another realm is not irrational within certain religious communities.

Comparative Studies and Theoretical Frameworks

The issue also reviews other studies on UFO religions, including those on the Nuwaubians and the Ashtar Command, which offer new data and comparative analyses. A common feature of these studies is their attempt to depict UFO religious worldviews accurately and to develop theoretical bases for understanding them. The Raëlian movement's strong anti-catholic rhetoric is noted as a unique feature requiring further study.

Several essays provide background information on the emergence of UFO religions and propose theoretical frameworks. Robert Bartholomew views modern UFO religions as having a symbolic function, expressing the sacred in a secular world and demonstrating human adaptability. Diana Tumminia sees flying saucers as postmodern myths, representing a magical, enchanted worldview that has subverted the scientific paradigm.

Grünschloss's essay compares some UFO religions to cargo cults, a concept developed by anthropologists for new religious movements in Melanesia. This comparison, further explored by Gary Trompf, focuses on the shared millenarian motif, though differences in the tangibility of beliefs are noted. Mikael Rothstein suggests that this difference is not significant from a millenarian perspective.

The article highlights the challenge of applying theories like the social construction of reality and the cargo cult phenomenon to a wider range of UFO religions. It also points to the need for more in-depth studies of particular UFO groups and for testing the applicability of sociological and psychological theories to the UFO phenomenon.

The Significance of UFO Religions

The issue concludes by discussing the broader significance of UFO religions. Charles A. Ziegler's analysis of polls indicates that millions of adults in the United States believe in UFOs as manifestations of un-Earthly intelligence, making this a major cultural event warranting further study. The interest in alien beings is linked to contemporary knowledge of the universe and raises scientific and religious questions.

The "Alexander UFO Report Crisis Survey" examines the religious response to the possibility of alien intelligences, with religious leaders generally believing their faith and congregations could accommodate such information. The survey suggests that contact with extraterrestrials would confirm God's glory as creator. However, the report did not delve into the theological implications or how respondents would make sense of alien creatures.

The emergence of disciplines like "exobiology" (astrobiology) and "exotheology" is noted, reflecting the scientific and theological questions surrounding extraterrestrial intelligences. Exobiology studies the prospects of life beyond Earth, while exotheology investigates theological issues related to potential contact. Christian theologians are seriously considering the possibility of extraterrestrial life and its impact on traditional beliefs about God, humanity, and cosmic purpose. Theologies like Teilhard de Chardin's cosmic vision and process theology are seen as adaptable to a "theology after contact." Thomas Keith Hoffmann's work on exotheology from a missiological perspective emphasizes its positive impact on the Christian Church.

Both exobiology and exotheology remain theoretical until contact is established. UFO religions, however, take the existence of intelligent life and its involvement in human history as a given. While they attempt to harmonize religion and science, their major tenets are often beyond empirical scientific investigation. The belief that solutions to human problems will come from alien intervention is not currently open to scientific experimentation. Consequently, UFO religions may not attract large numbers of followers but remain an interesting development in human religious experience and creativity.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the study of UFO religions as a legitimate area of academic inquiry. The articles consistently employ sociological, anthropological, and theological frameworks to analyze these movements. There is a clear emphasis on understanding the internal logic and worldview of these groups, as well as their place within the broader landscape of new religious movements and contemporary culture. The editorial stance appears to be one of objective scholarly analysis, presenting diverse research and theoretical perspectives on a complex and often misunderstood phenomenon. The issue highlights the intersection of science, religion, and belief in the extraterrestrial, exploring how these elements shape the spiritual lives of individuals and groups.

Title: Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions
Issue: Vol. 4, No. 2
Date: Unknown (referenced in footnotes as accessed May 25, 2006, and publications from 2000-2005)
Focus: The study of UFO Religions.

Content Summary

This issue of Nova Religio delves into the complex relationship between UFO phenomena and religious beliefs, drawing upon a wide range of academic research and publications. The content appears to be primarily a bibliography or a section of a larger academic work, referencing numerous scholarly articles, books, and journals.

Key Areas of Study and References:

• Aetherius Society: The issue notes an essay on the Aetherius Society, originally published in the electronic journal, The Marburg Journal of Religion, and references Roy Wallis's study of the society as a case study in the formation of a mystagogue congregation.
• Heaven's Gate: Publications by Balch and Taylor related to Heaven's Gate are listed on the Religious Movements Homepage.
• Cargo Cults and Millenarian Movements: Several classical and recent studies are cited, including Peter Worsley's "The Trumpet Shall Sound: A Study of 'Cargo Cults' in Melanesia," Kenelm Burridge's "New Heaven, New Earth: A Study of Millenarian Activities," G. W. Trompf's "Cargo Cults and Millenarian Movements," and Jebens Holger's edited volume "Cargo, Cult, and Culture Critique."
• Alien Worlds and UFO Phenomena: Mikael Rothstein's "I Culti dei Dischi Volanti" and Diana Tumminia and James R. Lewis's edited "Alien Worlds: The Social and Religious Dimensions of UFO Phenomena" are referenced.
• Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI): The issue highlights SETI as a prominent project exploring the existence of extraterrestrial life, noting its website and encouraging public participation through projects like SETI@home.
• Theological and Philosophical Implications: Stephen J. Dick's edited "Many Worlds: The New Universe, Extraterrestrial Life, and the Theological Implications" and his books "Life on Other Worlds: The Twentieth Century Extraterrestrial Life Debate" and "Extraterrestrial Life and Our World View at the Turn of the Millennium" are cited. The issue also references articles discussing a biologist's view of life out there, the "Genesis Project," and the theological challenges posed by UFOs.
• Christian Theology and Extraterrestrial Life: Works by Thomas F. O'Meara and Jack A. Jennings explore the intersection of Christian theology and the concept of extraterrestrial intelligent life.
• John Haught's Work: The writings of John Haught, particularly on "Theology after Contact: Religion and Extraterrestrial Intelligent Life," are mentioned, noting his expertise in theology and evolution.
• Plurality of Worlds: Stephen J. Dick's "Plurality of Worlds: The Origins of the Extraterrestrial Life Debate from Democritus to Kant" is cited.
• Exotheology: Hoffmann's article "Exomis-siology: The Launching of Exotheology" is referenced, indicating a discussion on the theological study of extraterrestrial life.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this section of Nova Religio is the academic and scholarly investigation into UFOs and the potential for extraterrestrial life, viewed through the lens of religion, theology, and sociology. The journal appears to adopt a neutral, research-oriented stance, presenting a comprehensive overview of existing literature and ongoing debates in the field. It facilitates an understanding of how UFO phenomena are interpreted within various religious and philosophical frameworks, and how these beliefs are studied by academics.