Tales of UFOs, Bigfoot, and journeys to another universe to meet ascended masters and beings from other planets in distant universes or even alternate planes of existence. Are they just the vivid imaginations of science fiction developed from misguided individuals? Are they real life experiences albeit hard to comprehend to the average individual? Or are they the product of spiritual forces bent on warping and twisting minds in an effort to lead humanity down a path of mental, physical, and society destruction for the sole purpose of combating the God of the Bible? Timothy Dailey in his fascinating book The Paranormal Conspiracy: The Truth about Ghosts, Aliens and Mysterious Beings explores this important issue.
There can be no doubt there has long been a fascination with that which lies within what is typically labeled as the genre of science fiction and horror. Movies ranging from The Exorcist to The Blair Witch Project dive into the world of spiritualism and demonic forces. Other movies such as the classic The Day the Earth Stood Still or more recent fare such as The Avengers portray characters of great power descending upon planet Earth, some with the apparent intention of assisting the poor people of Earth with other beings seemingly devoting the entirety of their resources to rain down destruction on the third rock from the sun. Why the continued and ever increasing fascination with such things? Dailey suggests that while watching science fiction movies is not necessarily a doorway into the occult, it can be stated that when it comes to issues such as Bigfoot, UFOs, and other issues related to things of a more spiritual nature, what lies behind that door is sinister and devoted to the destruction of those who involve themselves in such pursuits often unbeknownst to those participating in this spiritual charade.
By providing a number of very interesting real life accounts of those who fell prey to the allure of this demonic influence, Dailey reveals that the source of the problem is that which the Apostle Paul warned against in Ephesians 6:12, namely the reality that our battle is not against flesh and blood opponents, but against the sinister powers of darkness that seek to destroy. Often masquerading as beings of light sent to help humanity lift themselves out of the doldrums of their existence on earth to achieve enlightenment, these spiritual forces cleverly lay traps luring their victims into a world of darkness.
We live in a world of people looking for answers. Some are increasingly turning to the occult through the form of séances, spiritualism, and all manner of dalliance with these spiritually dangerous pursuits that will ultimately lead them not to enlightenment, but rather to eternal destruction. It is vital for believers to be able to recognize the root of this evil that has become so popular in our day. Some state this is just an innocent game. As Dailey saliently shows throughout this informative and excellent book, this is no game. A real evil exists that seeks to destroy.
I truly appreciated the way in which Dailey presented the material in this book. He allowed the stories themselves to demonstrate what going down the path of the paranormal will result in for those who have tread that dangerous road. Dailey also concludes his effort with the answer to this issue at hand, namely the saving message of the gospel. Hurts in our lives cannot be answered by trying to reach out to someone across the grave. Scripture calls such things an abomination and warns repeatedly against becoming involved in such activities. As Dailey states so powerfully, “there is One who is greater than the dark, malevolent forces that have only fear, chaos hopelessness to offer” and his name is Jesus and he offers eternal life for those who call on his name.
I highly recommend this book for all believers. It is impactful, substantive, and very much needed in a time when the search for answers is leading many down the path towards embracing the dark and demonic. Dailey opens the door on the paranormal conspiracy revealing it for the charade that it is, helping the reader understand its agenda and how to battle against this pernicious enemy.
I received this book for free from Baker Publishing Group for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
The author's premise is "that a diabolical conspiracy is afoot; a plot to lead human hearts and souls eternally astray". He defines this paranormal conspiracy as "the diabolical plot to overthrow the Judeo-Christian worldview and plunge the world into darkness and chaos not unlike that of the cinematic zombie apocalypse" (The description of this book was misleading. It's not actually about paranormal stories in "today's pop culture" as most of the events in the books are from the 20th century and even the 19th century).
The author describes a number of paranormal phenomena, including Bigfoot, UFOs, alien abductions and occult spirit guides. In the book, he describes these various paranormal phenomena in great detail and and also tell us the life stories of Carlos Castaneda, Helena Blavatsky, Percy Fawcett and Aleister Crowley. It's well researched and some chapters are interesting, but as a whole, the many subjects make the book feel a bit disjointed. With less descriptions of every subject, the author's point could easily have been presented in article form. His point is that these phenomena are all demonic deceptions, a paranormal conspiracy that "seeks to subvert the rational view of the world through mysterious entities that thrive on instability, confusion and fear". To the author, this "rational view of the world" means the Christian faith, and Jesus is the way to be saved from demonic deceptions. The author's arguments are unlikely to convince a nonbeliever, so the book is recommended only to Christian readers.
