Originally posted by Mystech
It’s all well and good to write lengthy pseudo scientific volumes of information about a particular phenomena, but that’s really putting the horse before the carriage, isn’t it? Before you come up with an explanation for a phenomena it’s usually best to have some point of reference, say an observation, so you know just what the hell you’re writing about. Show me conclusive evidence displaying psychic phenomena, and then write me a book about why and how it has occurred.
I'm trying really hard not to call you a moron here. Just letting you know that I'm thinking about it. Most of these books were written as accounts of experiments performed under controlled conditions. Not one of them offers to explain anything that was not personally witnessed and tested repeatedly. Did you not even try to reference anything that I listed? Everything you just asked for, I already gave you. And well, what the hell is with the "Pseudo scientific" mis-judgement? Anyone with any sense to take a look at the evidence with an objective mind and evaluate it scientifically knows that this is not pseudo-science. It is in fact a valid branch of science. This is also shown in the fact that every ivy league college, and most major scientific universities have studies in this area.
I might also add, that never been ANY piece of evidence obtained by these studies that has been successfully disputed by skeptics.
None of the references you listed tested for psi ability under well-controlled conditions.
Well, yes, in fact, quite a few of them do, though I'll be honest, I left out the more definitive and conclusive volumes. The reason that most of these books are so old, is that the investigation of spiritualism(It is directly a part of psi studies, and it would be improper to consider one without the other) didn't begin for the scientific community before the mid 1800's, and died out around the first half of the nineteen hundreds. Every aspect of psi and spiritualism(at least, as far as they knew) had by then been documented, researched, dissertated and picked apart by scientists and special organizations of doctors and researchers assembled specifically to examine the phenomena from a scientific and very skeptical point of view. Here, if you're really interested in the well doccumented and controlled tests of psi ability and mediumship(like I said, directly corrolated), check out the three books by W. J. Crawford, D.Sc.; The Reality of Psychic Phenomena, 1916; Experiments in Phsychical Science, 1919; The Psychic Structures at the Goligher Circle, 1921.
Just because a book is written in a time less technologically advanced than ours, does not discount it's accuracy or the author's objective studies. Most of the science that we use today is founded on the discoveries made by those who came before. Also, almpst evry single one of these authors entered into their research as skeptical dis-believers, exactly like I did. But after being presented with the phenomena and having the ability to test it and experience it under controlled conditions, each and evry one converted their beliefs. The same for me. I started out a staunch disbeliever in everything in the genre, but when you honestly and objectively view the facts, it's impossible not accept to accept the phenomena as valid.
Unfortunately, for too many reasons to list, not much effort has been made recently to understand this phenomena. I take that back, not much effort has been made in America. But then, there never was. American interest in this field was spurred in the first place by the progress made over seas in Europe and Russia. Russia is without a doubt the leader as far as research in this field goes. Although it's nearly impossible to get your hands on most of the information they've obtained. Anyway, you asked a question, hopefully this will help you. You want current info, you need to look here:
http://www.parapsych.org/
http://www.psy.gu.se/Personal/AdrianParker.htm
http://www.rhine.org/
http://moebius.psy.ed.ac.uk/
http://www.princeton.edu/~pear/
http://www.spr.ac.uk/
http://www.enformy.com/mediums.htm
http://www.inclusivescience.org/index.htm
http://www.aspr.com/
There's a wealth of information there.
I suggest that those of you who like to spout off without thinking about what you're saying actually take a look at some the evidence present before making blind conclusions and sticking your foot in your mouth. Just to close, Mystech, I heard the flat earth society has a position open. You sound like you'd fit in there perfectly. You made yourself look pretty stupid. You can fix that by actually doing some honest research before you make your next commentary.
To everyone else, the information is out there, don't be like mystech, if you honestly want to know about this, then do some research and then form your own conclusions.
YOU know Ellimist im really tired of your non-sence on this board. If you don't believe in these powers, THEN with all do respect GET THE FUCK OF THE BOARD! Because there are plenty of other people willing to listen to our experiances. If your that angry LEAVE! Just get off the board and let us talk about stuff we wanna talk about.