I was a cohost on this Peeranormal episode on Crop Circles.
Crop circles are well known — patterns that appear in fields of crops when certain areas of the field are compressed. Investigators have long noted how the stalks are bent uniformly, without visible damage. This episode of Peeranormal takes a look at some of the sparse academic peer-reviewed research on crop circles to discuss if they are man-made, created by an unknown natural force, or something paranormal.
5 comments on “Crop Circles: Aliens, Plasma Vortex or Human Creation?”
Good podcast. On the one hand, as Christians we need to be objective, and so be wary of appealing too readily/quickly to the demonic to explain Forteana. On the other hand, we shouldn’t be afraid to do so if that hypothesis best fits the evidence compared to competing hypotheses. The possibility that 1. there might be anomalous factors that make the human origins hypothesis unlikely (e.g. alleged genetic anomalies and evidence of technologically advanced focused use of radiation) and 2. that the messages are ambiguous would be in keeping with a demonic source for some of crop circles. Though, admittedly, that doesn’t rise to the level of proof.
Near the end of the podcast the panelists rightly point out that if these are extra-terrestrial communications, then they’re terrible at it. This esoteric ambiguity is consistent with demonic evil since it hides as much as it reveals and invites gnostic speculations rather than open, public and verifiable data. Why not communicate propositionally using Mandarian, Spanish or English (the top 3 languages on Earth)? Why not reveal verifiably advanced scientific or mathematical equations? For example, in the movie Contact, with Jodi Foster, the ETs gave instructions on how to build an advanced machine. In Species, with Natasha Henstridge, the ETs provided a formula to produce an endless supply of fuel.
The hide and seek nature of crop circles is exactly what we find repeatedly in the occult. It attempts to lure people in a way that seems to have as its goal worldview deception. Or worldview alteration at the very least. But not so revolutionary that it changes the world. Just like how occult and/or paranormal phenomena is difficult to reproduce in a scientific environment (e.g. in a laboratory), yet there’s just too much reliable testimonial evidence for their occurrence that an open minded person must acknowledge their reality. Admittedly, all of that is consistent with human fraud as well. That’s why at the very least the crop circle phenomena suggests the involvement of some personal conscious causal agent(s). Whether demonic, extra-terrestrial or human (or all of the above in various combinations and/or singly). In my opinion, there’s trickery involved no matter what.
Thanks for your comments, James. You make a good point that intelligent causation is required. For my money, once we’ve proven human causation, even if we haven’t found the culprits in all cases, it pretty much takes the winds out of the sails of “mystery”. Technically that doesn’t have to explain every case, but realistically, if you tie that in with the modern explosion of it from the 1970s on, then you have a rather solid case that they are tied to our own cultural baggage. Supply and demand mysteries.
I don’t know enough about crop circles to know which claims are anecdotal and which are established facts. If (for the sake of argument) some of the peculiar claims are true regarding some circles, then that would make purely human agency that much less credible in those particular instances. Especially as the number of odd claims multiply per individual circle.
For example, if a single circle suddenly appeared during the day (without the cover of night), with aerial confirmation, without entrance or exit tracks, in a limited amount of time (say in 1 hour, instead of having all night), is complex in design, is accompanied by strange lights above the area previous to discovery, with unusual radiation, with the stalks being bent in a way different than when humans use boards, and if the grain doesn’t sprout normally and have genetic anomalies (et cetera), then those cumulative claims increase the probability that it isn’t caused by humans.
Also, if the formation of circles has waned in a way that followed the decline in people’s interest in them, that’s not a sure indicator that most or all of them are human in origin. That’s consistent with a demonic cause as well. The same thing happened with Spiritualism in the 19th century. As interest declined so did reported occurrences. Same with the fascination with the occult in the U.S. during the 60s and 70s. Yet, there are enough credible reports from those times which strongly suggest something that violates or goes beyond standard versions of naturalism.
Besides a demonic hypothesis, there are non-Christians who pose other causes/sources and have written on the subject extensively like Stephen Braude or Dean Radin or (former Christian) Michael Sudduth. Braude’s favored explanation is subconscious/subliminal psi. Whereas mine is demonic deception. Though, I don’t rule out (even as a Christian) the possible existence of psychic ability, extra-terrestrials et cetera. For all I know both demons and some of these other realities/sources/causes are true simultaneously. I’m just convinced that at the bare minimum demonic activity is real based on Scriptural testimony, my own experiences and the testimony of both Christians and non-Christians past and present.
I agree with your example of the empirical evidence of the actual creation of a crop circle through non-human means. And that is precisely what we do NOT have. Just like all those Bigfoot cases. just more and more “testimonies” with no hard factual evidence. Shakey photos that turn out to be hoaxes, etc. Never actual crop circles being made other than by human means. We live in a conspiracy theory world.
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