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COMMUNION COLLOQUY
MUFON UFO JOURNAL
(USPS 002-970)
FROM THE EDITOR
(ISSN 0270-6822) For all practical purposes, there are only two categories or
103 Oldtowne Rd. classes of people: the Haves and the Have-Nots. This distinction
Seguin, Texas 78155-4099 U.S.A. applies equally to political power, ICMs, the climbing of Mount
Everest, and the sighting of anomalous aerial phenomena or the
DENNIS W. STACY abduction encounter itself. One has either been to Beijing, or one
Editor
hasn't. In the case of UFO experiences of whatever sort, of course,
WALTER H. ANDRUS. JR. the Have-Nots still far outnumber the Haves. The question, then, is
International Director and
Associate Editor
not so much whether UFOs exist (the Haves are already convinced;
the Have-Nots, for the most part, aren't) but whether the gap
THOMAS P. DEULEY
Art Director
between the two parties is insurmountable?
Nowhere is this more critical than in the case of alleged
MILDRED BIESELE
Contributing Editor abductions by alien humanoid beings. Either one has been to
Magonia, in Vallee's geography, or believes one has been, or one has
ANN DRUFFEL
Contributing Editor not, or at least has no memory of having been (!). The editor of this
Journal stands precariously suspended in space, somewhere
PAUL CERNY
between the two opposing vantage points. To judge prematurely is
Promotion/Publicity to plummet into the abyss of certainty, from which only opinions
MARGE CHRISTENSEN
emerge. And opinions are only as substantial as the air they are
Public Relations made of. Mine seem pretty firm Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays,
but I wouldn't try walking on them Tuesdays, Thursdays, and
REV. BARRY DOWNING
Religion and UFOs Saturdays. Sunday is still reserved for a day of rest, and hence the
LUCIUS PARISH
present colloquy centering on Whitely Strieber's controversial
Books/Periodicals/History Communion and the UFO abduction experience in general, with the
ROSETTA HOLMES
Journal serving as a forum for exchange of ideas and, yes, opinions.
Promotion/Publicity We hope neither are set in stone and that time, if nothing else, will
T. SCOTT CRAIN
provide some solutions, however ohaky. In the meantime, all we
GREG LONG have to fear is the fear of falling.
MICHAEL D. SWORDS
Staff Writers
TED PHILLIPS
Landing Trace Cases
In this issue
COMMUNION: A READER'S GUIDE by Dr. Michael Swords 3
JOHN F. SCHUESSLER
Medical Cases AN OPEN LETTER TO DR. MICHAEL SWORDS by Whitlcy Stricbcr . .7
LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF CLOSE ENCOUNTERS
LEONARD STRINGFIELD by Rosemary M. Decker 8
UFO Crash/Retrieval WHAT IF THEY ARENT FRIENDLY? by Anne Druffel 11
WALTER N. WEBB NEWS'NVIEWS 14
Astronomy GALLUP POLL 17
BOOK REVIEW (Communion) by Richard Hall 18
NORMA E. SHORT
THE JUNE NIGHT SKY by Walter N. Webb 18
DWIGHT CONNELLY
DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE by Walt Andrus 20
DENNIS HAUCK
COVER (Art @ 1987 Ted Jacobs/Photo by Dennis Stacy
RICHARD H. HALL
ROBERT V. PRATT
Editor/Publishers Emeritus
(Formerly SKYLOOK) The Mutual UFO Network, Inc. is exempt from Federal Income Tax under
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Membership/Subscription rates: The contents of the MUFON UFO JOURNAL are determined by the editor, and do
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Texas 78155" is included.
COMMUNION: A READER'S GUIDE
By Dr. Michael Swords
Michael Swords is an associate encounter with the deepest reaches of existence...the "meaning of it all."
professor of natural sciences at the person itself. Here, the anxiety of Other intelligences "from" whatever
Western Michigan University, the world overlaid on the stated lifelong aspect of reality are interacting with us
Kalamazoo. drive of self-transformation (an ascent at our place in Space-Time not for
beyond the meaningless, the absurd, "academic," " r e s e a r c h , " or
and the animal) expresses itself in a "pragmatic" needs, but for a more
An experience, or set of dissociative encounter with the Cosmic purpose in line with the Design
experiences, can be essentially innermost core of the self (the mantis; of the whole created Universe. At this
internally or externally activated. Given the she). The author would have higher order of reality, their purpose
the e x t r e m e richness of . t h e encountered what some multiple might be beyond understanding, but of
experiences, and the extreme poverty personality researchers refer to as the some s p i r i t u a l i z i n g , p e r f e c t i n g
of external impact, this set of "Inner Self Helper" (the ISH), a spiritual objective. Are they attempting to create
experiences seem best judged as core aware directly of the Divinity and a Universal resonance or harmony of
internally activated. This still does not the realm of the spiritual, almost pure soul, arid we are a very off-beat note in
tell us what we are dealing with. intellect, loving without hate, and the Concerto of the Cosmos? Are they
If one does not assume that only a potentially in contact with other travelers from the Universal End-Times
limited, materialistic, and deterministic spiritual intellectual cores. The trying to retro-fit some especially ugly
reality exists, then a variety of confrontation with the ISH could historical scars? Such matters "passeth
hypotheses are possible within which to require the drastic transformation of understanding" as regards reason, but
frame Communion. Four such the current persona, which is perhaps are still within reach of
categories of hypotheses are threatening to that persona, as, in some intuition.
