Alien Intrusion

by Gary Bates

  The prank hatched in a pub

  In 1991, two gentlemen in their sixties from Southampton, England, confessed to being the original crop circle “engineers” for over 15 years. Doug Bower and Dave Chorley said they dreamed up the idea over a pint of stout at a local pub one evening. They had seen reports of a UFO saucer nest in Australia and thought they would have some fun recreating them in England.

  Initially, using a steel bar, they created some simple circles. As Meaden’s vortex theory was used to explain them, the men started to create more and more complex designs to scuttle the vortex idea, and to further the notion of construction by intelligent aliens. Others obviously caught on to the “gag” as crop circles started appearing all over the place with increasing complexity in design. It suggests that other hoaxers had no problem in guessing that these designs were man-made, so they duly copied them. But UFO buff Pat Delgado obviously didn’t think so. He championed the ET connection throughout the media, and he combined with Colin Andrews to produce a colorful best-selling book called Circular Evidence.[49]

  Naturally, when Bower and Chorley stepped out and “spilled the beans” — claiming responsibility for over 250 circles — Delgado and Andrews were less than impressed and denounced the two “creators” as hoaxers. However, Doug and Dave had the last laugh. Under the watchful eye of video cameras, they created an elaborate crop circle using what is now the common method of just rope and planks. Not knowing that it had been filmed, Delgado and Andrews, by now “world authorities”, inspected the circle and duly declared it to be the “real thing” — a “genuine” construction by an outside intelligence that no hoaxer could have made.[50]

  Thus, as in most cases in UFOlogy, there was a simple explanation to crop circles despite the wild speculations of the pro-UFO lobby. To this day, cereologists denounce the work of hoaxers (this is really a misnomer because “hoaxers” are the real creators of crop circles) by claiming that there are telltale signs differentiating the man-made ones from so-called “genuine” ET-crafted ones. But if supposed experts were all fooled so easily before, why should we treat their claims any differently now?

  A few years ago, a famous video clip appeared in a documentary showing supposed flying saucers hovering over a field, magically creating crop formations in a matter of seconds. This has also been established as a hoax, but it is nonetheless doing the rounds on the Internet. Farmers have also learned how to make a “quick buck” — some charging an entrance fee for viewing circles in their fields. So who is to say what other motivation inspires these “mysterious” patterns?

  Crop circles have become a modern art form. A group known as Circlemakers has a website () where you can view the story of these modern artists. Despite being denounced by cereologists, they have repeatedly constructed elaborate crop circles under the gaze of TV cameras and press, in the darkness of night and undetected by others. They have even created giant advertisements for companies like Weetabix and Mitsubishi, which commissioned them to create crop circle logos to promote their wares.

  Despite claims that it is impossible to create these designs in one night, Circlemakers say they were filmed by the BBC producing 100 circles in 100 minutes.[51]

  And in a measure of the silliness, and as a comical response to the other hoaxers that were copycatting their activities, the “two Dougs” produced a pattern that stated “WE ARE NOT ALONE.” Even this was taken to be a message by aliens. No one stopped to think that if it were crafted by ETs, they would surely have written, “YOU ARE NOT ALONE!”[52]

  As if we needed any more indication of the “power” behind the crop circle phenomenon, a BBC report commented that during the foot-and-mouth epidemic in 2002, the British government, in an effort to halt the spread of this disease afflicting livestock, established strict rules about crossing the English countryside. However, they also noticed that during this time there was a virtual halt in the occurrence of crop circles. It appears that the aliens, or wind vortices, duly obeyed the wishes of Her Majesty’s government, or were worried about catching the dreaded disease.[53]

  Once again, despite evidence to the contrary, many continue to hold on to the belief that several crop circles cannot be accounted for by human origin, leaving only one other explanation — the one they want to hear!

  A supernatural link or another hoax?

  Interestingly, even though a group like Circlemakers does not credit ETs with the construction of circles (they are hated by pro-UFO cereologists for debunking their pet theory), they have reported the occurrence of strange phenomena during and after their construction. In a very public press release, they commented:

  Our crop formations are intended to function as temporary sacred sites in this landscape. Whilst constructing crop formations in the fields we have experienced a series of aerial anomalies including: small balls of light, columns of light, and blinding flashes. All apparently targeting ourselves and our crop formations. We are unsurprised at the numerous visitors who have reported a diverse assortment of anomalies associated with our artworks. These have included physiological effects, such as headaches and nausea. Healing effects such as one report of a cure for acute osteoporosis. Physical effects such as camera and other electronic equipment failure. We are certain that our artworks are subject to the attention of paranormal forces and act to catalyze other paranormal events.[54]

  Similar unrelated occurrences have also been reported all around the world and skeptics claim that these are part of the hoax, yet these are the same type of phenomena that accompany some UFO sightings. If some form of paranormal activity is accompanying the manufacture of these circles, it might also have something to do with their increasing appearance around the world. Have hoaxers discovered and provided an opportunity or portal for supernatural “forces” to manifest themselves? We have already demonstrated that, besides the orchestrated frauds and hoaxes that have shaped modern UFOlogy, there seems to be a deceptive supernatural characteristic to sightings, contacts, and, as we will see, the abduction scenario.

