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Lights in the Sky & Little Green Men: A Rational Christian Look at UFOs and Extraterrestrials
Across the spectrum of humankind there are beliefs and theories about UFOs and extraterrestrial life as diverse and numerous as the stars in the sky. Primarily, a dichotomy exists between naturalists who deny the supernatural and insist upon scientific explanations for all accounts, and mystics who attribute every unusual sighting to paranormal activity. People everywhere are looking for honest answers. As believers, we neither shy away from the supernatural because it is unsettling nor condemn scientific explanations for their lack of spirituality. Rather, we search for truth. In Lights in the Sky and Little Green Men , the authors have initiated a search for truth to answers about UFO sightings and extraterrestrial life. Using extensive scientific background and knowledge of the Scriptures, they approach these
Could life exist on other planets?
Does documentation exist for UFO sightings and landings?
What has been the government s involvement in UFO and extraterrestrial phenomena?
Is there a relationship between UFO sightings and demonology?
How should believers approach the subject of UFOs and extraterrestrial life?
When we have questions about UFO and extraterrestrial phenomena, we should seek answers from qualified sources. Authors Hugh Ross, Kenneth Samples, and Mark Clark have training and experience in the appropriate disciplines. They augment scientific and historical analysis with truths from God s Word to provide a balanced look at a controversial subject.
Could life exist on other planets?
Does documentation exist for UFO sightings and landings?
What has been the government s involvement in UFO and extraterrestrial phenomena?
Is there a relationship between UFO sightings and demonology?
How should believers approach the subject of UFOs and extraterrestrial life?
When we have questions about UFO and extraterrestrial phenomena, we should seek answers from qualified sources. Authors Hugh Ross, Kenneth Samples, and Mark Clark have training and experience in the appropriate disciplines. They augment scientific and historical analysis with truths from God s Word to provide a balanced look at a controversial subject.
255 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2002
109 people are currently reading
302 people want to read
About the author
Hugh Ross
134 books293 followersHUGH ROSS launched his career at age seven when he went to the library to find out why stars are hot. Physics and astronomy captured his curiosity and never let go. At age seventeen he was the youngest person ever to serve as director of observations for Vancouver's Royal Astronomical Society. With the help of a provincial scholarship and a National Research Council (NRC) of Canada fellowship, he completed his undergraduate degree in physics (University of British Columbia) and graduate degrees in astronomy (University of Toronto). The NRC also sent him to the United States for postdoctoral studies. At Caltech he researched quasi-stellar objects, or "quasars," some of the most distant and ancient objects in the universe.
Hugh's unshakable confidence that God's revelation in Scripture and nature do not, will not, and cannot contradict became his unique message. Communicating that message as broadly and clearly as possible became his mission, wholeheartedly encouraged by family and friends. He and his colleagues at Reasons To Believe keep tabs on the frontiers of research to share with scientists and nonscientists alike the thrilling news of what's being discovered and how it connects with biblical theology. In this realm, he has written many books, including: The Fingerprint of God, The Creator and the Cosmos, Beyond the Cosmos, The Genesis Question, A Matter of Days, Creation As Science, and Why the Universe Is the Way It Is, due to be released October 1, 2008.
Between writing books and articles and hosting Creation Update, a weekly live webcast, Hugh travels the world challenging students and faculty, churches and professional groups to consider what they believe and why. He presents a persuasive case for Christianity without applying pressure. Because he treats people's questions and comments with respect, he is in great demand as a speaker and as a talk-radio and television guest.
Hugh lives in Southern California with his wife, Kathy, and two sons—and two cats.
from reasons.org
Hugh's unshakable confidence that God's revelation in Scripture and nature do not, will not, and cannot contradict became his unique message. Communicating that message as broadly and clearly as possible became his mission, wholeheartedly encouraged by family and friends. He and his colleagues at Reasons To Believe keep tabs on the frontiers of research to share with scientists and nonscientists alike the thrilling news of what's being discovered and how it connects with biblical theology. In this realm, he has written many books, including: The Fingerprint of God, The Creator and the Cosmos, Beyond the Cosmos, The Genesis Question, A Matter of Days, Creation As Science, and Why the Universe Is the Way It Is, due to be released October 1, 2008.
Between writing books and articles and hosting Creation Update, a weekly live webcast, Hugh travels the world challenging students and faculty, churches and professional groups to consider what they believe and why. He presents a persuasive case for Christianity without applying pressure. Because he treats people's questions and comments with respect, he is in great demand as a speaker and as a talk-radio and television guest.
Hugh lives in Southern California with his wife, Kathy, and two sons—and two cats.
from reasons.org
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August 19, 2019
I've witnessed to more people through an interest in UFOs than I have by ambushing random strangers on the street and pumping them for a conversion experience. No, this book does not believe that ET is real. It makes a strong case against it. It ends up being a manual on spiritual warfare.
Samples and Ross cogently argue against any sort of “alien visitors” while acknowledging the reality of eye-witness reports. They are able to maintain this tension by reducing the question from “UFOs” to “residual UFOs” (RUFOs). With this move they are able to move the questions regarding abductees from the scientific realm to the spiritual realm. They are quite successful.
Samples and Ross suggest it might be better to speak of “UFO phenomena” rather than “UFOs.”
1. It is hard to distinguish between UFOs and the phenomena.
2. Paradoxically, in attempting to define a UFO we are defining that which isn’t identified.
3. We can’t do a direct study of a UFO.
4. The meaning of the terms change over time.
Types of UFOs.
Most of the UFO sightings can be explained away. But that still leaves thousands of RUFO (residual UFO) sightings that aren’t so easily explained. Making matters worse, there is still overwhelming evidence against “extraterrestrials.”
The problem with interstellar travel:
Traveling at half the velocity of light, it would take nine years to reach the nearest star. But we aren’t going to the nearest star. We have to find an earth-like one that could support life. That would take at least fifty light years.
The faster you move through space, the more damage debris does to the craft. The slower you move, the longer it takes. That’s the insurmountable problem. If you armor the craft, then you need extra propellant. That makes the craft faster, which means you need more armor, which means you need extra propellant for the extra propellant.
Kenneth Samples does an excellent job outlining the supposed UFO experience, tying in “contactee” accounts with similar accounts by Swedenborg and Blavatsky. Ross and Samples note that the contactee accounts sound almost identical to demonic oppression. They end with a fervent evangelistic appeal.
Those who promote UFOs are almost always following occult literature from Blavatsky onward
Samples and Ross cogently argue against any sort of “alien visitors” while acknowledging the reality of eye-witness reports. They are able to maintain this tension by reducing the question from “UFOs” to “residual UFOs” (RUFOs). With this move they are able to move the questions regarding abductees from the scientific realm to the spiritual realm. They are quite successful.
Samples and Ross suggest it might be better to speak of “UFO phenomena” rather than “UFOs.”
1. It is hard to distinguish between UFOs and the phenomena.
2. Paradoxically, in attempting to define a UFO we are defining that which isn’t identified.
3. We can’t do a direct study of a UFO.
4. The meaning of the terms change over time.
Types of UFOs.
Most of the UFO sightings can be explained away. But that still leaves thousands of RUFO (residual UFO) sightings that aren’t so easily explained. Making matters worse, there is still overwhelming evidence against “extraterrestrials.”
The problem with interstellar travel:
Traveling at half the velocity of light, it would take nine years to reach the nearest star. But we aren’t going to the nearest star. We have to find an earth-like one that could support life. That would take at least fifty light years.
The faster you move through space, the more damage debris does to the craft. The slower you move, the longer it takes. That’s the insurmountable problem. If you armor the craft, then you need extra propellant. That makes the craft faster, which means you need more armor, which means you need extra propellant for the extra propellant.