diagrammed in the accompanying sense, it is the "death" of that phase of All the options have been sketched
figure. A few thoughts on each follow. the animal-man. in "internalist" terms. ET does not "fly
A: The Clinical Hypothesis. This C: The Scientific Hypothesis. This in" in planetary excursion modules, and
would be. the choice of the skeptic- is called "scientific" only in that it would disembark to accomplish some
debunker. It does not mean that this point to another ontological segment of recognizeable goal. There is almost
theory is necessarily wrong, however. universal reality not previously known nothing in the entire volume of episodes
The hypothesis would see the author as but potentially exploreable. In this, which calls up an externally arising
he is: ingenious, vivid, concerned to the hypothesis the Communion reality. The hypotheses are
point of anxiety about many things, experiences are touched off by "other extravagant; but the tales are
knowledgeable about esoterica, and a beings" entering our Space-Time extravagant. The debunkers might
willing dweller in the fantastic. It would "internally," through the conscious- wonder why we'd even want to
add to that description the hypothetical nesses of ourselves. This would require consider B, C, or D (or varieties of the
idea that the author's mind reacts to a multi-dimensional and parallel-reality same). That attitude ("do not seriously
excesses of anxiety with occasional vision of what is possible. The consider anything except the one thing
creative dissociative mind-states, not breaching of the dimensions (as that makes sense to me") is what makes
psychotic or harmful in character but Abbott's Flatland visualized for us) them d e b u n k e r s , and poor
extremely vivid and imaginative. He comes "out of nowhere" and potentially researchers. Rather than assuming that
achieves an extreme form of "artistic from "right inside." Matter transference we're so clever as to immediately be
state" bordering on multiple personality could be impossible; only thoughts and able to spot the truth without any in-
phenomena. The theory would add an fields may be projectable. These depth look, let's keep open as we
extremely supportive wife, who "others" could be Vallee's Magonians explore and probe.
intuitively knows that these episodes desiring an ultimate encounter and
are harmless, and that nothing "communion" for who knows what . CONSIDERATIONS
worthwhile is to be gained by further ends, or time-breachers from the
stressing or challenging her husband in future, claiming the right to manipulate In order to make a case that
an area of possible vulnerability. due to having to live with our something ofher than hypothesis A is
B. The Spiritual Hypothesis. This consequences. going on in Communion, we need to
occasionally seems to be the intuition of D. The Ultimate Hypothesis. In look both closely and widely at the
the author himself.. It would involve this view the experiences probe right to
much of the above, but with a true the ultimate ground and reason for (continued next page)
\
A READER'S GUIDE TO COMMUNION: .
A chick, once hatched, can never effects: those of the first few weeks, wide open.
return to the shell... months or years following the event or As the initial, emotionally
-Old proverb events^ That the initial effects on the protective shock wears off, the
persons' lives and personalities are contacted persons become aware that
In order to get a clear view of the disturbing, often extremely so, should not only must their pre-concepts bf
long-term effects of close encounters not be amazing when we consider that what is scientifically possible be
on the encountered1 we need at least a their entire personal universe has, in a modified; fnei'r entire concept of earth-
brief review of typical short-term matter of. moments or hours, blown man's place in Creation must be re-
8
constructed. All of this takes time to many exaggerated reports and flights of silent except for the one or two person
sort out, naturally, and the witness, fancy. (However, it should be who shared the encounter with them.
contactee or abductee needs intensely remembered that some early- Yet, among the encountered I have
.to communicate with someone who will contacted folk were reliable, remaining known in person, nine of the twenty-
listen empathetically and without clear-eyed and level-headed through four were UFO researchers when their
judgment, while he looks, and sorts. the years.) contacts occurred! Because my
It is at just this crucial point that 2.) As our Earth folk gradually sampling is small, it may not accurately
additional difficulties often arise, which became aware that encounters were represent the overall ratio, but
will affect his personal life for years to occurring, they were less likely to feel nevertheless it points up an unhappy
come. Out of a sense of duty, he may totally isolated in the event. (This situation that should be, and must be,
take his story to the police or military. despite the fact that right from the start, mended if a great deal of valuable data
There, he may be shrugged off as either government agencies and the media in in the Quest for Truth is not to be lost
addled, hoaxing, or lying, or he may be general kept reported incidents to a irretrievably to the very groups formed
interrogated so exhaustingly or so minimum, and when ignoring and to acquire it. (And yet we read, Why
frighteningly that 'he spends the rest of , suppression,were impossible, resorted does the researcher never meet a
his life regretting his action. He may to debunking.) visitant?!)
confide instead in.'a trusted family 3.) Increasingly, as responsible The twenty-four persons on my list
member who fears he has gone "round UFO research associations formed and (all met 'personally and followed
the bend" and he consequently suffers were backed by reputable through on) run a wide crossrsection of
rejection in his home community. He professionals, the encountered and occupations. Half were/are in
may already be a UFO researcher, who close witnesses learned that they had professions ranging from aerospace
feels that the logical and safe place to resources for communication and through . anthropology, astronomy,
take his confidence is his local UFO counsel. This development has become engineering, social sciences and the
study group. Unfortunately, this can be world-wide. ministry. Several had had careers in the
most traumatic — the entire group may 4.) Since the majority of known armed services (one of these, a U.S.
exhibit suspicion and turn their backs. close encounters after the '60s involve . Navy "spotter" during WWII had
In order to save his job and status in the the involuntary abduction of those become interested through having
community, he then goes mum, and contacted, or the factor of "missing made sharp observations of UFOs
years later he may still hesitate to trust time" from an otherwise voluntary during his duty aboard ship in '44 and
anyone, however much he would like to contact (or both), the encountered no '45). Several are homemakers, one a
retrieve his "lost time." longer have to carry the burden of proof secretary, one a small business owner.