2+
Chosen Books provided me with a free digital copy through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Dr. Dailey, Ph.D. is a respected educator and radio show contributor. He writes from the perspective of a Judeo-Christian. I went into reading this book with an appreciation for his background and insight into phenomena with a dark side. His choice of narratives about a combination of historically-recorded phenomena, historical events, and various studies presents problems. Some of these narratives work better than others but he is successful in conveying the threats posed by each of the phenomena, ritual, practice, or ideology presented within this book.
The author begins by focusing on tales of sorrow and longing for loved ones. His on love that is pure is the jumping off point for the author. While there is a path to pure love that comes from a source of good -God there is also false love that is self-serving (bad) that comes from the deceiver, the devil. He asserts that there is an organized paranormal conspiracy to deceive people to embrace the dark. The Judeo-Christian concept of love, mercy, truth, and humility is contradicted by the paranormal (earthly) concepts of desire, want, deception, and arrogance. He focuses on the forces (agents) of Paranormal Conspiracy fighting a God-centered cosmology. He warns of being fooled to accept enlightenment through other (false) sources - New Age; animism, UFOlogy; Modern Occultism, Satanism, et al. The false promises they offer NEVER fulfill and are always deceptive.
His narrative of drug use opening the door tot he demonic was well-constructed. Deception received a huge help in the 1960s through the 1980s when psychedelic drugs (LSD) and mushrooms, that were marketed and embraced by writers (Aldous Huxley, William Burroughs, and Jack Kerouac) and musicians (Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Jim Morrison). These artists and celebrities believed that these hallucinogens led to a new form of spirituality. They married this with magic and mysticism to include transcendental meditation, tantric yoga, witchcraft as acceptable spiritual vehicles. In time, shamanism as championed by writer, Carlos Castaneda grew in popularity. His bizarre dreams and visions were written down and shared with thousands of followers. His abandonment of his wife and life to live with witches (followers) reflected a cult-like spiritual movement to reach a higher level of perceived reality. Regardless of their popularity all failed to deliver the goods. These perceived "doors of (new) perception" actually opened the door the demon-haunted world of the occult. The author argues that this movement was a part of the Paranormal Conspiracy.
The Devil and his fallen angels possess the ability to adapt any form or appearance, They have used this for generations to include mythical and legendary creatures and cryptids. The author cites the experiences of an intrepid science teacher, Thom Powell who threw himself into Bili (large apes) versus Bigfooot (Sasquatch) research. The author points to the historical main challenges to the 'Bigfoot' existence: no nests, enough dung, feeding remains, tools, footprints, and carcasses) which leaves the door open to another theory about their existence and origin. Recent (last 30+ years_ recordings of supposed Sasquatch, hair, substantive footprints, videos, and photos have given much credibility to the possible existence of the cryptid, The 1967Patterson-Gimlin video remains the most convincing BUT the 'truism' of the creature is still not 100%. Bigfoot advocates are still fighting the good fight but newer theories threaten their age-old theories of the creature being a different branch of humanoid creatures. Still insufficient empirical evidence aside, a UFO connection courtesy of J. Allen Hynek, renown UFO researcher & USAF Project Blue Book advisor. It was he who first identified the parallel between UFOs to Bigfoot, specifically its ability to disappear quickly and the presence of UFOs in the vicinity of its being spotted or reported. It was this phenomena that raised questions over whether this cryptid was a descendant of Gigantopithecus or a being from another 'reality' (trans-physical or interdimensional), The lack of physical evidence opened the door to the theory that Bigfoot is a cryptid from another planet or dimension: Hell. The author's premise and contention clicked.
