Abductions and apparitions

There's an interesting comparison between Marian apparitions and alien abductions:

i) Many people claim to have experienced alien abductions

ii) Many people claim to have experienced Marian apparitions.

iii) In many cases, I don't think they experienced anything at all. 

iv) In other cases, I think they probably did experience something which they misidentify. 

In some cases I think they probably experienced something supernatural, which they misidentify. 

v) We evaluate reported alien abductions and Marian apparitions in light of our plausibility structures. What we think the world is like. What we take to be possible, impossible, probable, or improbable. Take the stock objection that it seems impossible for aliens to traverse the vast distances between their home planet and our planet. 

There's also the question of why, if aliens are making first contact, it's so elusive and ambiguous. If they want human beings to be aware of their existence, they could do so unambiguously. If, on the other hand, they wish to conceal their existence, why are they making contact with so many human witnesses? It's too little to be convincing but too much to be undetected. 

vi) I don't think there's any antecedent objection to the existence of intelligent alien life on other planets. However, making contact with the human race would be theologically confusing, disruptive, and subversive. It would become a compelling rival religion. I don't think God would allow that if they're benevolent aliens.

The alternative is that they're malevolent aliens. If so, their intrusion into human history would amount to a false religion to delude hundreds of millions of humans, apart from a faithful remnant. The only reason God would allow that is if this is a prelude to the Antichrist. 

And, from a Protestant perspective, Marian apparitions have the same effect. So Mary wouldn't do that. Only a malevolent agent would do that. That, too, could be part of an apocalyptic countdown. 

Mind you, reported alien abductions and Marian apparitions are not as of yet on a large enough scale to sway the human race away from Christianity. So there's no reason at this point to invoke an apocalyptic explanation.