In short, the most distressing alone. Their situation has become quite Eleven have done some professional
emotional scars experienced by reversed! Since they often beat a path writing, mainly in various sciences, two
encountered people are not always to the door of a therapist or hypnotist in in science fiction; several of them in
resultant from the initial, "alien" hopes of "finding out what happened," UFO research. Two are teachers.
experience, but from the insensitivity, their position has become more Of those met in the '50s, there
distrust, and abuse at the hands of their credible; sympathy may replace were three I was unable to keep in
own fellow-men: these may have to be censure, and usually does. touch with over many years: my car
lived with indefinitely. mechanic, who moved away within
Nevertheless, over many years of UFO RESEARCHERS three years, and two who died quite
investigations, starting with incidents in young, of diseases contracted during
the early '50s, I have found the long- An exception to this generally their teens. The two whose lives were
term effects on the lives of the majority improved situation exists for the close- shortened, by amoebic dysentery and
of involved persons to be remarkably encountered who is himself a T.B., respectively, never regretted their
positive. researcher. In the words of one of them, encounters; ,on the contrary, they
One interesting development "At first I tried to explain to my pursued their consequent research into
throughout the "UFO era" has been colleagues in scientific and Ufology the UFO enigma with enthusiasm to the
t h a t , on average, the people circles what had happened. I soon end.
encountered later than the '50s have realized this was very unwise. The few The mechanic "Gary," whose
recovered more rapidly than the early spoken to gave me decidedly strange encounter had occurred in 1957, about
ones. There are several reasons for this looks, and I knew if I mentioned the two years prior to his telling me of it,
shift (and the reader may have subject again I'd destroy any credibility I had left auto racing as a career ("too
observed some I have missed; I would had as a reputable researcher...! have dangerous") and remained in auto
appreciate feedback on this, as on remained silent regarding the repair during all the years our family
other elements under discussion). ' experience for the last nine years..." knew him.
1.) The visitants have, on the Due to similar experiences among
whole, changed their approach, other researchers and enthusiasts in TEXAS ENCOUNTER
dropping most of the "open" UFO and paranormal studies, most of
encounters that had early resulted in so those contacted have learned to keep He continued to have a burning
9
curiosity as to the power-source of the who early did creditable research, seen to occur throughout. At least
space-craft that had intercepted his car writing, and lecturing — the latter to eleven persons' contacts involved some
one night on a long, open stretch of augment his fieldwork studies — later telepathy. A few remembered a
Texas highway. The craft, luminous wrote more and more conjecturally, childhood encounter — usually
and apparently circular with a dome, developing a philosophy of retreat as following the adult incident, or series of
moved rapidly into his startled vision his solid work faltered, and went i n c i d e n t s . D i f f e r e n t races of
and settled down on the road ahead, incognito until the end of his life, in humans/humanbids were involved.
blocking it completely from shoulder to 1986. , Some looked enough like us to go
shoulder. He braked; engine power arid Of the close-encountered met unnoticed in our streets (with
lights were gone; the car stopped only during the '60s and 70s (only nine, as appropriate dress and hair style)!
yards away from the craft. To his great my regular workload necessitated Others looked strange indeed, from pur
relief, he was not alone more than cutting back on investigations), all have viewpoint.
moments; a police car stopped behind managed very well, in the long view, In several instances, children of the
him, disgorging two officers who came most of them still living and active in involved contacted person, or a
up to his door, asking if he had a their chosen work, some just getting neighbor's children, were peripherally
working flashlight. None of their into their stride. . involved. This usually showed up as an
electric equipment was working, and of Of the two in aerospace immediate and intense interest in the
course neither was Gary's. engineering and research, one writes stars and in the question of Life in
At this point in his report my friend excellently (though rarely) on extra- Outer Space.
actually shed tears as he blurted out terrestrial technology. The other
that there had been people in the craft. scientist, soon after his encounter, ABSURDITIES
"They got out and WALKED attempted to communicate some of
AROUND the thing! They saw us and what he's learned to a limited number of To some, the most intriguing
they...sort of...talked...and we just sat persons w i t h i n t h e s c i e n t i f i c element was the .so-called "Absurdity
there, petrified, till they took off in the community. He has since sought an Factor." Remember the fellow who,
thing... Nothing's ever gonna be the even lower profile (in this regard), and asked by a visitant, "Are we in Italy or in
same again, and I haven't been able to very r e c e n t l y c o - a u t h o r e d an Germany?" was flummoxed because
talk to anyone till now. Who would outstanding book on astronomy. they were in France? These nifty little
believe me? And who knows what's One, a science fiction writer of shockers turned up now and then
going on?" note, kept the "Connection" from her among the group under consideration.
Gary added a final datum, which family, friends, and church throughout An involved woman was at one
"rang a bell" later on. His ESP abilities, her life. By fictionalizing, she managed moment listening intently to data being.
which he had taken for granted, as they to get across some advanced ideas, and volunteered on spacecraft capabilities
"ran in the family," had beenuery much some of her concern for the dangers and limitations; suddenly the man
augmented since the night of the close our present Earth race is imposing on asked, "What have you? What is yours,
encounter. He had wanted to compare itself arid on the planet that sustains us. paid for?" Boggled, but determined to
notes with the two officers, but was The minister and priest, happy cope, she replied, "The refrigerator and
unable to locate them again. with their broadened horizons and the children." (Strikes your funny
Of the others I met during the '50s, more concerned than ever with the bone? His, too — he was reported to
most led stable lives, increasingly alert, need f o r u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d have laughed, rollicking, relaxed, "right
open-mined, and to quote one, cooperation between peoples — both from the boots up.")