The Christian author's narrative about UFOlogy claims that the mani about UFOs is like a madness that has gripped the country and world 60+ years. He focuses on Mr. Hynek's assertion of a UFO and the evil-intentioned aliens (Grays). The description and behavior of these 'Grays' is similar to what survivors of demonic possession remember. This belief is now embraced by Christian paranormal investigators developing a demonic connection given the nature of UFO events. It has been established that UFO aliens and demons' behavior is similar in that they: both commit sexual assaults, appear and disappear, primarily operate in the dark, have no respect for man/woman, and are reptilian in appearance. The UFO obsession has also fueled the offshoot of Ufology study. UFO-philes have also developed an 'ancient' history of alien intervention throughout man's history. From altering his physical development to creating a culture aliens and intervening throughout history as the center piece, the Ancient Alien theory has exploded. It has married the beliefs of Madame Helena Blavatsky, Erick Von Daniken, Zechariah Stitchen, L. Ron Hubbard with legends and myths to create a alien ethos belief. This belief explains away technological marvels and advancements by saying 'otherworldly' forces helped out. This is a strong and growing movement that is countered by the Christians re-fashioning one of their theories of 'intellectual design' and 'alien intervention' and assigning the roles to God and God & His angels. The Christian ethos is that God has protected man (and woman) by stopping the interference of Satan (the Devil) and his minions. There has been a strong connection to the occult resulting from study and analysis of demonic and alien events, It is clear that there is a malevolence on behalf of the aliens toward man. The line has been drawn between the good (God) and evil (Satan). This battle of theories points to a battle of God & His angels versus the Devil & demons. I foudn this to be one of his best narratives within the book.
While pop culture, assertions of cover-ups, secret planetary agreements, and theories prop up this UFO alien communication, there has never been a universal revelation to all of mankind. Human vessels and locales have been presented but the world awaits a grand entrance by aliens. However, the Christian assertions seem more tangible because of historical record and accounts of 'alien' intervention, phenomena, evidence of abductions, and appearances.
The author's focus on the alien abduction survivors includes the moving and engrossing account of Whitley Streiber's lifelong alien abduction experiences. Mr. Streiber vividly described the experimentation on his body and the cryptids he saw. Still, self-deception about alien abduction experiences is raised regularly. The disbelief is based on another Paranormal Conspiracy contention that people undergoing a traumatic experience open themselves to machinations of the devil. The ritual spiritualism at the hands of alleged aliens and unearthly cryptids is evil in nature. Streiber later embraced the demonic nature of his experiences after Christian therapy and re=connecting with his Christian faith courtesy of his wife's intervention. On a side note, Streiber returned to being a practicing Christian. The author also delves into the fertility experiments on women conducted by aliens. Examinations of these female alien abductees reveals scars of incisions and invasive surgeries on the reproductive organs followed by therapy sessions. Through the use of hypnosis, repressed memories of many women having eggs harvested and impregnated opened the door of the sexual nature of these nighttime visitations and abductions. All of this gathered evidence points to evil aspect of this phenomena. The existence of these interdimensional beings is no longer doubted. Their nature and reasons fall into the scope of the Paranormal Conspiracy.
For a reason that does not make sense, Dr. Dailey includes the sad tale of British explorer, Colonel Percy Fawcett, who was sent to Brazil by officials of the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) in London to survey and re-establish the boundary between Bolivia and Brazil. While there, Fawcett is intrigued to locate a supposed ancient lost city in the Amazon. His reasons for this are that Percy's brother, Edward was involved in the Spiritualist Movement headed by Madame Helena Blavatsky. Madame Blavatsky would delve deep into the mysteries of Eastern philosophy and beliefs. She would lead a movement that would attract manyearly-20th century, Chiefly, members of the Nazi party. As a member the Theosophist movement which embraced occult practices and rituals, Edward was drawn to the pagan religions of the East. It was he who introduced Fawcett, who in turn became intrigued by Blavatsky's vision of lost civilizations. He was convinced that this 'lost city of Lemuria' was an outpost of extraterrestrial beings. The Fawcett obsession the occult world was fed by Blavatsky. In time, seances, and ritualistic dedications of Fawcett's children to the Great White Brotherhood darkened the family. As an adult, the paranoid Fawcett man searched tirelessly for secrets in the jungle to no avail. It would fall to his son, Brian to finish this dark quest in the early 1970s. To no avail, the colonel's doomed search was conformed a failure based on his diary and his son's following his fruitless quest. This muddled and meandering narrative slowed down the pace of this book. It is his weakest narrative.
