Customer Reviews

Alien Identities : Ancient Insights into Modern UFO Phenomena

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have a master's degree from Yale in Religion (for what it's worth)and I spent lots of what I feel is unbiased, level-headed rational time investigating religious phenomena, origins of humankind, ancient history, religion and the nature of living things. I have no bias in any particular religious or scientific direction. I have tried to be open to all possibilities regarding extraterrestrial phenomena and possible connections with ancient known and unknown cultures.

This is a good book. It is good reading. No matter what your persuasion, anyone could read this with skepticism or gullibility and feel that information is presented in an unbiased and scientific manner. That is what I like about it -- not to mention the potentially profound revelations concerning Vadic material and other text. When I ordered this book, I had to wait for it. In the meantime I bought 4 others referenced as "related" and none held a candle to this one. THIS IS A GOOD BOOK. Go get it if you have any interest in understanding or contemplating possibilities regarding ancient cultures and human origins.

This book is a fascinating comparison of modern UFO phenomena with similar phenomena recorded in the Vedic texts of Ancient India. Unfortunately, the author tries to cover too much in one volume.

The first half of the book contains an excellent summary of modern UFO and related phenomena. In the second half of the book, Mr. Thompson uses his tremendous knowledge of ancient Vedic texts and shows similarities between the two. Unfortunately, in an effort to bolster his arguments, he adds in Celtic folklore and mythology plus the 1917 events in Fatima, Portugal. It felt like he didn't have enough room to fully flesh out his hypotheses.

If this book is to be updated for a 3rd addition, I strongly recommend that a glossary be added. In the second half of the book, the author repeatedly refers to the various types of entities refered to within the ancient Indian literature and I had trouble keeping them straight. Also, many of the deities could be refered to by multiple names and it became confusing when a particular deity would be refered to by 2 different names within consecutive pages (for example a Christian might refer to Jesus as Jesus Christ or Son of God, etc.).

This is a fascinating book, and I think that Mr. Thompson has a very interesting point to make. I recommend this book to people interested in possible connections between the modern UFO phenomena and ancient mythology and folklore. However, if you are unfamiliar with ancient Indian mythology, I recommend that you keep your own glossary as you read through the 2nd half of the book.

The strange tales of lights in the sky moving in seemingly-impossible ways, craft that land and leave marks on the ground, abductions by odd-looking humanoids, animal mutilations and all the other stories associated with UFOs are largely ignored by the media and by academic scholars. Since there is no explanation for them that fits our current knowledge of how the universe works, people who want to avoid being ridiculed tend to pretend these things don't exist. Some brave souls have tackled the problem and offered "explanations" that may fit some of the tales -- those involved are hallucinating, making it up, or have seen meteors, the moon, ball lightening, or swamp gas.

Others who say these phenomena are produced by alien beings from other planets find themselves on the fringe of respectability and some have lost their academic positions because they took the abduction stories seriously (Dr. John Mack is one such). But now comes Richard L. Thompson to offer another view of these weird happenings. I'm an admirer of Thompson's work on a favorite book, Forbidden Archeology, and I've also read a lot of the same books he uses as sources for Alien Identities. Here, Thompson makes parallels between what happens to those involved with UFOs (sightings and contact) and stories from Indian Vedic sources, both ancient and modern.

I find these comparisons compelling, but also found it difficult to keep track of the various Vedic books and concepts he discusses. The Vedic sources, many going back thousands of years, are largely unknown in mainstream US society. But the basics of the Vedic belief-system are similar to current spiritual ideas that are widespread - the idea that we all have an etheric double, the existence of the Spirit world, the idea of other realms of existence, reincarnation, and the idea that spirits are all around us.

Like Thompson, I found the stories told by Betty Andreasson (in the Raymond Fowler books) to appear to relate the aliens to beings that exist in the spirit world. She sometimes traveled in her astral body and was able to float through solid objects (like doors and walls) and she saw the beings turn into pure light. Whitley Streiber and others relate similar stories.

Many contactees have been given information about the human race, sometimes warnings, sometimes predictions, and sometimes the material is very bizarre. The aliens who impart this information are also sometimes bizarre, wearing odd costumes and imitating humans, but not getting it quite right. An example is the Men in Black whose clothing and behavior is often inappropriate, but who purport to be acting in some official capacity.

As with spirit communication, people receiving these messages may assume that because the source (they believe) is alien, it must be true. But when you study the literature of spirit communication, you realize that spirits exist at many levels and their perceptions of reality are limited, just as with us. There are also spirits who are inimical to those they contact, who deliberately give misinformation. The same appears to be the case with aliens. Could spirits and aliens be the same entities?

