Too believers in the paranormal-supernatural.Do you feel that the blind skeptics arguments have swayed you?

In the study of parapsychology it has been found that there are a substantial number of people who believe they have personal psi experiences who are more likely just using their imagination. Most people, even those who believe in psi, do not understand anything about the phenomenon or the experiences of psi. Just because you imagine that you are floating in the thin atmosphere on Mars does not mean that it's true. Most reports of psi likely fall into the category of "imagined events" that are the result of overzealous believers or people who truly just don't know what psi is all about.

In addition, there are characters like "Mother Kleo" or Dione Warwick who have done their best to profit from the fears and insecurities of others, and I believe that many skeptics think about these types of people when they think of "psychics". Believing that all psychics are like this is no more true than believing that all Psychologists are like Dr. Phil or that all survivalists are like Bear Grylls. Delusional people, profiteers, and dogmatic zealots tend to discredit the science, but the science exists nonetheless.

There is a substantial amount of information available on parapsychology that is scientifically oriented (not mystical philosophy). As somebody who studies parapsychology from a scientific perspective, I can confidently state that anybody who cannot see the scientific evidence for some paranormal or psi phenomenon is either:

1) not reading the scientific literature that is available,

2) ignoring legitimate scientific research for the sake of their own beliefs or for monetary gain,

3) deniers who will never change their minds based on available evidence, or

4) so focused on classical physical sciences that they have a difficult time opening up to new science when it is presented to them.

Skeptics (some of which are on this site) have caused me to reexamine my motivations and the information that I have gathered. I have to admit that as a result of their dogmatic refusal to believe, I have diligently pursued the facts, and I found them. So, I guess that some of the arguments of the "skeptics" on this site have swayed me and caused me to study and to accept the science of parapsychology. There is a real value in true skepticism, and I appreciate the contributions of skeptics to most discussions. As long as our discussions remain respectful and civil, we're going to make progress.

One last note:

This section is for ALTERNATIVE Science and Math, not TRADITIONAL Science and Math. If the traditional sciences cannot explain a phenomenon, that does not mean that there is no evidence for the phenomenon. That just means that we need to look for alternative answers, which is what parapsychology is all about. If you feel a need to state that the traditional sciences do not provide any explanation or evidence for a phenomenon, please consider including the term "traditional" in your statement. Parapsychology is all about separating the science from the mythology, but it is likely to take some time before the dividing lines are clear.

Not all skeptics are blind. I think you are referring to people who think they know it all. Skeptics are those who questions. Those you refer to, aren't really questioning, even if they feel like they are. If they say that the paranormal or another dimension does not exist AT ALL, then then must know the secrets of the universe and how it all began, which we all know is not possible.

Insults are insults....they don't sway me at all. How can insults sway anyone? As a matter of fact, I think they are more likely to fuel a person's belief even more.

If it's an argument, I would happily debate. Insults have nothing to do with presenting a valid argument.

Dear friend,

Greetings in peace, love and light. No. The skeptics and non paranormal believers are my own inspiration, they argue for facts and as a paranormal researcher it is our job to provide solid paranormal evidence.

Furthermore, paranormal phenomena is within the universal consciousness that needs to be dealed equally because not all events are paranormal but explainable phenomena.

In fact, the present of the skeptics and the non paranormal believers community is very important within the paranormal research to make sure that the paranormal claimed is not beyond the explanation and give the paranormal researchers a space to strengthen any paranormal evidence so that its become solids with no objections.

Nevertheless, those who are considered to be good skeptics and non paranormal believers are those who can argue with facts in a professional manners and not those of who are only passing judgment without facts. This kind of skeptics and non paranormal believers should be disregards where is necessary.

In peace, love and light.

Augustine

If I didn't have so many things happen in my life, giving me solid proof of the other side and my psychic capability then I might be swayed.

The thing is, I don't just have an idea of the way things work or an idea of what is beneath the surface of this reality. I know because of my experiences. I know because of the witnesses I have had and the confirmations that I have gotten.

The insults bother me. I don't think it's necessary. I don't like being lumped into two categories that I don't fit in, delusional or a fake. I think that is so rude to label someone like that when they haven't walked in my shoes or done what I have done.

I think it's sad because some of these people say, "When it is proven, then I will believe it and not a minute sooner." That is great and wonderful and all, there is nothing wrong with logic and science. But what about all the people you offended before it was proven? Does that just get written off? Does it make it okay that you made rude blanket statements? The mentality of some people astound me, when it comes to this.

But no, they can't possibly change my mind...it's not an opinion I have, what I know to be true is based on facts through my own experiences, not other people and not because I read it in some book.

Skeptic arguments are typically not blind. Skeptics are open minded thinkers who don't automatically put down strange occurrences as paranormal. They require evidence, which is the only rational position to take. They offer alternative, mundane explanations.

You say "those who have experienced true paranormal events" - no paranormal event has ever been demonstrated to be "true". We have anecdotes only.

Skeptics do not use insults in their arguments. You are confusing us with cynics.

We do not have a materialist cause - we just seek the truth, and forward the notion of critical thinking, reason and ration. We want to see hard evidence for something paranormal - that would be awesome.

Your question is logically fallacious and overgeneralizes.

Absolutely not! Once you KNOW what's going on, you'd be nuts (and a hypocrite) to act like you 'unsaw' it! I always go for the logical explaination first. I exhaust that, then at the end, I ask is it 'the other' (ie paranormal). If it's the other, no big deal. If it's logic, no big deal. But, we DO NOT live in a world where it's one and never the other!

Skeptics are that way, because they are either stubborn or control freaks. And that's fine... I just don't understand why they feel the need to be inclined (often fanatically) to make sure that non skeptics acknowledge that they are indeed crazy for not being thoroughly logical in the face of SOME doubt.

I respect and even understand where the skeptics are coming from. Until I experienced it for myself, I was very much a skeptic. I had very much a "prove it to me" attitude, but I wasn't a definite "no, this doesn't exist, it isn't possible", simply because anybody with a general knowledge of our universe knows that there are so many things science just hasn't discovered yet, things technology just isn't advanced enough to measure (like more about the planets in the soloar system).

But no, the skeptics viewpoints honestly haven't swayed my decision, because I have indeed experienced, and often enough for me to take notice and go "okay, I'm not just imagining things".

But... I have learned a few things, from their explanations of things, that I didn't know before. And they do keep me on my toes, and they make me think. I like a challenge, I can't grow otherwise.

Just wanted to add... when I say I've learned things, I mean from those who've taken the time to explain their point of views, and how they see things, the actual scientific explanations. Not the ones who resort to insulting. I agree completely with Mel on this aspect. The ones who take the time to explain in a calm rational manner have my utmost respect and always get thumbs up when they take the time.

Nope. I know precisely why I believe what I believe, and I am a skeptic in many things. I don't often take offense to their insults, anyway. I understand why they get frustrated with people who can only quote scripture in defense of their beliefs, and have no real thoughts of their own on the matter.

By the wa, I think the term "supernatural" is a misnomer. All things are natural, after all.

nope.

Science can only PROVE something to be true, it can't disprove it. That is a fact.

However, science measures the physical, the paranormal is not inside the laws of physics, so how would one even go about that? They cannot. As a medium I have had my fair share of personal experiences and experiences that were witnessed by many others. It is truly incredible the help we have in the non-physical.

They haven't swayed me. I know that everyone has psychic abilities to some extent, it's just to what extent they want to use them. As for the skeptics, science was once called mysticism or magic. I don't try to push my beliefs onto anyone so I don't know why they have to go on and on about how nothing remotely "supernatural" ever happens in this world.