AUFO religion, also called aUFO cult orflying saucer cult, is anyreligion in which the existence ofextraterrestrial (ET) entities and communication with them is a core belief. Typically, adherents of such religions believe the ETs to be interested in the welfare of humanity which either already is, or eventually will become, part of a pre-existing ETcivilization. These religions have their roots in the tropes of earlyscience fiction (especiallyspace opera) andweird fiction writings, inufology, and in the subculture ofUFO sightings andalien abduction stories. Some historians consider theAetherius Society, founded by George King, to be the first UFO religion, while others consider it to be"I AM" Activity.
UFO religions generally deal with belief in communication with extraterrestrial beings.[1][2] Some adherents of UFO religions believe that the arrival or rediscovery of alien civilizations, technologies, and spirituality will enable humans to overcome current ecological, spiritual, and social problems. Issues such as hatred, war, bigotry, poverty and so on are said to be resolvable through the use of superior alien technology and spiritual abilities. Such belief systems are also described asmillenarian in their outlook.[3][4] Stephen Hunt wrote of such groups that they were "one form of quasi-religion that perhaps borders on a more orthodox form of religiosity".[1]
In these groups, individuals believe that communication between aliens and humans can take the form of physical contact,telepathy, andastral projection. Typically the groups believe that humanity will be saved by these aliens when humans are educated as to a better way to live life. Some of the groups believe that aliens will come to take those that believe to a more positive location. Often the extraterrestrial beings are seen to plead with humanity to improve itself and to move away from a society of greed and violence.[1] UFO religions place an emphasis on spiritual growth and the evolution of humanity.[1] A UFO religion can be formed before or after an individual claims to have experienced analien abduction and been taken aboard a spacecraft.[5] Within UFO religions, there is a belief that the supreme being or "evolved entity" did not ascend from Earth, but instead came from anotherplane or another planet and descended to Earth.[6] AcademicChristopher Partridge places UFO religion within the context oftheosophicalesotericism, and asserts that it began to be associated as "UFO religion" after the 1947 incident atRoswell, New Mexico.[6] According to Partridge, most UFO religions still have many of the key points associated with Theosophy, such as belief in the sameSpiritual Hierarchy, and he also draws parallels toNew Age thought.[6]
UFO religions developed first in such countries as theUnited States,Canada,France, theUnited Kingdom, andJapan as the concept presumes the cultural context of a society technologically advanced enough to conceive of ET as such and one in which religion of any kind is not discouraged or suppressed. The term "flying saucers" and the popular notion of the UFO originated in 1947.[7] The study of UFO religions amongsociologists,historians,theologians, scholars ofreligious studies andnew religious movements began during the 1950s.[8]
J. Gordon Melton identifies the first UFO religion as the group"I AM" Activity, founded byGuy Ballard.[9] This was disputed by Christopher Partridge, who viewed it as a theosophical religion that was a precursor to genuine UFO religions like theAetherius Society andGeorge Adamski.[10] The 1947Roswell incident was a key point in time within UFO spirituality, increasing its prominence in the public mind.[11][12] Partridge notes that within the thought processes of UFO religions after 1947, many of these groups maintained beliefs that extraterrestrial beings were "heralds of a new era".[6]
Hunt describes theAetherius Society founded byGeorge King in 1955 as "probably the first and certainly the most enduring UFOcult".[13] He places the Aetherius Society andRaëlism among the "most renowned" of the "flying saucer cults".[1]Heaven's Gate andOrder of the Solar Temple, which both died in mass suicides, have been described as the most controversial UFO religions.[14]Scientology has also been considered one due to itsXenucosmogony and the usage ofspace opera in Scientology doctrine.[15]
