The Eternal Dumpster Fire of Rupert Sheldrake’s Wikipedia Biography

Wikipedia is a tragic mess of epic proportions and its crowning dumpster fire is Rupert Sheldrake’s highly contentious biography. It’s been a Wikipedia battleground ever since his TEDx Talk at Whitechapel in 2013. This was all covered in my book: PSI WARS: TED, Wikipedia and the Battle for the Internet. Sheldrake had his video taken down from the main TED website -essentially banned - and there was a big uproar over the whole thing.

ruper

Prior to that time, Rupert had a decent Wikipedia page, but as his notoriety grew, his page became the playground of his enemies, making him look worse and worse as they edited out his accomplishments and plastered the word “pseudoscience” everywhere. It’s got the fingerprints of the Guerrilla Skeptics on Wikipedia all over it. They are an anti-intellectual atheist materialist Wikipedia editing group dedicated to teaching the world that we have brains, but no minds. But first, a little backstory.

At the time, Rupert was talking about his then new book Science Set Free, where he talked about the ten dogmas of science, which are worth repeating here because it clarifies what ideologies are at play:

The Ten Dogmas of Science

1. Everything, including all living things, are essentially mechanical.
2. All matter is unconscious. Subjectivity doesn’t exist.
3. The total amount of energy and matter is always the same.
4. The laws of nature are fixed.
5. Nature is purposeless, and evolution has no goal or direction. Everything happens according to random processes.
6. All biological inheritance is material, carried in the genetic material, DNA and in other material structures. Mind and intent play no part.
7. Minds are inside the head and are nothing but the activities of brains.
8. Memories are stored as material traces in brains and are wiped out at death.
9. Unexplained phenomena like telepathy are illusory. They are a trick of the mind.
10. Mechanistic medicine is the only kind that really works. Natural remedies of any sort are ineffective.

Rupert Sheldrake Has Enemies

The enemies of Sheldrake who control his biography absolutely believe these dogmas as though they were etched in stone. This is what Sheldrake was challenging in his book. He argued that we should question these beliefs and that there were other ways to conceptualize the universe.

Sheldrake is at home with ideas like collective consciousness and telepathy and his most well known theory, morphic resonance, relies on these concepts. Morphic Resonance describes how entire species have a collective mind that they draw upon to spread information. This, of course, runs entirely counter to the beliefs of these zealot editors.

Rupert’s Popularity

As far as Wikipedia goes, what’s interesting about Sheldrake is that he is a popular figure with a lot of very science-literate followers. So naturally, when people see the abysmal state of his biography, they step up to see if they can help. This has been going on for years. You can see it in the talk page right at the top:

How to violate the Wikipedia Neutral Point of View by requiring bias in targeted articles.

Here, let me translate it for you: “A common objection by people with actual scholarship abilities is that this biography is utter garbage. Although we control this page with an iron fist, we need to maintain the pretense that we’re following the rules, so we’re calling it fringe and pseudoscience, a decision you are not allowed to object to. “Any evidence you provide showing that he is not fringe or pseudoscience will be treated as fringe and pseudoscience, thereby proving you wrong.”

Failures Of Skeptics

That banner, in other words, is an advertisement for the Guerrilla Skeptic’s utter failure to be able to intellectually defend their position. Instead, they’ve resorted to a line of reasoning that would be more at home in a Monty Python sketch.

I’m going to use one of Rupert’s favorite methods of cutting through the noise: phrase this as a question. Is he fringe? Is it pseudoscience? If the answer to both is no, then all the other objections to a neutral biography are moot.

The Wikipedia Fringe Label

Is Rupert Sheldrake fringe? By the Wikipedia definition, fringe is defined as: an idea that departs significantly from the prevailing views or mainstream views in its particular field. Is Morphic Resonance fringe by this definition? The answer is no if you stay within the context of how scientific inquiry and exploration normally works. Fringe within the context of science means that the concept won’t pass ordinary peer review within its own field, much less get into more generalized journals like Nature. Fringe, as it applies to science, is usually one person pushing an idea that no one else takes seriously.