"universe-oriented." Of the others in within and beyond their own religious Those whose bodies had been
this group, three published their doctrines — have come under the t e m p o r a r i l y p a r a l y z e d and/or
accounts — two of them eagerly; the censure of their respective churches. examined felt that the physical restraint
third more cautiously — about four The priest has been forbidden to use was more u p s e t t i n g than the
years after the incident and "diary" of it. church time to communicate the Strangeness factor, and for those with
The former two, shortly after receiving source of his widened horizons, but on "time loss" the need for at least one
much publicity, began to embroider his holidays he makes use of every empathetic listener was especially
their reports, increasingly unable to possible hour. crucial. As Ron Westrum points up in
separate Fact from Fancy, and The social service worker and the Post Abduction Syndrome2, "Keeping
increasingly frenetic to convince their newspaper journalist, both already the experience to oneself intensifies the
public. One resumed a normal living UFO researchers when their contacts distress and disorientation." The
pattern, however, within a few years. occurred, were given a rough time importance of locating a kindly and
The other, to the alarm of his friends within their immediate groups, but they skillful listener cannot be
(who were already worried about the have both pursued their UFO-related overemphasized.
deterioration in his character), pushed work on their own. For almost all of those in the group,
himself beyond endurance and died Looking at all twenty-four of these the long-term benefits . have far
while on an extended lecture tour. people as a group, across the span of outweighted the cost of the temporary
One promising young scientist, about 30 years, certain elements are loss of balance so often accompanied
10
by broken human relationships. Among themselves and others "in the same being shared by all, it is that which
the recognized gains that occurred boat," whether acquainted personally topped like cream in Dr'. Leo Sprinkle's
most often: or not. A growing interest in the human work with 225 self-reporting
An increased sense of creativity mind and brain: "Know Thyself." witnesses/contactees over a period of
and constructive purpose. Augmented Increased awareness of the wonders years.3 , •• . '
alertness. An impression that the and magnitude'of the Cosmos. Greater "...Emerging evidence supports
visitors and their vehicles often move concern for the well-being of our ailing the speculation that contactees view
into our chemical universe from a Planet. Appreciation of the ever- themselves as changing from 'planetary
parallel one (somehow physical but not increasing data being made available by persons' to 'Cosmic citizens'..."
chemical) and out again. An awareness UFO' groups and individuals, which
of telepathic communication as a provide background information, moral NOTES •••'•';'
potential in human development. support, and often (happy bonus!), 1) Effects on those doing the visiting also deserves
Interest in the "Ancient Astronaut" friendships. ' • study, if it can be managed!
'2) "Post Abduction- Syndrome," Dr.' Ron
aspect; the what, when, and why of Of course there have been gains Westrum, Dec. 1986 MUFON UFO Journal.
visitations alluded to in legendary and specific to the individual,. as well as 3) "Personality Characteristics of UFO
Scriptural writings, world-wide. A more general ones I have not yet Wit nesses," Dr. Leo Sprinkle, University of
developing sense of fellowship between observed. But if there is one close to Wyoming, 1986.' ' . -
Ann Druffel is a frequent Strieber.'s conclusions alone, and are been publicly addressed. The main
contributor to the Journal. very different indeed from the majority problem with, Communion, in my
of different views held by Researchers opinion, is that the book does not
Together with the majority of UFO worldwide. Strieber is, of course, • consider, in any way, that the entities
researchers, I awaited publication of entitled to his own conclusions, but so which entered the Strieber home might
Communion with anticipation, since it are his readers. not have the well-being of the human
represented the first time a recognized Strieber's impressions of the race in mind. And yet Strieber
personage (author Whitley Strieber) entities' possible nafure are unique and hypothesizes, without appearing
had publicly revealed that he had can be very misleading to casual troubled at the prospect, that the
repeated encounters with "UFO. readers as well as to more entities wish to enter into a state of
occupants." discriminating students who do not, "communion" with the human race.
The book is very well-written; in however, have wide knowledge of UFO To Strieber, the entities he has
parts it is almost poetic. His statements literature. To be sure, Strieber encountered since childhood are either
concerning his "UFO encounters" are undoubtedly is a careful writer and, intelligences from unknown dimensions
no different, in general context, from according to reliable researchers who or else they are projections of
the hundreds of other less well-known know him — such as Jerry Clark, Budd witnesses' own minds, taking on reality
witnesses worldwide. In these ways, the Hopkins and Bruce Maccabee — he is a as "gods." In the last hypothesis, he
book is certainly an important work and sane, trustworthy and stable individual. likens these beings to the "gods"
should be read by all those with an The incidents described in the created by more primitive civilizations
authentic interest in unraveling the book, therefore, probably did happen in to explain unknown phenomena in
truth of these enigmatic incidents. . some state of reality or altered reality, nature. All "gods," according to
C o m m u n i o n , h o w e v e r , is and he has recorded the experiences to Strieber, apparently come into being by
disquieting. Instead of giving the the best of his understanding. Not reason of the actions of human minds
impression that its publication'would knowing Whitley Strieber personally, I — similar to primeval archetypes, if
aid the efforts of UFO research around can only judge from the point of view of you will.
the world, it left me with a distinct others who know him, and whom I, in Strieber explains he was a Catholic
feeling that it might serve to discredit turn, know and trust. in his youth but lost faith because of
our growing field. personal doubts and questions which
Readers of this book — especially BEST INTERESTS? religion could not answer to his
new proponents of UFO study — satisfaction. Though he does not state it
should be aware, that as far as the However, there are portions of the directly as such, he seems to share the
philosophy and speculations in book which can be judged from other growing belief among many people of
Communion are concerned, they are objective viewpoints which have not metaphysical bent that we are all gods,
11
and/or that we all have God within us, UFO researchers throughout the might be termed "bad," at least, for the
and/or that all together we are God. country whose identity is known to the hunter who has been trampled
The philosophy that all human public. underfoot. The same hunter, viewing a
beings are God, or that "God" is , The awakening of old "abduction" giraffe browsing on high trees might
synonymous .with all .human beings memories will no doubt add to our data term this animal "neutral," since it has
combined is a basic tenet of most base of reported CE IVs, but do we little or no interest in the human being
"entities" being channeled by multiple really need this? The '.number of passing by. If the African hunter goes to
"mediums" worldwide. Whether the reported "abductions" is already so the coast and is guided, in a boat,
channeling phenomenon holds truth or overwhelming that .there are not through a dangerous channel toward
falsehood is hot. applicable here, but enough researchers available to the open sea by a friendly porpoise, that
channeling does occur, and is investigate them properly. Can a new animal might properly be termed
proliferating, at a great rate. . plethora of cases provide us with any "good." .
