Alien Identities: Ancient Insights into Modern UFO Phenomena

by Richard L. Thompson

This is the intelligent fair and logical examination of modern UFO phenomena that countless readers have been looking for written by a renowned scientist and philosopher. also explores possible UFO incidents recounted in the the ancient Vedic DESCRIPTIONs of flying craft floating cities cosmic battles and other wonders. It examines the extraordinary and the extraterrestrial in European folk tales and looks at religious reports of miraculous visitations particularly the 1917 apparition at Fatima Portugal bringing fresh and convincing insights into the identity and purposes of UFO visitors throughout the centuries.

Genres: Nonfiction, Mystery, Aliens

464 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Richard Leslie Thompson, also known as Sadaputa Dasa (February 4, 1947 – September 18, 2008), was an American mathematician, author and Gaudiya Vaishnava religious figure, known principally for his promotion of Vedic creationism and as the co-author (with Michael Cremo) of Forbidden Archeology: The Hidden History of the Human Race (1993), which has been widely criticised by the scientific community. Thompson also published several books and articles on religion and science, Hindu cosmology and astronomy. He was a member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (popularly known as the Hare Krishna movement or ISKCON) and a founding member of the Bhaktivedanta Institute, the branch of ISKCON dedicated to examining the relationship of modern scientific theories to the Vaishnava worldview. In the 'science and religion' community he was known for his articulation of ISKCON's view of science. Danish historian of religion Mikael Rothstein described Thompson as "the single dominating writer on science" in ISKCON whom ISKCON has chosen to "cover the field of science more or less on his own". C. Mackenzie Brown, professor of religion at Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas, described him as "the leading figure" in ISKCON's critique of modern science.
Thompson died on September 18, 2008. His body was found at the bottom of his swimming pool at his home in Alachua, Florida, USA. He had suffered a heart attack, a condition there has been some history of in his family.

Reviews

[Eric Wojciechowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve had this book in my collection since it came out in 1995. I just now go around to reading it. It’s a hazard of being a bibliophile. You collect more than you read. It’s an addiction at worst. Perhaps it’s the equivalent nowadays of reading the headline and having an opinion about the contents. Simply having the title in your collection gives you the knowledge. If somewhat by osmosis.

Not being content to never get around to ALIEN IDENTITIES, I picked it up after going through my library after a basement flooding and deciding it was time to break the cover. I read Thompson’s other book, FORBIDDEN ARCHEOLOGY, and back in the 1990s, I exchanged some letters with his co-author, Michael Cremo, regarding the findings. Finding FA impressive (if incorrect in its overall conclusion), I still found Thompson and Cremo worthy researchers. Worth, at least, breaking into their other work.

Thus I bought ALIEN IDENTITIES and twenty-plus years later, here’s my review.

The first part of ALIEN IDENTITIES is a rather good summary of the UFO phenomenon. Every detail of the UFO mythos is here and if you’re brand new, you get a nice crash course (no Roswell pun intended). If you’re an old hat, you can completely skip this section and get right into the Vedas section, which makes up part two.

Richard L. Thompson is a devotee of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (Hare Krishna). You’ve heard of Christian Creationism? This is Hindu Creationism. Thompson dedicates this, like all of his books, to Prabhupada. And the fruits of his research, like Christian Creationism, is geared to confirm Hinduism, particularly the Vedas of ancient India. In seeking to confirm the ancient writings of India as historical in rather than metaphorical, Thompson’s life’s work was made up of seeking out confirmations. Thus leading to the UFO phenomenon.

Part two of the book shows parallels between elements of the UFO mythos to what is written in ancient Indian epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana. Where people today recount their abductions by aliens, the ancient Indian epics recount similar tales. People see incredible machines in the sky that perform amazing maneuvers, so too in Indian tales. All the elements of the UFO mythos are right there in Indian epics from space travel and contactees, to traveling full body to other planes. Moving through walls and long distance telepathy, complete with several different beings (races) communicating with human beings and giving similar messages about our world being tied to their world.

Thompson does an excellent job making the comparisons. I find disagreement in the final conclusion. Whereas he makes the connections suggesting there really are many races of beings furnishing the universe on many planes of existence (the Hindu Creationist positions), my conclusion is that the ancient Hindu stories no more make up reality than any of the earth’s mythologies. Elements that make up the UFO mythos plagues every religion which is why ever since the first contactees in the 1950s, UFO religions have come around. Because of the similarities, the use of the same archetypes, plugging flying saucers piloted by occupants concerned about the well being of the human race (complete with others bent on destroying them) is as easy as putting on a new coat of paint. The UFO mythos is simply a space age mythology using the same elements found in Hindu mythology and among other cultures worldwide.

ALIEN IDENTITIES is made up of anecdotal information and does not qualify as scientific evidence. Scientifically speaking, there is no physical evidence good enough to convince today’s physicists, chemists, biologists, or otherwise experts in their fields that planet earth is being visited by aliens from outer space or some other dimension. It is always possible, but the evidence offered to date says it’s improbable. So while comparing old and new stories is intriguing, it can be better explained by human psychology rather than re-imagining what makes up the universe. It’s better explained through poetry, not history.

ALIEN IDENTITIES is an excellent contribution to comparative mythology of the old to the new and is worth reading for this very reason. It gets four stars because of it.

[Dan Zarfati · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books ever, Richard is the single ancient alien researcher who does know a lot about the UFO phenomena. He truly has a great understanding of the Rig Veda, and he draws very interesting parallels between the ufo phenomena and the sacred texts, it is a book that did fill the gap, but I felt it did deserve a second book on the subject, as it is very vast and Richard seems to be able to deliver more into that.

[Carlos · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm glad I picked up a copy of this after listening to Wisdom of the Sages podcast. Personally I've witness four to five UFOs within the span of 10 years and so makes me a believer but this book brings you a bunch of other stories with skepticism and truth of the matter!

[Lura Lopez]

nice i want

[Erik Graff · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book by the coauthor of Forbidden Archeology is another Vallee-like attempt to trace what we now call the UFO in history across cultures and the globe. The particular emphasis of this author is on, as might be expected, Vedic records.

I found it boring. Vallee is better, but the Indian sources were, some of them, new to me and might be worth looking into.

[Jerry Perry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very informative. Some parts were a bit confusing with too much Vedic termonlogy to keep up with, but overall a worthwhile read.