Kenneth Samples does an excellent job outlining the supposed UFO experience, tying in “contactee” accounts with similar accounts by Swedenborg and Blavatsky. Ross and Samples note that the contactee accounts sound almost identical to demonic oppression. They end with a fervent evangelistic appeal.
Those who promote UFOs are almost always following occult literature from Blavatsky onward
August 23, 2017
I was quite impressed with how the authors of "Lights in the Sky, and Little Green Men" systematically approached the topic of UFOs. They drew upon the disciplines of science, history, philosophy, and theology and applied logical tests to their observations to come to their compelling conclusions. Even though the presentation was very academic, it was presented in a way that was easily read and easily understood. The book kept me intrigued from the beginning to the end. I do have two recommendations: the first is for those interested in UFO phenomena, and the second is for the Christian.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who has ever considered UFO phenomena. It is important that such phenomena have an explanation in a worldview, and because of the culture's fascination with aliens, the occult, and new age philosophies, it is important that the Christian be able to have an intellectual discussion on the topic and "provide a reason for the hope that they have" when many people think that such phenomena provide evidence against the Christian worldview. I also highly recommend this book for anyone who is just curious about the possibility of extraterrestrial life. The chapters that deal with the astrophysics are indispensable in coming to a logical conclusion on this possibility. It was a great book that I had a difficult time putting down, and I think that you will enjoy it as much as I did.
See my full, chapter-by-chapter review here: https://lukenixblog.blogspot.com/2017...
I highly recommend this book for anyone who has ever considered UFO phenomena. It is important that such phenomena have an explanation in a worldview, and because of the culture's fascination with aliens, the occult, and new age philosophies, it is important that the Christian be able to have an intellectual discussion on the topic and "provide a reason for the hope that they have" when many people think that such phenomena provide evidence against the Christian worldview. I also highly recommend this book for anyone who is just curious about the possibility of extraterrestrial life. The chapters that deal with the astrophysics are indispensable in coming to a logical conclusion on this possibility. It was a great book that I had a difficult time putting down, and I think that you will enjoy it as much as I did.
See my full, chapter-by-chapter review here: https://lukenixblog.blogspot.com/2017...
October 21, 2015
COSMOLOGY & ASTRONOMY:
1. The earth in space, affected only by gravity. While other sources declared the earth sat on the back of an elephant or turtle, or was held up by Atlas, the Bible alone states what we now know to be true.
Job 26:7: He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and Suspending the earth upon nothing.
2. The earth is an orb or sphere. At a time when many thought the earth was flat, the Bible told us that the earth is spherical.
Isaiah 40:22: It is He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in.
Webster's 1828 Dictionary's definition of CIRCLE. "In popular use, the line that comprehends the figure, the plane or surface comprehended, and the whole body or solid matter of a round substance, are denominated a circle; a ring; an orb; the earth."
3. Scripture assumes a revolving (spherical) earth. Jesus said that at His return some would be asleep at night while others would be working at day time activities in the field. This is a clear indication of a revolving earth, with day and night occurring simultaneously.
Luke 17:34-36: I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
4. Black holes and dark matter anticipated. Cosmologists now speculate that over 98% of the known universe is comprised of dark matter, with dark energy and black holes. A black hole's gravitational field is so strong that nothing, not even light, escapes. Beyond the expanding universe there is no measured radiation and therefore only outer darkness exists. These theories paint a seemingly accurate description of what the Bible calls "outer darkness" or "the blackness of darkness forever."
Matthew 25:30: And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Jude 13: Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
5. Incalculable number of stars. At a time when less than 5,000 stars were visible to the human eye, God stated that the stars of heaven were innumerable. Not until the 17th century did Galileo glimpse the immensity of our universe with his new telescope. Today, astronomers estimate that there are ten thousand billion trillion stars - a 1 followed by 25 zeros! Yet, as the Bible states, scientists admit this number may be woefully inadequate.
Jeremiah 33:22: As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.
6. The number of stars, though vast, are finite. Although man is unable to calculate the exact number of stars, we now know their number is finite. Of course God knew this all along.
Isaiah 40:26: Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
7. The Bible compares the number of stars with the number of grains of sand on the seashore. Amazingly, gross estimates of the number of sand grains are comparable to the estimated number of stars in the universe.
Genesis 22:17: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies.
8. The universe is expanding. Repeatedly God declares that He stretches out the heavens. During the early 20th century, most scientists (including Einstein) believed the universe was static. Others believed it should have collapsed due to gravity. Then in 1929, astronomer Edwin Hubble showed that distant galaxies were receding from the earth, and the further away they were, the faster they were moving. This discovery revolutionized the field of astronomy. Eisntein admitted his mistake, and today most astronomers agree with what the Creator told us millennia ago - the universe is expanding!
Isaiah 42:5: Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein.
Jeremiah 51:15: He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding.
Zechariah 12:1: The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.
9. Each star is unique. Centuries before the advent of the telescope, the Bible declared what only God and the angels knew: each star varies in size and intensity!
1 Corinthians 15:41: There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
10. The sun goes in a circuit. Some scientists scoffed at this verse thinking that it taught geocentricity - the theory that the sun revolves around the earth. They insisted the sun was stationary. However, we now know that the sun is traveling through space at approximately 600,000 miles per hour. It is literally moving through space in a huge circuit - just as the Bible stated 3,000 years ago!
Psalm 19:6: [The sun's] going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
PHYSICS:
1. Creation is made of atoms and particles, indiscernible to our eyes. Not until the 19th century was it discovered that all visible matter consists of invisible elements.
Hebrews 11:3: Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
2. Light can be divided. Sir Isaac Newton studied light and discovered that white light is made of seven colors, which can be "parted" and then recombined. Science confirmed this four centuries ago - God declared it four millennia ago!
Job 38:24: By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
3. Light travels in a path. Light is said to have a "way" [Hebrew: derek, literally a traveled path or road]. Until the 17th century it was believed that light was transmitted instantaneously. We now know that light is a form of energy that travels at 186,000 miles per second in a straight line. Indeed, there is a "way" of light.
Job 38:19: Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof.
4. The Bible says that light can be sent, and then manifest itself in speech. We now know that radio waves and light waves are two forms of the same thing: electromagnetic waves. Therefore, radio waves are a form of light. Today, using radio transmitters, we can send "lightnings" which indeed speak when they arrive.
Job 38:35: Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
5. The First Law of Thermodynamics established. The First Law states that the total quantity of energy and matter in the universe is a constant. One form of energy or matter may be converted into another, but the total quantity always remains the same. Therefore the creation is finished, exactly as God said way back in Genesis.
Genesis 2:1-2: Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
6. The Second Law of Thermodynamics (Entropy). This law states that everything in the universe is running down, deteriorating, and constantly becoming less and less orderly. Entropy (disorder) entered when mankind rebelled against God - resulting in the curse (Genesis 3:17-19; Romans 8:20-22). Historically most people believed the universe was unchangeable. Yet modern science verifies that the universe is growing "old as doth a garment'' (Hebrews 1:11). Evolution directly contradicts this, the most tested of all scientific laws.
Psalm 102:25-26: Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed.
Romans 8:20-22: For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
BIOLOGY:
1. Law of Biogenesis explained. Scientists observe that life only comes from existing life. This law has never been violated under observation or experimentation (as evolution requires). Therefore, life, God's life, created all life.
Genesis 1:11, 20, 24: And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. ... And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. ... And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
Genesis 2:7: And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
2. The earth was designed for biological life. Scientists have discovered that the most fundamental characteristics of our earth and cosmos are so finely tuned that if just one of them were even slightly different, life as we know it couldn't exist. This is called the Anthropic Principle and it agrees with the Bible which states that God formed the earth to be inhabited.
Isaiah 45:18: For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.