Thompson relates the UFO craft to the ancient Indian vimanas (flying machines), and provides much information I have not seen in other sources. For instance, he tells us most of these vimanas were not built by humans, but rather were built by the various entities of other realms, who can interact with humans. He also tells us these dwellers of other realms are related to us and can breed with us, explaining why so many ancient books (including the Bible) talk of intermarriage between man and gods. And also explaining the many stories of aliens stealing human sperm or impregnating human women.

Thompson's analysis of UFOs in relation to Vedic literature is well thought-out, but of course the author is seeing them within his own belief system, where they are a better fit than with mainstream Western Christian belief systems. He does give some examples from non-Oriental sources (apparition at Fatima, Irish faeries, etc.) to show the persistence of these entities in human experience. He explores some of the same territory covered by Jacques Vallee in his excellent books on the UFO phenomena.

This book gives insight into a different way to understand UFOs, that goes beyond "little green men" from outer space zipping around in space ships. It is a worthwhile read for anyone interested in understanding the mystery of UFOs.

One of the difficulties in the 'UFOlogy' field is that there are plenty of offbeat accounts, and in some cases evidence but mostly in pieces, or without context, or with potential other explanations. (There is more than most people are aware of, though.)

Authors such as Dr. Jacques Vallee have given interesting historical overviews of UFO lore. Of course, all these accounts are 'accounts' and 'Lore', they are not scientific evidence, but since these experiences don't seem to happen on command inside a science lab, this may account for that problem. The fact that the surgeon general has not yet made a ruling about the existence or effect of UFOs or 'experiences' potentially related, will not change whether they or the experiences exist.

ALIEN IDENTITIES is a book title I cringe to give to people and consider an embarrassment to the content. Consider it was written when such a title (not to mention Streiber as an intro) were apparently considered a hot sell and hence the publisher promo. The CONTENT of the book has a calm, fair, respectability in its own fashion that belies the assumption and hype of the title.

This book is a great introduction for people new to the subject. The first half is a recount of documented Vedic history, which is part and parcel of their religion. The second half is a recount of documented recent history--accounts in the UFOlogy field. Which, like religious history, are equally tenuous and unprovable.

However, when you read the detail from the historical accounts, and then you read the detail of claims from the last half century, the parallel is more than just striking. It's pretty much obvious to anybody with half a brain and no major personal bias that the modern day accounts are clearly talking about some of the same kind of things as the ancient accounts.

In the context of how seriously we should take modern accounts, for which we have little hard proof and a lot of confusion, a realization that they are hardly a novel new result of science fiction books is important.

In the context of religion, "the Gods," and many accounts biblical as well as Vedic, it is thought provoking to say the least.

I highly recommend this book. It reads well, it is interesting, it is informative, and it doesn't pretend to be anything it's not. It makes no claims. It is one of the very few UFOlogy related books that I have kept on my shelves for years.

I was not only impressed with Alien Identities, I literally could not put it down. As a Phd. I have a skepticism toward UFO reports but R. Thompsons book has presented a great deal of evidence and explanantions of UFO phenomena that cannot be pooh poohed, that's for sure. The paralells between modern accounts of UFO incidents and ancient texts from India is striking! Thompson gives many reasonable explanantions for how the aliens and their ships can perform feats beyond our understanding of physics. This book is not only informative but pleasuable reading. Check it out... Scott McGregor, Ph.D.

The first half is especially good. In the second a purely exoteric examination of vedic mythology, one of the most detailed systems in history, reveals explicit descriptions of what's only vaguely hinted at in other mythologies. Namely, straightforward descriptions of extraterrestrials in spaceships, various types of missiles and "modern" weaponry, and clear knowledge of a heliocentric solar system thousands of years before Galileo. This is where myth, religion, and reality all unite and confuse the hell out of everybody... Essential knowledge.

I admit that "Alien identities" is a strangely fascinating book.

The author, Richard L. Thompson, is actually a member of the Hare Krishna movement (ISKCON), where he is known as Sadaputa Dasa. However, his membership in the ISKCON is never explicitly stated anywhere in the book, although the "code words" are pretty obvious for all to see, including a dedication to Prabhupada, the founder of the modern Hare Krishna movement in the West. Thompson is otherwise most known for being co-author of Michael Cremo's notorious "Forbidden archaeology".

