by Gary Bates
Von Däniken’s credibility was finally undermined after he was unable to substantiate claims made in another book — Gold of the Gods — that he had photographed metal plaques containing the wisdom of extraterrestrials. In 1977, a BBC Horizon programme, The Case of the Ancient Astronauts, took a rational look at his theories and showed them to be pseudo science.
Numerous other wonders cited by von Däniken as corroboration for his theories were similarly debunked. In the late 1970s he rapidly disappeared from the public arena, and in 1982 he could not find an English or American publisher for his tenth book.
In the past few years, however, his ideas have again started to become popular in a culture fascinated by programmes such as The X Files. He is also working on a huge theme park in Switzerland, called the Mysteries of the World, and money is gushing into the project. Scientist or pseudo scientist, heretic or visionary, he is certainly tenacious and a master at whipping up a frenzy in the public imagination.[37]
Undeterred by criticism and the thorough refutation of his “evidences,” von Däniken knows what makes a good story and continues to market his business. But maybe there is another source of inspiration for his ideas. He was reported as saying:
I know that astronauts visited the earth in ancient time… . I was there when the astronauts arrived. Why should anyone believe I am able to leave my body whenever I desire and observe the past, present and future — all at the same time? Nonetheless it is true. It has been for many years.[38]
His method is also known as astral traveling, or an out-of-body experience (OBE). This is a New Age occult practice, also common to some Eastern religions. And as we shall see later, the New Age movement and occultism in general have hijacked the modern UFO movement.
A top man in “his” field
Besides von Däniken, there are others who invoke extraterrestrial interference in human origins. One such person is high-profile UFOlogist Zecharia Sitchin. Rather than the airy speculation of von Däniken, Sitchin claims to be a scholar. Although he graduated in economics, he claims to be an expert in Hebrew and ancient Sumerian texts.
He has concluded that all modern Bible translations are interpretations that do not accurately portray the real beliefs of ancient times and the original Hebrew authors. Like von Däniken, he also sees ETs throughout the Bible. His most popular theme is the description of the “sons of God” marrying with the “daughters of men” in Genesis 6 (see the appendix for a thorough examination of this UFO/Bible text). Sitchin, von Däniken, and many others believe this to be the “intermarriage” of extraterrestrials with a humanoid or subhuman species. However, their source book itself, the Bible, clearly states that intelligent man already existed and flourished before these events took place.
Besides ETs, Sitchin sees flying saucers throughout many ancient texts, pictures, and tablets. His books have taken on almost legendary proportions among the UFO movement. They are so voluminous and detailed that they cannot fail to impress and give the idea that he knows what he is talking about. He claims his sources are ancient clay tablets. The average UFOlogist has never had to deal with this type and weight of information, and most wouldn’t know whether he is telling the truth anyway. Very few serious scholars have yet undertaken the task of unraveling his work.[39]
He believes that Sumerian tablets refer to God or the gods as Anunnaki, meaning “those who from heaven to Earth came,” and believes that these are the same as the biblical Anakim — who, he claims, came from a planet called Nibiru. He says:
It took additional decades of research and study, of both ancient and modern astronomy, to reach a startling conclusion: There is one more planet in our solar system, a post-Plutonian planet with a large elliptical orbit that brings it to our vicinity (passing between Mars and Jupiter) every 3,600 Earth-years; it is then that the comings and goings between Nibiru and Earth take place.[40]
It sounds studious, grand and factual, but is short on substance. Although extra objects might exist around our solar system (mainly large rocks or asteroids), there is no evidence to support his version of biblical events, and his speculations about the planet Nibiru are most certainly incorrect. A quote from a NASA website bluntly states:
There is no known Planet X or tenth planet in our solar system. Scientists have been looking for about a hundred years. It was believed that such a planet was required to explain the orbital characteristics of the outer planets Uranus and Neptune. Many searches have been performed and, to date, no evidence of such a planet has emerged. In addition, better information about the masses of outer planets has also now shown that no other planets are necessary to explain the planetary orbits.[41]
In addition, it is quite simple to determine the unlivable planetary conditions that would be created by a large elliptical (oval, not circular) orbit of a planet orbiting our sun — passing in and out of our solar system. According to Sitchin, it only passes between Jupiter and Mars every few thousand years, and this is supposedly as close as it gets. But we already know that such a distance from our sun would provide harsh and unlivable conditions. These hypothetical aliens not only have to endure extreme below-freezing temperatures, but are apparently so prescient and patient that they can plan their excursions to Earth thousands of years ahead.
