Of Flying Saucers and Social Scientists: A Re-Reading of When Prophecy Fails and of Cognitive Dissonance

Timothy Jenkins is a Reader in Anthropology and Religion, University of Cambridge

• Preface Introduction: The issue of the scale of the event – one object or three parties? PART I: THE PRESUPPOSITIONS OF THE VARIOUS PARTIES The social scientists The group and the mediums The press PART II: THE EVENTS AND THEIR RATIONALE The sociology of secrecy. Language of science, language of secrecy. A dialogue of the deaf. Gains Bibliography