“Rabbit hole” as a metaphor comes from Alice in Wonderland for describing a path that is thought to lead towards truth. However, it is an unending tunnel with twists and turns leading to other rabbit holes that lead to yet more detours that never really end. This is most certainly the case with certain elements of the UFO phenomenon, and there are some tragic examples of those who never return; Milton William Cooper and John Lear, just to name a couple.
In 1987, John Lear, son of the founder of the Learjet, who himself was a one-time cargo pilot for the CIA, said that Air Force staff had revealed to him stories about the Bentwaters Air Force base in England where, it was said, that the base’s wing commander had established a diplomatic relationship with aliens and NATO in which for the exchange of alien technology, the aliens would be allowed to abduct humans for their scientific research.* Lear’s stories caught the attention of Las Vegas news reporter George Knapp who, in the process, met Bill Cooper.
Cooper had grown up with a fascination in science fiction and during the Vietnam War had witnessed a UFO while serving on the USS Tiru in 1966 and had also become privy to some of the US Navy’s dark projects. Like many of the era, he had also become suspicious of the back story of JFK’s assassination, not to mention the Nixon administration and the US government. In his words, he had leaked information to a reporter and was subsequently run down by a black Cadillac on two occasions; the second of which resulted in his hospitalization.
Eventually the two, Lear and Cooper, would meet and often worked together speaking at, and headlining, UFO conferences. However, over time, their stories became too outlandish for even the most ardent of their supporters. Eventually there was a falling out between the two, Lear insisting that anyone who did not concur with him was a part of the counter conspiracy or working for the government. The two unamicably parted ways. Cooper’s theories became more intwined with the Trilateral Commission, which he believed was in league with the aliens for a new world order. He became a popular guest on talk radio and a best-selling author (One of his listeners and “fans” included Timothy McVeigh.) In 2001, Cooper was killed in a shoot-out in Arizona with local police who had come to arrest him over taxes. It is believed by some that his stories were the inspiration for the X-Files.
Beware the rabbit holes of the UFO phenomenon. Jesus taught that Satan is a liar (John 8:44). There may indeed be some needles of truth in various haystacks, i.e., rabbit holes, but we must always be mindful that the devil and those under his influence are masters of deception. Likewise, very good-natured people can be deceived (Matthew 24:24) and distracted. Proceed with caution.
*As the story goes, the deal between the government and aliens unraveled and US special forces were sent to retrieve humans from an underground base in Dulce, New Mexico. Phil Schneider claimed to have lost a finger in the raid. This is a rabbit hole within the rabbit hole within the rabbit hole. Furthermore, the “Bentwaters Incident” has often been described as “Britain’s Roswell” and is yet another rabbit hole. See what I’m saying about the inexhaustible rabbit holes in the UFO phenomenon?