3. God has given us just the right amount of water to sustain life. We now recognize that if there was significantly more or less water, the earth would not support life as we know it.
Isaiah 40:12: Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
4. Our bodies are made from the dust of the ground. Scientists have discovered that the human body is comprised of some 28 base and trace elements - all of which are found in the earth.
Genesis 2:7: And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Genesis 3:19: In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
5. Life begins at fertilization. God declares that He knew us before we were born. The Biblical penalty for murdering an unborn child was death (Exodus 21:22-23). Today, it is an irrefutable biological fact that the fertilized egg is truly an entire human being. Nothing will be added to the first cell except nutrition and oxygen.
Psalm 139:15: "My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth."
Jeremiah 1:5: Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
6. God fashions and knits us together in the womb. Science was ignorant concerning embryonic development until recently. Yet thousands of years ago, the Bible accurately described God making us an intricate unity' in the womb.
Job 10:8-12: "Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me. Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again? Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese? Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with bones and sinews. Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit."
7. The seed of a plant contains its life. As stated in the Book of Genesis, we now recognize that inside the humble seed is life itself. Within the seed is a tiny factory of amazing complexity. No scientist can build a synthetic seed and no seed is simple!
Genesis 1:11-12: "And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good."
8. A seed must die to produce new life. In John 12:24 is remarkable confirmation of two of the fundamental concepts in biology: 1) Cells arise only from existing cells. 2) A grain must die to produce more grain. The fallen seed is surrounded by supporting cells from the old body. These supporting cells "give their lives" to provide nourishment to the inner kernel. Once planted, this inner kernel germinates resulting in much grain.
John 12:24: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit."
1 Corinthians 15:36-38: "Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body."
www.jw.org
1. The earth in space, affected only by gravity. While other sources declared the earth sat on the back of an elephant or turtle, or was held up by Atlas, the Bible alone states what we now know to be true.
Job 26:7: He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and Suspending the earth upon nothing.
2. The earth is an orb or sphere. At a time when many thought the earth was flat, the Bible told us that the earth is spherical.
Isaiah 40:22: It is He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in.
Webster's 1828 Dictionary's definition of CIRCLE. "In popular use, the line that comprehends the figure, the plane or surface comprehended, and the whole body or solid matter of a round substance, are denominated a circle; a ring; an orb; the earth."
3. Scripture assumes a revolving (spherical) earth. Jesus said that at His return some would be asleep at night while others would be working at day time activities in the field. This is a clear indication of a revolving earth, with day and night occurring simultaneously.
Luke 17:34-36: I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
4. Black holes and dark matter anticipated. Cosmologists now speculate that over 98% of the known universe is comprised of dark matter, with dark energy and black holes. A black hole's gravitational field is so strong that nothing, not even light, escapes. Beyond the expanding universe there is no measured radiation and therefore only outer darkness exists. These theories paint a seemingly accurate description of what the Bible calls "outer darkness" or "the blackness of darkness forever."
Matthew 25:30: And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Jude 13: Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
5. Incalculable number of stars. At a time when less than 5,000 stars were visible to the human eye, God stated that the stars of heaven were innumerable. Not until the 17th century did Galileo glimpse the immensity of our universe with his new telescope. Today, astronomers estimate that there are ten thousand billion trillion stars - a 1 followed by 25 zeros! Yet, as the Bible states, scientists admit this number may be woefully inadequate.
Jeremiah 33:22: As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.
6. The number of stars, though vast, are finite. Although man is unable to calculate the exact number of stars, we now know their number is finite. Of course God knew this all along.
Isaiah 40:26: Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
7. The Bible compares the number of stars with the number of grains of sand on the seashore. Amazingly, gross estimates of the number of sand grains are comparable to the estimated number of stars in the universe.
Genesis 22:17: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies.
8. The universe is expanding. Repeatedly God declares that He stretches out the heavens. During the early 20th century, most scientists (including Einstein) believed the universe was static. Others believed it should have collapsed due to gravity. Then in 1929, astronomer Edwin Hubble showed that distant galaxies were receding from the earth, and the further away they were, the faster they were moving. This discovery revolutionized the field of astronomy. Eisntein admitted his mistake, and today most astronomers agree with what the Creator told us millennia ago - the universe is expanding!
Isaiah 42:5: Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein.
Jeremiah 51:15: He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding.
Zechariah 12:1: The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.
9. Each star is unique. Centuries before the advent of the telescope, the Bible declared what only God and the angels knew: each star varies in size and intensity!
1 Corinthians 15:41: There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
10. The sun goes in a circuit. Some scientists scoffed at this verse thinking that it taught geocentricity - the theory that the sun revolves around the earth. They insisted the sun was stationary. However, we now know that the sun is traveling through space at approximately 600,000 miles per hour. It is literally moving through space in a huge circuit - just as the Bible stated 3,000 years ago!
Psalm 19:6: [The sun's] going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
PHYSICS:
1. Creation is made of atoms and particles, indiscernible to our eyes. Not until the 19th century was it discovered that all visible matter consists of invisible elements.
Hebrews 11:3: Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
2. Light can be divided. Sir Isaac Newton studied light and discovered that white light is made of seven colors, which can be "parted" and then recombined. Science confirmed this four centuries ago - God declared it four millennia ago!
Job 38:24: By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
3. Light travels in a path. Light is said to have a "way" [Hebrew: derek, literally a traveled path or road]. Until the 17th century it was believed that light was transmitted instantaneously. We now know that light is a form of energy that travels at 186,000 miles per second in a straight line. Indeed, there is a "way" of light.
Job 38:19: Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof.
4. The Bible says that light can be sent, and then manifest itself in speech. We now know that radio waves and light waves are two forms of the same thing: electromagnetic waves. Therefore, radio waves are a form of light. Today, using radio transmitters, we can send "lightnings" which indeed speak when they arrive.
Job 38:35: Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
5. The First Law of Thermodynamics established. The First Law states that the total quantity of energy and matter in the universe is a constant. One form of energy or matter may be converted into another, but the total quantity always remains the same. Therefore the creation is finished, exactly as God said way back in Genesis.
Genesis 2:1-2: Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
6. The Second Law of Thermodynamics (Entropy). This law states that everything in the universe is running down, deteriorating, and constantly becoming less and less orderly. Entropy (disorder) entered when mankind rebelled against God - resulting in the curse (Genesis 3:17-19; Romans 8:20-22). Historically most people believed the universe was unchangeable. Yet modern science verifies that the universe is growing "old as doth a garment'' (Hebrews 1:11). Evolution directly contradicts this, the most tested of all scientific laws.
Psalm 102:25-26: Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed.
Romans 8:20-22: For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
BIOLOGY:
1. Law of Biogenesis explained. Scientists observe that life only comes from existing life. This law has never been violated under observation or experimentation (as evolution requires). Therefore, life, God's life, created all life.
Genesis 1:11, 20, 24: And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. ... And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. ... And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
Genesis 2:7: And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
2. The earth was designed for biological life. Scientists have discovered that the most fundamental characteristics of our earth and cosmos are so finely tuned that if just one of them were even slightly different, life as we know it couldn't exist. This is called the Anthropic Principle and it agrees with the Bible which states that God formed the earth to be inhabited.
Isaiah 45:18: For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.
3. God has given us just the right amount of water to sustain life. We now recognize that if there was significantly more or less water, the earth would not support life as we know it.
Isaiah 40:12: Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
4. Our bodies are made from the dust of the ground. Scientists have discovered that the human body is comprised of some 28 base and trace elements - all of which are found in the earth.
Genesis 2:7: And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Genesis 3:19: In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
5. Life begins at fertilization. God declares that He knew us before we were born. The Biblical penalty for murdering an unborn child was death (Exodus 21:22-23). Today, it is an irrefutable biological fact that the fertilized egg is truly an entire human being. Nothing will be added to the first cell except nutrition and oxygen.