Morphic resonance passes the basic test of science in that it is falsifiable. You can run experiments that test the theory, which has been done. There are also references to it from other scientists as early as 1938, (Spemann), (Weiss, 1939).

Morphic Resonance is taken seriously by other scientists and references to it can be found in various journals and some experimental evidence supports it, particularly within its field. This is science that is going through the ordinary process of discovery at the usual snail’s pace. Adoption hinges on some rethinking of the fundamental assumptions that Sheldrake addressed in his TED talk. And scientific testing of Morphic Resonance is part of what is creating the need for this rethinking.

The whole discussion of the nature of the universe is a huge scientific controversy that has been growing. There are consciousness researchers currently making submissions for a $100,000 prize. There are a number of people closing in on theories of consciousness in physics, which has gained momentum due to the 2022 Nobel Prizes in physics.

The Nobel Prize in Physics 2022 was awarded jointly to Alain Aspect, John F. Clauser and Anton Zeilinger "for experiments with entangled photons, establishing the violation of Bell inequalities and pioneering quantum information science."

Information is a form of consciousness, so this prize is essentially saying that there is consciousness in physics, which in turn makes Morphic Resonance quite plausible. The objection that the theory somehow defies physics is removed here. It isn’t enough to rely on second sources for this topic because there are legitimately competing views. Labeling the theory (and the man) as fringe is a way of taking sides in a debate that Wikipedia editors are woefully unqualified to tackle.

The Wikipedia Pseudoscience Label

Then we move on to the designation of “pseudoscience.” The Wikipedia definition is:

Pseudoscience is often characterized by contradictory, exaggerated or unfalsifiable claims; reliance on confirmation bias rather than rigorous attempts at refutation; lack of openness to evaluation by other experts; absence of systematic practices when developing hypotheses; and continued adherence long after the pseudoscientific hypotheses have been experimentally discredited.[4]

Let’s go through this list for Morphic Resonance:

1. Contradictory? No
2. Exaggerated? No
3. falsifiable? Yes
4. Reliance on confirmation bias rather than rigorous attempts at refutation? No
5. Lack of openness to evaluation by other experts? No
6. Absence of systematic practices? No
7. Continued adherence after experimentally discredited? N/A

The term pseudoscience, as applied here, is nothing more than a skeptical dog whistle; a trademark of the atheist materialist Guerrilla Skeptics on Wikipedia. It does not apply to parapsychology, which has a scientific organization, the Parapsychological Association, that is an affiliate of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. There isn’t more an organization can do to establish its legitimacy. But that is ignored in the article. The Guerrilla Skeptics, who clearly have an iron grip on this article, peddle their secular humanist propaganda by manipulating Wikipedia articles and biographies.

Why You Can’t Rely on Sourcing on Wikipedia

This manipulation is most visible in the sourcing: This is important because journalists often skip the article, but then rely on sourcing. That doesn’t work either. The following sources cited in this article are associated in some way with the Center for Inquiry/Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI)/the Skeptical Inquirer/Prometheus Books:

• 5. A book containing articles by fellows of CSI: David Gorski, Chris French
• 6. Skeptical Inquirer
• 8. One of the writers is a CSI fellow: Massimo Pigliucci
• 11. Skeptical Inquirer
• 14. Prometheus Books
• 17. Founder of CSI: Martin Gardner
• 23. CSI Fellow: Jerry Coyne
• 24. CSI Fellow: Susan Blackmore
• 26. Not a CSI Fellow, but aligned with them. Pub. of Skeptic Magazine: Michael Shermer
• 32. See 26. Shermer
• 33. See 26. Shermer
• 60. See 26. Shermer
• 65 CSI Fellow: Robert Todd Carroll
• 66. CSI Fellow: Susan Blackmore
• 68. CSI Fellow: James Alcock
• 69. CSI Fellow: Richard Wiseman
• 82. CSI Fellow: Susan Blackmore
• 84. CSI FEllow: Richard Wiseman
• 90. Skeptical Inquirer
• 91. Skeptical Inquirer
• 92. Skeptical Inquirer
• 93. See 26. Shermer
• 97. CSI Fellow: Massimo Pigliucci

Special mention to Steven Rose, a distinguished supporter of the British organization, Humanists UK. He is cited on: 20, 27, 123, 127, 132.