The author dedicates a section of the investigation (& involvement) in metaphysical rituals & rituals by author and journalist, Joe Fisher. Seeking to unveil the truth about past lives and channeling, Fischer underwent experiences that introduced him to re-incarnation, astral projections through hypnotism, seances, et al. While he did gain an insight into repressed previous life experiences, he had many concerns about the effects on his spirit. While hypnosis can be used as a way to resolve issues, addictions, and obsessions, it can open doors to other worlds. Fischer also dealt with lost loves with whom he is re-united through a spirit guide, Filipa. The author relates of another time when one was transported during a seance led by Aviva, a well-known seance leader. Fischer did believe that great lessons and knowledge could be gained while in a trance. But, he does warn about the potential of evil by relating the humiliation that Fisher experienced when he was duped by charlatans. Fisher discovered that these spirit guides or entities engaged in constant manipulation and lies. He was left in a quandary by this realization. He turned to the 'pretas' of Hindu and Buddhist tradition (Tibetan meditation) that gave him an insight to the truths about what he had experienced. This unveiled and perhaps forbidden knowledge destroyed Fisher's pre-conceived notions about everything paranormal. His physical health, state of mind, and professional life spiraled downward as Fischer learned that he had been manipulated and controlled by demons and their minions (spirit guides, psychic, fortune tellers, et al). He did see his expose book, "Hungry Ghosts." He learned too late that the souls of evil and selfish people who, upon death, hunger for worldly experiences were the ones summoned through these pagan rituals. Food, alcohol, sexual acts or fetishes, emotions, manipulation of others - whatever the living human obsessed with is carried over to the 'Hungry ghost.' He wrote of the unholy spirit being earthbound and 'hungry' to attach to the living by whatever means. Perhaps it was this that possessed Fisher's last days and thoughts. This ominous portend may have been what led him to go Elora Gorge. Whether he suffered from "brain fog", depression, or a stark realization that 'demons do exist' and they attack humans who get in their crosshairs. These nasty spirits weakened and fed on Fisher's inadequacies, targeting his body and soul. Fisher's demise either by accident or murder fall in line with the fatal nature of these evil entities. In the end, this narrative about Fisher is a warning about delving into the world of spiritism and evil entities. I rate this the best of the narratives within this book.
The name of Aleister Crowley summons up the label of the 'most evil man in the world,' 'the devil's ambassador,' and 'progenitor of the occult.' Using Cicada 3301, a cryptic message investigated by a cybersecurity researcher, Joel Erickson in 2014, the author reveals a computer code on the inrnet revealed a gateway to the darkest levels of the Internet world. The darknet was hiding a dark secret with a connection a man of pure evil - Crowley. In time, a coded message was revealed to be developed by Aleister Crowley, the occultist leader and self-proclaimed "Great Beast 666." It was in invitation with excerpts from Crowley's article, Liber Primus and his book, "Liber AL vel legis (The Book of the Law) which encouraged to throw off the shackles of a Western Christian civilization. Crowley who had been afforded a top education and a Christian faith foundation had rebelled against his parents. Part of his rebellion was to become a mountain climber, rejected his family's Christian morality, and join the Order of the Oriental Templars. This last change came on the heels of his exposure to Oriental thought and religions. In a short time, he frequented with prostitutes, He threw of the Christian heritage and moral tradition. His stature grew as celebrities like Timothy Leary, Aldous Huxley, Yoko Ono, Jimmy Page, and Paul McCartney cited his philosophy as playing a role in their crafts. Crowley's influence is evidenced by his fluid definitions; identity is evolving, His cryptic code was an invitation join his movement. He enticed many to believe join the Occult Church of America. Satanism is a viable and threat to the Christian faith.
The author cites that many believe that ghostly demonic phenomena parallels UFO alien phenomena to the point that they are often recorded as occurring simultaneously. The authenticity of these types of psychic phenomena cannot fully be verified by paranormal investigators, seers, nor mediums. Because psychic/paranormal events cannot be fully proven to be one or the other there is room for overlap. Psychic phenomena has been subjected to parapsychological research into clairvoyance and mental telepathy. Remote viewing has also been applied to paranormal psychic phenomena. This last approach employs using psychic powers to communicate what they see. Unable to unwrap the mystery of this psychic healers have been brought in to study how they heal and perhaps the origin of their gifts. Since no origin be traced back, they remain shrouded in mystery. Like the tricksters found throughout ancient tribal societies, these individuals must get their powers from a common source. These gifts which are used by those not of or apart from the traditional Christian faith must come from a source other God. If this is the case with these gifts then why not the UFO aliens? They convey malevolence and evil and often war with each other. The realm of Satan is not uniform like some believe because pride runs rampant. One can see this when looking at cases of possessions, abductions, and other paranormal phenomena. The main focus is to lead souls astray so these the agents of these types of phenomena have only one purpose. This mono-purpose is accompanied by haughtiness, cruelty, and destruction. Stepping back, one can see that all who practice and participate in the paranormal are minions and puppets of the Devil. Those investigating this phenomena are pawns and unable to be objective. They can provide no truthful, fill, or objective analysis or insight despite all their technology and experience. The author lays it out simply, the reptilian force behind the Paranormal Conspiracy has age-old mastery of deception and manipulation.