Psalm 139:15: "My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth."
Jeremiah 1:5: Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
6. God fashions and knits us together in the womb. Science was ignorant concerning embryonic development until recently. Yet thousands of years ago, the Bible accurately described God making us an intricate unity' in the womb.
Job 10:8-12: "Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me. Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again? Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese? Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with bones and sinews. Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit."
7. The seed of a plant contains its life. As stated in the Book of Genesis, we now recognize that inside the humble seed is life itself. Within the seed is a tiny factory of amazing complexity. No scientist can build a synthetic seed and no seed is simple!
Genesis 1:11-12: "And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good."
8. A seed must die to produce new life. In John 12:24 is remarkable confirmation of two of the fundamental concepts in biology: 1) Cells arise only from existing cells. 2) A grain must die to produce more grain. The fallen seed is surrounded by supporting cells from the old body. These supporting cells "give their lives" to provide nourishment to the inner kernel. Once planted, this inner kernel germinates resulting in much grain.
John 12:24: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit."
1 Corinthians 15:36-38: "Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body."
www.jw.org
January 4, 2021
I guess my expectations for this book were not met because I was expecting more of an exploration of actual UFO phenomenon and how it connects to the spiritual realm in the Christian perspective. This was a very cut and dried overview, with, in my opinion, a little too much former government worker saying, "Nothing to see here."
December 16, 2023
A Tale of Two Worlds
My 83-year-old (born 1940) Roman Catholic dad is my hero and nurturer and biggest cheerleader. He did not raise us as Catholics or Christians per say, but he does believe in God. In this remaining chapter of his life, I have only one worry for him, he is addicted to aliens. When my kids were only 4 and 6 years old (twelve years ago), we dropped them off with the grandparents for several hours. When they came home, the kids were terrified and said that they never wanted to go back there. I was shocked and asked why? Both kids said in unison, “ALIENS!”
Hugh Ross, Ken Samples, and Mark Clark wrote an important book, Lights in the Sky and Little Green Men, to meet the needs of the believer with respect to the growing cultural interest with UFOs (unidentified flying objects) and extraterrestrials. As a graduate student in Christian Apologetics at Biola/Talbot School of Theology, I highly recommend this book to all those who have the question, “Are aliens real?!” The contents of the book are well-researched, well-written, and covers UFOs, its context, and questions related to extraterrestrials in depth.
Since we live on earth and are talking about non-earth things, I present the tale of two worlds, the naturalist’s world versus the theist’s world to begin this discussion. The word naturalist means those who use physical reasoning to explain physical events where any spiritual or non-physical explanation is rejected. The word theist means those who can use spiritual reasoning of God to explain physical or non-physical events. With theism, the paranormal and supernatural can be better addressed. Many of the people who have reported sightings of UFOs, encounters, or abductions have not been taken seriously which opens the topic for much speculation. The three authors of this book bring different strengths. Hugh Ross is an astrophysicist and Christian apologist; Kenneth Samples is a philosopher and cult researcher; and Mark Clark is a political scientist specializing in national security. (p. 8). With the first documented flying saucer, specifically Associated Press headline reads, “Nine Bright Saucer-like Objects,” was at 3:00pm on June 24, 1947, other reports have come in. The problem is when there is no naturalistic answer for the naturalist, they have no direction to go but to rely on what they believe. The book reveals that the government, specifically the United States Air Force investigated these claims but could only take the naturalist approach. The report from the US Air Force stated that nothing could be learned from the UFOs in the past 21 years that could add to scientific knowledge, and they could not justify any further research. Obviously, this was dissatisfying for the general public. Therefore, without the government able to earn its authority over UFOs, people took matters into their own hands. In 1997, the Heaven’s Gate cult of 39 members committed suicide en mass who believed to be finding salvation to join the “mother ship” spacecraft that was trailing the Hale-Bopp comet. (p. 16) Lack of trust in the government is reinformed by the seemingly many government cover-ups. (1) Crash of an alien spacecraft near Roswell, New Mexico in 1947; (2) Air Force’s Project Blue Book or Condon Report; (3) Area 51 or Groom Lake in Nevada assumed to be government property for UFO experimentation. (Ch. 7, p. 73)
Those who have dived into this topic on a religious level are the New Agers. The various occults that New Agers have engaged in include channeling (spiritism), trance state, automatic writing, the use of crystals, poltergeist effects, psychic healing, and out-of-body travel. UFO cult members believe that an advanced extraterrestrial civilization is visiting Earth in order to save humanity from some form of catastrophe or seek salvation “from above.” (p. 20) I think that my dad is seeps in this mindset, it is fear based and looks to aliens for advanced help. This book is not written to address those in the occults, but for everyone else. (p. 20)
Naturalistically, there are well-respected UFO scientists, called ufologists, who have gathered the data and found it credible to create a classification of UFOs with natural explanations. The two of the most famous ufologists who created the classifications systems that we still use are J. Allen Hynek: Distant Sightings, 1) Nocturnal lights; 2) Daylight disks; 3) Radar-visual; Close Encounters, 1) Close Encounters of the first kind – close range within 500 feet; 2) Close Encounters of the second kind – UFO leaves physical effects on environment; 3) Close Encounters of the third kind – living occupants of the craft seen by witnesses; 4) Close Encounters of the fourth kind – direct contact with alien being and the witness; 5) Close Encounters of the fifth kind – observer suffers permanent physical injuries or death.(p. 23-24) Jacques Vallee: 1) Anomaly; 2) Flyby; 3) Maneuver; 4) Close encounter (CE 1-5). (p. 24-25) The two otherworldly hypotheses are 1) extraterrestrial hypothesis (ETH) and the interdimensional hypothesis(IDH). The extraterrestrial hypothesis is objective, physical, and empirical realities like the “nuts and bolts” of interplanetary space visitors. (p. 30) The interdimensional hypothesis does not find origins to an extraterrestrial spacecraft but to another “realm of reality beyond the time-space continuum” and is more focused on the occult or demonism. (p. 32) This topic of demonism is covered in Chapter 11 and 15 of which I will discuss under The Tale of Two Aliens.
For my dad and others like him who do not have a broad understanding of the fine-tuning of Earth, it is vital that we spend a moment to address how Star Trek, Star Wars, and science-fiction has opened our naïve minds to believing in fiction. Hugh Ross scientifically navigates how habitable earth is and how unhabitable the rest of the universe is. He spends chapters 3-5 diving into what fine tuning conditions are necessary for life and what of these conditions do not exist on other planets. This book was written in 2002, but Hugh Ross has written a more in-depth book on this titled, The Creator and The Cosmos: How the Latest Scientific Discoveries Reveal God which has been updated in 2018 as the fourth edition. On page 53 of Creator and Cosmos, “The fine-tuning resides in the need for the universe to expand at just-right rates throughout the entirety of cosmic history for life—especially advanced life –to possibly exist. This life requires just-right galaxies, stars, planets to exist with the just-right spatial density at just-right times in the history of the universe. To get any kind of galaxies, stars, and planets to appear at all demands exquisite fine-tuning of the cosmic expansion rate…” If the proper understanding of the fine-tuning of earth and irreducible complexity is not engaged, then the human imagination will be open to false notions and subject to false beliefs and dangerous practices.