In case you were wondering, four of these people have a legitimate reason to be cited in some specific situations: Richard Wiseman replicated one of Sheldrake’s experiments where they did testing on whether dogs know that their owner is coming home. Susan Blackmore wrote a couple of specific critiques on specific experiments, and Steven Rose critiqued Morphic Resonance.

They were involved in scientific discussions that are part of the process. Rose’s critique can be found in full on Rupert Sheldrake’s website, but in an act of pettiness, the Guerrilla Skeptics have chosen to cite the Wayback machine, lest anyone be exposed to the horrors of woo. The interaction with Shermer was an unnecessary addition to the biography.

This isn’t a biography, it’s an advertisement for these skeptics, all of whom have well done, complimentary Wikipedia biographies. It’s an example of reward your friends, punish your enemies.

Misrepresentation of Research by omitting Rebuttals

I suppose I should mention that the article makes a hash of Rupert Sheldrake’s work by over emphasizing criticism and leaving out rebuttals and positive attributes. For example, in the section on dogs that know when their owner is coming home, Richard Wiseman replicated the experiment and got the same results as Sheldrake. Rather than admit this, he simply moved the goal posts, adding criteria that were not in the original experiment and then declared the experiment a failure.

https://www.sheldrake.org/files/pdfs/papers/The-Psychic-Pet-Phenomenon.pdf

In the case of Blackmore’s objection, Sheldrake wrote:

https://www.sheldrake.org/files/pdfs/papers/The-Psychic-Pet-Phenomenon.pdf

If you have to cheat, to make someone look bad, you are not winning your intellectual war.

It’s not just Rupert Sheldrake; it’s not just Parapsychology; it’s a whole weird list of things that these atheists object to. They are on a crusade against chiropractors and Santa Claus as well. As stated earlier, they claim that we are just brains and chemical processes and that consciousness is just a brain process and doesn’t actually exist. They truly don’t believe that we have minds.

One cannot help but wonder if this belief in mindlessness isn’t just a bit of self reflection.

Tapping into the Earth's Pulse: The Power of Dowsing and the Empowering Teachings of Raymon Grace

Dowsing emerges as a captivating connection, bridging the gap between the visible and the invisible within a realm teeming with hidden energies and uncharted potentials. This ancient practice, shrouded in mystery and enriched by tradition, finds a vibrant warrior in an individual who is renowned in the field. His name is Raymon Grace—a man who has become synonymous with the art and power of dowsing. Grace wields his tools with mastery and possesses a treasure trove of captivating stories, which not only unveil the Earth's mysteries but also unleash the dormant potential within each individual. We delve into the world of dowsing through the lens of Raymon Grace's transformative teachings.

Understanding Dowsing and It’s Power

Dowsing, an ancient technique, involves skilled practitioners utilizing various tools like rods, pendulums, or even humble twigs to successfully locate elusive treasures like water sources, minerals, or other hidden resources. Beyond its practical applications, dowsing is a journey into the subtler realms of energy and intuition. In spite of the skepticism and ongoing debates surrounding its scientific foundation, dowsing remains a captivating practice that seamlessly bridges the realm of earthly wisdom with ethereal connections. However, perhaps not as well known is the power within the art of dowsing. It has the ability to become a transformational experience that can turn someone’s life around or become the catalyst to a deep healing.

Raymon Grace: A Living Legend

Raymon Grace, hailing from the rolling landscapes of Virginia, is a towering figure in the world of dowsing. A real cowboy character with wisdom and wit, and a charismatic speaker. With his extensive expertise acquired over the course of many decades, he truly personifies the essence of a genuine dowser. He not only possesses the gift to unveil the hidden depths of spirituality and the Earth, but he is also dedicated to unearthing the untapped potential that lies within each individual.

