An oft heard theory about Unidentified Flying Objects (“UFOs”) is they are nothing but the manifestation of the times. For instance, visions received by people prior to the modern industrial era were often religious in nature. Famous historical examples include Joan of Arc and the children of Fatima.[1] This particular theory has been proposed by Jacques Vallee, a famous UFO investigator, and more recently by Diana Walsh Pasulka, a professor of religion in her book American Cosmic. The visionaries lived in a world where religion was a major factor in everyday life so their visions were expressed through that medium.
After World War II technology also became an important part of the landscape,[2] and people began to see UFOs in the sky.[3] Over time, observers noticed the more extreme UFO contactee episodes took on common themes. Alien[4] messages claimed the inhabitants of other worlds being concerned about atomic weapons and the threat mankind posed to the rest of the galaxy and itself. These alien encounters mirrored the general concerns of people in the United States nuclear weapons could end civilization. Americans felt vulnerable, and the aliens often delivered messages of peace and hope.
Encounters also referenced the culture of the time, as illustrated by the following story. In the late 1950’s, the story of Valiant Thor [5], the commander of a spaceship with a three “person” crew from the planet Venus, came to light. His spaceship allegedly landed in Alexandria, Virginia (right outside Washington D.C.) where he used mind control techniques to force two policemen to let him go. Other stories of mind control followed, as Valiant Thor seemed to have unfettered access to the Pentagon. He lived there for three years, advising top officials and even meeting with President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Reportedly, President Eisenhower turned down the help of the Venusians in solving the world’s problems since it is the nature of mankind to struggle and progress. Valiant Thor forged a friendship with Dr. Frank Stranges, an ordained minister and alleged biblical scholar[6] who later recounted Valiant Thor’s story. It is at this point religious and technological themes converge. When asked where he was from, Thor claimed he was from Venus, a planet where the inhabitants were still in intimate contact with God. After several years on Earth, and his mission seemingly completed, Valiant Thor and his crew left.
The Valiant Thor story is a perfect example of the use of cultural literary tropes in alien contact stories. Isaac Asimov’s Foundation was an iconic and early science fiction trilogy. The three books[7] told the story of a vast Galactic Empire encountering its own Dark Age. At one point, a human mutant named the Mule was able to take over the remnants of the Empire because of his ability to control minds. He could force people to do things against their will, just as Valiant Thor could. The Asimov trilogy was first published in short stories and then in book form in 1951, less than a decade before Valiant Thor made his first appearance.
The great religious writer C. S. Lewis published another trilogy that included the book Perelandra, or Venus as we know it. Perelandra was first published in 1943 and was titled Voyage to Venus in a later edition. The inhabitants of Perelandra do not succumb to demonic temptation and do not fall. Accordingly, there is no original sin and all of its consequences on Venus. Perelandra is a paradise, with the inhabitants in a perfect relationship with God. The Venusians described by Dr. Stranges come from a pristine, unfallen world. Who better to bring salvation to the inhabitants of their sister planet, Earth?
Although aliens came in many shapes and sizes, “Nordic” looking aliens[8] were in vogue during the 1950’s. George Adamski, a famous UFO contactee[9] claimed he was visited by aliens from Venus beginning in late 1952 or early 1953. They were attractive, Nordic-looking humanoids, just as Thor and his crew were supposed to be. Pictures of Thor and his crew attending a party at High Bridge, New Jersey[10] “show” they were indeed strikingly handsome and quite “Nordic” in appearance. Even the name Valiant Thor evokes an image of the mighty Nordic God of Thunder, Thor.Many believe in the Valiant Thor story, and it is making a comeback. However, I find it just too coincidental the leitmotifs of this story track the concerns, events and the literature of the time so well. Perhaps we will find life on Venus one day, and the inhabitants of that planet will help us deal with all of our vexing problems. I wouldn’t quit my job, stop paying the mortgage, and wait for them though.
Addendum: This article was written well over a year ago, but in this time there has been a tremendous interest in unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP). For instance, A Harvard astronomer says this solar system has been visited by the beings from another solar system. The federal government has set up an office to identify and assess the risk that UAP presents. This should be interesting….
Update to July 2023: David Grusch, a whistleblower, has come forward claiming the United States has twelve NHI (non-human intelligence) craft. There is still no indication of what and where these craft are, but they continue to be in the news. Grusch was a “second hand” witness, that is, he did doesn’t have direct knowledge of the craft, but has this information from what he deems to be reliable sources. Grusch is a former member of the U.S. intelligence community with impeccable credentials. The most interesting and credible coverage of this phenomena is done by Leslie Kean and Ralph Blumenthal to whom I direct you to. Grusch appeared with Australian investigative reporter Russ Coulthart. You can see the entire interview here.
Update to May 2024: The Vatican released a new schema to evaluate alleged apparitions. From now on, the Vatican will be more involved in the evaluation and investigation of apparitions. This change will reduce the role and the power of local bishops in the process. Secondly, and most importantly, the Vatican will no longer determine if the alleged apparition is of supernatural origin. Instead, it will adopt the standard of “nihil obstat”, or saying there is no objection to the belief in the apparition. Put another way, the Vatican will stop short of endorsing belief in the phenomenon, but will say rather it doesn’t see anything objectionable to belief in the phenomenon.
This change was announced by Victor Cardinal Fernandez, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, one of the most powerful Vatican cabinet positions. Interestingly enough, the new norms will go into effect on Pentecost Day, or the day that Christians celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit. This event, recorded in the Book of Acts, could be considered an other worldly event that some would characterize as part of the UFO phenomenon. Diana Walsh Pasulka, a professor of relgion at the University of North Carolina has related stories of how knowledge can be “downloaded” from the other worldly sources. [11]
[1] I am not making any judgement about the validity of these and other visions. For the purposes of this article, these phenomena are offered only as examples of the theory being discussed.
[2] Some would say to the exclusion of religion. There is not doubt the religiosity of the general population in the United States is declining.
[3] The first widely reported UFO sighting after World War II was that of Kenneth Arnold in 1947.
[4] Again, I make no comment about the reality or validity of these contact. I do not wish to keep repeating the word alleged. I make reference to Mark 13:14 when I say, “let the reader understand.”
[5] The name of the supposed alien is not consistent from story to story. He is variously referred to Val Valiant Thor, Val Valiant, of Valiant Thor. For the sake of consistency, he will be referred to as Valiant Thor for the rest of this article.
[6] One can see some of commentaries on the Dead Sea Scrolls on YouTube. Dr. Stranges claims the Dead Sea Scrolls were being suppressed because they had proof of extraterrestrial life.
[7] There were several later additions to the original trilogy that need not concern us here.
[8] As opposed to “grey” aliens more prevalent in later years. An example of these can be found in Whitley Strieber’s book Communion.
[9] Adamski was eventually considered a fraud, especially as the scientific evidence mounted there could be no life on the inhospitable planet Venus. Thor claimed the Venusians lived underground. Again, I make no judgment about these claims.
[10] This is a favorite story of mine, since I live about twenty miles from High Bridge.
[11] At the risk of repeating myself, this is not my particular belief or the belief of any organized Christian religion. I simply offer this as an example of how the UFO/UAP community thinks. I would recommend someone watch an episode of Ancient Aliens on the History Channel to gain a better understanding of the point I am attempting to make here.
Mark Koscinski CPA D.Litt. 