A Tale of Two Aliens
In my numerous discussions with my dad, he will genuinely want to convince me that (1) Flying saucers are real; (2) Documentaries show people can communicate with alien intelligent life forms; (3) This is important because these messages by the aliens are to save human beings. These three beliefs are the foundations of UFO cults. (p. 148) Since there is such an obsession for many to follow the UFO cults, I believe that it is connected to identity. If you read this book review and are a believer in Jesus Christ as I am, then you know that we are indeed aliens in this sense since we are citizens of Heaven. We are created in the image of God and were created for the Garden of Eden to have perfect relation and union with our Creator. But after sin broke into the Garden, we were exiled. Now we are in exile until Christ returns and brings the new heaven and new earth (Rev 21:1). It seems that the discontented human heart longs to find connection, even with the extraterrestrial and the interdimensional world. Hence, I sum it up as a tale of two aliens, us and the RUFOs. Scientists have been able to research most of the reported UFOs into two categories (1) identifiable which they call IFO (Identified Flying Objects) and (2) unidentifiable residual remains, RUFOs (Residual Unidentified Objects). Half of this Lights in the Sky book is about RUFOs, buckle up because it is going to get spiritually uncomfortable.
Between 1948 and 1969, Jacques Vallee who is a computer scientist and astronautical researcher studied more than 12,000 UFO reports submitted to the U.S. Airforce. He could rule out ¾ of the reports to being IFOs, Identified Flying Objects, such as astronomical bodies, airplanes, balloons, rockets, satellites, etc. However, 23% (nearly 3,000) could not be identified as having any possible natural or human-devised source. (p. 66) J. Allen Hynek, who is an astronomer and the founder and director of the Center for UFO Studies and official consultant for Project Blue Book, roughly agrees and estimates that one in five UFO reports lack any recognizable natural or human explanation. Alan Baker, who wrote Encyclopedia of Alien Encounters, estimates that one in ten are unidentifiable. To be more clear, science can explain much of the identifiable aspects of UFOs, therefore making them no longer unidentified. But the remaining unidentified portion is something “real” at bottom of UFOs reports. The unidentifiable portion is what is residual. This remaining real residual is what is called RUFOs. RUFOs, is the acronym created to point to “residual UFOs” referring to those UFOs left over after all others have been explained away. (p. 65) Science can explain the four large space-time dimensions of the universe: length, width, height, and time. But when there is “residual” data of the UFO that does not fall into the dimensions of “length, width, height, and time,” (p. 110) then we must look outside of these four large space-time dimensions. The “residual” is what lies in the heart of the observer, physical effects from things that are not physical themselves. The RUFOs are the physical trauma that remains when science has explained all that it could explain, and we are forced into the inter- or extra-dimensions of the cosmos.
This is where the Triune God and the Bible must be introduced. Hugh Ross highlights that of all the holy books, only the Bible has a beginning, making the creation of the universe to be finite of which He created time and therefore can exist outside of the dimension of time. Hebrews 11:3 reads that “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” This scripture reveals that the tangible universe was made in ways that are intangible for human understanding. (p. 110) Specifically in the New Testament, after Jesus’ crucifixion, Jesus appears in a locked room with his apostles. The apostles are startled because with their eyes they could see that he was present in physical body but came through the wall and ate with the apostles, as captured in John 20:19. It is important to bring attention to this example because Jesus crossed the dimensions of length, width, height, and time. This opens the notion to interdimensional and extradimensional hypotheses which can be attributed to angels and their wicked peers: the demons.
The Bible is the one source that shows the trustworthy revelation about the spirit realm. (p. 113) The two distinctively spiritual types of creatures are: humans and angels. Hugh Ross defines humans are physical beings with spiritual awareness and spiritual capabilities. Angels, on the other hand, are spiritual beings who are not about to Earth but are capable of manifesting themselves, even physically, on Earth within limits established by God. (p. 113) The problem is the minority of angels who rebelled of which the first and most powerful is called Lucifer or Satan, those who follow him are evil spirits, fallen angels, or demons. (p.113) Encounters with these demons always lead to something negative. It is a false notion that the activity of any demonic are aliens trying to help humanity. The data from this book determines who is behind the RUFO experiences must be associated with the activities of demons. (pp. 122-123) Scholars who are agnostic support the connection of RUFOs to demonology, “malevolent manifestations from beyond the space-time dimensions of this universe.” (p. 123) The correlation between how much the observer invites these demonic attacks through: participation in seances, Ouija games, astrology, spiritualism, witchcraft, palm reading and psychic reading, is directly proportional to the RUFOs encounters. Chapters 12-14 go in depth of differences of abductees, contactees, and UFO cults to significant detail. If the reader has engaged in any demonic activity or RUFOs encounters and needs freedom, steps are presented at the end of Chapter 15 (p. 166) including: (1) Examine your life for any open invitation to demonic oppression or deception; (2) Repent of making those invitations; (3) Confess to God that the invitations to demons provided by parents or other relatives were wrong; (4) Take action to demonstrate repentance including repudiating and renouncing all occult involvement; (5) Turn your life over to Jesus Christ, accepting His offer to forgive all sins and giving Him complete authority; (6) Acknowledge His will, not your own, is supreme; (7) Dedicate your heart, soul, mind, and strength to be used for the fulfillment of His purposes. (p.166) For further instruction on deliverance of such demonic activity, Dr. Rob Reimer provides the theology and explanation in one of his books, SoulCare: 7 transformational Principles for a healthy soul.
Lights in the Sky concludes that the truth of UFOs can be known. (p. 169) Aliens are not coming from another planet but we are having encounters with spirit beings who want us to think that they are aliens from another planet. When we surrender our lives to the love of the One True God of the Bible, then we no longer need to fear nor obsess about UFO demons. This book was very comprehensive in covering all aspects of UFOs, RUFOs and how to confidently discuss these topics.
My 83-year-old (born 1940) Roman Catholic dad is my hero and nurturer and biggest cheerleader. He did not raise us as Catholics or Christians per say, but he does believe in God. In this remaining chapter of his life, I have only one worry for him, he is addicted to aliens. When my kids were only 4 and 6 years old (twelve years ago), we dropped them off with the grandparents for several hours. When they came home, the kids were terrified and said that they never wanted to go back there. I was shocked and asked why? Both kids said in unison, “ALIENS!”
Hugh Ross, Ken Samples, and Mark Clark wrote an important book, Lights in the Sky and Little Green Men, to meet the needs of the believer with respect to the growing cultural interest with UFOs (unidentified flying objects) and extraterrestrials. As a graduate student in Christian Apologetics at Biola/Talbot School of Theology, I highly recommend this book to all those who have the question, “Are aliens real?!” The contents of the book are well-researched, well-written, and covers UFOs, its context, and questions related to extraterrestrials in depth.
