Why are Most Scientists Skeptics?

Someone in an internet discussion forum asked why most scientists are physicalists. A physicalist is someone who believes that all things can be explained in terms known to physics such as matter and forces of nature. Physicalists do not believe in psychic phenomena or the afterlife or that consciousness is not produced by the brain. None of these things can be explained by modern physics. I replied to that question with five reasons that most scientists are physicalists:

1. Habitual reductionist thinking prevents scientists from accepting anything that they can't explain in terms of simpler phenomena, such as non-physical consciousness, qualia, and psychic phenomena.
   
2. Indoctrination into philosophical naturalism during science education.
   
3. Psychological attachment to the status quo scientific world view because it is the source of their status and livelihood.
   
4. Fear of alternative means of obtaining knowledge about the universe that might supplant science as the most important source of knowledge. If you can ask a psychic or a spirit, why would you need scientists?
   
5. Persecution of heretics. If Nobel prize winning physicist Brian Josephson is ostracized because of his interest in psi, what chance does an ordinary scientist have?
   

References:

1. Habitual reductionist thinking prevents scientists from accepting anything that they can't explain in terms of simpler phenomena, such as non-physical consciousness, qualia, and psychic phenomena.
   

   Causes of skepticism
   

   Research has shown that people who think analytically rather than intuitively tend to be atheists. People who analyze problems using logic, because of their education, career, or innate characteristics, may become habituated to reductionist analysis. Reductionism is the belief that something complex can be understood by the interaction of simpler components. This way of thinking works well in many branches of science. Psychology can be explained in terms of biology, which can be explained in terms of chemistry, which can be explained in terms of physics. However, some scientists, engineers, philosophers, and other intellectuals, may become so habituated to reductionist thinking that they are unable to conceive that some phenomena cannot be explained in terms of simpler phenomena. For example, the subjective experience of consciousness, what pain feels like, or what red looks like, cannot be understood through reductionism. Psychic phenomena that cannot be explained by current scientific theories such as telepathy, clairvoyance, psychokinesis, and precognition cannot be understood through reductionism. This is why some people who are habituated to reductionist thinking simply cannot conceive that psychic phenomena could be real or consciousness might be nonphysical and survive bodily death. Reductionists suggest consciousness is an epiphenomenon even though that is a poor explanation of consciousness, because it is the best they can conceive of within their reductionist prison.
   

2. Indoctrination into philosophical naturalism during science education.
   

   T. H. Huxley: Accidental Founder of Modern Pseudo-skepticism
   

   Why are so many scientist skeptics? Because naturalism is an implicit part of the culture of science and science students are indoctrinated in that philosophy during their education. Naturalism is the belief that science should only study natural processes and consider natural explanations for phenomena. This is a mistake. Science should be the search for the truth where ever it leads. This flaw in the culture of science is due to a large extent to T. H. Huxley and the X club. The X Club was founded by T. H. Huxley and played an important role in making naturalism a fundamental tenet of modern science.

3. Psychological attachment to the status quo scientific world view because it is the source of their status and livelihood.
   

   Suppressed Parapsychology
   

   Dean Radin, in his book "The Conscious Universe" in the chapter "Seeing Psi" proposes that some scientists may have too much self interest in preserving the materialist status quo to be objective about psychic phenomena.
   

   ...
   

   It should be understood that Radin is not saying NAS members are deliberately dishonest about the existence of psychic phenomena. He is saying they are so caught up in the scientific world view, (for example, because they get a lot of personal status from it, or because they spend their careers defining that world view) that they are unconsciously unable to accept that the scientific world view might be so seriously flawed, that it could have such big gaps in it, that psychic phenomena could be real.
   

4. Fear of alternative means of obtaining knowledge about the universe that might supplant science as the most important source of knowledge. If you can ask a psychic or a spirit, why would you need scientists?
   

