Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel

This past week, the subject of UFOs and the Bible came up in conversation. The recent British declassification of its UFO archives in 2008 marks one of the more important events in the history of British journalism.The U.S. government’s reluctance to release these files for Americans might suggest a conspiracy to cover up the case studies.

I have often wondered whether the US government’s silence might in part be due to the fear and shock this disclosure would have in virtually every area of American social life–especially in the faith community. It is easy to imagine scenarios resulting in widespread psychological disintegration and social chaos. On the other hand, it would prove to be the greatest discovery of human history.

Have There Been Past UFO Encounters in Antiquity?

One must wonder: Let us assume (1) the existence of intelligent extraterrestrial life is real  and (2) the presence of UFOs does have a scientific basis in fact, then two questions arise: Have such visitations occurred in the past? If they have occurred, then is there any literary or physical evidence that UFOs have  been here long before?

When Erich von Däniken wrote a best-selling book, “Chariots of the Gods,” in 1968, he tried to argue that many of the ancient mythologies of the world contain primitive records of extraterrestrial visitations from space travelers who were welcomed as gods. Historians and scientists have pointed out the numerous weaknesses of the book, but Hollywood’s Stargate SG1 and Marvel Comic’s “The Eternals,” carry out the modern mythologizations of von Däniken. X-Files and Fringe are two more popular cinematic shows that explore this kind of question. Even Carl Sagan, in one of his most memorable books, “Contact,” makes the argument that it is nearly impossible for other intelligent life not to exist in the universe.

Did Ezekiel Have a Close Encounter?

Among von Däniken’s more novel theories is the idea that Ezekiel had a close encounter with an alien spaceship. Yes, the story is quite interesting from a modern perspective. Of course, altered states of consciousness such as visionary experiences, dreams, and so on, cannot be logically ruled out–especially since prophecy in general is usually related to dream-like trances and experiences (Maimonides).  Nevertheless, Ezekiel 1 is fascinating and invites speculation. On the surface, this theory would seem to have some merit, or at the very least, it could generate some interesting conversations about the biblical text that could last for hours.

Just imagine how an ancient Israelite would have viewed a modern day space ship. How would he describe it? In the beginning of Ezekiel’s prophecy, he has what could be described as a “close encounter” with a spacecraft. Though this too is not the simple meaning of the text, it is nevertheless an intriguing interpretation ‑‑especially if we were to imagine how an ancient person might write about a visitation with an extraterrestrial space ship. Here is a partial description from Ezekiel 1:

“As I looked, a stormy wind came from the North, a huge cloud with flashing fire (enveloped in brightness), from the midst of which (the midst of the fire) something gleamed like electrum. Within it were figures resembling four living creatures that looked like this: their form was human,  but each had four faces and four wings. . . . . In among the living creatures something like burning coals of fire could be seen; they seemed like torches, moving to and fro among the living creatures. The fire gleamed, and from it came forth flashes of lightning. As I looked at the living creatures, I saw wheels on the ground, one beside each of the four living creatures. The wheels had the sparkling appearance of chrysolite, and all four of them looked the same: they were constructed as though one wheel were within another. They could move in any of the four directions they faced, without veering as they moved.  The four of them had rims, and I saw that their rims were full of eyes all around. When the living creatures moved, the wheels moved with them; and when the living creatures were raised from the ground, the wheels also were raised. Wherever the spirit wished to go, there the wheels went, and they were raised together with the living creatures; for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels . . . .”

An early skeptic of von Däniken was a NASA engineer by the name of Josef F. Blumrich, who after reading his book, decided he would attempt to scientifically debunk it. To his surprise, after examining the chariot from an engineering point of view, Blumrich said that the schematic could be describing a space ship! Blumrich published a book The Spaceships of Ezekiel where he explains his findings. Here is a basic gist of some of Blumrich’s exposition.[1]  Please bear in mind that the interpretations given here represent more of a midrashic reading of Ezekiel; the text can be explained in more “practical” visionary (Ha!) terms that would sidestep Blumrich’s startling theory.