Since we live on earth and are talking about non-earth things, I present the tale of two worlds, the naturalist’s world versus the theist’s world to begin this discussion. The word naturalist means those who use physical reasoning to explain physical events where any spiritual or non-physical explanation is rejected. The word theist means those who can use spiritual reasoning of God to explain physical or non-physical events. With theism, the paranormal and supernatural can be better addressed. Many of the people who have reported sightings of UFOs, encounters, or abductions have not been taken seriously which opens the topic for much speculation. The three authors of this book bring different strengths. Hugh Ross is an astrophysicist and Christian apologist; Kenneth Samples is a philosopher and cult researcher; and Mark Clark is a political scientist specializing in national security. (p. 8). With the first documented flying saucer, specifically Associated Press headline reads, “Nine Bright Saucer-like Objects,” was at 3:00pm on June 24, 1947, other reports have come in. The problem is when there is no naturalistic answer for the naturalist, they have no direction to go but to rely on what they believe. The book reveals that the government, specifically the United States Air Force investigated these claims but could only take the naturalist approach. The report from the US Air Force stated that nothing could be learned from the UFOs in the past 21 years that could add to scientific knowledge, and they could not justify any further research. Obviously, this was dissatisfying for the general public. Therefore, without the government able to earn its authority over UFOs, people took matters into their own hands. In 1997, the Heaven’s Gate cult of 39 members committed suicide en mass who believed to be finding salvation to join the “mother ship” spacecraft that was trailing the Hale-Bopp comet. (p. 16) Lack of trust in the government is reinformed by the seemingly many government cover-ups. (1) Crash of an alien spacecraft near Roswell, New Mexico in 1947; (2) Air Force’s Project Blue Book or Condon Report; (3) Area 51 or Groom Lake in Nevada assumed to be government property for UFO experimentation. (Ch. 7, p. 73)
Those who have dived into this topic on a religious level are the New Agers. The various occults that New Agers have engaged in include channeling (spiritism), trance state, automatic writing, the use of crystals, poltergeist effects, psychic healing, and out-of-body travel. UFO cult members believe that an advanced extraterrestrial civilization is visiting Earth in order to save humanity from some form of catastrophe or seek salvation “from above.” (p. 20) I think that my dad is seeps in this mindset, it is fear based and looks to aliens for advanced help. This book is not written to address those in the occults, but for everyone else. (p. 20)
Naturalistically, there are well-respected UFO scientists, called ufologists, who have gathered the data and found it credible to create a classification of UFOs with natural explanations. The two of the most famous ufologists who created the classifications systems that we still use are J. Allen Hynek: Distant Sightings, 1) Nocturnal lights; 2) Daylight disks; 3) Radar-visual; Close Encounters, 1) Close Encounters of the first kind – close range within 500 feet; 2) Close Encounters of the second kind – UFO leaves physical effects on environment; 3) Close Encounters of the third kind – living occupants of the craft seen by witnesses; 4) Close Encounters of the fourth kind – direct contact with alien being and the witness; 5) Close Encounters of the fifth kind – observer suffers permanent physical injuries or death.(p. 23-24) Jacques Vallee: 1) Anomaly; 2) Flyby; 3) Maneuver; 4) Close encounter (CE 1-5). (p. 24-25) The two otherworldly hypotheses are 1) extraterrestrial hypothesis (ETH) and the interdimensional hypothesis(IDH). The extraterrestrial hypothesis is objective, physical, and empirical realities like the “nuts and bolts” of interplanetary space visitors. (p. 30) The interdimensional hypothesis does not find origins to an extraterrestrial spacecraft but to another “realm of reality beyond the time-space continuum” and is more focused on the occult or demonism. (p. 32) This topic of demonism is covered in Chapter 11 and 15 of which I will discuss under The Tale of Two Aliens.
For my dad and others like him who do not have a broad understanding of the fine-tuning of Earth, it is vital that we spend a moment to address how Star Trek, Star Wars, and science-fiction has opened our naïve minds to believing in fiction. Hugh Ross scientifically navigates how habitable earth is and how unhabitable the rest of the universe is. He spends chapters 3-5 diving into what fine tuning conditions are necessary for life and what of these conditions do not exist on other planets. This book was written in 2002, but Hugh Ross has written a more in-depth book on this titled, The Creator and The Cosmos: How the Latest Scientific Discoveries Reveal God which has been updated in 2018 as the fourth edition. On page 53 of Creator and Cosmos, “The fine-tuning resides in the need for the universe to expand at just-right rates throughout the entirety of cosmic history for life—especially advanced life –to possibly exist. This life requires just-right galaxies, stars, planets to exist with the just-right spatial density at just-right times in the history of the universe. To get any kind of galaxies, stars, and planets to appear at all demands exquisite fine-tuning of the cosmic expansion rate…” If the proper understanding of the fine-tuning of earth and irreducible complexity is not engaged, then the human imagination will be open to false notions and subject to false beliefs and dangerous practices.
A Tale of Two Aliens
In my numerous discussions with my dad, he will genuinely want to convince me that (1) Flying saucers are real; (2) Documentaries show people can communicate with alien intelligent life forms; (3) This is important because these messages by the aliens are to save human beings. These three beliefs are the foundations of UFO cults. (p. 148) Since there is such an obsession for many to follow the UFO cults, I believe that it is connected to identity. If you read this book review and are a believer in Jesus Christ as I am, then you know that we are indeed aliens in this sense since we are citizens of Heaven. We are created in the image of God and were created for the Garden of Eden to have perfect relation and union with our Creator. But after sin broke into the Garden, we were exiled. Now we are in exile until Christ returns and brings the new heaven and new earth (Rev 21:1). It seems that the discontented human heart longs to find connection, even with the extraterrestrial and the interdimensional world. Hence, I sum it up as a tale of two aliens, us and the RUFOs. Scientists have been able to research most of the reported UFOs into two categories (1) identifiable which they call IFO (Identified Flying Objects) and (2) unidentifiable residual remains, RUFOs (Residual Unidentified Objects). Half of this Lights in the Sky book is about RUFOs, buckle up because it is going to get spiritually uncomfortable.
Between 1948 and 1969, Jacques Vallee who is a computer scientist and astronautical researcher studied more than 12,000 UFO reports submitted to the U.S. Airforce. He could rule out ¾ of the reports to being IFOs, Identified Flying Objects, such as astronomical bodies, airplanes, balloons, rockets, satellites, etc. However, 23% (nearly 3,000) could not be identified as having any possible natural or human-devised source. (p. 66) J. Allen Hynek, who is an astronomer and the founder and director of the Center for UFO Studies and official consultant for Project Blue Book, roughly agrees and estimates that one in five UFO reports lack any recognizable natural or human explanation. Alan Baker, who wrote Encyclopedia of Alien Encounters, estimates that one in ten are unidentifiable. To be more clear, science can explain much of the identifiable aspects of UFOs, therefore making them no longer unidentified. But the remaining unidentified portion is something “real” at bottom of UFOs reports. The unidentifiable portion is what is residual. This remaining real residual is what is called RUFOs. RUFOs, is the acronym created to point to “residual UFOs” referring to those UFOs left over after all others have been explained away. (p. 65) Science can explain the four large space-time dimensions of the universe: length, width, height, and time. But when there is “residual” data of the UFO that does not fall into the dimensions of “length, width, height, and time,” (p. 110) then we must look outside of these four large space-time dimensions. The “residual” is what lies in the heart of the observer, physical effects from things that are not physical themselves. The RUFOs are the physical trauma that remains when science has explained all that it could explain, and we are forced into the inter- or extra-dimensions of the cosmos.
This is where the Triune God and the Bible must be introduced. Hugh Ross highlights that of all the holy books, only the Bible has a beginning, making the creation of the universe to be finite of which He created time and therefore can exist outside of the dimension of time. Hebrews 11:3 reads that “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” This scripture reveals that the tangible universe was made in ways that are intangible for human understanding. (p. 110) Specifically in the New Testament, after Jesus’ crucifixion, Jesus appears in a locked room with his apostles. The apostles are startled because with their eyes they could see that he was present in physical body but came through the wall and ate with the apostles, as captured in John 20:19. It is important to bring attention to this example because Jesus crossed the dimensions of length, width, height, and time. This opens the notion to interdimensional and extradimensional hypotheses which can be attributed to angels and their wicked peers: the demons.
