Magonia - No 63 - 1998 05

Magazine Overview

MAGONIA 63, published in May 1998, is a special issue celebrating the magazine's 30th anniversary (1968-1998). It features articles exploring the intersection of ufology, religion, psychology, and science.

Fascists, Futurists and Flying Saucers

This article by David Sivier investigates historical links between fascists, futurists, and the phenomenon of flying saucers. It suggests that the 'American Religion,' as defined by Professor Harold Bloom, with its emphasis on immortality and a dualistic worldview, has provided a template for ufology as a religion. The article posits that the abduction scenario and other UFO phenomena may be manifestations of this underlying religious structure, reflecting a discomfort with the physical body and a fixation on rebirth and resurrection.

Sivier introduces the concept of 'Caraboo syndrome' to describe individuals who become deeply immersed in fantasy worlds, potentially to the point of losing touch with reality. He notes that this syndrome can be seen in various figures, including those who claim to be aliens or have extraordinary experiences. The article also touches upon the psychological underpinnings of such beliefs, linking them to concepts like Munchhausen's syndrome and multiple personality disorders.

Communion Cups and Crashed Saucers

In the final part of his series, Peter Brookesmith explores the parallels between the legends of crashed UFOs and powerful Christian myths. He argues that the 'American Religion' is characterized by a 'Quest romance' for immortality, achieved through direct revelation and a belief in an inherent divinity within individuals. This fixation on immortality and an Edenic context leads to a rejection of death and a discomfort with the physical body, rooted in Puritanism and Gnosticism.

Brookesmith contends that the ufological expression of this 'American Religion' mirrors its ancestral patterns, particularly in the abduction syndrome, which he describes as dualistic, masochistic, and obsessed with sex, rebirth, and resurrection. He suggests that this ufological religiosity appeals to those already steeped in similar salvationist outlooks and can be exported to other cultures.

The article then delves into the concept of 'Celestial Mechanics,' noting how core religious notions are recast in ufological discourse. He highlights the emphasis on resurrection and a disdain for the physical body, linking it to various American cults and their spiritual practices.

Brookesmith further examines the psychological and emotional niche filled by the Ufological Religion, suggesting it offers a response to the perceived failure of both traditional religion and science to provide meaning. He critiques the modern translations of the Bible for their loss of religious language and seriousness, arguing that they fail to convey the sacred or facilitate genuine worship.

The Abyss Stares Back

This section discusses the 'existential void' in contemporary Western culture, stemming from the perceived failure of both God and humanism. Brookesmith argues that the retreat of God since the 1860s, linked to scientific inferences and pseudo-scientific assertions, has created a profound emptiness. He identifies two key symptoms of this collapse: the loss of religious language in English and the trivialization and mechanization of sexuality.

He criticizes modern translations of the Bible and prayer books for their lack of depth and seriousness, arguing that they have made religious language inaccessible and have contributed to a loss of meaning. Similarly, he observes that sexuality has been reduced to a matter of mechanics and performance, divorced from passion, procreation, and emotional context. This, he suggests, leads to internal conflict, guilt, and shame, particularly in the context of abortion.

Brookesmith posits that the UFO mythos has provided a symbolic language and a public platform for individuals to discharge their inarticulate religious drives and cultural confusions about sexuality. He argues that the grotesque irony lies in the fact that these symbolic terms are taken literally by those least conscious of their own investment in the religious aspect of this enterprise.

Too Much of Nothing

This section continues the critique of modern culture's emptiness and nihilism. Brookesmith suggests that the UFO mythos, particularly the abduction scenario, serves as a visionary dramatization of the desperation of the disinherited, who have been deprived of a vocabulary to articulate their sense of loss and lack. He adapts Wittgenstein's dictum to state that 'What one cannot say will be acted out,' and that the Ufological Religion and abduction scenarios act out inarticulacy and frustration over religion and sexuality.

He discusses Viktor Frankl's concept of the 'will to meaning' as the antithesis of nihilism, noting that Frankl found meaning even in the horrors of Auschwitz. Brookesmith links the current cultural climate to 'homunculism,' where humans are seen as mere products of drives and environment, a view that has historically led to disastrous consequences.

