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The Lure of the Edge: Scientific Passions, Religious Beliefs, and the Pursuit of UFO's
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(2 Votes)From Publishers Weekly
Sociologist Denzler presents a deeply researched history of "ufology" (the study and interpretation of UFO phenomena), illuminating what has become a significant American subculture. From the flying saucer sightings of the postwar years to the alien abduction boom of the 1990s, interest in UFOs has persisted despite official discouragement from government, scientific and religious authorities. Denzler takes a special interest in ufology's uneasy relationship with both science and religion, noting that although UFO phenomena seem to invite scientific and/or religious explanation, their anomalous and sometimes bizarre nature has excluded them from the mainstream. In the meantime, communities of ufologists and experiencers have gone their own way, some pursuing scientific rigor despite being dismissed as pseudoscientists, others promoting their own religious interpretations reflecting both Christian and New Age themes. Drawing on her experiences as a participant-observer in ufological groups and conventions, Denzler renders a sympathetic portrait of the UFO subculture without directly identifying with it, and reveals intramural tensions that other commentators have missed. Because Denzler focuses on the UFO community, broader social attitudes about UFOs are only a secondary interest: ufological subject matter in pop culture is virtually ignored. The book's academic style and copious citations make for a dense read at times, and the professionally impartial tone may not appeal to committed UFO believers or debunkers. But readers looking for skillful reportage and deft theorizing about "the UFO myth" (a term Denzler uses non-pejoratively), or a starting point for further academic research, should find it worthwhile.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Review
"A deeply researched history of 'ufology.'" -- Publishers Weekly
07/03/2002
The book I was hoping this one was has yet to be written. Denzler doesn't tell us anything we didn't already know about why and how people believe in UFOs and aliens. Mainly what we have here is just compiling the history of reported sightings and abductions, as well as summaries of leading authors (Vallee, Keel). No analysis of the psychology or mass psychology of purported abductees. If you're a true believer, the book probably won't interest you, and if you're trying to understand the believers, it won't answer your questions.
I know from my own experience that the author hasn't begun to scratch the surface of the current types of UFO beliefs. Her index doesn't even include Pleiades! There are lots of New Age types out there who believe that benevolent aliens, the Pleiadeans, are trying to help humanity evolve to higher consciousness. There are umpteen versions of this idea featuring other star systems. There are hostile as well as helpful aliens. In Sedona, Arizona, the New Age mecca (and elsewhere, I'm sure) you can purchase pamphlets mapping the alien bases underneath the Red Rock country, and describing the aerial warfare between the Good and Bad Aliens over the Arizona skies!
I'm sure that there are people who sincerely believe in UFOs without any of this supernatural apparatus. Simple enough, it's fun to believe in the possibility of exciting things that might exist. Denzler discusses pseudo-science, and that is a different category from the New Age beliefs. But why and how do people believe in Pleiadeans, and create and embellish elaborate mythologies involving extraterrestrials as angels, demons and demigods? How do abduction beliefs spread in a population? There's a great book out there waiting to be written...
07/02/2002
Brenda Denzler has produced a systematic and enlightening overview of the UFO phenomenon that encompasses scientific, religious, and cultural examinations. While it stands alone as a comprehensive work, it also serves as a rich trove of sources for further research by those interested in all aspects of the phenomenon. Neutral in tone, it allows readers to explore the topic without the bias of either a skeptical or proselytizing author.
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