MUFOB - New series - No 10

Magazine Overview

MUFOB, Spring 1978 (New Series 10, Whole number 44)

This issue of MUFOB, the Merseyside UFO Bulletin, marks its tenth anniversary and presents a significant exploration into the nature of UFO evidence and the history of ufology. The publication, edited by John Rimmer and John Harney, aims to be a progressive voice in the field, encouraging contributions and offering a platform for diverse viewpoints.

Editorial Notes

John Rimmer opens the issue with an apology for the late appearance of the Spring 1978 issue, attributing it to 'pressure of other commitments.' He reiterates the magazine's commitment to providing a high-quality publication and urges subscribers to help increase paid circulation by introducing new members. The issue is also being sent free to lapsed subscribers, with an offer to re-start their subscriptions. The subscription rate remains £1.25 for Great Britain and Ireland, and $3.00 for the United States.

A Structured Approach to the Analysis of Non-Physical UFO Evidence

Donald A. Johnson proposes a four-level analytical model for understanding the UFO phenomenon, moving beyond the reliance on physical evidence. The levels are:

1. The Witness: Focusing on the individual's psychological profile, perceptual abilities, and history.
2. The Report: Analyzing the societal factors influencing reporting, generalization, and categorization of experiences.
3. The Phenomenon: Examining patterns in descriptions, behavior, temporal and spatial distributions of sightings.
4. The Myth: Investigating how UFO experiences become integrated into cultural narratives and provide meaning.

Johnson emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of this approach, drawing on psychology, sociology, anthropology, and folklore. He notes that while physical evidence is important, the 'soft' evidence—the psychological and sociological aspects—offers a rich source of insight.

The Witness

Johnson highlights the importance of understanding the witness, especially in cases lacking physical evidence. He discusses the challenges in obtaining comprehensive witness data due to its difficulty, time-consuming nature, and ethical/legal considerations. He raises questions about 'selection effects' for UFO witnesses and potential correlations with psychological traits. Research proposals, such as Benton Jamison's, are suggested to investigate these differences.

The Report

This section delves into the dynamics of reporting UFO events, emphasizing the need for a random sample of incidents to understand societal filtering effects. Dr. Ron Westrum's work on 'knowing about UFOs' is referenced. The importance of distinguishing between misidentified reports and true 'unknowns' is stressed, citing the Batelle Memorial Institute study.

The Phenomenon

Johnson defines the 'UFO phenomenon' as the product of categorizing extraordinary events with common attributes. He points to strong patterns within UFO reports, such as similarities in object descriptions, behavior, and temporal/spatial distributions. The work of Fred Merritt on 'landing' marks and David Saunders on cyclical waves and 'orthoteny' (great circle lines) is mentioned as areas for further research.

The Myth

This final level explores the concept of 'myth' in its anthropological sense—a dynamic process that explains reality and provides meaning. Johnson argues that UFOs function as a 'living myth' in contemporary society, filling the void left by science in explaining the unknown. He discusses the 'UFO myth' as a product of observed facts, beliefs, and emotions, and its power to generate sightings. The connection between UFOs and ancient myths, such as fairy lore, is also explored, referencing Jacques Vallee's work.

Ten Years On: The Editors Look Back, On a Decade of Ufology

Roger Sandell reflects on the past decade (1968-1978) of ufology, noting a shift from the 'nuts and bolts' school to a broader understanding that includes psychological and folkloric elements. He observes the decline of extraterrestrial hypotheses due to space program failures and the rise of more irrational or supernatural interpretations. Sandell suggests that the apocalyptic/occultist strains may become more dominant.

Peter Rogerson also comments on the changes in ufology, noting a move away from mechanistic interpretations and the ETH towards a more complex understanding of the UFO syndrome. He expresses concern about the uncritical acceptance of 'elementals' and supernatural beings, and a perceived narrowing of research towards a 'mediocre centre.'

Challenging The Chariots

Roger Sandell reviews the 'Ancient Astronaut' cult, particularly in relation to the Horizon program's critique of von Däniken. He highlights how the program effectively debunked key exhibits like the Palenque 'astronaut' and the Carbera inscriptions. Sandell criticizes the lack of historical context and the uncritical acceptance of von Däniken's claims by some publishers. He also reviews three books:

• Lost Tribes from Outer Space: Dismissed as worthless and promoting a fantasy about Yahweh as an alien superscientist.
• Gods and Spacemen Throughout History by W.R. Drake: Acknowledged for its historical records but criticized for strained interpretations and mixing genuine records with hoaxes.
• The Twelfth Planet by Zechariah Sitchin: Praised for its attempt at a detailed reconstruction of Sumerian contact but criticized for subjective interpretation of art and mythology, and a flawed argument for a twelfth planet.

Sandell concludes that the Ancient Astronaut cult's growth is fueled by public willingness to believe, publishers' practices, and the isolation of the intellectual establishment.

Intcat: An International Catalogue of Type I UFO Records

This section presents a catalog of UFO sightings, primarily close encounters, from May to October 1957, compiled by Peter Rogerson. Each entry includes date, time, location, and a brief description of the sighting, often involving luminous objects, strange craft, and humanoid figures.

