UFO Mail - No 271 - 2018

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO-Mail
Issue: nr. 271
Date: 10. september 2018
Publisher: Skandinavisk UFO Information

This issue of UFO-Mail, a newsletter from Skandinavisk UFO Information, focuses on a survey conducted by Ken Ramshøj Christensen and Mathias Clasen from Aarhus University, titled "Hvad tror danskerne på? - En kortlægning af tro, overtro og overbevisning" (What do Danes believe? - A mapping of belief, superstition, and conviction).

Main Article: "Hvad tror danskerne på?"

The central theme of this issue revolves around the findings of a large-scale survey conducted in 2017-2018, involving over 2,200 respondents. The survey aimed to map Danish beliefs, superstitions, and convictions, addressing questions about ghosts, social constructs, UFOs, horoscopes, intuition, and comparisons with other countries. The researchers emphasize the importance of empirical knowledge about the population's beliefs in a democratic society, especially in an era of "fake news" and a "post-factual" public debate, highlighting critical thinking and scientific enlightenment as crucial tools against misinformation and conspiracy theories.

The survey explored various beliefs, including whether Danes believe in intelligent life elsewhere in the universe. The results indicate that 60.5% of Danes believe in intelligent extraterrestrial life, with a notable gender difference: 67.9% of men believe, compared to 52.3% of women. Furthermore, the report reveals surprising findings regarding beliefs about alien visitations. More women than men believe that Earth has been visited by aliens in the past (9.9% vs. 6.9%) and is visited in the present (7.4% vs. 4.5%). This finding contrasts with results from Swedish and American surveys, which generally show men being more likely to believe in alien visitations than women.

• Regarding specific beliefs about alien visits:
• 8.3% of respondents believe that aliens have visited Earth in the past, while 19% answered "don't know."
• Only 5.9% believe that aliens visit Earth currently, with 13.2% unsure.

Respondents offered various explanations for their beliefs, ranging from the theoretical possibility of advanced civilizations traveling the universe to the idea that alien visits might be brief, observational events. Some suggested that primitive life forms or molecules could have been brought to Earth via meteors.

• The article also references other related surveys and publications, including:
• "Danskerne tror på lidt af hvert" (Danes believe in a bit of everything) from Berlingske.
• "Hver femte dansker tror på spøgelser" (One in five Danes believe in ghosts) from Politiken.
• "Hver tredje dansker tror på liv efter døden" (One in three Danes believe in life after death) from Jyllands-Posten.
• A report from videnskab.dk stating that one in seven Danes believe in ghosts, where religious historian Mikael Rothstein questions the representativeness of the survey due to its reliance on social media distribution, noting a drastic drop in respondents over 50 and difficulty in capturing a balanced social spectrum.

Book Promotion: "Ildkugler over Danmark"

The issue also features a section on the book "Ildkugler over Danmark - om sten der aldrig fløj" (Fireballs over Denmark - about stones that never flew) by Ole Henningsen. The book, described as important for taking people's experiences seriously and emphasizing thorough investigation and critical thinking, is 134 pages long, in A4 format, with color and black-and-white illustrations, an index, and references. It is priced at 159 DKK and can be ordered online. A free sample is also available.

SUFOI's Activities and Membership

Skandinavisk UFO Information (SUFOI) is a voluntary organization dedicated to providing the public with serious information about the UFO phenomenon through ufo.dk and registering observations of unusual aerial phenomena. They encourage financial contributions (250 DKK) to support their work and offer members a choice of four books as a thank you, including "Ildkugler over Danmark," "UFO'er - Myter og viden" (UFOs - Myths and knowledge), "Mysteriet om UFO'er" (The Mystery of UFOs), and "Firestorm."

Call to Action

Readers are invited to read UFO reports on www.ufo.dk under "Observationer" and to consider becoming a member of SUFOI's "Støttekreds" (Support Circle) for 2019.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of UFO-Mail, published by Skandinavisk UFO Information, maintains a stance of serious inquiry into UFO phenomena and related beliefs. The editorial focus is on presenting research and information that encourages critical thinking and empirical investigation, as exemplified by the detailed coverage of the Danish belief survey and the promotion of books that delve into UFO experiences and scientific analysis. The publication aims to inform the public while combating misinformation and conspiracy theories, advocating for a balanced approach to understanding unusual phenomena.