One of the interesting things about new or ' verifiable information .about Good, bad, and neutral, therefore,
it is that many persons who obtain their UFO occupants and their motives? . are not only attributes ascribed to other
philosophy from channeling mediums However, Communion's' ,,• main species on our own earth but also could
translate these philosophical concepts disquieting effect is that Strieber does properly be applied to other
regarding "God" to mean that God is not :,seem to recognize; .that many intelligences outside our normal
not a separate Being from themselves, people claiming "UFO abduction physical environment. The entities
and therefore the idea of a Creator- experiences" are emotionally damaged, encountered by Strieber and most CE
creature relationship is essentially rather than .uplifted/, by their IV witnesses produce human reactions
phased out. This same thinking also . experiences. Many display mental and, of terror and confusion. Terror is the
phases out, in . their minds, .the emotional damage for years. .It is most important reaction, since it
possibility that there are created extremely difficult to separate fact from strikes at the very heart of an
"good" and "evil" beings in/ the fiction as regards these abduction- individual's mental, emotional and
universe, or .to put it another way, the* scenarios; many times we are unable to physical well-being, even though the
duality of nature. I do not know whether tell if these persons are damaged entities in abduction-scenarios seem
Strieber obtains his philosophy from because of a real experience or, to have the ability to calm or otherwise
channeling, 'but his ideas on "gods" conversely, if they are reporting paralyze human' emotions, changing
seems closely related to some of its "abduction experiences" because they terror to awe or curiousity, etc.
concepts. were. emotionally unstable in the first Author Strieber speaks of a terror-
Aside from this, however, place. All we can be sure of at this stage awe-love relationship he felt toward
Communion contains the potential of of the game is that there are many some of the creatures who interacted
harm to those parts of the populace rational productive persons reporting, . with him. Pale copies of this syndrome
who are: 1.) seeking reliable these types of terror-filled experiences. have been described by other witnesses
i n f o r m a t i o n about, t h e U F O For the past ten years, I have in UFO literature, but never so plainly
phenomenon and who might accept actively engaged in psychic research, as in Communion. The feelings of terror
Strieber's speculations wholesale, both on my own and, at times, in and awe are perfectly understandable
without further investigation; 2.) deeply association with the professional in the light of their experiences, but the
disturbed, either consciously or research laboratory, the Mbbius word "love," used either in an
subconsciously, by reason of "UFO" Society in Los Angeles, CA. Years of emotional or intellectual sense, seems
encounters they have themselves study into psychic phenomena and the totally out of context.
experienced in the past, and who might nature of human consciousness have Strieber also seems convinced that
think that Strieber's book "gives them led me to a logical conviction that there the entities he has encountered since
the answers." are intelligences of many forms, youth are, in turn, fearful of their
existing not only in our own space-time captives, and he states that other
REAWAKENED MEMORIES but also in dimensions other than our witnesses whom he has met report the
own physical and material universe. , same impression. During twenty years
The depiction of the large-eyed According to the effects such of interviewing persons who describe
entity on the cover, or even casual intelligences have upon human beings UFO abduction experiences, I have
reading of portions of the text, has an with whom they interact, they may be never encountered anyone who has
uncanny ability to disturb such; loosely labeled "good," "bad" and even mentioned anything like this. In
persons. I had four.calls in ten days, "neutral." my experience, the sanest witnesses
through our SKYNET 'filter center, The terms "good" and "bad" are reported only the following: 1.) that the
from people who were seeking help and inadequate, to be sure, and will entities were completely in control of
advice because the book has stirred old probably be unacceptable to some the situation and the witnesses
memories of encounters with unknown readers of this article. An. example, resented (at least initially) being held
entities. How many dozens will call in therefore, might help. If one were a against their will; 2.) that the entities
the next few weeks is anyone's guess. hunter on safari in Africa and tangled seemed to be highly-evolved beings
This is doubtless happening to many with a rogue elephant, that animal who were careful of the comfort of their
12
"guests" and did not at any time invoke higher course of spiritual evolution). I who traumatize and terrorize ;those
terror in them. None of Strieber's refer to entities on the order of nature with whom they interact. Besides this,
entities, however, fell into this second devas, or even so:called "angels," the word "Communion," used in one
group! .'.. described in Judeo-Christian, Muslim, sense, is-almost a sacred word to.most
Strieber also states that the other ,and other spiritual texts. I can relate to persons of the Christian faith, who
witnesses he has met, with a single the idea of nature devas (being an regard it as,a symbol, if not an actual
exception, stated they felt the same enthusiastic gardener), but what physical joining, of the human being
strange "love" toward the entity manner of creature or creatures with the Creator.
abductors. I have never come across a "angels" might be, I haven't a clue, If Communion is accepted by
report of a "love" reaction in the dozens except a conviction, formed from logic, readers as anything more than the
of abductees I have interviewed, that they have the welfare of the Strieber family's experiences with
.although in a few cases, witnesses human race at heart. "UFO entities" and as personal
report' meeting ."entities" in the craft UFO entities of the ilk involved in speculation about the entities' motives,
that they felt they "knew" and "liked." typical abduction-scenarios, by reason I believe this book may ultimately result
In reading of Strieber's terrbr-awe- of their actions and apparent motives, in harm and discredit to the field of
love syndrome, an alarm bell rings. fall more into the classes of beings UFO research.