Science and Idolatry

Brookesmith questions whether science has become a form of idolatry. He notes that while scientists are often seen as priests of a modern religion, they are more like rulers of a materialistic empire. He highlights the public's ambivalence towards science, simultaneously enjoying its benefits while distrusting its methods and potential for harm. The article touches upon the ethical issues raised by genetic research, cloning, and the potential ecological effects of genetically manipulated organisms.

He argues that the popular conception of science as amoral and reckless is often a caricature, but one that resonates with the public. The erosion of religion's credibility in the West is attributed, in part, to scientific discoveries like those of Darwin and Lyell. Brookesmith observes that believers in the paranormal often detest and revile science for its alleged preconceptions, yet simultaneously seek its validation for their claims.

The Overtly Religious Equivalent of Crashed Saucer Stories

This section draws parallels between the crashed saucer legends and the legend of the Holy Grail, suggesting they are different expressions of the same underlying human needs. Brookesmith argues that while the Grail legend is rooted in Semitic religious mythology, the crashed saucer stories are a modern manifestation of similar themes.

He discusses the Grail legend, its connection to the figure of Anfortas (the wounded Fisher King), and its symbolism of immortality and spiritual duty. He then draws correspondences with the scientific hope for an 'answer to everything' and the often unsatisfying truths it yields. The article also notes the symbolic connections between the Grail, the moon, and UFOs, as well as the idea of a 'spinning wheel' representing life, death, and illumination.

Brookesmith concludes that ufology, as a religion, has not found its 'Grail' and remains locked in a pathological mode of victimhood and masochism, seeking 'solid scientific evidence' as proof. He suggests that the professional victim's mindset, the desire to be 'on the outside,' and the satisfaction derived from decrying science outweigh any potential gain from the paranormal being validated.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently explores the theme of meaning-making in a post-religious, increasingly secularized Western society. It posits that ufology has emerged as a new form of religion, filling the void left by the perceived failures of traditional faith and the perceived reductionism of science. The magazine highlights the psychological underpinnings of belief in the paranormal, particularly the 'Caraboo syndrome' and the human need for certainty and meaning. There is a critical stance towards the over-reliance on science as the sole arbiter of truth, while also acknowledging its power and influence. The issue also critiques the loss of meaningful language, both in religious and sexual contexts, and how this inarticulacy can lead to the acting out of repressed desires and confusions through phenomena like UFO sightings and abduction narratives. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, seeking to understand the deeper psychological and cultural roots of these phenomena rather than simply accepting them at face value.

This issue of "Gazurmah's Sons" features a lead article titled "The Psychopathology of the Nazi Saucer Myth" by David Sivier, which delves into the psychological and ideological underpinnings of the belief in secret Nazi flying saucer experiments. The magazine also includes several book reviews and a "Letters" section.

The Psychopathology of the Nazi Saucer Myth

David Sivier's article explores the resurgence of the idea that modern UFOs are based on secret Nazi flying saucer experiments. He highlights that this myth is heavily promoted by Neo-Nazis and Fascist groups for propagandistic purposes, citing authors like Wilhelm Landig and Ernst Zundl, whose work contains Holocaust revisionism. Renate Vesco's book is also mentioned as a source for this myth.

Sivier questions why flying saucers would be chosen as the subject of this myth, given that experimental German aircraft like the V2 were often failures or experimental devices that crashed. He suggests the answer lies in the myth's ability to fulfill psychological needs for both Fascists and anti-Fascists.

The article draws parallels between the Nazi fascination with technology and the Italian Futurists' embrace of a 'technocratic world' characterized by 'Youth, Speed, Violence!' and a rejection of traditional gender roles. Sivier notes the Futurist hero as a man of iron, an aviator, and an engineer, with Marinetti's "Mafarka the Futurist" serving as an example of this aggressive, masculine sexuality. He points out the absence of women in this ideology and the misogyny that arose from a perceived loss of male roles due to feminist agitation.

This 'crisis in masculinity' is linked to the Fascist and Nazi regimes' efforts to restrict women to domestic roles, epitomized by the slogan 'children, church, and kitchen.' Female sexuality was viewed with fear, and figures like Lanz Von Liebenfels advocated for women's subjection to 'pure Aryan husbands.'

