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

Kenneth Ring (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1992

A scientific analysis laced with case histories 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.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

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.

From Kirkus Reviews

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.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow & Co; 1st edition (May 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 068810729X
• ISBN-13: 978-0688107291
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,407,631 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kenneth Ring, Ph.D., is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Connecticut, and an internationally recognized authority on the subject of near-death experiences on which he has written five books and nearly a hundred articles. He is also the co-founder and past President of The International Association for Near-Death Studies and the founding editor of its quarterly scholarly journal, The Journal of Near-Death Studies, now in its thirtieth year. Dr. Ring has appeared on many television and radio programs and been often interviewed in the press in connection with his work on near-death experiences.

Early in 2008, Dr. Ring became interested and then deeply involved in issues having to do with the situation of Palestinian people and in that connection traveled to the West Bank. His contacts with Palestinian people led to his work on his book, Letters from Palestine, on which he collaborated with a Palestinian friend, Ghassan Abdullah of Ramallah. Dr. Ring has also written articles about Gaza and continues to be actively engaged with issues having to do with Palestinian life and culture.

He currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has three children and four grandchildren.

Much more information about Dr. Ring and his books can be found on his website, www.lettersfrompalestine.com He is also on Facebook.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars near death expeariences,alien abductions:a trip to the mind, September 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Omega Project: Near-Death Experiences, Ufo Encounters, and Mind at Large (Paperback)

An excelent book. The author writes an excelent study on the human phsychosis after abductions or near death expeariences.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking and illuminating, August 20, 2005

By 

Gregury Thrower (Chicago,IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Omega Project: Near-Death Experiences, Ufo Encounters, and Mind at Large (Hardcover)

As one of those rare individuals who has had both an NDE AND a Project Bluebook confirmed UFO sighting (with associated "memory" of abduction), I found Ken Ring's hypothesis much more plausible than the alternative. I found his explanation on the communication occuring between the Mind at Large and the world's sensitive-intuitive population to be both accurate and liberating.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A 1992 book with some aged and possible ageless ideas, April 21, 2008

By 

J. Meisenbacher (St. Louis, MO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Omega Project: Near-Death Experiences, Ufo Encounters, and Mind at Large (Paperback)

I find myself reading books that I don't expect to complete agree with. It also helps if the book covers and idea that I don't know much about. The Omega project covers both nicely.

Although I have never had an NDE or any substantial UFO experience I have read and know people in the former. This book provides a psychological look at people who have had UFO experiences and those who have had NDE experiences. Kenneth Ring makes a compelling argument that the two are related based on shared characteristics between the two groups verse control groups, in this case those people like I who have an interest in the experience. It is a nice scientific approach to help better understand the people and the experiences and I found it interesting.

Dr. Ring goes on to explain what might be happening. Basically, that these experiences are moving the human race to another level. The 1992 book is rather dated in its view of the environmental crisis, but I would not say off the mark entirely. His theories on the subject lead to an earth consciousness that is working to save itself and mankind from destruction. To this end, man is either becoming more "imaginal" in nature or we are beginning as a species to better recognize our true nature. He is solidly in the camp of man evolving to become a more "imaginal" or spiritual being if you will.

I am more in the camp that there is a creative consciousness and that we are becoming more aware of our true spiritual nature or soul that exists for the current time incarnately, but can also exist disincarnately.

It is an interesting perspective, one that I don't completely agree with, but one that give me some information on a subject I didn't know that I didn't know much about. Perhaps, even with the age of the book you might find the book challenging your beliefs or expanding your mind.

Happy reading either way.