   Causes of skepticism
   

   Genuine psychic phenomena have been produced by ordinary people throughout the history of humankind. However, these phenomena were rejected by science for "political" reasons, not empirical reasons, when the scientific revolution deposed religion as the ultimate source of knowledge. Besides being seen as allied with religion, psychic phenomena are a competitor to science as a means of obtaining information about the universe. Therefore, some modern scientists have a lot of cultural baggage that prevent them from seeing the otherwise obvious evidence that some paranormal phenomena are real.
   

5. Persecution of heretics. If Nobel prize winning physicist Brian Josephson is ostracized for interest in psi, what chance does an ordinary scientist have?
   

   How to Run a Conference
   

   Certain invitees to a workshop on the Foundations of Physics received from the organisers letters withdrawing their invitations. The letter to Brian Josephson asserted:
   

   It has come to my attention that one of your principal research interests is the paranormal ... in my view, it would not be appropriate for someone with such research interests to attend a scientific conference.
   

   while a similar letter to David Peat asserted:
   

   "It has come to my attention that you are the author of books on Jungian synchronicity and quantum physics, and on connections between Native American Indian thought and modern physics ... in my view, it is not appropriate for an author of such books to attend a scientific conference."

   These letters illustrate well the defensive, paranoid attitudes of members of the scientific community such as those who pressed for this action to be taken; for such people, science equates to 'closed minded enquiry', in the light of which their action is in no way surprising.
   

Copyright © 2013 by ncu9nc All rights reserved. Texts quoted from other sources are Copyright © by their owners.

Reports of Paranormal Experiences

If you like reading about paranormal experiences, you might be interested in the Reddit paranormal community. The column on the right margin has other reddit links on similar topics. I've started reading the rss feed.

I posted about this on an internet discussion forum and someone replied with a link to a thread in a discussion forum for nurses about their on the job paranormal experiences. It's a huge thread, as I write this there are over 281 pages with over 2177 posts. Below is my favorite, so far, because it shows a practical application of spiritual knowledge. It's on page 3:

Jun 13, '05 by ZASHAGALKA

We had a patient, chronic CHFer, always on the call button, hated being on fluid restrictions. you know the type: the nurses have to take turns during the shift answering the call button so the primary can actually do other work.

And this was a frequent flier cause he was very chronic, very borderline, and the hospital was the only place he wouldn't fluid overload.

I work 7p-7a. He died about 8pm. Oh the look on his face, like, "how could you let me die!" - Like it was our fault.

Anyway, family came and gone by 9pm, funeral home gone at 930pm.

About 10pm, the call button starts going off. I was there - call button going off every 5 minutes.

One of the nurses was a very spiritual girl. At about 2am, after like 4 HOURS OF THIS, nurse Mary snaps, 'Enough!'

She walks down to the room, and, practically screams into the empty room, "Mr X, you have died. You can't be in here bothering us anymore. Move along. In the name of Jesus, I'm exorcising you from this plane of existence. Go to the light and be happy!"

And I kid you not, the call button stopped going off then and there.

~faith,
Timothy.

For more information on how to handle troublesome spirits, see How to help earthbound spirits complete their transition to the spirit world. Also of interest: What are ghosts?

Copyright © 2013 by ncu9nc All rights reserved. Texts quoted from other sources are Copyright © by their owners.

Spiritual Questions Answered by Carol and Mikey

Here is a video and two part audio interview (part 1 part 2) of a medium, Carol, who combines mental mediumship with physical mediumship. She communicates with the spirit of her son, Mikey, who died in a car accident. Some of the communication is through mental mediumship but they also use a pendulum to spell out words. The communications are mostly on spiritual topics, they don't give readings. However, you can read many questions and answers and even ask Carol and Mikey your own spiritual questions at afterlifeforums.com.