The Bible is the one source that shows the trustworthy revelation about the spirit realm. (p. 113) The two distinctively spiritual types of creatures are: humans and angels. Hugh Ross defines humans are physical beings with spiritual awareness and spiritual capabilities. Angels, on the other hand, are spiritual beings who are not about to Earth but are capable of manifesting themselves, even physically, on Earth within limits established by God. (p. 113) The problem is the minority of angels who rebelled of which the first and most powerful is called Lucifer or Satan, those who follow him are evil spirits, fallen angels, or demons. (p.113) Encounters with these demons always lead to something negative. It is a false notion that the activity of any demonic are aliens trying to help humanity. The data from this book determines who is behind the RUFO experiences must be associated with the activities of demons. (pp. 122-123) Scholars who are agnostic support the connection of RUFOs to demonology, “malevolent manifestations from beyond the space-time dimensions of this universe.” (p. 123) The correlation between how much the observer invites these demonic attacks through: participation in seances, Ouija games, astrology, spiritualism, witchcraft, palm reading and psychic reading, is directly proportional to the RUFOs encounters. Chapters 12-14 go in depth of differences of abductees, contactees, and UFO cults to significant detail. If the reader has engaged in any demonic activity or RUFOs encounters and needs freedom, steps are presented at the end of Chapter 15 (p. 166) including: (1) Examine your life for any open invitation to demonic oppression or deception; (2) Repent of making those invitations; (3) Confess to God that the invitations to demons provided by parents or other relatives were wrong; (4) Take action to demonstrate repentance including repudiating and renouncing all occult involvement; (5) Turn your life over to Jesus Christ, accepting His offer to forgive all sins and giving Him complete authority; (6) Acknowledge His will, not your own, is supreme; (7) Dedicate your heart, soul, mind, and strength to be used for the fulfillment of His purposes. (p.166) For further instruction on deliverance of such demonic activity, Dr. Rob Reimer provides the theology and explanation in one of his books, SoulCare: 7 transformational Principles for a healthy soul.
Lights in the Sky concludes that the truth of UFOs can be known. (p. 169) Aliens are not coming from another planet but we are having encounters with spirit beings who want us to think that they are aliens from another planet. When we surrender our lives to the love of the One True God of the Bible, then we no longer need to fear nor obsess about UFO demons. This book was very comprehensive in covering all aspects of UFOs, RUFOs and how to confidently discuss these topics.
June 19, 2021
This is a very good book that does take a very rational look at the idea of UFOs here on Earth, the idea of extraterrestrials on other worlds, and whether we've been visited before. Its straightforward views in explaining how conspiracy theories work, the historic background of UFOs, and the likelihood of having been visited could be a letdown to readers who believe in UFOs and extraterrestrial phenomena but it's just the way it is. Throughout the reading of the book I was like, "Yeah, I can't argue against this or argue against this point of view".
The book also explores futuristic concepts of interstellar space travel and why most are unlikely to ever take hold and become reality (either from us or with beings from other worlds). Now this book came out nearly 20 years ago. Interestingly, we can see the ideas of futuristic space travel match up quite well from the book with recent, present-day movies. Examples include Passengers and Voyagers.
Anyway, my only issue with the book is with the ending and appendix-type pages. These last sections go on and on and on and on and on with facts and figures in giving the very low probability that life on earth evolved on its own and was instead created by God.
After a while it's like, "I get the point" that the author wants to make his conclusion clear of our origins, that we haven't been visited, and that we're unlikely to ever find life on other worlds in the cosmos (albeit I hold out hope with advanced telescopes that will be coming online over the coming years). This section would have done well to have been cleaned up and refined. Aside from that, I can't complain.
The book also explores futuristic concepts of interstellar space travel and why most are unlikely to ever take hold and become reality (either from us or with beings from other worlds). Now this book came out nearly 20 years ago. Interestingly, we can see the ideas of futuristic space travel match up quite well from the book with recent, present-day movies. Examples include Passengers and Voyagers.
Anyway, my only issue with the book is with the ending and appendix-type pages. These last sections go on and on and on and on and on with facts and figures in giving the very low probability that life on earth evolved on its own and was instead created by God.
After a while it's like, "I get the point" that the author wants to make his conclusion clear of our origins, that we haven't been visited, and that we're unlikely to ever find life on other worlds in the cosmos (albeit I hold out hope with advanced telescopes that will be coming online over the coming years). This section would have done well to have been cleaned up and refined. Aside from that, I can't complain.
August 23, 2017
I was quite impressed with how the authors of "Lights in the Sky, and Little Green Men" systematically approached the topic of UFOs. They drew upon the disciplines of science, history, philosophy, and theology and applied logical tests to their observations to come to their compelling conclusions. Even though the presentation was very academic, it was presented in a way that was easily read and easily understood. The book kept me intrigued from the beginning to the end. I do have two recommendations: the first is for those interested in UFO phenomena, and the second is for the Christian.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who has ever considered UFO phenomena. It is important that such phenomena have an explanation in a worldview, and because of the culture's fascination with aliens, the occult, and new age philosophies, it is important that the Christian be able to have an intellectual discussion on the topic and "provide a reason for the hope that they have" when many people think that such phenomena provide evidence against the Christian worldview. I also highly recommend this book for anyone who is just curious about the possibility of extraterrestrial life. The chapters that deal with the astrophysics are indispensable in coming to a logical conclusion on this possibility. It was a great book that I had a difficult time putting down, and I think that you will enjoy it as much as I did.
See my full, chapter-by-chapter review here: https://lukenixblog.blogspot.com/2017...
I highly recommend this book for anyone who has ever considered UFO phenomena. It is important that such phenomena have an explanation in a worldview, and because of the culture's fascination with aliens, the occult, and new age philosophies, it is important that the Christian be able to have an intellectual discussion on the topic and "provide a reason for the hope that they have" when many people think that such phenomena provide evidence against the Christian worldview. I also highly recommend this book for anyone who is just curious about the possibility of extraterrestrial life. The chapters that deal with the astrophysics are indispensable in coming to a logical conclusion on this possibility. It was a great book that I had a difficult time putting down, and I think that you will enjoy it as much as I did.
See my full, chapter-by-chapter review here: https://lukenixblog.blogspot.com/2017...
March 21, 2024
It was so hard to find this book but God blessed me and I got a copy for $13 and it was the last one!
Anyways, this was an insightful read and helped me in my curiosity about demons and nephilim. I had already watched some videos from Morning Star ministries and they talk about nephilim and their end time goal in creating a hybrid-human race for Satan.
This book has confirmed evidence of people being abducted for their use in that role. It makes sense that people in (mainly) generational occult activity were abducted. Usually nephilim are choosy about their breeding selection.. so I was a little iffy on that part. But I don’t think everyone that was abducted was chosen so that makes sense. I saw a documentary where one guy said he wasn’t chosen and they let him go.
From the videos I’ve seen, Doug Riggs & Amanda believe only hybrids can come from Royal Bloodlines to create the purity in the race. This is to make it the “superior race.” Because they have worked for over 30 years with Satanic Ritual abuse survivors, I’m more keen on believing them. So I’m definitely going to research some more to figure that out. Maybe the abductees had royal blood and didn’t know it.
Highly recommend to all Christians! This is stuff people need to be aware of when Jesus comes back! Satan will have his army and we will have ours.
Anyways, this was an insightful read and helped me in my curiosity about demons and nephilim. I had already watched some videos from Morning Star ministries and they talk about nephilim and their end time goal in creating a hybrid-human race for Satan.
This book has confirmed evidence of people being abducted for their use in that role. It makes sense that people in (mainly) generational occult activity were abducted. Usually nephilim are choosy about their breeding selection.. so I was a little iffy on that part. But I don’t think everyone that was abducted was chosen so that makes sense. I saw a documentary where one guy said he wasn’t chosen and they let him go.
From the videos I’ve seen, Doug Riggs & Amanda believe only hybrids can come from Royal Bloodlines to create the purity in the race. This is to make it the “superior race.” Because they have worked for over 30 years with Satanic Ritual abuse survivors, I’m more keen on believing them. So I’m definitely going to research some more to figure that out. Maybe the abductees had royal blood and didn’t know it.
Highly recommend to all Christians! This is stuff people need to be aware of when Jesus comes back! Satan will have his army and we will have ours.
December 14, 2024
Fails as science and religion
This book is mind numbingly bad. Zero stars should be an option. They call it science when they hammer their preconceived notions into the most spurious of evidence. They can't be bothered to even check first hand sources for what people believe, but instead quote people that agree with them on those sources. It also peddles the wildly inaccurate notion that you can inherit demons (which is rooted in white supremacy) and be bothered by them because a friend watched a Star Wars movie or something.