The author wraps his book with a view that God created all and some of Hos creation went bad. It is these who are behind the Paranormal Conspiracy. They alone are behind the paranormal and the occult. If unchecked, their presence will continue to corrupt society in which terror and dark forces will rule. Their progress can be studied and analyzed by humans through new technology - AI and Virtual Reality. Although man possesses the intelligence and technology they cannot battle the evil alone. A profound faith in and reliance on God is needed, but only God can battle the ultimate evil and his conspiracy of terror and deception.
Remember, it was Satan who led the rebellion against God. Satan has set himself up as the anti-creator. While he does not the divine power of creation, he destroys what God has made and designed. While God controls the supernatural (divine miracles), Satan controls the preternatural (deceptive trickery). The devil bends the laws of nature through incredible materializations and phenomena. He also uses virtual reality which he imposes upon the mind. This demonic reality manipulates the mental and emotional state. Through shamanism, hallucinogenic drugs, et al, Satan convinces people that he is the equal of God and they can be god-like. Personas like the indigenous 'trickster;' Crowley, Blavatsky, Hitler, et al serve as his advocates and are likely "perfectly possessed' individuals. These human beings belong to Satan and help propel the paranormal conspiracy. Their spiritual transformation sets them against the Holy Spirit-anointed followers of God.
Dr, Dailey uses the narrative of scientists involved in virtual reality and AI who believed that have tapped the mind of the creator but what they really are toying with is Satan. Satan cannot defeat God but he is deceiving millions to think he can and marking their souls for Hell. Stan, the Destroyer wars with undying hatred against all that is good. He uses man's desire to be loved and valued against them and dooms them, In the end, the Devil will lose and be cast into the lake of fire by God.
While this book had several solidly-developed chapters mixed in with others that went too far off topic, the author made it clear that man can be taken captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy. But, God is the head over every power and authority. I recommend this book to those seeking clarity over the current world deception.
I don’t normally rate books on this author’s pseudonym account, but I feel that I must put in a good word for this book. In order to justify my rating, allow me to explain the story behind why I read it.
This past Thanksgiving, we were unwitting hosts to the house-guest from hell. Literally—from Hell. A relative spent most of the holiday trying to introduce my family to his dead lover, whom he was convinced had contacted him from beyond the grave to guide him on his quest for truth about aliens and government conspiracies. If I hadn’t grown up with more than my own fair share of paranormal encounters—enough to make me doubt my own sanity several times—I would have thought my relative was just bonkers. Instead, I realized that he was being seduced by a demon.
But what to do? How do you fight the supernatural? I tried using reason and I tried quoting from scripture, but the “lover” spirit in him just kept dodging and twisting my arguments. By the time his visit was over, our entire family was shaken and praying for something to help us pull him out of his diabolical delusion. And I was wondering just how close I was myself to succumbing to this supernatural insanity that seems to keep flaring up in my family.
Then my wife went Christmas shopping and found this book. (She says she felt led to it, but she was actually looking for T-shirts when she spotted it on the shelf.)
While I will admit that I don’t agree with everything this author says, the main points are spot-on. (Who is to say that some of the “Bigfoot” sightings are not real and some are something else assumed to be “Skookum” for lack of a better thing to name it?) Interestingly enough, almost every chapter was relevant to some aspect of my own paranormal experiences—from aliens and bigfoot to witchcraft to the final description of a woman being demonically assaulted and discovering a way to drive it off.
I don’t know if the advice from this book is going to help my particular family member, but it definitely helped me cast off the doubts about my own sanity and my concerns about the destiny of myself and my children. I see that some people gave this book a low rating, and I have to wonder how thick into the fray they were when they read it. For somebody who, like me, is unfortunate to have been thrown at a young age into the paranormal world, this book is more than a life-saver. It is a sanity saver.
Note: Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, I have obtained a copy of this book to read in return for an honest review.
One Minute Book Review-The Paranormal Conspiracy by Timothy Dailey
The Summary:
Dr. Dailey gives us a new look at the possible source of paranormal phenomena in our world.
What I liked:
I got this book on a whim, it just sounded interesting. But when I learned more about Dailey, I started worrying, and wondering exactly what I had gotten myself into. I don’t think it’s any secret that I’m a Christian, but Dr. Dailey’s brand seems to be a little more. . . fundamental than mine.
