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Maybe I should have been more careful with terminology.   "Not visionary or fictitious" was a back-handed reference to the infamous Gen. Twining memo asserting that more was going on with the ufo phenomenon that human imagination projected outwards.

The history of ufology as it currently stands (for the public, anyway) bears strong parallel to the formation of formalized religion.   Individuals, or small groups of them, have for centuries undergone life-changing experiences during episodes that leave behind just enough evidence to garner devoted followers and persist in public imagination. But not enough evidence (keeping in mind the "breakaway caveat) to make them amenable to systematic investigation.   We are thus left with not a science, but a persistent mythology that may be shaping our collective unconscious, as per Vallee.   This is not what we want. But it seems to be what we get in spite of best efforts to the contrary.

Nothing new here, and I'm not saying this is necessarily the same mechanism by which organized religions are spawned and established. But I think the possibility deserves consideration.   Where rationality comes up empty handed, mythology tends to take its place.

<blockquote data-quote="boomerang" data-source="post: 159390" data-attributes="member: 3872">Maybe I should have been more careful with terminology.&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Not visionary or fictitious&quot; was a back-handed reference to the infamous Gen. Twining memo asserting that more was going on with the ufo phenomenon that&nbsp; human imagination projected outwards.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;The history of ufology as it currently stands (for the public, anyway)&nbsp; bears strong parallel to the formation of formalized religion.&nbsp;&nbsp; Individuals, or small groups of them,&nbsp; have for centuries undergone life-changing experiences during episodes that leave behind just enough evidence to garner devoted followers and persist in public imagination.&nbsp; But not enough evidence (keeping in mind the &quot;breakaway caveat) to make them amenable to systematic investigation.&nbsp;&nbsp; We are thus left with not a science, but a persistent mythology that may be shaping our collective unconscious, as per Vallee.&nbsp;&nbsp; This is not what we want.&nbsp; But it seems to be what we get&nbsp; in spite of best efforts to the contrary. &nbsp;Nothing new here, and I&#039;m not saying this is necessarily the same mechanism by which organized religions are spawned and established.&nbsp; But I think the possibility&nbsp; deserves consideration.&nbsp;&nbsp; Where rationality comes up empty handed,&nbsp; mythology tends to take its place.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="boomerang, post: 159390, member: 3872"] Maybe I should have been more careful with terminology. "Not visionary or fictitious" was a back-handed reference to the infamous Gen. Twining memo asserting that more was going on with the ufo phenomenon that human imagination projected outwards. The history of ufology as it currently stands (for the public, anyway) bears strong parallel to the formation of formalized religion. Individuals, or small groups of them, have for centuries undergone life-changing experiences during episodes that leave behind just enough evidence to garner devoted followers and persist in public imagination. But not enough evidence (keeping in mind the "breakaway caveat) to make them amenable to systematic investigation. We are thus left with not a science, but a persistent mythology that may be shaping our collective unconscious, as per Vallee. This is not what we want. But it seems to be what we get in spite of best efforts to the contrary. Nothing new here, and I'm not saying this is necessarily the same mechanism by which organized religions are spawned and established. But I think the possibility deserves consideration. Where rationality comes up empty handed, mythology tends to take its place. [/QUOTE]

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