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Ferre
Cannabis Sacrament Minister.
Joined: 14 Apr 2003
Posts: 7295
Location: Amsterdam
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 Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2007 7:17 am Post subject: Christianity - Extraterrestrial Religion? |
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Found in my mailbox today, another one of the many views on religion.
Christianity - Extraterrestrial Religion?
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In 1968 a Swiss innkeeper named Erich von Daniken published Chariots of the Gods?, which became an international bestseller and remains in print today. According to von Danikan's sensational theory, "ancient astronauts" from an advanced civilization visited the Earth in times long past. He found proof of their presence in rock-carvings, religious artifacts, ancient myths, and, of course, megalithic monuments such as the Giza pyramids.
Von Daniken provocatively asked, Did God drive a Flying Saucer? With this question planted in the mainstream mind, God, angels, and everything Biblical instantly attached itself to UFO speculation, but von Daniken did not explore these associations in a cogent or consistent manner.. A less-known but far more intelligent study, which appeared in the same year as Chariots, did just that. The Bible and Flying Saucers was written by Barry H. Downing, a Presbyterian pastor with degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary and the University of Edinburgh. The scope and depth of his book reflect his learning, a far cry from von Daniken's hokey shenanigans. But this book also reflects the author's steadfast faith in Christian tradition: Downing assumes that God and His angels, even if they are ETs who navigate in UFOs, are implementing a divine plan for the benefit of humanity.
(Note: I am informed that Desmond Leslie in his 1952 book Flying Saucers Have Landed, featured an entire chapter entitled "Chariots of the Gods." This is the source from which Von Daniken borrowed both his title and much of the content for his book. Thanks to Sweeps Fox for this detail.).
Downing, along with Desmond Leslie, may be considered the founders of Biblical Ufology, the genre of studies proposing that many events in the Bible reflect extraterrestrial intervention, assumed to be benign. Visions such as those seen by Ezekiel are taken as close encounters. Angels, such as the one who announced the birth of Jesus to Mary, are regarded as aliens of a superior evolution. Some interpretations even regard Jesus as an extraterrestrial who comes to Earth from a more highly evolved world, or is cloned as a “model human” by technologically superior space brothers. Imagine the headline, Jesus – The First Designer Baby!
Biblical UFOlogists assume that space aliens or ET-like entities act in a kind and benevolent manner toward humanity, consistent with the fulfillment of a "Divine Plan." Downing wonders if "Biblical religion was planted and nurtured by persons from another world." He does not merely speculate on the presence of “ancient astronauts” on Earth, but he considers their possible role in initiating and directing the religious experience of humanity. This issue demands a much deeper cut into the human psyche than von Daniken undertook. Without the benefit of Gnostic materials, Downing was unable to conceive that Biblical religion, "planted and nurtured by persons from another world, works not for the betterment of humanity, but for its enslavement.
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Brother Adam
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Joined: 04 Feb 2005
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| Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2007 8:04 am Post subject: |
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Heh...very interesting. I'd find it more likely aliens came as gods rather than the official bible fables. 
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The GCW
Cannabis Sacrament Minister
Joined: 19 Nov 2003
Posts: 430
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| Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 4:31 am Post subject: Ferre, |
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Ferre,
I'm familiar with Erich von Daniken's, Chariots of the Gods.
Great little book.
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As far as Christianity and Extraterrestials go, I'm sure Your familiar with the book, Urantia.
I also enjoy that book and it is -written- by Extraterrestials.
I highly recommend Urantia. I started by reading part 4 first; The Life and Teachings of Jesus.
Part 3; The History of Urantia is awesome.
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Urantia is Our planet.
The Green Collar Worker |
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