The book says it offers a rational Christian look at Ufos. Aliens can't exist (an actual argument of the text is that the entire universe has to exist just as we find it so that one planet can support life) so therefore it must be demons isn't rational. Stay away from this comp!eye abortion of reason.
This book is mind numbingly bad. Zero stars should be an option. They call it science when they hammer their preconceived notions into the most spurious of evidence. They can't be bothered to even check first hand sources for what people believe, but instead quote people that agree with them on those sources. It also peddles the wildly inaccurate notion that you can inherit demons (which is rooted in white supremacy) and be bothered by them because a friend watched a Star Wars movie or something.
The book says it offers a rational Christian look at Ufos. Aliens can't exist (an actual argument of the text is that the entire universe has to exist just as we find it so that one planet can support life) so therefore it must be demons isn't rational. Stay away from this comp!eye abortion of reason.
June 13, 2024
The authors of this book advocate for the "interdimensional beings" hypothesis to explain UFO phenomena, following in the footsteps of Jacques Vallee (and with a specifically Christian interpretative grid). They successfully undermine the idea that all UFOs can be explained conventionally. They go further in showing the nigh-impossibility that these objects and entities could be organic extraterrestrials from lightyears away (Ross' chapter on the insurmountable difficulties of interstellar travel is concise and convincing). The chapter on government cover-ups, however, has not aged well in the age of David Grusch and David Fravor. Clearly, the Pentagon and intelligence agencies know much more than they are letting on.
February 18, 2023
Though I do not agree with everything the authors say, the love all argument of the book is sound without the agreement.
1 the is not evidence for another planet that could sustain life. Not is the statistical probability very good for there being one. In fact the statistical probability for the earth being habitable is do miniscule that it needs an intelligent creator.
2 it ET life existed, the physics of the universe would make interstellar travel impossible.
3 there is no government cover-up.
4 RUFOs are real!
5 the best explanation for RUFOs is supernatural intelligent beings.
1 the is not evidence for another planet that could sustain life. Not is the statistical probability very good for there being one. In fact the statistical probability for the earth being habitable is do miniscule that it needs an intelligent creator.
2 it ET life existed, the physics of the universe would make interstellar travel impossible.
3 there is no government cover-up.
4 RUFOs are real!
5 the best explanation for RUFOs is supernatural intelligent beings.
August 22, 2023
This book was published in 2002, and in my view is outdated. It was interesting when they laid out the probability of it all and talked about all the requirements for a planet to contain life, but when they go to the part about the evidence for UFOs, they lost me. They didn’t address much of todays arguments. Furthermore, their chapter on UFOs and the Bible was lacking… they didn’t address what it meant for the gospel message, they didn’t address Bible verses that some say reference UFOs, etc. they just warned to not get involved in cults.
August 2, 2024
Here ain't no little green men!!!
Hugh Ross and his coauthors have written a well documented summary of the UFO era. If you are a not a Christian, but curious about UFO's, the you will find science enough to satisfy you that life on other planets probably doesn't exist. And if you are a Christian, you will find information that you can use when discussing the subject with "true believers."
Either way, it is well worth your time.
Hugh Ross and his coauthors have written a well documented summary of the UFO era. If you are a not a Christian, but curious about UFO's, the you will find science enough to satisfy you that life on other planets probably doesn't exist. And if you are a Christian, you will find information that you can use when discussing the subject with "true believers."
Either way, it is well worth your time.
September 26, 2019
Excellent!
Amazing! I have never had a more complete & satisfying education on any subject as the one laid out in this marvelous book. The sciences, tho' extremely complex, are simplified for the average reader without abandoning what is needed to explain the concepts undertaken. I am in awe!
Amazing! I have never had a more complete & satisfying education on any subject as the one laid out in this marvelous book. The sciences, tho' extremely complex, are simplified for the average reader without abandoning what is needed to explain the concepts undertaken. I am in awe!
July 1, 2023
I got this book because I heard an interview with one of the authors and was intrigued. I'm not a UFO person, but this info was fascinating. Lots of surprising info about the ties of UFO sightings to involvement with the occult. It very much helped me to start to interpret UFO lore through a Christian worldview.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2024
I wished the authors would’ve connected their summary much earlier in the book. I agree with their theory that UFOs/Alien encounters is a spiritual experience (most likely demons) but they didn’t hit on that until the last two chapters. Other than that the book is a really rational explanation of why UFO’s/Aliens probably don’t exist, hence the title lol.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2018
Great book!
Very thought provoking. The science is well thought out and the conclusion is inevitable and shocking. I will definitely read more from this author. I highly recommend .
Very thought provoking. The science is well thought out and the conclusion is inevitable and shocking. I will definitely read more from this author. I highly recommend .
July 18, 2022
A Christian worldview look at UFOs and the phenomenon associated with them. The authors hold to the opinion that all UFO experiences can be traced back to demon activity and is used to deceive individuals.
June 25, 2019
My go to book on this topic.
June 21, 2021
This is a good book about the UFO phenomenon and alien contact/abduction experience from a biblical perspective. I wish the book went into more details in some chapters.
October 15, 2021
An excellent and rational approach to the UFO and ET phenomenon. The book is clear, concise and well-documented. The conclusion of the book is on-target.
October 24, 2023
Very reasonable approach to a controversial and complex subject, and quite convincing in it’s conclusions.
June 20, 2024
Wish i had read this book sooner
These authors lay out the best, most reasonable explaination for UFOs. Everyone should take time to read this well written book.
These authors lay out the best, most reasonable explaination for UFOs. Everyone should take time to read this well written book.
June 24, 2024
Outstanding, fact based treatment of a difficult topic. Best explanation of Roswell I have ever seen.
April 13, 2021
A must read.
Well written. Another treasure from Reasons to Believe. “...and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Well written. Another treasure from Reasons to Believe. “...and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
April 1, 2024
This tidy volume offers a concise and clear argument for demonic activity as the source of the persistent residual UFO phenomena that are not explained by material or other psychosocial causes. Hugh Ross uses his well-honed arguments and his expertise as an astronomer to systematically dismantle the idea that UFOs are actually caused by aliens, and he brings in peer authors as experts in sociology and government to address points about “alien” encounters and the idea that the US government is hiding “the Truth” from us. If you have read Ross’s other work, the arguments for the uniqueness of life on earth will be quite familiar; fortunately he keeps the summary brief, and you can go to his other work to read the details.
The arguments, while nominally including a global perspective, are written from and mostly for a Western, US-based audience. This book will be most interesting and relevant to Christian believers who are curious about UFOs themselves or know someone who has had an encounter of some kind. It concludes with a useful summary, which you could read first, and with a helpful assurance to Christians not to be afraid.
The arguments, while nominally including a global perspective, are written from and mostly for a Western, US-based audience. This book will be most interesting and relevant to Christian believers who are curious about UFOs themselves or know someone who has had an encounter of some kind. It concludes with a useful summary, which you could read first, and with a helpful assurance to Christians not to be afraid.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2022
This was a useful book covering a very odd topic. After hearing the author speak on a Babylon Bee video, I was intrigued enough to get the book. Ross and his two co-authors did as good a job discussing the topic as I can imagine. The topic is silly and largely a waste of time and effort, yet it seems to interest people far more than it should. From a Christian perspective this book should complete any such conversation.
November 16, 2013
Good book although a little dated now. The authors brought up some excellent points - they also gave great info on the problems with a naturalistic view of the origin of life on this planet (or any other).
October 22, 2009
Read with a dictionary! ;D
October 19, 2010
Good, rational examination of UFO/Extraterrestrial phenomenon by astronomer/theologian Hugh Ross, et al.
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