Most serious UFOlogists dislike the religious connotations that the New Age movement brings to UFOlogy. However, Sitchin’s popularity transcends both camps. He appears as a scholarly authority to the proponents of the ETH, and to the New Agers he is a hero for attacking the historicity of the Bible and God as Creator by claiming the Bible has been misunderstood, and is not to be taken as literally and historically true. Researcher and cult specialist Bill Alnor notes that, like von Däniken’s books, Sitchin’s are clearly designed to:
… demolish the foundations of every ancient tradition in favor of his notion of ancient astronauts coming to earth.[42]
Yet, as we discussed in earlier chapters, attributing the creation of life on Earth to extraterrestrials only shifts the original creation problem to outer space. We cannot explain the origin of complex life and subsequently the appearance of human beings simply by the cross-species breeding of humanoid space aliens and primitive ape-like creatures, or the genetic engineering of animals, as discussed in chapter 4. Despite the scholarly impression of such claims, they show a distinct lack of basic knowledge of genetics.
Beamships from the Pleiades
Swiss contactee Eduard “Billy” Meier claimed to have had his first meeting with an alien at age five in 1944. An elderly extraterrestrial male named Sfath regularly visited him, traveling in his pear-shaped flying machine, speaking to Meier telepathically. Meier had been selected for a mission, and he was being conditioned and educated to prepare the world for a “New World Order” (millions of contactees have been told this same thing). Sfath taught him until 1953, when Sfath was replaced by another ET, but this time it was a female named Asket. Meier’s relationship with Asket took on new proportions as she took him back in time to see Earth’s history as it happened. During this time he also traveled extensively and studied the world’s religions.
One of the photos presented by Billy Meier, which he claimed was of a beamship.
In 1975, Meier began a new contact with a female alien called Semjase who was apparently from the star system Pleiades, and it was she who would help catapult Meier to the forefront of the extraterrestrial contact movement. (Semjase has “popped” up to meet a few other people, but her name seems to have links with an ancient past. Remember this name when reading the appendix.)
The teachings of Meier and his alien friends were spectacularly appealing to large numbers of people. They combined traditional values with New Age concepts. “Look after the earth, don’t damage the environment, we are here to help you, and be good to your parents.” These tales give everyone “warm fuzzies” — they are the same messages that the “space brothers” have been feeding us for over half a century, particularly since the advent of the nuclear ag
e. It encompasses a universal theme, and when combined with the so-called “misunderstood” writings of traditional religions, it has mass appeal. Meier quickly became the prophet of a new generation and a new world, compiling thousands of pages of contact notes. Along the way, Meier was also given instructions on how to find an ancient Aramaic document which was supposedly unearthed in a tomb in Jerusalem. This text is claimed to contain the original teachings of Jmmanuel, or Jesus, which were, they claim, later corrupted as the Christian Bible. Now called the Talmud Jmmanuel, it has effectively become a new “Bible” for Meier devotees.
However, skepticism rose because of the frequency of supposed contact Meier was having, so he claimed that Semjase provided him with “proof” that would stun the world. She allowed Meier to take approximately 1,000 photographs and 12 movies of the supposed visiting spacecraft. These pictures, in amazing clarity, showed the “beamships” (as they are called) performing a variety of maneuvers, including descents which were characterized by a side-to-side swaying motion. Although they obviously looked as if they were being suspended from a string and hence rocking from side to side, this characteristic has been described as the “falling leaf” motion in UFOlogy,
Meier’s pictures and photos have become famous and infamous. They have been sold to TV stations and many publishers. After so many years of sightings, but such scant pictorial evidence, this breakthrough appeared almost too good to be true. But that’s the problem — it was.
Crude forgeries that fooled everyone … almost
Recently, a group known as Underground Video, former advocates and fans that sold and marketed Meier’s materials, launched a class action suit against Meier, his company, and associates, alleging fraud. Meier defenders rallied to the cause, claiming the photos could not be debunked. Pro-Meier scientists had apparently verified that they could not be duplicated artificially, and other supporting witnesses confirmed their authenticity. However, on an Internet website, a representative from Underground Video wrote:
Our investigation first began as a supportive effort to verify the known facts of the Meier case to present the truth of alien-human contact to skeptics. With the assistance of members from the Hollywood special effects team of the Ultra-Matrix Corporation, we studied the Meier photographs and claims…. After six months of intense inquiry, with the assistance of cinematographers, physicists, and computer analysis from Total Research [another UFO research group], we found the claims of the representatives of the Meier case to be absolutely untrue. We discovered miniature models and a variety of deceptive methods used to create this hoax.[43]
Underground Video was one of the foremost defenders of the Meier material. We are DISAPPOINTED to now learn the ENTIRE case is a hoax. Representations of any authenticity with regard to this case made by alleged scientific examination has [sic] proved to be totally unreliable and misleads [sic] the general public into believing a carefully fabricated lie. The persons who authenitcated [sic] the Meier case are not credible scientists nor [sic] investigators.
