ABSTRACT

The spectre of the UFO, as popularized by shows such as The X-Files, has brought an astonishing slant to the face of modern religious practice. But what motivates the fantastical and sometimes sinister beliefs of UFO worshippers? UFO Religions critically examines some of the fascinating issues surrounding UFO worship - abduction narratives, UFO-based interpretations of other religions, the growth of pseudo-sciences purporting to explain UFOs, and the responses of the core scientific community to such claims. Focusing on contemporary global UFO groups including the Raelian Movement, Heaven's Gate, Unarius and the Ansaaru Allah Community, it gives a clear profile of modern UFO controversies and beliefs.

part |42 pages

Introduction

chapter |40 pages

Understanding UFO Religions and Abduction Spiritualities

ByChristopher Partridge

part |176 pages

Observing Religions

chapter |17 pages

Scientific Creationism

A study of the Raëlian Church
ByGeorge D. Chryssides

chapter |21 pages

When the Archangel Died

From Revelation to Routinisation of Charisma in Unarius
ByDiana Tumminia

chapter |19 pages

Opening a Channel to the Stars

The Origins and Development of the Aetherius Society
BySimon G. Smith

chapter |26 pages

Legitimating Suicide

Heaven's Gate and New Age Ideology
ByJames R. Lewis

chapter |20 pages

The Urantia Book

BySarah Lewis

chapter |13 pages

The United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors

ByTheodore Gabriel

chapter |17 pages

From Extraterrestrials to Ultraterrestrials

The Evolution of the Concept of Ashtar
ByChristopher Helland

chapter |15 pages

UFO Faith and Ufological Discourses in Germany

ByAndreas Grünschloß

chapter |25 pages

The Finnish UFO Tradition, 1947–94

ByJaakko Närvä

part |127 pages

Understanding Narratives

chapter |18 pages

UFO Religions and Cargo Cults

ByGarry W. Trompf

chapter |17 pages

Alien Doubts

Reading Abduction Narratives Post-Apocalyptically
ByJodi Dean

chapter |18 pages

UFO Beliefs as Syncretistic Components

ByMikael Rothstein

chapter |15 pages

Jung on UFOS

ByRobert A. Segal

chapter |17 pages

The Psychology of UFO Phenomena

ByJohn A. Saliba