But I was pleasantly surprised. I knew of all the references he made to the different paranormal phenomena he was pointing out, so I knew he wasn’t embellishing. This book was well written, and Dr. Dailey’s agenda here wasn’t thrown in your face. It presented an argument, and while I’m not sure if it was overly convincing – although, look, it’s no crazier than a lot of the other theories out there – it wasn’t too in your face. There was a nice, balanced tone to it which I really appreciated.
What I didn’t like:
It was a solid book, and well researched, but boring. So boring at times. I mean, there was good collection of interesting tales in this book, but. . . there were times when it was simply so dry and I wanted to be reading something, anything, else.
Verdict:
For the person who likes this kind of book, I would recommend it.
What can you say about a book that takes "recovered memories" of alien abductions seriously? Just by claiming they weren't "really aliens" does not make your credulity of a thoroughly debunked psychoanalytic practice any less suspect. Either this guy is truly an imbecile (which I doubt) or he is going out of his way to avoid mountains of evidence and experts (like Elizabeth Loftus) to sell Evangelical® propoganda to the unwashed masses without giving them any other take on these "phenomena." I mean, repression, really???
The book was interesting but really did not explain some things fully....Very good explanations of the spiritual connection......I read an advanced copy, maybe the edited edition will explain further.
I received this book through the librarything.com early review giveaway. I found this book to be confusing in some parts. To me it kept going back and forth. It didn't explain everything that was in the summary.
This book is interesting, mainly for the reason of the author, who is a devoted Christian, not putting off paranormal experiences. He gives insight into the many of today's most unexplained events, and doesn't just push these paranormal creatures off as just entertainment. I liked how much research the author did because you could tell he put a lot of time and effort into each topic. He also doesn't go overboard with trying to make you believe in certain religious acts and beliefs. The reason I gave this book two stars is because: 1.The majority of book was boring with lots of useless information that made the book really hard to read at times. 2.The author interprets each paranormal conspiracy as a demon being behind all these occurrences, which I agree with, but for someone who isn't very religious, the author's claim that if you call for your Lord and Savior these creatures can't harm you isn't valid then. It kind of makes this book geared towards Christians only instead of curious paranormal lovers and non-believers.
I picked this up after an intriguing conversation with my dad about ghosts and paranormal stuff, and I wanted insight into a Biblical point of view.
While the stories in here were mildly interesting, it was mostly just that: a compilation of stories of people's paranormal experiences without many conclusions. The Biblical input was really the bare minimum. However, it was sufficiently creepy enough that I don't want to read another book like it. 😅
I agree with most of the other reviews. The book is well researched and even well written but it's point kind of alluded me. I understand that the author wants us to believe that all things paranormal are in line with the devil, but until the very end, the thoughts are never really tied together. It wasn't a bad book though and it was a quick read, so I won't complain too much.
This book helped put into perspective the strange thinks people claim they see such as UFOs. People who c!aim these things have little or no proof. Only faith in Jesus Christ can insulate someone from false beliefs.
As a kid I watched every episode of the X-Files. Who didn’t watch that show? They made it cool to believe in UFOs and the extraterrestrial. And there was a time in my life when I really believed I saw a UFO. I later came to realize, and actually confirm, that what I saw were the lights shining from a local grocery store upon the nights sky. As a kid I really wanted to believe UFOs and aliens were real. While I was pretty skeptical about Bigfoot, I believed the Loch Ness Monster was probably real. I had a healthy fascination with the paranormal – to a point.
This fascination stopped short of believing in ghosts, alien abductions, and vanishing people. But our culture is full of people who believe in the whole gamut of paranormal conspiracy’s. To help Christians think through these issues Timothy Dailey has written The Paranormal Conspiracy: The Truth About Ghosts, Aliens and Mysterious Beings (Chosen, 2015). Dailey is an experienced researcher, writer, and has served overseas in cross-cultural ministry. These experiences have equipped him to tackle a subject like the paranormal.
The jist of Dailey’s book is that while testimony abounds regarding experiences with the paranormal, these, often times intense, experiences must be weighed and examined like anything else for their authenticity; especially against the Bible. For instance, the chapter on Bigfoot, is a textbook case example of how to evaluate the claims made by people over the past few decades concerning the existence of a large animal that lives in the woods and walks upright like a human. After Dailey provides an overview of the history of Bigfoot, he evaluates the evidence for it and finds it utterly lacking (sorry Bigfoot fans!).