  Humanity has been fascinated with the occult and supernatural for as long as we have been on the earth. People have built temples, shrines, and obelisks in an effort to appease and attract supernatural forces. Have these “capers in the crops” inadvertently become a beacon for such forces? Or was there a more overt intention all along?

  A little-known fact about Circlemakers is that before they entered the lucrative commercial market, they called themselves Team Satan. This is a very bold name and might be suggestive of their intent. It is unlikely that anyone would label themselves with a moniker so representative of all that is evil in the spiritual sense without a good reason. Indeed, satanic worship continues to be quite prolific in the world today, and many are drawn into it by its allure and mysticism. Have crop circles become modern shrines of occult worship? Most certainly, Team Satan is not ashamed to publicly draw attention to the “supernatural side” of its work and, perhaps deliberately, draw more folk into the dark world of the occult using the curiosity factor.

  Short on substance

  In this chapter, we have highlighted many of the dubious claims of some UFOlogists and fame-seekers. However, it should be pointed out that there are many honest, respectable, and hardworking researchers whose work makes books such as this one possible. I have the utmost regard for those who have devoted themselves to finding answers for this often-baffling mystery.

  Many supporters of what can now be called the UFO movement feel that they get a raw deal from the popular media and, as a result, the general public. They have an overwhelming desire to be taken seriously. But because this is often not the case, a mindset is manifested that they are misunderstood, and that the public is being hoodwinked in a global cover-up about UFOs. As I sat through a prestigious UFO conference, I listened to speaker after speaker, supposedly experts in their field, relate this same theme. Their contempt of the establishment was very evident. On several occasions, where there have been “nuts
and bolts”-type sightings, the lack of corroborating evidence always seems to be the government’s fault. (“Surely they must have seen something — why don’t they tell us?”)

  At such conferences, pictures abound of saucers which they allege to be real but which are known frauds, and booths display crop circles which they endorse as alien-made, but which have been verified as man-made (at least they should display ones for which no one has claimed credit, to keep some mystery). I found it amazing to hear so many allusions to the “cover-up” at Roswell, the harassment of UFO investigators by government officials, and references to the teachings of George Adamski and Billy Meier. Although these “legends” may have had encounters of some kind, they have been clearly exposed as frauds who have been only too willing to lie to advance their cause. Surely, by any critical standards, once someone has been involved in deliberate deception, the rest of their testimony should be treated with some suspicion.

  As mentioned previously, a normal scientific approach is to start with a hypothesis and then explore, test, and try to disprove every aspect of your hypothesis until you are left with what is scientifically valid, testable, and observable. The approach of modern UFOlogy fails on many of these counts. If it wants to be taken seriously, it needs to clear its decks and apply a proper level of scientific rigor to the evidence.

  I have listened to many UFO speakers expounding, as they frequently do, many scientific-sounding notions. Unfortunately, it is often glaringly obvious for anyone with critical analytical skill that their words lack substance. Many of their claims are riddled with “I knew a guy once” stories, often second or thirdhand, full of sweeping statements and generalizations that would not be acceptable at any scientific gathering.

  I recall meeting one gentleman, smartly dressed in a suit and proudly displaying his “official UFO investigator” badge on behalf of one of the longest-running UFO groups in the world. He told me he had been an investigator for many years, yet had only investigated one case, plus his own “close encounter.” I asked him if he had undergone any training, to which he replied in the negative. Upon further discussion, I realized that this particular organization merely goes and “has a chat” with the contactee. I asked, “Do you take note of the weather conditions and cloud cover? Do you talk to the neighbors? Do you contact air traffic control to find out whether the UFO was seen on radar or whether there were any official craft in the area? Do you have a checklist to catalog and compare cases?” Although I was trying to find out what objective investigations are usually undertaken in such cases, he obviously felt concerned that I was attacking his belief in UFOs and defensively replied: “No, but UFOs are real.” Perhaps I’m a little naïve, but I thought it would have been necessary to exclude all other possibilities. This sort of approach is not the case with all UFO organizations and there are serious exponents, but these days they are few and far between. Yet I heard many comments at one conference to the effect that UFOlogy is mature enough to merit accreditation as a college or university course. Obviously, their bar would need to be raised considerably before this could occur.