Here's a sample. In this post, Carol discuss prayer, and why prayer might not help with some of life's hardships:

This is Mikey's take on prayer:

Prayer is good and helpful to all. With prayer, there can be much power. But do know, that if you ask for something that would interfere with a life lesson you chose or someone else chose, it will not be answered. ... If you are thankful, and asking for something that is not related to a life lesson, often it will be answered. Mikey also says that prayer is as powerful "individually" as it is in a "group". (Such as in church.) Mikey also says that God is not a bad "parent". God is trying to teach us how to be loving and forgiving in all situations. In Heaven, we "choose these situations" we often are praying for here on earth. Therefore, God is actually helping us to achieve our goals!

Do all of you remember the movie "Young Frankenstein" where Gene Wildler tells the help when he is going into the room with Frankenstein, "No matter what I say, how I beg, or how loud I scream to let me out of the room, DO NOT OPEN THIS DOOR!" So he goes into the room, and Frankenstein starts getting out of control. Gene Wilder immediately starts begging his help to OPEN THE DOOR! And of course they wouldn't because of what he said earlier. This is a similar scenario. Funny movie, but anyway do you see the point? Prayer won't change the plan we previously agreed to. Prayer is powerful, but it cannot interfere with a plan.

Carol and Mikey "in Spirit"

Copyright © 2013 by ncu9nc All rights reserved. Texts quoted from other sources are Copyright © by their owners.

A Synthesis of Spiritual Healing and Qi Gong

Here is a way to practice self healing, distant healing, and healing for the world that combines elements of spiritual healing and qi gong. The purpose of the exercise is to develop the ability to bring healing energy through you for healing for yourself and others, and also to develop the ability to feel the healing energy. Before doing this exercise you should read my web page on Spiritual Healing. For more information on qi gong you may read Spiritual Healing Development with Qi Gong,
Sensing the Qualities of Qi, and
Sensing the Qualities of Qi (part 2).

The "Sending Out" and "Bringing In" Positions

• Stand comfortably in a natural posture with your arms at your sides. Your weight should be balanced between the balls of your feet and your heels. Your weight should not be too far forward toward your toes or too far backward on your heels. Don't worry getting it exactly right but it should be balanced so you require the least effort in the muscles of your ankles to remain upright. Your feet can be approximately shoulder width apart. A little less is okay but they should not be too close together. The knees may be slightly bent or straight. Keeping the knees straight will put less strain on them. Bending them slightly will help loosen and straighten the spine.
  

• Bend your elbows so that the back of your hands come up to your shoulders. Then move your hands away from you and down by relaxing your elbows to about 45 degrees (or whatever feels comfortable) with your palms turned away from you. Your fingers should be straight but you don't have to strain to make them perfectly straight. The fingers should spread naturally, don't force them apart or together. This is the "sending out" position.
  

• Turn your hands so that the palms are facing toward you. This is the "bringing in" position.
  

• As you do the exercise below, you may feel your posture improving. If you tend to slump your shoulders, you may find your back straightening. This is nothing to be concerned about, let it happen naturally. Don't force it or strain or maintain an unnatural or uncomfortable posture.
  

• This exercise can also be done sitting down, moving the arms and hands as described for the standing posture.
  

The stick figure below depicts both the "sending out" and "bringing in" positions.

The Exercise

1. Stand in the "bringing in" position (with palms facing you), and pray silently, "Oh God, please may I have healing energy to give me healing for the highest good". Say this two or three times so it is clearly impressed in your mind as you say it. While you are doing that, imagine healing energy coming down into you from above into your head and hands.
   

2. Next, bring your hands in front of your chest so that the palms are facing each other. Slowly move your palms together until they are as close as you can get them without them touching. Your finger tips might be as close as one millimeter apart. Then, slowly move your right hand away while leaving the left hand stationary. When you have moved your right hand about eight inches, pause. Then slowly return the right hand to where it was so it is close to the left hand, palms facing each other. Pause. Repeat this a few times noticing any sensations in your finger tips or the palms of your hands. Repeat this moving the left hand and keeping the right hand stationary. Pay close attention to the sensation in the stationary hand.
   