The article then connects these themes to the UFO phenomenon, noting Jung's observation that UFOs could be interpreted as masculine symbols, or, if lens-shaped, as feminine symbols representing a 'repressed uterus.' However, Jung also pondered the implications for male pilots. John Keel is cited for his observation that many UFO entities appear sexless or androgynous, potentially suggesting a world without sex.

This theme of asexuality is also found in Nazi and proto-Nazi literature, linked to Lanz Von Liebenfels' ideas about electric organs and a rejection of 'deviant sex.' The article suggests that the Nazi movement, with its emphasis on hypermasculinity and comradeship, attracted homosexuals, and this psychological dimension is applied to the portrayal of figures like the Gestapo officer in Landig's work.

The sexual aspect of the abduction myth is discussed, linking it to the old mythology of the incubus/succubus and racial theories in Nazism. Lanz Von Liebenfels' concept of 'Sodom-Apelings' and 'Goetter-Elektron' is presented as a precursor to the idea of electric organs and telepathy, which atrophied due to addiction to 'deviant sex.' Hitler's nightmares and the Nazi fear of Jews adulterating the pure Aryan race are connected to the abduction myth's themes of sadistic helplessness, bondage, and violation.

The 'Greys' are described as a new race of 'Buhlzwerge' (love-pygmies) tempting humanity, and their dwarfishness and perverse sexuality are highlighted. The article notes that the Fascist exaltation of youth is a reaction against the perceived decadence and powerlessness associated with encroaching decay.

Sivier argues that the flying saucer is the perfect expression of Fascist and Nazi ideals and terrors, representing Aryan technological supremacy, aggressive masculinity, and misogyny. He sees it as a manifestation of sick racial, sexual, anti-urban, and anti-technological fears that the Nazis exploited. The article concludes that the UFO phenomenon is an excellent propaganda tool for Fascists and a source of terror for anti-Fascists, and that ufologists should use reason to dispel these myths.

Book Reviews

The magazine features several book reviews:

• "The Day After Roswell" by Philip J. Corso and William J. Birnes: Reviewed critically as a baseless claim of involvement in reverse-engineering alien technology from the Roswell crash, with the author suggesting it's either a money-making scheme or part of an ultra-rightist agenda.
• "Flying Triangle UFOs" by Omar Fowler, "UFO Over North Devon" by Kevin Lynch, and "Of No Defence Significance?" by John M. Jenkins: These small-press UFO books are described as catalogues of recent reports, with difficulty in discerning factual information from the presented cases.
• "Contact of the 5th Kind" by Philip J. Imbrogno and Marianne Horrigan: This book is seen as an account of folklore compiled from within the UFO milieu, blending themes from spiritualism, modernism, and postmodernism, suggesting valuable lines of inquiry into human creativity and the social roles of supernatural narratives.
• "In the Presence of Aliens" by Janet Bergmark: A personal account of alleged alien abduction, which the reviewer finds to be a new manifestation of the 'victimhood' narrative, possibly influenced by the author's own experiences and interpretations.
• "UFOs and Ufology: the first 50 years" by Paul Devereux and Peter Brookesmith: This well-illustrated book is praised for its broad history of ufology, with an emphasis on current trends. The authors endorse a psychosocial interpretation of abduction experiences, though the reviewer questions the inclusion of certain figures.
• "Millennium, Messiahs and Mayhem" edited by Thomas I. Roberts and Susan J. Palmer: A collection of papers on contemporary millennialism, covering theories of apocalypticism, secularizing the millennium, and apocalypticism within churches, as well as violence and confrontation. It analyzes various premillennial and postmillennial beliefs and secular apocalyptic movements.
• "Alien abduction, could it happen to you?" by Andrew Donkin and "Alien Abduction" by Phillippa Wingate: These children's books on alien abduction are reviewed with concern, particularly the inclusion of the Linda Cortile story, which is deemed potentially frightening for younger children. The reviewer suggests that such material is not suitable for under-15s.
• "Phantom islands of the Atlantic" by Donald S Johnson: This book explores lost islands as central icons in American folklore, similar to UFOs, suggesting that many such stories are misidentifications or allegorical tales rather than literal accounts of real places.
• "UFOs and the Alien Agenda" by Bob Larson: Described as a fundamentalist Christian work, this book proclaims UFOs are invading demons, but the reviewer notes the author's capacity for rational thought and his tendency to use new-age superstitions to denounce them.
• "The Flight from Science and Reason" edited by Paul R Gross, Norman Levitt and Martin W Lewis: A collection of essays on the retreat from reason in the United States, covering various fields like ecology, feminism, and Afrocentric history. The reviewer notes a mixed validity in the arguments, with some essays being overly defensive of science.
• "Chupacabras and other mysteries" by Scott Corrales: This book covers tales of the 'goat sucker' in Puerto Rico and elsewhere, with the reviewer suggesting that the spread of these stories indicates a social phenomenon rather than direct evidence of extraterrestrial activity.
• "Mind Trek: exploring consciousness, time and space through remote viewing" by Joseph McMoneagle: An amended version of a story about remote viewing, where the reviewer notes the influence of fantasy and the use of archetypal symbols in the imagery.
• "Deception and Self Deception: investigating psychics" by Richard Wiseman: A collection of papers on detecting trickery in the paranormal, with the reviewer noting its interesting content but wishing for a more cohesive book.
• "Scotland's X Files" by Ron Halliday: A book on Scottish UFO stories and mysteries, described as entertaining but lacking references and resorting to populist arguments.