"Alien identities" is an analysis of the vast UFO phenomenon from a Vedic perspective, or rather the particular version of Hindu teachings accepted by the author. After an overview of the phenomenon from various angles, Thompson compares modern UFO accounts with Hindu legends about contacts between humans and various supernatural beings. He eventually reaches the conclusion that the UFO phenomenon is caused by several different groups of supernaturals. Some are demonic and malevolent in nature, others are more advanced and spiritual. Most seem to be deluded by the power of Maya (cosmic illusion), since they preach impersonal pantheism rather than the belief in a personal deity (the Hare Krishna position). The author never really says what we should actually *do* about all this, but he seems to be suggesting that UFOs should, at least from a spiritual viewpoint, be accepted as real but nevertheless ignored, since their teachings are erroneous.

Thompson's book is written in a relatively detached, scholarly style, no doubt a conscious strategy, but it does have the benefit of making the work readable. There's very little ISKCON jargon in "Alien identities". Since Thompson is religious, he can confront the religious-spiritual aspects of the UFO phenomenon head on, without feeling embarrassed. By contrast, more traditional ufologists and Forteans seem embarrassed by the "cultic" dimension of the problem. The Betty Andreasson case, which had strong religious overtones, is discussed in several chapters of the book. Nor is Thompson afraid of mentioning the similarity between some UFO reports and out-of-body or near-death experiences. He also discusses the "cosmic trickster" aspect of this strangely concrete but nevertheless elusive phenomenon.

Thompson is fascinated by the pantheist message of the aliens. ISKCON's founder Prabhupada was almost obsessed with fighting "the impersonalists", so obviously a disciple cannot overlook this aspect.

Evangelical Christians also have a major problem with the pantheist message of many contactees and abductees, seeing them as self-deluded or (in a more extreme interpretation) deluded by the Devil. Thompson seems rather to regard the pantheist gibberish of the alien entities as yet another aspect of Maya, neither more nor less, and even believe that it can help some people overcome their scientist-materialist illusions. (On this point, he veers towards the New Age interpretation.) Thus, he doesn't seem to regard the entire UFO complex as evil or malevolent, which Christians tend to do. He does note, however, that there seem to be very few UFO communications about a loving, personal god. (Poor Robert Monroe is bashed in this context, as usual - but then, I don't like his books either!) Somewhat ironically, given the religious affiliations of the author, he regards the Fatima apparition of the Virgin Mary as caused by a benevolent spiritual being.

"Alien identities" is of considerable interest to students of comparative religion, being a relatively intelligent response to a modern, paranormal phenomenon from the viewpoint of a new religious movement. (Provided you regard the ISKCON as really "new". Caitanya lived 500 years ago.) It could also interest Hindus, New Age believers and Christians. However, I suspect traditional ufologists will find it too "far out" (and this from people who investigate abduction reports!), while the frivolous Forteans will no doubt regard it as a specimen of Forteana in itself.

Personally, I readily admit a certain dose of scepticism on this point, as you no doubt have gathered from the undertone of my review, but I'll nevertheless give Mr. Dasa four stars for his alien identities.

This is one of the best books dealing with the subject of UFOs I have read. The author has a very sober and balanced account of the subject. The first part of the book recounts many of the most high profile cases of UFO sightings, abduction et. al. The author is neither credulous nor incredulous but fair throughout. He fields it all with many references and contexts. The second part of the book brings to bear his knowledge of Vedic lore and juxtaposes it with the modern UFO mythos. It is a work that covers something heretofore not explored by any writer to my knowledge - at least in any depth. Thompson has a fine analytical mind in all he writes. I highly recomend this book to anyone interested in this subject. This is not sensational (as so many books on the subject are). It is instead scholarly throughout. Much food for thought here. This work will find a place on my bookshelf between Jaques Valee's
"Passport To Magonia" and Evans-Wentz's "The Fairy Faith In Celtic Countries."

Very well-researched and insightful work by Dr. Thompson! I have read this gem of a book from cover to cover not once but thrice - undoubtedly one of the most original ufological literatures I have come across, and it also did confirm many of my own received ideas about the ancient accounts of vimanas in the classical Sanskrit writings. A book I would recommend to anyone any day, and an awesome read!

this book is highly recommended to all like me who are irresistibly drawn to the ufo subject, extremely informative,well written and I found the chapters on the ancient Vedanta connection especially fascinating. Perhaps most of the UFO and abduction stories are a little outdated, from the 50's and 60's, but relevant nonetheless. I'm a bit of a slow reader, but still read it in 5 days, could'nt put it down. A must read.