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UFO phenomena entered American consciousness at the beginning of the Cold War, when reports from astonished witnesses of encounters with unknown aerial objects captured the attention of the United States military and the imagination of the press and the public. But when UFOs appeared not to be hostile, and when some scientists pronounced the sightings to be of natural meteorological phenomena misidentified due to "Cold War jitters," military interest declined sharply and, with it, further overt scientific interest.
Yet sighting reports didn't stop and UFOs entered the public imagination as a cultural myth of the twentieth century. Brenda Denzler's comprehensive, clearly written, and compelling narrative provides the first sustained overview and valuation of the UFO/alien abduction movement as a social phenomenon positioned between scientific and religious perspectives. Demonstrating the unique place ufology occupies in the twentieth-century nexus between science and religion, Denzler surveys the sociological contours of its community, assesses its persistent attempt to achieve scientific legitimacy, and concludes with an examination of the movement's metaphysical or spiritual outlook. Her book is a substantial contribution to our understanding of American popular culture and the boundaries of American religion and to the debate about the nature of science and religion.
Denzler presents a thorough and fascinating history of the UFO/abduction movement and traces the tensions between those who are deeply ambivalent about abduction narratives that seemingly erode their quest for scientific credibility, and the growing cultural power of those who claim to have been abducted. She locates the phenomenon within the context of American religious history and, using data gathered in surveys, sheds new light on the social profile of these UFO communities. The Lure of the Edge succeeds brilliantly in repositioning a cultural phenomenon considered by many to be bizarre and marginal into a central debate about the nature of science, technology, and the production of a modern myth.
- Sales Rank: #401042 in Books
- Published on: 2003-06-02
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 8.78" h x .82" w x 6.12" l, .95 pounds
- Binding: Paperback
- 313 pages
From Publishers Weekly
Sociologist Denzler presents a deeply researched history of "ufology" (the study and interpretation of UFO phenomena), illuminating what has become a significant American subculture. From the flying saucer sightings of the postwar years to the alien abduction boom of the 1990s, interest in UFOs has persisted despite official discouragement from government, scientific and religious authorities. Denzler takes a special interest in ufology's uneasy relationship with both science and religion, noting that although UFO phenomena seem to invite scientific and/or religious explanation, their anomalous and sometimes bizarre nature has excluded them from the mainstream. In the meantime, communities of ufologists and experiencers have gone their own way, some pursuing scientific rigor despite being dismissed as pseudoscientists, others promoting their own religious interpretations reflecting both Christian and New Age themes. Drawing on her experiences as a participant-observer in ufological groups and conventions, Denzler renders a sympathetic portrait of the UFO subculture without directly identifying with it, and reveals intramural tensions that other commentators have missed. Because Denzler focuses on the UFO community, broader social attitudes about UFOs are only a secondary interest: ufological subject matter in pop culture is virtually ignored. The book's academic style and copious citations make for a dense read at times, and the professionally impartial tone may not appeal to committed UFO believers or debunkers. But readers looking for skillful reportage and deft theorizing about "the UFO myth" (a term Denzler uses non-pejoratively), or a starting point for further academic research, should find it worthwhile.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Review
"A deeply researched history of 'ufology.'"--"Publishers Weekly
From the Inside Flap
"This is a definitive scholarly exploration of the UFO movement and community, as well as a fascinating book on the conceptual, religious, and scientific margins of modernity as we know it. Denzler has written a truly enjoyable book for both the scholar and the curious observer."—Massimo Introvigne, Managing Director, The Center for Studies on New Religions, Torino, Italy
"In The Lure of the Edge, Brenda Denzler provides a fascinating and insightful guided tour through the complex maze that is the UFO subculture. She is an expert tour guide who enhances our perspective without imposing her own viewpoint. The result is a fine book and a valuable addition to the literature on UFOs."—David Bromley, Professor of Sociology and Religious Studies,Virginia Commonwealth University, and editor of The Future of New Religious Movements and The Politics of Religious Apostasy
Most helpful customer reviews
21 of 26 people found the following review helpful.