Letters

The "Letters" section includes a letter from C.D. Allan, who challenges the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis (ETH) in ufology. Allan argues that the ETH lacks concrete evidence, such as wreckage or verified alien bodies, and that UFO reports are often misidentified or psychological phenomena. He contrasts this with the psychosocial hypothesis, which he finds more plausible. Allan also criticizes the lengths to which ETH proponents go to defend their cases, often resorting to conspiracy theories.

Another letter discusses the trend of UFO investigators adopting uniforms and rank badges, humorously critiquing the idea and comparing it to the movie "Men in Black."

A section on "American Graffiti" features a photograph of graffiti in Pennsylvania that encapsulates contemporary UFO themes, including alien abduction imagery.

Hold the Back Page

This section contains short news items:

• "Free the Bonnybridge One!": A message from a resident of Bonnybridge, Scotland, expressing skepticism about UFO sightings in their town.
• "Saratoga News": An item about a psychologist, Edith Fiore, who surrendered her license after being accused of gross negligence, including discussing her personal life and suggesting past-life regression therapy and hypnosis to remove entities and address UFO abduction concerns.
• "Fashion Notes": A report on the group APRO adopting uniforms for investigators, inspired by the "MIB" film.

Examining the ETH

This section features two reviews from the "Magonia ETH Bulletin," edited by John Harney, which critically examines claims supporting the extraterrestrial hypothesis.

• Review of Timothy Good's "Alien Base: Earth's Encounters with Extraterrestrials": The reviewer notes that while few British ufologists take the ETH seriously, the book attempts to explain UFO phenomena by examining contactee stories, such as those of George Adamski. The reviewer expresses skepticism about the veracity of these accounts.
• Review of Nicholas Redfern's "The FBI Files: The FBI's UFO Top Secrets Exposed": The review discusses Redfern's thesis that the FBI's interest in UFOs stemmed from their attempts to gather information on individuals claiming knowledge of UFO crashes, particularly regarding the alleged Aztec UFO crash. The reviewer finds Redfern's speculations implausible.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently critiques the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis (ETH) in ufology, favoring psychosocial explanations for UFO phenomena. There is a strong emphasis on debunking sensationalist claims and exposing the use of UFO narratives for propaganda, particularly by Fascist and Neo-Nazi groups. The articles often link UFO beliefs to broader cultural anxieties, such as fears of miscegenation, technological advancement, and changing gender roles. The editorial stance appears to be one of rational inquiry, seeking to separate factual evidence from myth and speculation, while acknowledging the psychological and cultural dimensions of belief systems surrounding UFOs.