Book Reviews

Several books are reviewed:

• UFOs: a scientific enigma by D.A. Seargent:** Recommended as an all-round view of the subject for laymen, written without excessive prejudice.
• The Hynek UFO Report by J. Allen Hynek:** Seen as a continuation of his previous work, focusing on his experiences with USAF investigations and cover-ups.
• Situation Red: the UFO Siege by Leonard Stringfield:** Criticized for rehashing old themes of crashed saucers and cover-ups.
• Close Encounters: the strange truth about UFOs by Alan West and David Jefferis:** Described as a hasty compilation with no original material.
• Space Gods Revealed by Ronald Story:** Noted as now available in paperback, serving as an antidote to sloppy thinking and fraud.
• A Dictionary of Fairies by Katherine Briggs:** Praised as an excellent introduction to folklore, with many stories displaying qualities similar to modern UFO accounts.
• The Crack in the Universe by Jean-Claude Bourret:** Considered a good introduction to the UFO problem, but criticized for a curious introduction by Gordon Creighton hinting at conspiracies.
• Gods of Aquarius, UFOs and the transformation of man by Brad Steiger:** Discusses 'new age' beliefs and UFOs as mythic symbols, influenced by Teilhard de Chardin. The author seems to agree with the idea of impending global catastrophes.
• Prelude to the Landing on Planet Earth by Stuart Holroyd:** Chronicled as a sad account of trance-state communications, criticized for its literal interpretation of messages and the sad plight of the participants.

Notes and Quotes

This section includes announcements for the fourth Northern UFO Network conference, a change of address for Fortean Times, and a humorous note about the Jeanne Dixon prize for unfulfilled prophecy. A prize is also offered by Cutty Sark whisky for the first person to present an actual UFO to the Science Museum.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the critical analysis of UFO evidence, the historical development of ufology, and the role of myth and psychology in understanding the phenomenon. The editorial stance is one of encouraging open inquiry, promoting a structured approach to research, and providing a platform for diverse perspectives, while maintaining a critical eye on unsubstantiated claims and sensationalism. The magazine champions a more scientific and less dogmatic approach to ufology.

This issue of UFO REVIEW, Volume 3, Issue 11, dated June 1978, features a cover story on 'New Age Myths' and includes a review of a book by Brad Steiger. The magazine is published by Flying Saucer Review Publications in the United Kingdom and is priced at 30p. The overall tone suggests a critical examination of contemporary beliefs surrounding UFOs and their connection to broader societal and spiritual movements.

Review of Brad Steiger's Work

The central piece appears to be a review of a book by Brad Steiger, which delves into the phenomenon of 'New Age' beliefs and their connection to UFO contactees. The reviewer notes that a society confused by its values often seeks authoritarian, exclusionist cults offering pre-packaged answers. Many contactees, according to Steiger's work, claim to receive messages from Venus, a celestial body often seen as a guardian of the boundary between day and night, and thus between the conscious and unconscious.

The reviewer posits that the 'New Age' movement emerged as a response to the alienation felt in American society during the Vietnam War era, coupled with the failure of political change and disillusionment with existing political systems. This led to a shift from underground political movements to spiritual revolutions. The review criticizes Steiger for not fully acknowledging that many 'New Age' myths have roots in the hippie culture of the mid-1960s. The desire to end historical conditions and usher in a post-historical epoch, whether religious or Marxist, is identified as a recurring theme in historical societies, suggesting that current 'New Age' beliefs are not unique.

Chapters 1-4 of Steiger's book reportedly contain comments on the symbolism of UFOs and religious visions, drawing parallels between UFO sightings and religious visions compiled by Revd. B.W. Palmer. Steiger interprets the growth of apparitions of the Virgin Mary as evidence of the increasing influence of the Great Mother archetype within the collective unconscious.

Chapter 7, focusing on the 'Star Maidens,' is seen by the reviewer as reflecting the alienation experienced by some individuals in society. The belief that parents are not one's 'real' parents, but rather 'space people,' is highlighted as a fantasy that may be more prevalent among adopted children. The reviewer suggests that some of these accounts verge on clinical psychiatry rather than ufology.

The book is illustrated by Hal Crawford, with drawings of humanoids and what the reviewer describes as dubious photographs. The reviewer quotes Steiger: "If one can find grains of truth in this murky swirl of metaphysical sand and silt then benefit might result," using this to summarize the book's content. While acknowledging that much material of potential interest is presented, the reviewer concludes that Steiger is too involved and uncritical a presenter for the task.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue touches upon themes of societal alienation, the search for meaning in a confused world, and the intersection of UFO phenomena with religious symbolism and psychological archetypes. The editorial stance, as reflected in the review, is one of critical analysis, questioning the novelty of 'New Age' beliefs and highlighting the need for a more discerning approach to the material presented by authors like Brad Steiger. The magazine appears to focus on UFO sightings, contactee experiences, and their broader cultural and psychological implications, while maintaining a degree of skepticism towards uncritical interpretations.