Close Encounters with Perceived Non-Human Intelligence

Greetings Explorers,

For eight weeks at the end of 2023, I had the distinct pleasure of participating in an online course titled, Phenomenology of UAP, offered through Society for UAP Studies (SUAPS), taught by Kimberly S. Engels, PhD. In this course, we considered examples of close encounters of the first through fifth kinds. We explored new questions and lines of inquiry, as it is clear the contact experience is a human experience that challenges the boundaries of mainstream science, psychology, philosophy and religion.

Dr. Engels, a philosophy professor, is giving a zoom webinar on her close encounter research, including the Whitley Strieber letters as well as some human subjects research, with the Lawn Chair Philosophical Foundation this Saturday, May 25, at 2pm ET. This free presentation will explore research on human encounters with a perceived non-human intelligence (NHI). Since the announcement of the secret government UFO program in 2017, the discussion of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) has exploded into mainstream political discourse, and several academic organizations have formed that discuss the UAP issue in scholarly ways.
This research uses the phenomenological method to examine testimonies from experiencers or those who report some form of contact with perceived NHIs; letters sent to Whitley Strieber in the aftermath of Communion, and human subjects research on experiencers conducted in 2023.
By exploring the phenomenological structure of the close encounter experience and its aftermath, Dr. Engels will begin by showing how the reported encounters violate the prevailing social ontology, or the boundaries of “truth” and “reality,” as understood in mainstream Western society.
She will argue that close encounters are ultimately subversive, transformative experiences that result in profound shifts in experiencers' values, beliefs, and worldviews. Such experiences are meant to leave the experiencer questioning their current understanding of reality and thus make them open to the possibility of a new metaphysical and ethical paradigm.
Drawing connections between the clown or trickster figure in Native American worldviews and the close encounter experience, Dr. Engels pushes beyond the strictures of our prevailing social ontology to meet opposing views on their own terms."

As a former student of Dr. Engels, the zoom link to her presentation was provided to me as a courtesy. I was given permission to share the link within our group of Explorers to those who rsvp for the event on our meetup website. Because the presentation is interactive and live, the link is not to be shared with others. I expect that there will be comments and questions from former students, researchers and other serious scholars. However, if you are unable to participate there's good news. The lecture will be recorded. I will provide a video link when it comes available. The physical meeting address below is not valid since the event is online.

I will send the live webinar link to members who rsvp before the event on Saturday.

Steve, Explorers Organizer