Sorry, Sirona, I've been working on an article all weekend, didn't look at this thread until tonight, and I have no time to really give your posts the attention they deserve. I'll try to take a closer look tomorrow. I also got your PM. I didn't mean to ignore you, but some of my weekends are super busy, and this was one.
I did see the film "What the $%^& Do We Know," and watched it with great interest. There is one person on there that was interviewed, the woman channeling some ancient warrior or whatever, that I remain completely skeptical about. She used to publish her stuff from a place just a few miles from where I live. Her being in that film really set me back. There were some interesting ideas there, but I remain very skeptical of some of it.
I agree that people have a right to their own ideas, but I am NOT of the school that thinks that all ideas should be given the same attention and respect and gravity. There are a lot of ideas out there, but they are not all good ideas! Some ideas are just plain bad or stupid. Sorry if that offends some, and I know it's not politically correct, but I have no desire to waste any of my time on bad thinking.
If you're an experienced builder or surgeon, and someone comes along spouting a building technique or surgery technique that is contrary to your experience, they better present convincing evidence that what they are saying is so or you're going to figure it's bullshit. I've got 35 years experience in the areas of prayer and prophecy, so I'm not too patient with anyone who spouts a special connection with some invisible part of the universe that 99% of the rest of us don't have. Prove it or get in line with the rest of the charlatans, self-deluded or not.
One of my favorite writers, Colin Wilson, had a real interest in all of these areas as well. Interestingly, he was a math prodigy and genius who had a passing connection with the JWs in his youth, and you can find some of that detailed in his books. He investigated the paranormal, and found the vast majority of it was bogus. BUT, there was one case that seemed to him to be quite genuine. It's been a while and I don't remember all the details, but he wrote about that case extensively.
I wasn't exaggerating my feeling that premonitions and prayer are absurd, Quietly Leaving. I've seen no evidence beyond the coincidental that they have any value at all. BUT, contrary to many of the comments on here, I'm not closed minded to it - I just need to see a lot more evidence than I have. Hell, I'd be glad to start believing in Jehovah again if he'd just get off his lazy ass and perform a miracle or two for us!
That idea that some people may be tapping into something that science may eventually explain also interests me, and may provide some explanations for what seems the exceptions to what we all experience.
Back to work! Deadlines loom!
S4