Ezekiel 1:15

Ezekiel 1:16-21

Blumrich summary: The greenish-bluish color of the wheels suggests a protective film or coating. A further description of advanced reversible wheels is given. Ezekiel is confused – looks to him like a wheel within a wheel. These wheels look like they are obeying orders. He has had experience with wheels but these are puzzling. Thus he gives much time to their description. The craft rolls on the ground, probably in a maneuver to find the most suitable site.

Ezekiel 1:22

Blumrich summary:  Here is a description of the main body of the craft. We get its basic shape, spreading out like a “firmament.” The surface of the main body is metallic, shining, bright.

Ezekiel 1:23

Blumrich summary:
We are given additional information concerning the position of the helicopter-like appendages relative to the main body. Rotor blades are at rest.

Ezekiel 1:24-25

Blumrich summary: Blumrich feels these verses are out of order. They describe operating rotor blade motors and the resultant sound effects.

Ezekiel 1:26

Blumrich summary:  The prophet sees the command module shaped and colored like a cabachon-cut sapphire. Seated in the pilot’s seat is a man.

Ezekiel 1:27

Blumrich summary:  The prophet describes the light effects of the commander’s flight suit which, in Blumrich’s opinion, are reminiscent of the light effects caused by the reflecting surfaces of certain insulation materials used in the Apollo lunar module. (See Rev 1:12-15 and Dan 10:6) It might be enlightening here to mention the light effects, especially the golden glow effect, described by some present-day witnesses to UFO close encounters, people who have been in near proximity to UFO crew members. A classic example of such an effect would be the Fatima incident earlier in the century. An interesting explanation of this effect is offered by an extraterrestrial in Charles Silva’s “Date With The Gods.”

Granted, this is hardly the kind of interpretation one would hear from Rashi or Kimchi, but isn’t it a remarkable example of how people read and interpret a text based upon on their specific occupations?

A Jungian Spin on UFOs

In all likelihood, we may never solve the answer to these questions. How do we make sense of this?  We are we so culturally preoccupied with them in our society more so now than in any other period of human history?

Psychologist Carl Jung was fascinated by the UFOS as a psychological reaction that is in many respects, the making of a modern myth. As to why we are so intrigued in the media, cinema, and literary stories about such alleged phenomena, Jung contends that the popular interest, “may be a spontaneous reaction of the subconscious to fear of the apparently insoluble political situation in the world that may lead at any moment to catastrophe. At such times eyes turn heavenwards in search of help, and miraculous forebodings of a threatening or consoling nature appear from on high . . . ” [2]  Jung continues:

“In the threatening situation of the world today, when people are beginning to see that everything is at stake, the projection-creating fantasy soars beyond the realm of earthly organizations and powers into the heavens, into interstellar space, where the rulers of human fate, the gods, once had their abode in the planets…. Even people who would never have thought that a religious problem could be a serious matter that concerned them personally are beginning to ask themselves fundamental questions. Under these circumstances it would not be at all surprising if those sections of the community who ask themselves nothing were visited by `visions,’ by a widespread myth seriously believed in by some and rejected as absurd by others.” [3]

Jung is probably correct. Our desire to experience UFOs may stem from a hunger to realize some sense of transcendence in a society that unconsciously or consciously tries to squelch any idea of a revelatory type of experience. Thus, the  “close encounter” of either a “Third kind,” almost has a certain religious kind of significance.

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Notes:

[1] G. Cope Schellhorn, Extraterrestrials in Biblical Prophesy (Madison, WI: Horus House Press, Inc) 106-108.

[2] C.G. Jung, Interview with Time Magazine, Volume 72, 1958, p. 38.

[3] C. G. Jung, Flying Saucers: A Modern Myth of Things Seen in the Skies (New York: Routledge & Kegan Paul PLC), 11.