Chapter 2 covers a lot of ground in its 23 pages, but I think it is worthwhile to give a basic overview of the chapter and summarize its salient points so that I can give it a fair hearing at least.

First, the chapter is introduced by a brief section stating that truth is not always able to be scientifically proven and the scientific method itself leaves something to be desired in ascertaining all truth. Just because something can’t be measured, the author argues, doesn’t mean it isn’t real. Ultimately, Aartsen espouses a view regarding truth that is quoted from the atheist Richard Dawkins that the reader should “be open-minded, but no so open-minded that our brains fall out.”

I can wholeheartedly agree with this on principle. Namely, we shouldn’t immediately discount new or different ideas or theories simply because that don’t agree with our current belief systems or ideology. And I’m glad I do agree with this precept, because the author immediately launches into something that I would normally discount and forces me to remember to be open-minded. What is that you ask?

The author’s belief that “Life is not the result of the evolution of form, such as documented by Darwin, but rather the Primal Cause of all there is, seeking ever more perfect expression of itself through the evolution of consciousness.” He goes on the espouse that man is not a biological being that happens to be spiritual, but rather “an immortal Spark of the divine,” and that “Life, therefore, is not limited to the solid physical plane of this planet.” He goes on to support this spiritual theory of life by referencing many past religious leaders including Jesus, Krishna, Buddha and Mohamed, among many other lesser know spiritual thought leaders and authors.

So where does all this lead? Again, Aartsen implores the reader to keep an open mind and promises that it will help to explain “near-death experiences, life after death, the nature of ghosts, ancient civilizations, or indeed, the appearance of UFOs in our skies that has been going on for centuries, if not millennia.”

As an aside, it is here where the used copy of this book shows its age, as a previous reader started highlighted passages to the point that some pages look like clown vomit, with varying hues of yellows, greens, and orange. Does this bother me? A little. But at a superficial level, it does keep my interest as to why specific passages were chosen for special attention from the previous reader.

Okay, so keep an open mind. Got it. Now the chapter goes on to basically say that while many of these claims made by these authors, spiritual leaders, and other UFO proponents can’t be proven, there are some things that can be proven. One such example given is that his mentor (?) Benjamin Creme predicted in 1979 that a “colonial Atlantean city” would be found near the Sphinx in Egypt which he claims was validated in 2011 when this city was discovered.

The next section of the book spends 7 pages covering what the author aptly named, “Cover-ups, Conspiracies, and Speculation.” Here’s the too long, didn’t read version:

• The Space Brethren have visited Earth many times and with many people
• The world governments have consistently tried to discredit anyone that speaks about these visitations, but the world governments do know conclusively that UFOs and aliens exist
• These economic and social world leaders are keeping this information suppressed because it threatens their current power
• The true “Illuminati” are not a cabal of influential world leaders controlling the world but actually the Masters of Wisdom that “become a secret society when They withdrew to remote mountain and desert centres during the final destruction of the Atlantean continent some 98,000 years ago” who send the aforementioned religious teachers to help humanity realign with the true purpose and plan of evolution as described earlier in the chapter
• The world population is starting to wake up to the inequalities and subjugation of much of the world to the wealthy few and that this is a good thing. Examples such as the Arab Spring and the Occupy movement show that the “people have awakened to their unity and power” and that the tide is turning towards this new world order of peace, justice, sharing, freedom, and love.

Still keeping an open mind with me right? Because at this point, I think any reasonable person might have some questions. Who are these Space Brethren? Um, can you explain that weird Atlantean thing again? And lastly, exactly who are these Masters of Wisdom you keep mentioning?

And because I can’t resist, the author also throws in nonchalantly in the final pages of the chapter that one of these Masters of Wisdom named “Orthon” gave a message to George Adamski way back in 1954 that predicted that the civil rights movement and the worldwide post-war wave of decolonization when Adamski was visiting the Venusian mothership. So yeah, there’s that.

Unfortunately, I don’t have answers to all the myriad questions swimming in my head yet. I am hoping that they will be revealed in subsequent chapters. But if the previous two chapters indicate anything though, I’m not holding my breath. Perhaps the author thinks that these terms such as Masters of Wisdom, Space Brethren, and Elder Brothers are so obvious that they don’t need explanation. But at least for this reader, I’m comfortable admitting that I’m still more than confused. Fingers crossed, maybe I’ll find answers in Chapter 3 titled “Meanwhile, In Reality.”