MUFON Minnesota Journal - No 062

Magazine Overview

This issue of the MINNESOTA MUFON Newsletter, dated November/December 1996 (Issue #62, Vol. 11/12), focuses on UFO research, abduction phenomena, and related topics. The newsletter features articles, meeting announcements, and updates from the organization's leadership.

John Carpenter's Presentation: The Significance of Multiple Participant Abductions

The lead article summarizes a presentation by John Carpenter at the 1996 MUFON Symposium. Carpenter, a hypnotherapist and MUFON's National Director of Abduction Research, has worked with over 100 persons under hypnosis. The article highlights that multiple participant abductions involve individuals who share the same details of events, including bizarre procedures, confusing exams, and inexplicable behaviors, often in a consistent sequence. The author emphasizes that these shared details are significant and worth considering when discussing abduction phenomena.

Regarding Hallucinations and Delusions

The article addresses the argument that abduction experiences might be hallucinations or delusions. It defines hallucinations as internally generated creations of the mind, usually private disturbances, and delusions as private distortions of reality. The author argues that for multiple individuals to suddenly share the same hallucinations or delusions would be astounding. Furthermore, cases of repressed sexual abuse are examined, with Carpenter's research suggesting that background sexual abuse has not occurred more frequently among abductees than in the general population. In some cases, remembered abuse was found to be untrue, serving as psychological covers for alien intrusions.

Regarding Suggestibility and Hoaxes

The article touches upon the idea that multiple abductees might influence each other, or that investigators might imply details through leading questions during hypnosis. However, it notes that experiencers often share a confusing period of amnesia and that researchers don't always share all data. The article also discusses the possibility of hoaxes, but suggests that genuine multiple participant accounts, despite variations in detail due to differing perspectives, rarely contain contradictions and often correlate with data from other diverse abductions.

Regarding Bio-Physical Causes and Media Influence

Alternative explanations such as the 'Earth Light Theory,' effects of electromagnetic fields, sleep paralysis, and temporal lobe stimulation are discussed. While acknowledging these theories can produce odd sensations and imagery, they are deemed insufficient to explain the detailed correlations found in thousands of abductees. The influence of media is also considered, with the article questioning how young children can have such experiences without exposure to adult media or talk shows.

Paul Hill's 'Unconventional Flying Objects - A Scientific Analysis'

This section reviews Paul Hill's book, which offers an engineering and scientific perspective on UFOs. Hill, a scientist who worked at NASA in the 1950s and 60s, posits that UFOs are subject to the same physical laws as human-constructed craft and require a 'repulsive force field' for propulsion. The review highlights Hill's analysis of radioactivity in sightings, his mathematical descriptions of UFO behavior, and his explanation for how UFOs can travel at supersonic speeds without creating sonic booms. The reviewer notes that Hill's later chapters, speculating on ET visitors and interstellar flight, stretch credibility. A criticism is raised about the generalization of statements, such as 'All UFOs emit radiation.' Overall, the book is praised for its nuts-and-bolts contrast to more spiritual or paranormal views.

UFO's and Zoroastrianism

This article explores the idea that UFOs have visited Earth throughout history, drawing parallels between modern UFO/entity experiences and ancient Zoroastrianism. The winged disk symbol, prominent in ancient Iranian art and coins, is linked to the Zoroastrian concept of 'fravashis'—spiritual beings that fly like winged birds and are said to assist humans. The article notes that Zoroastrianism, founded around 1200 BC, is a religion of cosmic dualism. It discusses how fravashis are involved in preserving creation, facilitating a master plan to rid the universe of evil, and even assisting in human reproduction, which is compared to commonly reported UFO entity activities. The Avesta, Zoroastrian scripture, describes fravashis moving quickly, patrolling heaven's boundaries, and descending to assist individuals. Abductees often report telepathic and visual representations of global calamities, motivating them to join environmental groups. The article also mentions an ancient account of a man named Vafra Navaza who was returned after three days of flying in the sky. The text further compares the descriptions of fravashis and their aerial vehicles (chariots of light) to modern UFOs and their occupants. It suggests that ancient interpretations of sky beings and modern alien encounters may represent the same phenomenon. The article also touches upon other spiritual beings in Zoroastrian cosmology, such as the Yazatas, and their association with stars and aerial travel.

Minnesota MUFON Meetings and Activities

Announcements are made for upcoming Minnesota MUFON meetings, scheduled for Saturday, November 9, and Saturday, December 14, from 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM at the Science Museum of MN. Details are provided for building access, including a specific entry window for elevator access. The newsletter also mentions a meeting agenda item featuring Pear, Inc., demonstrating games designed to influence chance events through the mind's ability, based on research from PEAR Lab at Princeton.

Field Investigator Group Update

Craig R. Lang provides an update on MUFON field investigations, noting busy August and September months with significant sightings investigations and the completion of a second training group. Information is provided on how to become a field investigator, including joining MUFON, obtaining the manual, and contacting the State Director. A draft supplement to the investigator's manual tailored for Minnesota is mentioned. The update also expresses interest in locating resources for field investigations and announces upcoming mini-conferences and a tentatively scheduled third training session for spring.

Other Information

The newsletter includes contact information for various MUFON personnel, including State Director Richard Moss, Asst. State Director William McNeff, Editor Lynn Bell, Field Investigations Director Craig R. Lang, and Webmaster Joel Henry. It also provides details for the National MUFON Hotline and the Minnesota MUFON meeting schedule. A subscription form for the 1997 Minnesota MUFON Newsletter is included, with an annual rate of $12.00. Radio program listings for 'The Laura Lee Show' and 'Art Bell's Dreamland' are also provided.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the rigorous investigation of UFO phenomena, emphasizing scientific analysis and empirical evidence over purely speculative or paranormal interpretations. The newsletter promotes the idea that UFOs operate within physical laws and that multiple witness accounts, when consistent, hold significant weight. There is a clear stance in favor of methodical research, as evidenced by the focus on field investigations, scientific reviews, and the comparison of modern experiences with ancient texts. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry grounded in a desire for factual understanding, encouraging members to actively participate in research and investigation.