Just because people want to believe some things are real, or because they have invested so much emotional capital into an experience, does not mean that we cannot demand of those who have experienced them proof of their authenticity. We cannot let our emotional attachment to something cloud our judgment in evaluating it like we would anything else in life.
In The Paranormal Conspiracy, Dailey brings a sane, clear, and sensitive look at the sensational claims of many over the decades regarding a myriad of paranormal claims. This is a serious accounting and evaluation of some of the most culturally mesmerizing paranormal claims. Dailey provides a dose or reality and sanity in a world gone mad with the paranormal.
I received this book for free from Chosen Books for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
What a confounding book. On the one hand, it's meticulously researched and engagingly written, full of sad and mysterious stories about those who have succumbed to the machinations of the "Paranormal Conspiracy." On the other, the author suggests not scientific explanations for these accounts, but declares that parallel dimensions of demonic entities are responsible for the growing popularity of paranormal pop culture over the last few centuries. So it's not aliens, or Bigfoot, or spirits we need to worry about here, it's just Satan. Yes, really.
I entered to win this as a FirstReads giveaway, and while I knew what I was most likely getting into with recommendation blurbs from The Family Research Council and "Amen!" as the literal last word of the book, I was expecting some semblance of objectivity and academic rigor given the author's impressive credentials. I'm not surprised that I turned out to be wrong.
As an agnostic, I'm most definitely not the target audience of this book, and as an fan of scary stories, horror movies, creepy TV shows--all very obviously fictional--I'm not dissuaded from my preferences in the least. If anything, this book makes its claims sound just as outlandish as anything on "Finding Bigfoot" or "Ancient Aliens."
I'm still going to let science do the explaining, and if something can't be explained by science, that doesn't mean that parallel demons intent on destroying our souls are the culprit. Some things are never going to be explained. Maybe it's not possible to know the why or how or everything.
ALSO: The back cover copy mentions "Teenage Vampires," but nowhere are these discussed in the book itself, which might have actually allowed for some interesting analysis of early Christianity and its own missive to drink the blood of Christ. That misleading marketing grab, clearly targeting the Twilight fanbase and fans of other spooky pop culture a la Buffy or Vampire Diaries, feels desperate and disingenuous.
The Paranormal Conspiracy: The Truth about Ghosts, Aliens and Mysterious Beings By Timothy Dailey
As a Christian I see our world being obsessed and overrun with the occult and paranormal. It is seen in music, television shows, books, and even children’s cartoons. The sad part is how widely accepted it is by even those who profess to know Christ. Because the supernatural seems to have no other explanation, ridiculous and impossible stories are believed. I know these things are but a smokescreen to Satan’s greater and darker agenda in this world. My desire to read this book was twofold. First, to be able to share the truth based on God’s Word about mysterious occurrences with those who are deceived. This is not a big book, but it is packed with documented and thoroughly researched material. Mr. Dailey certainly has all his ducks in a row! He pulls the curtain back and exposes these facades for what they are: deception and lies. He also sounds the alarm that this is not innocent fun and games but can result in serious harm to Christians and non-believers alike. Even though I have never believed in these peculiar events others report, I was curious for an explanation. The author systematically and plainly lays out the subterfuge of each type paranormal incident. He even covers some things I had never thought of. I boils down to the fact there is no evidence to prove any of them to be real. A unique book needed in a time when few are addressing the onslaught of satanic ideas and falsehoods. An excellent resource! I received this book for free from Baker Publishing Group for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I won a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review thanks to the First Reads giveaway program.
3/5 stars
Let me start by saying that I am a fan of the paranormal. I am also a Christian. So I don't take the paranormal very seriously. It's just fun to think about. Like, I love Harry Potter, but I know that there's no such thing as wizards and sadly magic is not real.
The book starts out a bit preachy, which almost scared me off. I was afraid the whole book would be about how fake it all is. I was pleasantly surprised that the author, for the most part, took an objective stand point as he explored a few interesting aspects of paranormal culture.
There were actually a LOT of interesting stories contained inside this little book. Supposedly true accounts from some super notable sources were pretty cool to learn about. The writing was a bit stiff and pretentious at times, but the content was delicious. You can really tell that the author did his research.
Overall, this was an interesting and intelligent read.
From familiar names to unfamiliar names. Whether we are been told of the life of Carlos Castaneda or talking about the Bili Ape. We get accounts that the author feels ties in more to the evil spirit and demon realm; or that brings in the old argument of Patterson - Gimlin or what the figures are for life on other planets to come here.
