2004 / 382 pages
Are people actually being abducted by aliens? You might expect a Christian book on this subject to answer the question with an emphatic “no” but Gary Bates give a more equivocal answer that could best be summarized as, “sort of.”
Alien Intrusion is a book that could be given to anyone interested (too interested?) in science fiction, whether they are Christian or not. The cover and first few chapters hardly give a hint that this is a Christian book, and initially it seems to be making a case for UFO’s and aliens. Bates notes that millions of people, including a past president of the United States, claim to have seen a UFO, and many popular TV shows, likes Star Trek and various science fiction movies like 2001: A Space Odyssey assume that aliens are somewhere out there.
But after delving into what people think about aliens and UFOs the author then begins, step by step, to explain why aliens could not possibly be visiting us from other planets. Most of the reasons are simply practical - the distances are too far and the energy needed simply too immense.
Despite the fact that it is physically impossible for aliens to be visiting us, the author doesn’t believe that every story of alien abduction is simply a lie or a delusion. After debunking many famous “UFOlogists” Bates notes that there are still too many ordinary folks – people who have nothing to gain, and personal credibility to lose – making abduction claims to simply dismiss the phenomenon altogether.
This is where the book starts to become clearly Christian. The author argues that it is really only now that our world has embraced evolution (and dismissed God) that UFO sightings have start springing up all over. There is also a strong correlation between UFO belief and occult experimentation – many of the more famous “UFOlogists” have also dabbled in the “dark arts.” It is worth noting too, that the messages “aliens” pass on are often direct attacks on the Bible, portraying Jesus not as the Son of God, but merely as some advanced alien.
So are people being abducted by aliens? Bates argues that while some people may indeed be having these encounters it is not with aliens but rather with demons masquerading as extraterrestrials.
This is a great book for any and all who are fascinated by science fiction; Bates employs a Christian worldview to separate the fact from the fiction.
Are people actually being abducted by aliens? You might expect a Christian book on this subject to answer the question with an emphatic “no” but Gary Bates give a more equivocal answer that could best be summarized as, “sort of.”
Alien Intrusion is a book that could be given to anyone interested (too interested?) in science fiction, whether they are Christian or not. The cover and first few chapters hardly give a hint that this is a Christian book, and initially it seems to be making a case for UFO’s and aliens. Bates notes that millions of people, including a past president of the United States, claim to have seen a UFO, and many popular TV shows, likes Star Trek and various science fiction movies like 2001: A Space Odyssey assume that aliens are somewhere out there.
But after delving into what people think about aliens and UFOs the author then begins, step by step, to explain why aliens could not possibly be visiting us from other planets. Most of the reasons are simply practical - the distances are too far and the energy needed simply too immense.
Despite the fact that it is physically impossible for aliens to be visiting us, the author doesn’t believe that every story of alien abduction is simply a lie or a delusion. After debunking many famous “UFOlogists” Bates notes that there are still too many ordinary folks – people who have nothing to gain, and personal credibility to lose – making abduction claims to simply dismiss the phenomenon altogether.
This is where the book starts to become clearly Christian. The author argues that it is really only now that our world has embraced evolution (and dismissed God) that UFO sightings have start springing up all over. There is also a strong correlation between UFO belief and occult experimentation – many of the more famous “UFOlogists” have also dabbled in the “dark arts.” It is worth noting too, that the messages “aliens” pass on are often direct attacks on the Bible, portraying Jesus not as the Son of God, but merely as some advanced alien.
So are people being abducted by aliens? Bates argues that while some people may indeed be having these encounters it is not with aliens but rather with demons masquerading as extraterrestrials.
This is a great book for any and all who are fascinated by science fiction; Bates employs a Christian worldview to separate the fact from the fiction.
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