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News Briefs 03-04-2009

By Grail-seekeron

Today’s news is the Windows XP version. My other computer’s a wreck.

Quotes of the Day:

Be content with what is happening and forget about change; then you can enter into the oneness of the mystery of heaven.

Chuang Tzu

Grail-seeker
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4 Comments

  1. Rational?
    The Independent article on NDE’s is another example of the materialistic bias inherent in the media, particularly in my country. The first indication of this bias is in the use of the word rational, as in: “or is there a more rational explanation”. This suggests that the out-of-body explanation is not rational. In other words, scientific materialism = rational.

    Another common feature of these articles is the pretense of open-minded reporting being exposed by the thinly disguised contempt for anything remotely sniffing of paranormal. Usually there is the old “set-em-up and knock-em-down” tactic used repeatedly by the BBC Horizon team. This is evident in this article by including a fair description of the Pam Reynolds case (the set-up), followed by this:

    “… there are non-spiritual explanations. It is not uncommon, for example, for patients to awaken during operations and be able to recount what was going on, … ” (the knock-down).

    Anyone who has ever read the NDE evidence with a serious but open mind, would have to gasp at the sheer arrogance and ignorance of that dismissive remark.

    The one quote from the article that, for me, sums up the bias is this one:

    “The problem for them and other researchers looking for more down-to-earth explanations is that they have to find a rationale for their theories, unlike the spiritual theorists who accept everything as reported as evidence of paranormal activity.”

    That, to me, is saying that “spiritual theorists” are uncritical of the evidence, gullible and looking for evidence to fit their beliefs, while the noble scientists have a rational approach which will lead, in the end, to the real truth.

    Dave.

    http://www.davidsmuse.co.uk

    1. Occam’s blunt razor
      [quote=kamarling]The Independent article on NDE’s is another example of the materialistic bias inherent in the media, particularly in my country. The first indication of this bias is in the use of the word rational, as in: “or is there a more rational explanation”. This suggests that the out-of-body explanation is not rational. In other words, scientific materialism = rational. [/quote]

      Good point Dave.

      I find it a little amusing when hearing the materialist explanations for NDEs (to this point). They always seem so contrived:

      “The impression of being dead, for example, could be a reaction to the paralysis of REM, while the tunnel of light may be linked to changes in blood flow in the retina and visual activation by the REM system.

      The paranormal and spiritual images may result from the fact that the limbic system, which is older than other parts of the brain and which is involved in behaviour, emotion and long-term memory, is strongly active during REM sleep.”

      I think, given the context of the NDE, that any materialist explanation needs to explain why the overwhelming vibe of the complete experience is that of being in an afterlife environment (eg. disembodied soul, past life review in which actions are ‘judged’, meeting with deceased relatives, entering a heavenly realm, meeting the ‘being of light’). It’s not as simple as explaining the tunnel via “changes of blood flow in the retina”.

      (I also think that the “impression of being dead” might in fact be caused, in some of the cases, by the fact that the patient actually did die – eg. cardiac arrest patients).

      And where’s the evolutionary explanation? 😉

      By the way, my article in the upcoming Darklore 3 is about historical instances of NDEs.

      Kind regards,
      Greg
      ——————————————-
      You monkeys only think you’re running things

      1. other side
        I can turn this argument around.

        Suppose there is a biological function that causes these NDEs and commonly has the effect of the temporarily “dead” person to have these visions.

        If that is the case, this could easily be the origin of many religious and spiritual concepts.

        After all, NDEs are not a modern phenomenon. People have been waking up from near death for many housands of years.

        Also everyone in the western world has been exposed to these concepts – bright lights, looking at yourself from the outside and such things. Religious believers or atheists, everyone knows these images.

        And then of course again, heart stoppage doesn’t mean you are dead.

        So what I would really like to find out – when are we dead? The law is no help here, neither are spirituality or medicine at this point.

        —-
        It is not how fast you go
        it is when you get there.

        1. Dead certain
          I don’t think we are dealing with a phenomenon associated *only* with death or near-death. Out-of-body journeys, according to many who experience them, can be initiated accidentally during normal healthy life, or from meditative states or drug-induced altered states of consciousness. I have no doubt that these experiences are the very essence and original source of religious lore.

          However, that says nothing about whether or not the experience is an electro-chemical epiphenomenon or an excursion of consciousness into other realities.

          Just recently I came across Tom Campbell, a working physicist who was involved in some of the early OOBE research with Robert Monroe. Tom has devised a Theory of Everything from this reseach and from his own experiences. I haven’t read his books but I found a spare hour or two to watch his video lecture. I think that what he has to say is relevant to the subject we are discussing here.

          Tom’s lecture video’s on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=CE5EA05F1F683940

          Also, the writer Donald Tyson seems to have arrived at similar conclusions to those of Tom Campbell. I found this article interesting:

          http://paranormal.about.com/od/outofbodyexp/a/aa091007.htm

          Dave.

          http://www.davidsmuse.co.uk

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