The Bible and Flying Saucers (1968)
“The Bible and Flying Saucers” is a book written by Barry H. Downing and first published in 1968. The book explores the possibility that UFOs and extraterrestrial life are referenced in the Bible, and that many of the descriptions of angels, chariots, and other phenomena in the text could be interpreted as evidence of extraterrestrial life and technology. The book has generated much debate and controversy among scholars, theologians, and UFO enthusiasts.
The key claim made in “The Bible and Flying Saucers” is that many of the descriptions of angels and other supernatural beings in the Bible could actually be descriptions of extraterrestrial beings and spacecraft. The author, Barry Downing, argues that the language and symbols used in the Bible are consistent with modern descriptions of UFO sightings and encounters.
Downing’s analysis of the text focuses on specific passages that he interprets as descriptions of UFO sightings or encounters. For example, he notes that the “cloud” that descended upon Mount Sinai in the Book of Exodus could be interpreted as a UFO, and that the “chariots of fire” that Elijah is said to have ridden in the Book of Kings could be descriptions of advanced spacecraft.
The book also explores the idea that the miracles described in the Bible, such as the parting of the Red Sea and the resurrection of Jesus, could be explained as the result of advanced technology wielded by extraterrestrial beings. Downing argues that the concept of an all-powerful, all-knowing God could be a way of describing advanced extraterrestrial beings who have technology and knowledge beyond our own.
“The Bible and Flying Saucers” also examines the theological implications of the idea of extraterrestrial life and technology in the Bible. Downing argues that the discovery of extraterrestrial life would not necessarily conflict with Christian beliefs, and that it could actually expand our understanding of the nature of God and the universe.
One of the key figures in the book is the author, Barry H. Downing, who is a retired Presbyterian minister and theologian. Downing’s background in theology and biblical studies lends credibility to his analysis of the Bible and his claims about the possibility of extraterrestrial life.
There have been several other books written about “The Bible and Flying Saucers” and its claims. One notable example is “The Spaceships of Ezekiel” by Josef F. Blumrich, which explores the possibility that the prophet Ezekiel witnessed a UFO sighting and that the description of his vision in the Bible is actually a description of an extraterrestrial spacecraft. Blumrich’s work is often cited as an influence on “The Bible and Flying Saucers” and shares many of the same ideas and themes.
Another book, “Chariots of the Gods” by Erich von Daniken, explores similar themes and claims that many ancient texts and artifacts contain evidence of extraterrestrial life and technology. While von Daniken’s book does not specifically reference the Bible, it shares many of the same ideas and has been cited as an influence on the study of ancient extraterrestrial life and technology.
