Why belief in UFOs is like a religion

Why belief in UFOs is like a religion

As philosophies go science and religion are at the opposite ends of the spectrum. They arrive at certain "truths" in different ways. Religious information is arrived by a revelational method from some higher source whether directly from a deity or through some earthly intermediaries (prophets, saints etc.). Science on the other hand gathers physical facts/objects and postulates theories based on observation and experiments with these "physical facts/objects". This article is not trying to decide which philosophy is better and certainly does not intentionally disrespect anybodies religious viewpoints. Let's face it, religions arrive at their conclusions differently than science. Faith plays the most important part. Faith plays no part in scientific conclusions other than antidotal capacities. As philosophies go, science is at the highest level when requiring proof. Religions require little proof since faith is the driving force to believe in something or not. Where do UFO "enthusiasts" stand? They claim that aliens from distant stars and planets are facts and not based on any faith. Their whole argument is scientifically based. Let's see what the scientific highest level of proof gets you.

RELIGION viewpoint
1. PROVING GOD/GODS/SPIRITS/SPIRITUAL WORLD - While a lot of religious documentation and history exists to demonstrate the existence of deities, most religious people would agree that belief in miracles on both a personal and non-personal level would be the best indication of proof. A good example is when the virgin Mary was alleged to have appeared before approx. 70,000 people in Fatima, Portugal in 1917. About half the people there claimed to have seen a miracle and the other half didn't. Physical facts are not necessary to prove the spiritual world. Faith is. This faith is the way that religious people use to "prove" that God/gods exist. The idea that the God/gods in question don't show up in an unambiguous way is not important because faith is the most important          

SCIENCE viewpoint
1. PROVING GOD/GODS/SPIRITS/SPIRITUAL WORLD - In science, it is very simple to prove if God/gods exist. God or gods simply have to show up and demonstrate their abilities as a deity or deities. The ability to manipulate physical things in unusual ways is necessary to prove that God/gods exist. God or gods can then demonstrate their abilities as laid out in many religious documents as a deity or deities.          

UFOISM viewpoint
1. PROVING ALIENS & UFOs For the average UFO enthusiast aliens don't have to show up to exist. Merely accepting the multitude of press reports and literature generated by the UFO community is enough proof that UFOs exist. The fact that the aliens in question don't show up, is because of a government conspiracy. This is the central tenant in the UFO enthusiast argument.

RELIGION viewpoint
2. MIRACLES AND SPIRITUAL EVENTS/SIGHTINGS - Human testimony to that miracle or this event is good enough evidence and proof for the existence of the spiritual world. Sightings of Miracles are not questioned and in most religions are wholly accepted.          

SCIENCE viewpoint
2. MIRACLES AND SPIRITUAL EVENTS/SIGHTINGS - Human testimonials is considered the worst kind of evidence there is. The big problem being whether any individual is qualified enough to observe the events in question in an objective or rational manner. Unusual sightings of any strange events must be observed by qualified individuals and then subjected to a peer revue process.          

UFOISM viewpoint
2. ALIEN AND UFO SIGHTINGS - Human testimony to alien events by anybody from the general population is good enough to "prove" that aliens exist. Unusual sightings of any strange events are observed by anybody who is awake and not intoxicated and accepted verbatim.

RELIGION viewpoint
3. RESEARCH - There are thousands of deities being worshipped all over the world but no research is being done to determined which is the real Gods/gods. It depends on what faith you were born into.          

SCIENCE viewpoint
3. RESEARCH - Research cannot be done on something that physically never shows up or is never seen anywhere so they can be measured and observed in some way.          

UFOISM viewpoint
3. RESEARCH - No research being done to scientifically distinguish or categorize different aliens except in a very unorganized manner. There are countless different species of aliens from countless different star systems. Nobody among UFO enthusiasts is encouraged to speak out to criticize against any of the promoters of specific type aliens, rather we are all encouraged to believe in all of them.

RELIGION viewpoint
4. INDISPUTABLE FACTS - Most religions around the world all have their "indisputable" facts and whether these are true or not simply depends on an individuals beliefs.          

SCIENCE viewpoint
4. INDISPUTABLE FACTS - Depends on the discipline. The physical sciences may end up having theories that last hundreds of years while biological facts (like fossil remains) can become facts much quicker.          

UFOISM viewpoint
4. INDISPUTABLE FACTS - Debunked facts continue to have a life of their own even when they have been scientifically proven to be without merit. The scientifically debunked fact is simply ignored and never mentioned.

RELIGION viewpoint
5. PEER REVUE METHODOLOGY - No peer revue is required but central tenants etc. are simply revealed from a person at the top of the hierarchy or left up to religious people to decide.          

SCIENCE viewpoint
5. PEER REVUE METHODOLOGY - Peer revue is a mainstay of science and is one of the main determinants of a procedure that eventually can decide what is true and what isn't.          

UFOISM viewpoint
5. PEER REVUE METHODOLOGY - There is no accepted method of peer revue within the vast majority of the UFO/alien community. Peer revue is not even encouraged.


RELIGION viewpoint
6. CRITICISM AND DEBATE - No criticism or debate is encouraged for the main stipulates and tenants. Only minor events are debated. For example the Catholic Church would never look into whether Jesus Christ is a God or not even though historically there are some issues as to whether this is the case          

SCIENCE viewpoint
6. CRITICISM AND DEBATE - Criticism and debate is always encouraged and can seem to go on forever even for theories that have been around for centuries.          

UFOISM viewpoint
6. CRITICISM AND DEBATE - The only criticism and debate comes from non-believers of UFO/alien sightings. Within the UFO/alien believer community there is no criticism or debate across boundaries.

In conclusions - UFOISM                    
Which methods do our UFO enthusiasts use to "prove" the existence of alien beings from distant planets. So far only human testimonials have been used for proof. Not a single solitary artifact has ever been demonstrated to exist in either an independent or university lab. This is despite the fact that thousands and thousands of aliens are claimed to have visited Earth. The aliens are so neat they never even seem to leave their garbage behind! The biggest reason UFO enthusiasts use to demonstrate the lack of observable physical objects (as opposed to human testimonials) is the government conspiracy. According to them anybody who doesn't believe in aliens is naïve considering all this testimonial evidence and the lack of physical evidence is simply because the government is covering it up.

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