How could human witnesses "love" variously termed .trolls, demons,
creatures that have traumatized them, jinns, etc., depending upon the source
at least temporarily taken away by which they are described. These are UFO NEWSCL1PPING
their rights and, perhaps, left them with beings which, for their own reasons, SERVICE
lasting emotional problems. Can the seem to be inimical toward human The UFONEWSCLIPPING SERVICE
"love" reaction possibly be explained as beings. Why Strieber. should assign to will keep you informed of all the latest
a fast-acting "Stockholm syndrome" them "good" or helpful motives, such as United States and World-Wide UFO
effect of which some UFO entities wishing to help us evolve-into higher activity, as it happens! Our service was
might be capable? If this is the types of beings through "communion," started in 1969, at which time we
contracted with a reputable
explanation of the inexplicable "love" does not seem logical. The thought is, international hewspaperrdipping
reaction, the alarm bell rings louder, for frankly, downright creepy! bureau to obtain for us, those hard to
that would mean we are dealing with Other aspects of Communion are find UFO reports (i.e., little known
"ultraterrestrial terrorists!" It might be troubling, . as well. Two or three photographic cases,, close encounter
well, also, to point out that many cults descriptions (one in transcript form) and landing reports, occupant cases)
use a similar abuse-kindness technique have explicit sexual overtones, .in and all other UFO .reports, many of
which invokes loyalty among their describing interaction between the which are carried only in small town or
foreign newspapers.
members. witness and one or more of the entities.
"Our UFO Newsclipping Service
. This sexual element, of course, is not issues are 20-page monthly reports,
FALLEN ANGELS? uncommon in abduction-scenarios, but • r e p r o d u c e d by p h o t o - o f f s e t ,
i(
other writers have been able to containing the latest United States and
Non-human entities who trap describe these activities in terms more Canadian 'UFO newsclippings, with
human beings in seemingly genuine CE acceptable to objective readers. One our foreign section carrying the latest
IV experiences can, in my opinion, be cannot help butiwonder whether these British, Australian, New Zealand and
other foreign press reports. Also
labeled as "bad" or "evil," and do not graphic portions .are for the sake of
included is a 3-5 page section of
have the welfare of the human race at boosting sales rather than adding to "Fortean" clippings (i.e. Bigfoot and
heart. Poring through folklore, myths, researchers' knowledge. other "monster" reports). Let us keep
and texts such as the Bible and the Another troubling aspect is the you informed of the latest happenings
Koran, it becomes apparent that so- title of the book itself. Strieber's initial in the UFO and Fortean fields." •
called "UFO entities" could fit easily, • wisr^ waS'that the book,be entitledBody For subscription information and
into classes of. beings which are not Terror, an apt ,name for the sample pages from our service, write
today to:
attuned with the Creator. In contrast, experiences described in it. But.at the
most human beings try for attunement request of the entities themselves, UFO NEWSCLIPPING SERVICE
with whatever form of "God" they according to Strieber, the titled was Route 1 — Box 220
believe in, by reason of worldwide use changed , to Communion. Strieber Plumerville, Arkansas 72127
of prayer, meditation, etc. practiced seems to be convinced that the entities
according to each individual's personal wish to establish "communion" with
and private beliefs. the human race, and he seems assured
In contrast to UFO entities which by them that a state of shared MUFON
terrorize and traumatize human consciousness would benefit both the
witnesses, folklore, myths, and various human race and the non-human entities
103 Oldtowne Rd.
metaphysical writings describe entities involved. I do not agree. Seguin, Texas
which help and/or guide human beings The human race has no need to 78155
(be it with daily problems or in the establish "communion" with any beings
13
NEWS'NVIEWS
Extraterrestrial Life
Only One-Third of Public Deny Existence Not
Yes No sure
Of UFO's, Extraterrestrial Life %
By George Gallup, Jr. 1987 50 34 16
Have, you ever seen .anything you thought, was a
1978 51 33 16
PRINCETON, N.J.^— For millions of American adults
a "Close Encounter of the Third Kind" is a distinct., UFO? -"•'-. 1973 46 38 16
possibility, with only about one in three flatly denying 1966 34 46 20
the existence of either unidentified flying objects Sighting of UFO r
(UFO's) or extraterrestrial life. (Based on aware groups) Extraterrestrial .Life
In a new Gallup survey, 50% express the belief 1987 9%
that there are "people somewhat like ourselves living 1978 9 Not
on other planets in the universe," while 34% are skeptical, 1973 11 Yes .NO; sure
and 16% unsure. The current figures are virtually un- 1966 5 --'.