Along with Underground Video’s statement is a photograph showing one of Billy Meiers [sic] alleged Pleiadian beamships taken in 1981. After computer enhancement and careful scrutiny, it has been shown the Beamship is really a miniature model made out of an upside-down cake pan, disconnected copper hose fitting, a bracelet, carpet tacks and various other identifiable objects [emphases in original].[44]
The Total Research Group referred to is run by Kal K. Korff, an investigative journalist who traveled to Switzerland undercover to investigate Meier. Korff claims he is not a UFO debunker but wants to see serious study of the UFO phenomenon. During his time in Switzerland, he also interviewed Meier’s ex-wife, Kalliope (or Popi), who duly “blew the whistle” on Meier, claiming he used crude models and strings for the Pleiadian beamships, which he then superimposed onto the Swiss countryside.
Korff’s 400-plus-page book also details Meier’s criminal background, and includes interviews of former friends and supporters who claim he started the hoax for financial gain.[45] In addition, Dennis Stacy, editor of the MUFON (Mutual UFO Network) UFO Journal, wrote, “Photographic analysis [of Meier’s photographs] … reportedly revealed that Meier’s amazing array of flying saucers consisted of small models suspended from strings.”[46] Subsequent photos of the beautiful blond aliens Asket and Nera were discovered to be a blurred photograph of a TV screen featuring girls from an episode of the Dean Martin Show. Similarly, a picture of Semjase was found to be a photocopy of a model from a Sears catalog. Bill Alnor comments:
The scientific UFO community with few exceptions has thoroughly trashed the Meier claims.[47]
There is a substantial weight of evidence against Meier, but it doesn’t seem to matter to the “true believers.” A large organization has built up around him, including a cult following known as FIGU (in English, Free Community of Interests in Fringe and Spiritual Sciences and UFOlogical Studies), which is based around his substantial Swiss compound. Those who speak out against the fraud risk a flood of protests and even threats. However, like Adamski before him, it is the blending of religion and science, albeit pseudo on both counts, that seems to elevate Meier to a messiah-like status in the minds of many. Some have claimed he is a crook, a crude forger, and a liar. But, like Adamski before him, it is what he says, not what he is, that is seen as important. Sadly, Meier’s descriptions of his ET encounters and subsequent references have become a “standard” in UFOlogy. Serious study suffers as a result.
Capers in the crops!
Crop circles seem to have mystified people for many years. But are they really as mysterious as many are led to believe?
Although it is claimed that crop circles have been around for hundreds of years, the records in support of this claim are scant. They are really a modern occurrence, first appearing in significant numbers around the mid to late 1970s and early 1980s. Initially, farmers around southern England started to find circular depressions in fields of wheat and other crops. Who made them was a mystery. As they increased in number, they gained notoriety and the interest of investigators. A new research field (pun intended) was born, and crop circle experts, called cereologists or croppies, started to take a closer look at what some believed was a phenomenon created by UFOs. It was thought that they might have been saucer nests; that is, depressions created by landed flying saucers. Circles started appearing in locations other than the south of England, and as publicity increased, they started to turn up in other countries, too. They increased in complexity, as well; rather than just plain circles in the maize, they started to appear as geometric shapes, such as circles within circles, triangles, spirals, and a huge variety of other designs. If indeed it was the work of UFOs,
it gave the impression they were involved in a game of one-upmanship with each other, or leaving the world a massive calling card.
A crop circle advertizing a well-known brand of cereal. Ample evidence that such complex designs can be human-made.
Over the years, cereologists such as Delgado, Andrews, Levengood, Silva, and others have made some startling claims about characteristics of crop circles. Some of the more general beliefs about crop circles include:
• They are made by “ionized plasma vortices.” This was an idea popularized by Dr. Terence Meaden. These are supposedly eddies of wind that cause downward pressure on the crops. Although this might be possible to account for a crop marking of a plain circular design, it could not account for complex ones. Despite the claims that some witnesses have seen such eddies making crop circles, more people have claimed to see flying saucers create them. So-called eyewitnesses are not as reliable as one might think.
• They are radioactive. Analyses of soil samples have proven this to be untrue.
• There are cellular changes within the plants. No such changes have been documented, casting doubt on the authenticity of the claims.[48]
However, just as quickly as claims like the above are debunked, explanations arise to counter the scientific co
nclusions. Here are some further claims by those proposing construction by ETs, which, as we shall see, have really left egg on their faces:
• They are too precise or accurately constructed to have been man-made, suggesting they were made by an advanced technology.
• The bending of stalks, without being broken, was impossible to achieve by human means.
• Humans could not have constructed them without being detected by others. (But remember the outback artist Peter Anderson who carved the image of the smiling stockman undetected for over a year.)
{See Signs, the movie — God versus the aliens (2002)}