  In my opinion, rather than being so critical of others, the modern UFO movement needs to be more introspective and take a long, hard look at itself. Its conspiracy-driven mentality makes it a beacon for every type of misunderstood pseudo-scientific, eccentric, and quasi-religious idea. Unfortunately, the study of UFOs in the modern era has been hijacked by those I call “religious UFOlogists.” Many of its adherents hold strong pre-existing New Age ideas, and many are psychics, spiritualists, and others involved in occult practices. The desire for UFOlogy to be taken seriously as a valid science is not helped by an embrace of those who make unwarranted claims and propose many scientific-sounding ideas that are merely based on an “opinion” or a spirit guide from the “other side.” I have seen these unsubstantiated claims firsthand, and sadly, the gathered assembly seemed to receive such comments as fact.

  Although they give the impression that they are all-embracing, these “religious” adherents of UFOs are very intolerant of traditional religious views. They made this very evident at a conference I attended, when a former Christian missionary recounted his now-world-famous sightings, which occurred during his time of service in a Third World country. It was a well-documented event with plenty of corroborating witnesses. Although he was treated with respect (mainly because he was one of the “fortunate few” to have had an experience), when asked for his view of what he saw, you could hear the disappointment when he said, “I thought they were angels,” meaning angels as they are described in the Bible. This does not sit well with the view that UFOs are, in fact, ETs visiting the earth, whether they appear physically or in some spiritual form. The religious UFOlogist believes that these ETs are on a religious mission, but it is a transforming one designed to take the world into a new age. They have no time for old-fashioned views.

  Although every person has a preconceived world view — a bias with which we interpret the evidence — the modern UFO movement is notable for its marked lack of objectivity. More disturbing is that they themselves fail to realize that their own New Age view is in fact a religious view and one that is held to the exclusion of other more traditional religious views.

  In addition, they are only too keen to imbibe the stories told by these visiting entities, though they cannot scientifically establish their origin or indeed their reality in the physical realm. We do know that the so-called space brothers have established a pattern of telling us things that have been proven to be demonstrably false. One should then ask, “Should they be trusted either?” After all, if they have lied, should they not be treated as liars? Apparently it doesn’t matter, as long as one’s desire for something to be true is strong enough. This attitude explains why truth suffers in the UFO phenomenon as a whole.

  Endnotes

  [1] Ronald D. Story, editor, The Mammoth Encyclopedia of Extraterrestrial Encounters, in an article by Randall Fitzgerald (London: Constable & Robinson, 2002), p. 606–618.

  [2] Ibid.

  [3] “What Really Happened at Roswell,” , December 10, 2002.

  [4] Report of Air Force Research Regarding the Roswell Incident 1994,” , January 19, 2010.

  [5]Story, The Mammoth Encyclopedia of Extraterrestrial Encounters, in an article by Fitzgerald, p. 606–618.

  [6] Ibid.

  [7] Ibid.

  [8] Report of Air Force Research Regarding the Roswell Incident 1994,” , January 19, 2010.

  [9] Don Berliner and Stanton Friedman, Crash at Corona (New York: Paragon House, 1992), in which they claim that the government retrieved two alien spacecraft in and around Roswell, New Mexico.

  [10]Story, The Mammoth Encyclopedia of Extraterrestrial Encounters, in an article by Joe Nickell, p. 387–390.

  [11] William T. Alnor, UFOs in the New Age (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1992), p. 77.

  [12] The New Bogus Majestic-12 Documents,” , January 19, 2010.

  [13] Alnor, UFOs in the New Age, p. 82–84.

  [14] The New Bogus Majestic-12 Documents,” , January 19, 2010.

  [15] Ibid.

  [16] Ibid.

  [17] Story, The Mammoth Encyclopedia of Extraterrestrial Encounters, in an article by Randall Fitzgerald, p. 181.

  [18] Ibid., in an article by Arlan K. Andrews, p. 96–98.

  [19] “Alien Autopsy Film a Hoax Concludes Scientific Organization,” , January 19, 2010.

  [20] “Fox Show Says ‘Alien Autopsy’ Was Hoax [news],” , December 10, 2002.

  [21] Alnor, UFOs in the New Age, p. 82–84.

  [22] McCarthyism (named after 1950s U.S. senator Joseph McCarthy) was the name given to a movement to
purge the United States of communist (Soviet) influence.

  [23] “TNT’s The Secret KGB UFO Files,” , January 19, 2010.

  [24] Ibid.

  [25] Ibid.

  [26] Ibid.

  [27] Ibid.

  [28] Story, The Mammoth Encyclopedia of Extraterrestrial Encounters, p. 102–104.

  [29] “Welcome to the World of Mysteries of Erich von Däniken,” , June 9, 2003.

  [30] Story, The Mammoth Encyclopedia of Extraterrestrial Encounters, in an article by Erich Von Däniken, p. 761–762.

  [31] Ibid., in an article by Barry H. Downing, p. 578–582.