The analogy is flawed. However if you would like to focus on the point of the analogy, which is that idea of visitation by alien craft is equally supernatural or paranormal ( beyond what is deemed scientifically possible - Wikipedia ) to such things as witchcraft, ghosts, demons, etc., then we can continue the discussion on that level by focusing on this question: Is a belief in UFOs the same as a belief in the supernatural or paranormal?
Yes. Critical thinking people would say it's just the same and just as irrational.
To the above I would say "No" because there is no scientific reason alien craft cannot exist, and given the number and quality of reports and studies done in the modern age, it is unreasonable to deny they exist.
Absolutely wrong. It is exactly as reasonable to deny they exist as it is to deny the existence of ESP, ghosts, gods, the Loch Ness Monster, Bigfoot, psychics, and spell casting witches. There is, after all, exactly the same amount of evidence to support the existence of any as of any other. (ETA: Actually there is much evidence for the existence of some of those while the evidence for the existence of alien craft is itself nonexistent.)
And you would know that if just once you'd set aside the ignorance that comes from blind faith and answer the question: Of all the things perceived to be flying objects, things which were at first unidentified but later identified as a particular thing, how many of them turned out to be alien craft? Faith that alien craft exist doesn't make them exist. What is unreasonable is to claim they do exist based on nothing more than faith. And for "ufology", apparently faith is all there is.
Modern day official conclusions don't deny UFOs exist, they merely deem they are "no threat to national security" or that they "don't represent technological developments outside the range of present-day knowledge", both of which do not preclude their existence nor their advanced nature.
Unless you can point out where any modern day official conclusions have demonstrated that alien craft exist, your above comment is simply an attempt to rationalize your faith.
Because we still don't know where they come from, [...]
Hold the show. Where they come from? It is wholly unreasonable to consider such a ridiculous concept since, after all, nobody has ever demonstrated that alien craft even exist.
[...] and all investigations have failed to identify the "unknowns" as coming from our own civilization, they are alien in nature.
Do you really think your dishonest attempt to redefine terms is going to eventually work? Seriously. Yes or no?
In other words, not being a threat doesn't mean they don't exist,
Not being a threat doesn't in any way support the notion that "they" do exist either. In fact, and I'm sure everyone who isn't irrationally convinced that some UFOs are alien craft, the thing about them that makes them not a threat is the
fact that there is no evidence to suggest they do exist.
[...] and almost anything can be within the "range" of knowledge ... even back then. What isn't within our range is the engineering capability. In other words, we know it's real so it must be scientifically possible, but that doesn't mean we can duplicate it ... yet.
Only the deluded
know it's real. Rational, critically thinking, aware people understand that the complete lack of evidence for the existence of alien craft makes it unreasonable to claim any such knowledge.
In contrast, there is no "range of scientific knowledge" that explains the supernatural. It is by definition outside that possibility, and if it ever is shown to be within the realm of scientific plausibility, then it will no longer be supernatural.
The range of scientific knowledge that explains the supernatural is exactly the same as the range of scientific knowledge that supports the claim that some UFOs are alien craft. Ignorance of that fact doesn't change it.
