Out on a limb?

"Electric UFOs" by Albert Budden is a book attempting to give a natural explanation of UFOs and other paranormal phenomena. For good or for worse, Budden's explanation turns out to be pretty exotic, so exotic that it's doubtful whether the more sober-minded debunkers and sceptics will accept it. Still, I found the book interesting, for many reasons.

Budden believes that electromagnetic fields (EM fields) are responsible for most paranormal phenomena, by inducing altered states of consciousness in humans. Aliens, ghosts or angels are hallucinations created by EM fields. Other phenomena might be caused by the EM fields in a more direct manner. In fact, they might *be* EM fields. Thus, Budden suggests that many UFOs are actually a kind of electromagnetic flashes, and that poltergeists might be EM fields running amuck.

Ironcially, Budden's explanations sometimes border the paranormal. Thus, he believes in "ley lines", suggesting they emit EM fields, and for that reason are associated with "supernatural" occurrences. Budden also suggests that ghosts might be some kind of "place memory" of an electromagnetic character. The most sensational part of his book deals with the Hutchison effect. Canadian inventor John Hutchison claims to have invented a machine that can make non-metallic objects levitate. The effect have never been independently verified or even demonstrated, but Budden believes it might explain poltergeists, which can levitate non-metallic objects as well.

The most interesting parts of "Electric UFOs" are the case studies. The author claims that people who encountered "aliens", "ghosts" or "angels" exhibit the same symptoms: missing time, food allergy, oversensitivity to light and sounds, etc. Electronic equipment often stops or malfunctions in their presence. Some develop spiritual interests and obsessively start writing down "messages" from the aliens or their own subconscious minds. Budden believes that these are typical products of EM pollution. The persons he interviewed all experienced a Major Electric Event (MEE) in their past, making them extremely sensitive to electromagnetic fields. Essentially, they are allergic to electricity, radio emissions, etc. This triggers repeated "encounters" with the aliens. A history of domestic abuse is also common, making the subjects withdrawn and prone to dissociate. This makes it easier for altered states of consciousness to be induced.

The reason why I found the above interesting, is that the claims are, in principle, testable. Also, similar after-effects have been reported in the case of out of body experiences (OOBs) and near-death experiences (NDEs). At least by some researchers, such as P.M.H. Atwater in her controversial "Beyond the Light".

"Electric UFOs" also raises the question how far you can go in accepting paranormal claims, without becoming a believer in their reality. Budden's strategy seems to be to accept the reality of the paranormal, while claiming that it's really "normal", being a consistent effect of a hitherto unknown form of electromagnetism. However, the very consistency of the phenomenon, not to mention the lay lines, poltergeists or place memories, is also compatible with the notion that the phenomena are supernatural. Perhaps spirit-beings are electric or use electricity as a conduit to reach our level of reality?

Relax. I'm not suggesting that they are. I'm simply pointing out that Albert Budden might have gone a bit too far for his fellow sceptics... ;-)

Perhaps that's why his book only has four reviews on Amazon and seems to be quietly forgotten...