The Omega Project: Near-Death Experiences, Ufo Encounters, and Mind at Large

Reveals that UFO abductees bear strong psychological resemblances to Near-Death Experience survivors and concludes that these experiences may represent a new stage in the evolution of the human mind

A suffocating attempt to squeeze UFOs and NDEs (near-death experiences) into the same psychospiritual pigeonhole. Ring (Psychology/Univ. of Conn. at Storrs), well known for his research into near-death experience (Heading for Omega, 1984, etc.), reports that he long resisted investigating other species of paranormal activity (``I don't do UFOs,'' he would exclaim). This blockade ended in 1987, when Whitley Strieber's Communion (Strieber contributes a foreword here) fell into his hands. Ring was hooked, as it dawned on him that UFOs and NDEs ``lead to a similar kind of spiritual transformation.'' In fact--hold onto your New Age hats- -UFOs cause ``a higher level of human being to manifest.'' Ring tries to demonstrate this by detailing typical UFO abductions, which in some respects do parallel religious initiation journeys, but which seem to engender far more fear than enlightenment. The ``Project Omega'' of the title is Ring's attempt to determine the psychological factors that predispose people to NDEs and UFO encounters. He concludes, with neat circularity, that UFOers and NDEers are ``encounter-prone personalities.'' Far more interesting is his discovery that many of these people have suffered a high degree of childhood abuse or trauma. This is suggestive in many ways; what it suggests to Ring is that UFO abductions are not alien encounters per se but some kind of symbolic event, a conclusion that puts him in the ``soft-core'' camp spearheaded by Strieber and Jacques Vallee. Some intense firsthand reports of UFO abductions--these really are scary--ruined by pretentious psycho-pop speculation about emerging ``new levels of consciousness'' and the like. Now that Ring ``does'' UFOs and NDEs, where will he find his next evidence of the coming paradigm shift? Perhaps in the proliferation of wide- eyed books like this. -- Copyright ©1992, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Ring, author of Life at Death (Quill: Morrow, 1982), compares the experiences of UFO abductees to the out-of-body journeys of those near death. Initially, his title seems misleading. He mixes a few archetypes and fairy tales with some philosophy and religion, the result of which is a theory regarding the "encounter-prone personality." This type of person represents the spiritual evolution of humankind, people who are tapped into the "Mind at Large"--i.e., a creative, helpful force that will assist us in saving ourselves and our planet from destruction. This book differs from other UFO material in that the question of whether the encounters are real or not is not at issue. The symbolism is what matters, e.g. abductees usually report receiving a physical examination from the aliens. Ring sees this as a warning that we need to examine and to heal ourselves. Loaded with case histories of near-death experiences and UFO encounters, questionnaires, and impressive notes and bibliography, this will appeal to general readers.
-Maureen R. Shields, New City Lib., N.Y.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.