A Great Little Book
By Albert A. Harrison
Although we hear reference to the UFO "controversy" or "debate", the situation more closely approximates an overall donnybrook, a sort of philosophical Star Wars over the relative roles that science, religion, and popular culture should play in defining our place in the Universe. Loosely aggregated camps of "believers" and "skeptics" wage a multifaceted battle on many fronts, and as in the case of a shooting war it is all but impossible for combatants to relate to the perspective of their opponents. The issue is not likely to be resolved soon. Like fifteenth century armies engaged in the Hundred Years War each side has enough resources to keep the fight going, but neither side has enough of an advantage to score a decisive victory. Despite the murky blend of reality and fantasy, the hodgepodge of ramshackle philosophical frameworks, the outrageous examples of gullibility and hermetically sealed minds, the overall fray may have some positive results. It allows people with many different perspectives to engage in dialogues that touch upon great existential issues: who we are, where we came from, our future beyond Earth, and intelligent life other than our own. Tomorrow's historians may interpret the chaotic mixture of materialism, spiritualism, empiricism and mysticism that at once entices and enrages so many people as just one small part of the intellectual effort and emotional turmoil that accompanied our coming of age in the cosmos.
Brenda Denzler's "The Lure of the Edge" is a useful addition to the fray. This well organized and nicely written book is brief, and about a third of its pages are occupied by meticulous notes and a massive bibliography. Its brevity is deceptive. "The Lure of the Edge" invites slow, careful reading because it is richly textured, inspires contemplation and reverie, and offers numerous surprises. There is a certain amount of core material that is required to tell the UFO story, but Denzler's fresh examples, interesting details and steady pace should maintain the interest of many people who are already familiar with that story.
"The Lure of the Edge" contains five chapters, an "Afterword," and a substantial "Appendix." The first two chapters give cogent histories of UFO and alien abduction phenomena. The third chapter grapples with the ambiguous and ever-shifting line between fact and fiction, and explores ideas that are defined by the opposing groups as falling at either the "cutting edge" or the "fringe" of science. In the fourth and fifth chapters Denzler looks at the interplay between science and religion and how these play out in people's thinking about UFOs. Her strong background in sociology and her Ph.D. in religious studies give Denzler an easy and in-depth familiarity with mysticism, spiritualism, transcendent experiences and the like, and allow her to develop better than average discussions of ideas that run counter to the basic tenets of science and skepticism. This means she deserves high marks for her discussions of paranormal and New Age ideas. Denzler reminds us that when we consider the influences of science and religion on UFO and other beliefs we should move beyond "God talk" and consider the systematic thinking of high quality, university-affiliated theologians.
Denzler explores issues from multiple perspectives and generally succeeds in interpreting them within useful conceptual frameworks. She makes reference not only to the major UFOlogists such as Vallee, Keel, and Mack, but also skeptics including Shaeffer, Klass, Condon, and especially Menzel. She does her best to be even-handed and fair. Still, it is impossible for any author to walk an entirely straight line through such minefields, and when Denzler errs it is in a direction that would be favored by religious scholars such as Ian Barbour, Huston Smith and Ted Peters and faulted by thoughtful skeptics such as Paul Kurtz and Michael Shermer.
The Afterword presents her final thoughts on science, religion, and UFOs. Although described as an "Appendix" the final section of "The Lure of the Edge" is a unique contribution. Here we find Denzler's own empirical studies of UFO affinity groups. This original research is based on participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and responses to written questionnaires. Although there are some acknowledged methodological limitations, the results paint an interesting picture of the demographic characteristics of the members of such groups, and provide partial tests of certain theories that bear on UFO beliefs. And, her findings remind us that while some people expect science to give them answers about UFOs, other people would prefer such answers to result from a personal quest.
18 of 24 people found the following review helpful.