3. Cup both hands as if you were holding a ball approximately four inches in diameter or whatever size feels comfortable. If you have large hands it might be bigger, if you have small hands it might be smaller. Now turn your hands, still "holding the ball" so one is on top and the other is on the bottom. Notice any sensations in the bottom hand. Turn your hands so the other is on top and the other is on the bottom and notice any sensations in the bottom hand. You can do this once or twice or more if you want to.
   

4. Throughout the following steps, hold your hands an inch or two or slightly more away from your body without actually touching it. Notice any sensations in your hands or your body where you move your hands near it. In particular, pay attention to these sensations as your hands pass over the top of the head, the forehead, the face, temples, the nape of the neck, the shoulders, the front of the throat, the heart, the solar plexus, the abdomen below the navel, and the root chakra.
   

5. Move your hands to the top of your head with the palms facing the top of your head. Notice any sensations in your hands or the top of your head. This step and the following steps can all be done in one continuous flowing motion, there is no need to stop in between steps.
   

6. Slowly move your hands down in front of your face, noticing any sensations.
   

7. Move your hands to the sides of your head so your palms are facing your ears.
   

8. Move your hands back so your palms are facing the back of your neck where the neck and shoulders meet. As you notice any sensations, also imagine energy flowing from your hands down your spine to the base of the spine.
   

9. Move your hands outward along your shoulders with your palms facing downward (horizontally).
   

10. Move your hands with the palms facing toward you vertically so they are in front of your throat. As in the other steps in the exercise, notice any sensation in your hands or the part of the body the hands are facing.
    

11. Move your hands downward so that the palms pass over your breasts, and continue down past the solar plexus and the lower abdomen.
    

12. Move your hands downward across the pelvis, and down the thighs until your hands are in front of your thighs and your elbows are straight. As your hands pass down your thighs point the palms toward your knees and feet and imagine healing energy flowing from your hands down your legs and to your knees and feet.
    

13. Bend your elbows to bring your hands up to the "sending out" position. Imagine healing energy coming down into your head and hand and pray silently, "Oh God, please move healing energy through me to where it's needed for the highest good." If there are any people you would like to send healing to, continue praying, "And please move healing energy to [name the people you would like to receive distant healing] to give them healing for their highest good."
    

14. Turn your palms back toward yourself in the "bringing in" position and repeat the entire exercise as many times as you like. Continuing for ten minutes is a suggestion.
    

When you do this exercise you may feel a lot of energy coming into you when you are in the "bringing in" position. You might also feel warmth coming from your hands as you move them close to your skin, particularly when they are in front of your face and in back of your neck. As your hands pass over some of the chakras you may feel sensations in the chakras.

If you are interested in psychic development, after doing this exercise you can do Exercise 3 or Exercise 4 on my web page A Natural Method for Learning To Communicate with Spirits. Substitute this exercise for the meditation portions of those exercises. After you finish this exercise, lie down and try to go into the hypnogogic state as described in those exercises. You should read the entire page, if you haven't already done so, before you start exercise 3 or 4.

When you are in the beginning stages of learning this technique, you may spend more time on steps 1, 2, and 3 in order to concentrate on learning to feel the healing energy.

You can customize this technique for self healing, by eliminating step 13 or by doing only step 1 for the entire session.

Another form of mental healing involves visualizing your immune cells winning a fight against harmful viruses, bacteria, or cancer cells. One way to do this is to visualize your immune cells engulfing and destroying, for example, any harmful virus particles in your body. You can combine this with the self-healing techniques described above, for example, in step 1. You can even visualize the healing energy adding power to your immune cells to help them in their fight.

There is quite a lot of similarity between qi gong and spiritual healing. Qi gong is usually done standing up as is spiritual healing. The sending out position is similar to a qi gong posture and is also similar to the way spiritual healing is given where the hands placed on the shoulders of the recipient.

Copyright © 2013 by ncu9nc All rights reserved. Texts quoted from other sources are Copyright © by their owners.