changed from those recorded in a 1978 survey, but con- % % %
siderably more now'than in either 1973 or 1966 believe • In your opinion, are UFO':S something real or just NATIONAL 50 34 16
in extraterrestrial life. * people's-imagination? '' .' " ^
Similarly, 49% of those who have heard or read ." .Men 62 30 8
about UFO's think they are real, while 30% are doubtful " '-- Existence of .UFO's • Women. 40 - '28 -.-. 32
and 21% uncertain. Belief .in UFO's is down slightly (Based on aware groups)
from its peak in 1978, when 57% thought they were real. Attended college 57 • :-' 33 10
Real Imaginary Not sure
~ OL. '
7V -
a*
fO'
' '
No college 46 - 35 19
9% Report Sighting UFO
In the new survey, one person in 11 (9%) reports 1987 49 30 21 18-29 years 52 36 12
actually having seen something he or she thought was 1978 57 . 27 16 30-49 years 56 35 9
1973 54 30 16
a UFO, statistically similar to the findings of earlier
1966 46 29 25
50 & older 42 33 25
polish . :
East 55 29 16
Existence of UFO's 34 17
Belief Higher Among College-Educated
(Based on aware groups)
Midwest- .. 49
Belief in the existence of life on other planets and
- -:Real Imaginary' Not sure
South 38- .' 48 14
in UFO's is substantially higher among persons who " West , , -63 21 16
attended college than among those whose formal educa-
tion ended at or before graduation from high school. NATIONAL 49 30 - ,21
Men are more likely than women to believe in ;Men 50 31 19 The latest findings are based on telephone inter-
extraterrestrial life, 62% and 40%, respectively, but men Women . 49 28 -23 views with 527 adults, 18 and older, conducted in sci-
and women share the same opinions about UFO's. entifically selected localities across the nation during
As a rule, people 50 and older are less convinced Attended college 56 26 18
than their juniors that either phenomenon has a basis in No college 44 33 23 the period-Feb. 2-18. For results based on samples of
fact, but more older than younger adults are undecided: 18-29 years 53 32 15 this size, one can say with 95% confidence that the error
Westerners are most apt to be believers; Southerners, 30-49 years 57 21 22 attributable to sampling and other random effects could
least so. : : 504older-. 36 39 25
be 6 percentage points in either direction.
Following are the questions, the trends and the East 52 30 18
latest findings among key demographic groups: Midwest 48 27 25 In addition to sampling error, the reader should
South 39 39 22 bear in mind that question wording and practical difficul-
Respondents were first asked:
West 62 19 19 ties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias
T"; Have you heard or read about UFO's (Unidentified;
Flying Objects)? •,""'
into the findings of opinion polls. These statements con-
Those answering affirmatively (88% of the total) form to the standards of disclosure of the National Coun-
were then asked:. cil on Public'Polls. ,
BOOK REVIEW
THE NIGHT SKY
By
By Walter N. Webb
Richard Hall
MUFON Astronomy Consultant
18
MESSAGE, Continued Annual MUFON Board of Directors restrials.
Starr, Timothy Good from England, meeting conducted in conjunction with The analogy is far from perfect,
and Richard Neal, M.D. The genial the yearly UFO symposium. Only the however, Adamski was an uneducated
Jim Moseley will M.C. the conference. seventeen members presently serving person who committed all kinds of
The price of rooms per night is $55. For on the MUFON Board of Directors as factual and logical errors while
reservations to the conference, please published in the MUFON 1986 UFO betraying an ignorance of scientific
write to Bill Moore at 4219 West Olive, Symposium Proceedings are invited to knowledge. Strieber, obviously, has a
Suite 247, Burbank, CA 91505 or attend. If a Board Member will be sophisticated knowledge of scientific
telephone (818) 506-8365. unable to attend, he/she may authorize matters and is a socially concerned
The 4th International UFO in writing a person to represent the person about the threat of atomic war
Congress will be held July 10-12,1987 at absent Board Member with voting and potentially fatal damage to the
the London Business School in privileges. Earth's environment.
London, England. For f u r t h e r An agenda for the Board of But Strieber also shows a mystical
information please enclose a S.A.E. for Director's Meeting will be mailed to all side, and influences of his apparently
your reply and mail to Mr. R.S. Digby, Board Members three weeks in discarded Catholic religion, that tend to
Director Congress 87, c/o 16, advance of the meeting. This will allow color his interpretations of what
Southway, Burgess Hill, West Sussex ample time for the State Section happened to him. All abductees do the
RH15 9ST, England. Speakers Directors, State Directors, Research best they can to rationalize their
scheduled are Walt Andrus of Specialists, Consultants and Board of experiences in terms of their own
MUFON (USA), Dr. Alex Keul Directors to submit a list of agenda background knowledge and personal
(Austria), Mr. Odd-Gunnar Roed proposals, requested in the April 1987 life histories. It is doubtful that Strieber
(Norway), Prof. Allen Tough issue of the MUFON UFO Journal in has succeeded any better than the
(Canada), and Miss Jenny Randies the "Director's Message." others in interpreting the experience
(U.K.), just to name a few. and figuring out what is going on; what it
On July 9th Bertil Kuhlemann all means.
has scheduled the annual meeting of Adamski also was shown to be a
the International Committee for UFO prevaricator, totally unable to tell a
Research ( I C U R ) Immediately consistent story, and many of his claims
following the 4th International UFO REVIEW, Continued about the Moon and planetary
Congress on Monday, July 13, 1987 at disorder" in Strieber. Also included are astronomy were determined to be false
the same location, Walt Andrus has results of a polygraph test which by subsequent space explorations.
scheduled a meeting for all MUFON Strieber passed. Strieber's book obviously has much
Foreign Representatives, members and Strieber's descriptions of what more to do with real UFO-related
guests. The agenda will be announced happened to him are beautifully events, described to the best of his
in a future issue of the Journal and a expressed (as befits a wordsmith of his ability, but whose ultimate meaning
copy sent air mail to all foreign caliber), even poetic in language. But remains to be determined by scientific
representatives in Europe well before this reviewer (also a professional research.
the above date. Your International wordsmith in the nonfiction world) His book must be read on two
Director will attend all 3 meetings. A found some of the "poetry" a bit levels: (1) his perceptions and
major item on the agenda will be the distracting; almost too clever, or attempted reconstruction of what
selection of a Continental Coordinator imaginative, or something. Given happened to him; (2) his personal
for Europe and hopefully an Strieber's background in fiction writing, interpretation and theories about what
International Coordinator to fill the though, one cannot fault him for trying is going on.
vacancy created by the resignation of to convey the experience in the best
Michael Sinclair, Ph.D. way he knew how.
