Barry Downing
Encyclopedia
Barry Downing born 1938 in Syracuse, New York
is a reverend and a Presbyterian minister. He is most well known for his book The Bible and Flying Saucers in 1968, which claims UFO phenomena are responsible for many of the events in the Bible
. Downing is also an ancient astronaut proponent.
in the relation between religion and science from the University of Edinburgh
of Scotland
. He also has a B.A in physics from Hartwick College
, and a Bachelor's degree
from Princeton Theological Seminary
. In 2008 he served as a delegate from Princeton Theological Seminary
to the Inauguration of Margaret L. Drugovich as the 10th President of Hartwick College
. He was pastor of the Northminister Presbyterian Church in Endwell, New York
. At Edinburgh Downing studied under Prof. John McIntyre
, and Prof. Thomas F. Torrance; his dissertation, Eschatological Implications of the Understanding of Time and Space in the Thought of Isaac Newton, was accepted in 1966. He is listed in Who's Who in Theology and Science, as well as in The Encyclopedia of Extraterrestrial Encounters. He has served as a consultant in theology to the Mutual UFO Network
(MUFON) since 1972, and is on the international board of directors of the Fund for UFO Research
(FUFOR).
was an extraterrestrial sent to earth to rid the world of sin and wickedness, he cited biblical lines such as Jesus was from another world (John 8: 23) to support his claims, Downing also believed that Jesus left earth in a flying saucer
to another planet, or perhaps another spatial dimension. In the book Downing claimed that angels from the Bible were actually aliens and that the "angelic aliens" spoke to Moses
on Mount Sinai
where he boarded a UFO to receive stone tablets, and specifications for the construction of the Tabernacle
. According to Downing, aliens
spoke to Elijah and guided the ancient Israelites, providing them with manna
in the wilderness. Downing also claimed in the book that a flying vehicle operated by intelligent alien beings was responsible for the parting of the Red Sea
.
.
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
is a reverend and a Presbyterian minister. He is most well known for his book The Bible and Flying Saucers in 1968, which claims UFO phenomena are responsible for many of the events in the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
. Downing is also an ancient astronaut proponent.
Life and career
Downing holds a PhDPHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in the relation between religion and science from the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. He also has a B.A in physics from Hartwick College
Hartwick College
Hartwick College is a non-denominational, private, four-year liberal arts and sciences college located in Oneonta, New York, in the United States. The institution was founded as Hartwick Seminary in 1797 through the will of John Christopher Hartwick, and is now known as Hartwick College...
, and a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary is a theological seminary of the Presbyterian Church located in the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey in the United States...
. In 2008 he served as a delegate from Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary is a theological seminary of the Presbyterian Church located in the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey in the United States...
to the Inauguration of Margaret L. Drugovich as the 10th President of Hartwick College
Hartwick College
Hartwick College is a non-denominational, private, four-year liberal arts and sciences college located in Oneonta, New York, in the United States. The institution was founded as Hartwick Seminary in 1797 through the will of John Christopher Hartwick, and is now known as Hartwick College...
. He was pastor of the Northminister Presbyterian Church in Endwell, New York
Endwell, New York
Endwell is a hamlet located in the Town of Union in Broome County, New York, United States. Its population was 11,706 at the 2000 census.Endwell is adjacent to the Village of Endicott and the Village of Johnson City...
. At Edinburgh Downing studied under Prof. John McIntyre
John McIntyre
John McIntyre may refer to:* John McIntyre , Roman Catholic archbishop of Birmingham* John McIntyre , bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Gippsland in Australia...
, and Prof. Thomas F. Torrance; his dissertation, Eschatological Implications of the Understanding of Time and Space in the Thought of Isaac Newton, was accepted in 1966. He is listed in Who's Who in Theology and Science, as well as in The Encyclopedia of Extraterrestrial Encounters. He has served as a consultant in theology to the Mutual UFO Network
Mutual UFO Network
The Mutual UFO Network is an American non-profit organization that investigates cases of reported UFO sightings. It is one of the oldest and largest UFO-investigative organizations in the United States....
(MUFON) since 1972, and is on the international board of directors of the Fund for UFO Research
Fund for UFO Research
The Fund for UFO Research is an UFO research group based in Alexandria, Virginia. Founded in 1979, FUFOR states its aims as being to further the scholarly research of UFOs and the extraterrestrial hypothesis , and to secure the release of classified U.S...
(FUFOR).
The Bible and Flying Saucers
Downing wrote The Bible and Flying Saucers in 1968. He wrote in the book that JesusJesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
was an extraterrestrial sent to earth to rid the world of sin and wickedness, he cited biblical lines such as Jesus was from another world (John 8: 23) to support his claims, Downing also believed that Jesus left earth in a flying saucer
Flying saucer
A flying saucer is a type of unidentified flying object sometimes believed to be of alien origin with a disc or saucer-shaped body, usually described as silver or metallic, occasionally reported as covered with running lights or surrounded with a glowing light, hovering or moving rapidly either...
to another planet, or perhaps another spatial dimension. In the book Downing claimed that angels from the Bible were actually aliens and that the "angelic aliens" spoke to Moses
Moses
Moses was, according to the Hebrew Bible and Qur'an, a religious leader, lawgiver and prophet, to whom the authorship of the Torah is traditionally attributed...
on Mount Sinai
Mount Sinai
Mount Sinai , also known as Mount Horeb, Mount Musa, Gabal Musa , Jabal Musa meaning "Moses' Mountain", is a mountain near Saint Catherine in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. A mountain called Mount Sinai is mentioned many times in the Book of Exodus in the Torah and the Bible as well as the Quran...
where he boarded a UFO to receive stone tablets, and specifications for the construction of the Tabernacle
Tabernacle
The Tabernacle , according to the Hebrew Torah/Old Testament, was the portable dwelling place for the divine presence from the time of the Exodus from Egypt through the conquering of the land of Canaan. Built to specifications revealed by God to Moses at Mount Sinai, it accompanied the Israelites...
. According to Downing, aliens
Extraterrestrial life
Extraterrestrial life is defined as life that does not originate from Earth...
spoke to Elijah and guided the ancient Israelites, providing them with manna
Manna
Manna or Manna wa Salwa , sometimes or archaically spelled mana, is the name of an edible substance that God provided for the Israelites during their travels in the desert according to the Bible.It was said to be sweet to the taste, like honey....
in the wilderness. Downing also claimed in the book that a flying vehicle operated by intelligent alien beings was responsible for the parting of the Red Sea
Red Sea
The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden. In the north, there is the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez...
.
Recent years
In 2009, Downing appeared in a History Channel television series called Ancient AliensAncient Aliens
Ancient Aliens is an American television series that premiered on April 20, 2010 on the History channel. Produced by Prometheus Entertainment, the program presents theories of ancient astronauts and proposes that historical texts, archaeology and legends contain evidence of past...
.