Journalistic and completely lacking any sociological insight
By Autonomeus
Unfortunately this book doesn't tell us anything we didn't already know about why and how people believe in UFOs and aliens. Mainly what we have here is just compiling the history of reported sightings and abductions, as well as summaries of leading authors (Vallee, Keel). No analysis of the psychology or mass psychology of purported abductees. If you're a true believer, the book probably won't interest you, and if you're trying to understand the believers, it won't answer your questions.
I know from my own experience that the author hasn't begun to scratch the surface of the current types of UFO beliefs. Her index doesn't even include Pleiades! There are lots of New Age types out there who believe that benevolent aliens, the Pleiadeans, are trying to help humanity evolve to higher consciousness. There are umpteen versions of this idea featuring other star systems. There are hostile as well as helpful aliens. In Sedona, Arizona, the New Age mecca (and elsewhere, I'm sure) you can purchase pamphlets mapping the alien bases underneath the Red Rock country, and describing the aerial warfare between the Good and Bad Aliens over the Arizona skies!
I'm sure that there are people who sincerely believe in UFOs without any of this supernatural apparatus. Simple enough, it's fun to believe in the possibility of exciting things that might exist. Denzler discusses pseudo-science, and that is a different category from the New Age beliefs. But why and how do people believe in Pleiadeans, and create and embellish elaborate mythologies involving extraterrestrials as angels, demons and demigods? How do abduction beliefs spread in a population?
I haven't read it, but UFO Religions, edited by Partridge, looks like it might be in the right ballpark as far as answers to these questions.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful.
Solid Discussion of a Complex Subject
By Roger D. Launius
What is the history of the UFO phenomenon in the United States? That is the subject of this interesting, provocative, and sometimes frustrating book. Brenda Denzler’s narrative of the UFO experience begins in the early Cold War era, and provides an overview and evaluation of the UFO subculture as a social phenomenon juxtaposed between scientific and religious ideals. Clearly, however, it is truly neither a scientific nor a religious phenomenon.
The UFO phenomenon entered American consciousness in 1947 with the Kenneth Arnold “Flying Saucer” observation at Mount Rainier on June 24th. This touched off a wave of UFO sightings, of which more than 300 took place over the Fourth of July weekend in 1947. Sightings became a standard of the UFO story ever since and thousands of unidentified flying objects have been sited since that time. The vast majority of them are completely, and sometimes easily, explained as observations of terrestrial phenomena. But that sliver of unexplained sightings have tantalized the public ever since. UFO sightings represent the first part of this book.
A second major section deals with the contactee movement, in which extraterrestrials have been met by Earthlings and as often as not they have reported having received insights into the human condition and humanity’s place in the cosmos. These contactees became the first “rock stars” of the UFO movement, receiving speaking fees, book deals, and in some cases making television appearances about their dealings with aliens.
Beginning with the September 1961 story of Betty and Barney Hill the contactee experience suddenly turned horrific. They reported an abduction, medical experimentation, and psychological damage. Thousands have reported similar experiences in the years since that time. There has been enormous speculation over what all of this might mean, indeed whether or not if ever actually happened. Extreme efforts have been made to discover the truth about these experiences, including hypnosis to recover buried memories.
Throughout all of this, the federal government has periodically taken an interest in this subject and undertaken investigation. Project Blue Book by the Air Force sought to determine what these might mean, largely because of the fear in the Cold War that the nation might be encountering a new type of weapon from the Soviet Union. It has not found anything pointing to extraterrestrial visitation; believers in UFO visitation, however, explain this position away in a variety of means ranging from outright lying to actual cooperation with aliens.
With the failure to find any evidence—and the belief that “Cold War jitters” prompted much of the people reporting encounters—official interest in UFOs declined and with it interest from the scientific community. Denzler maintains a detached perspective on this subject through this work, offering without editorialization the various accounts.
She makes the case that this phenomenon represents perhaps the birth of a new religion. It has many of the elements of a religious group with unexplainable experiences, saints and martyrs, a salvation theology as aliens are looking out for the Earth, and a range of other metaphysical symbolism. Using sociological data compiled through surveys and other sources, Denzler focuses attention on the community of believers, their core ideology, and their overriding values.
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