If hearing about an abduction that stops because the name of Jesus is said (I am sure I have hear the first account in the 90's), or the mystery of Cicada 3301, or a bunch of ancient people that smash the dead's heads in and decapitated them (this one is in 2014, am sure I heard of a similar one in 2005 or 2010), or the background and maybe unknown information of: Percy Harrison Fawcett, (a little of) Helna Petrovna Blavatsky, Joe Fisher, some of Timothy Leary, Aleister Crowley, or anybody I didn't say. If you figure you haven't hear that much that is on this list then you can read it or not.
Either way you will learn or relearn, agree or disagree or both.
"The Paranormal Conspiracy" sells itself as a book about teenage vampires, UFO sightings, alien invasions, ghost stories, the zombie apocalypse and how Christians should respond to the paranormal in pop culture. Instead, it explores at length the cases of explorer Percy Fawcett, who disappeared while searching for the lost city of Z in the 1920s; Joe Fisher, who died mysteriously after renouncing his belief in reincarnation in a 1991 expose; and Cicada 3301's Internet puzzle. It's all over the place. Essentially, the author's argument is a new twist on the Christian response to the paranormal: Those are demons masquerading as Bigfoot and E.T., using "the universal longing for love and ultimate meaning" to lead people away from God. His approach, however, is too much of the same: using big words and Bible verses to shout down those who are interested in and have questions about the paranormal.
I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley to review.
I was raised in a Christian family and I have strong Christian values and morals. I also believe in Ghosts and have had personal paranormal experiences. This is primarily why I was eager to read this book. Sadly all this book has is claims about a dark conspiracy against Christians masquerading as the paranormal. The blurb is not accurate for what is inside the cover. I seriously believe this is aimed at making money by grabbing the attention of those of us who enjoy watching shows with zombies, vampires, UFO's and ghosts. The blurb is enough to get sales to even non-Christians with mild curiosity. In my opinion Dailey is just out to chase the golden buck with a bit of research and a far fetched opinion. It's not even pop-culture content. Label this one as false advertising and use it as a prop to keep the kitchen table from rocking. I received a copy through Chosen books in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion.
"The Bible doesn’t have much to say about demons. Or angels. Or really any manner of supernatural beings aside from the Lord Himself. Which in no way stops our contemporary culture from being fascinated with the idea that there is a world just out of sight that has a direct impact on our daily lives. Popular fiction focusing on this world of both the Christian and secular variety has become fairly mainstream. And so Timothy Dailey’s The Paranormal Conspiracy is timely and relevant. That it is well-written and interesting is just an unexpected bonus. Which is not to say that The Paranormal Conspiracy is without its problems, just that overall it is a fine read."
We live in a world where vampires, zombies, and paranormal creatures are commonplace topics in pop culture. In the book The Paranormal Conspiracy: The Truth about Ghosts, Aliens, and Mysterious Beings, Timothy Dailey, PhD, asks how Christians should respond to a culture inundated with the paranormal. This is the first book I have read on this subject, and it is a very interesting examination of how a Christian’s saturation in the paranormal affects his spiritual connection to God. I enjoyed reading Dailey’s various stories, especially the sections about Big Foot and Tel Quarasa. In some ways, it’s like a niche history book, but it also sends a very vital message. Dailey writes in a colorful and capitvating manner, and he presents his points well.
I was a little disappointed in this book. I would have rather Dailey looked at many events rather than concentrating on just a few. The in depth stories of a few people do bring a human element to the book but does limit the impact so much. He does conclude that the phenomenon has occult origins. Also, while he does assure readers that God is greater than the malevolent forces, he gives no strategy for Christians. You can see my complete review at http://bit.ly/1K9Xg9I. I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.
I received this novel through the Goodreads giveaway! I found Timothy Dailey to be a knowledgeable source who uses valid references; however some of Dailey's theories stumped me. Overall an interesting read that I enjoyed.
After finishing the book I decided that it was very confusing in parts. The concept is great, I just could not focus long enough on the book to really get into it. It does make you think about things spiritually, but I just was not too impressed.
The Paranormal Conspiracy is an interesting and yet comical read. It tells of different conspiracies involving, ghosts, Bigfoot, alien encounters and abductions, etc. I am not sure what to think of the conspiracies and the stories surrounding them but I did find them entertaining. Three stars
Not quite what I was expecting. But a very interesting read for those looking to biblically explain paranormal & supernatural things you may or may not have experienced.