CREDIBILITY SYMPOSIUM
By the same token, Strieber will
JUNE 26-28
Richard Hall has advised that a
program of events for the MUFON
have to face the logical question of why
an author noted for his horror fiction
AMERICAN
1987 International UFO Symposium should be believed when he presents UNIVERSITY
will be available for publication in the what is basically a horror story as
June 1987 issue of the Journal. alleged fact. It is somewhat comparable WASHINGTON,
The format for the MUFON to the notorious contactee George
Annual Corporate Meeting scheduled Adamski who wrote acknowledged D.C.
for Sunday, June 28th from 9 a.m. to 12 fiction stories about sojourning to other
noon has been revised to comply with planets, then suddenly claimed that he
the Corporate By-laws. It will be the had actually contacted extrater-
19
DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE
by
Walt Andrus
"International Symposium on Representative for Israel. An English 1986 that was released concurrently
Unidentified Aerial Phenomena: 1947- teacher, Mr. Murmelstein received his with the March 5, 1987 Press
1987" is the theme for the MUFON B.S. from Brooklyn College in New Conference in Anchorage, has been
1987 International UFO Symposium on York City. We are extremely proud to received for the MUFON file. We will
June 26, 27, and 28,1987, hosted by the announce that two State Director publish excerpts from these documents
Fund for UFO Research at American vacancies have been filled. Donald E. on information not previously
University in Washington, D.C., and F l i c k i n g e r , a v e t e r a n UFO published in the Journal. The first of
commemorating the Kenneth Arnold investigator residing in Billings, is the these is included in the current issue.
sighting near Mt. Rainier in Washington new State Director for Montana. One of the announcements
State on June 24,1947. The eighteenth Albert E. "Al" Frank, M.S. of released during the March 5,1987 Press
annual symposium will undoubtedly be Corvallis, Oregon is replacing James Conference sums up the F.A.A.'s
our most significant to date, based D. Kness as the State Director for attitude. It is titled Lack of "Scientific"
upon the locale, news media events, Oregon. Up until recently, Mr. Frank Investigation. "The Federal Aviation
new books being published, the has been teaching atmospheric science Administration has a number of
international scope of the speakers, at Oregon State University. employees who do scientific research
and the positive resurgence of interest Joseph M. Hammer, M.S., a with regard to aircraft, aviation, and
in the UFO phenomenon. The number vocational counselor in Biglerville, related electronic equipment. The FAA
of advance registrations received by Pennsylvania, has accepted the does not have the resources or the
April 12th rivals those of prior position of State Section Director for Congressional mandate to investigate
symposiums for the deadline date. The Adams and Franklin Counties. Mr. sightings of unidentified flying objects.
host committee is elated with the early Hammer has outstanding credentials "We have not tried to determine
response and tremendous interest for this new post. He has earned a B.A. what the crew of Japan Air Lines flight
already created. Please read the special in Criminology, a M.S. in Counselling 1628 saw based on scientific analysis of
article in this edition of the Journal for and a M.S. in Psychology. George and the stars, planets, magnetic fields, angle
the program agenda, speakers, and Shirley Coyne, Co-State Directors for of view, etc. We have received letters
how you may make reservations to Michigan have promoted Edward L. from several persons suggesting that
attend. Many people are taking Hude to State Section Director for we ask the crew and others a variety of
advantage of the reduced price air fares Ingham and Jackson Counties. Mr. detailed questions from a scientific
to Washington, D.C. and are making Hude has been a police investigator for viewpoint. This we have not done and
their flight reservations early. many years. Mr. V. Walter Vanatko, do not intend to do. We reviewed the
* * * M.S., a systems analyst in Spring, data that was created by our systems,
The ballot to vote for your Texas, is a new Research Specialist in the interviews that were done by FAA
candidate for the MUFON AWARD Systems Engineering. to determine the status of the crew and
FOR OUTSTANDING WORK IN Accolades to Edward F. Mazur, the aircraft, and have provided that
THE UFO FIELD FOR 1986-1987 was State Director for Arkansas, for information to the public.
enclosed with the April 1987 issue of the publishing his first "Arkansas MUFON "The FAA completed its
Journal. Please return all ballots to Newsletter;" mailing news releases to investigation of JAL flight 1628, and
MUFON in Seguin, Texas, by June 2, 45 newspapers, TV and radio stations, does not intend to pursue it any
1987 so the engraved plaque may be introducing himself and MUFON; and a further." By Paul Steucke, FAA,
prepared and presented at the letter to each of the 74 County Sheriff's Public Affairs Officer, Alaskan Region,
MUFON 1987 International UFO in Arkansas advising where they should 701 C Street, Box 14, Anchorage,
Symposium in Washington, D.C. report UFO sightings. Ed and Alaska 99513.
The June 1987 issue of the Mildred Higgins, State Section * * *
MUFON UFO JOURNAL will Director, will host their annual UFO The National UFO Conference
commemorate the fortieth anniversary conference and picnic on the weekend (NUFOC) will be held June 12,13, and
of the Kenneth Arnold UFO sighting, of May 2 and 3 in Fayetteville. 14, 1987 at the Burbank Hilton Hotel
on June 24, 1947, marking the inaugral * * * adjacent to the Burbank California
of the modern era of Ufology. The Federal Aviation Administra- Airport. Speakers scheduled are Bill
* * * tion (F.A.A.) investigation into the Moore, Stanton Friedman, Hal
Philip Murmelstein, living in Japan Air Lines flight 1628 UFO
Reshon Letzion, is the new sighting over Alaska on November 17, (continued on page 19)