What I appreciate about him is his no nonsense attitude to things. He has a strong connection with Native Americans and learned from them to develop his unique spiritual insights. With his extensive expertise acquired over the course of many decades, he truly personifies the essence of a genuine dowser. He not only possesses the gift to unveil the hidden depths of spirituality and the Earth, but he is also dedicated to unearthing the untapped potential that lies within each individual.

Raymon is a spiritual warrior and has no time for evil acts in the world. He resolves problems that originate in the etheric to prevent them from appearing in the material world. Once they emerge, he promptly eradicates any vestige of negativity or malevolent deeds. Whilst this may seem unbelievable, truth really is often stranger than fiction. Consequently, he has won accolades from very high quarters for his work and dedication to humanity. Yet, he is a humble man and one that I tower above, but only in height. He is a giant in his world with no real equal.

Grace Empowerment

Raymon's philosophy is one of empowerment. He perceives dowsing not merely as a method for locating water or minerals, but rather as a powerful instrument for individual and societal metamorphosis. His unique approach intertwines traditional dowsing methods with an expansive understanding of human consciousness and the power of positive intent. He also transforms water, similar to the astounding occurrences recorded in history. However, he does not convert it into wine, but rather into a sublime substance vibrating at a higher frequency, endowed with the power to heal. He manipulates time, banishes spirits, and tackles cases that demand his intervention to cleanse the criminal underworld.

I am quite a scientifically minded individual. When it comes to other worldly phenomena and mediumship, evidence for me is a prerequisite to my acceptance. Much to my delight, Raymon has a plethora of verified feats that challenge science and has taken part in scientific research. All he wants to do in the world is ‘good,’ and to serve those who are in need, but be aware, he is no fool.

An Invite To Experience Raymon Grace Teachings First Hand

I was very fortunate to be invited to one of Raymon’s workshops as his guest and experience first hand what he teaches. I attended day 2 of the workshop along with 50-60 other participants who attended day 1, including my wife who has been a student of Raymon’s. He also endorsed her latest book ‘Clear Spirit, the Life Changing Power of Energy Clearing.’

Now I cannot profess to know much about dowsing and haven’t had any personal experiences, but I have witnessed its power from the work my wife has done and heard stories of the somewhat miraculous works of Raymon himself. Always the skeptical enquirer, I was delighted to find that many of Raymon’s extraordinary stories were true, including scientific validations of his ability, and many others who attested to healings and transformations.

New Age - Not Me

You may think that Raymon's teachings are exclusively for individuals who gravitate towards the new age movement and harbor the belief that they possess the power to instantaneously transform the world through love and mere thoughts, or by employing dowsing to halt warfare. Absolutely not! That's not the way things work and shows a lack of understanding of the mechanics of spirit and divine law. Now I am not saying that everyone is all light and love, not at all. Although, even though some people may have incorrect beliefs and unrealistic expectations, I have met many extraordinary individuals.

Raymon’s students range from military officials, doctors, scientists and many other people who have a genuine passion to serve humanity. They are all amazing people. I met a couple of women who are in business together and who use the power of dowsing to develop beautiful landscapes in California. For me that was quite a remarkable story, and you will hear more from Martha and Marta in a future article. Or Nancy who lives right on the Gettysburg battlefield and who recalled stories of phenomena she has experienced in the area. Who knows, a PDN visit could come out of that.

Clearing Negative Energy

Ruth decided to travel to Raymon’s class just after the war started with Israel. She had studied some of his videos and felt her passion stir within. She also believes in the power of healing. Ruth's son, who is currently studying in Israel, is a subject of great concern for her. She firmly believes in doing everything possible to help him and others who are suffering, even if it involves clearing negative energy. Now that is selfless service.

No one told me I could not do it

I will never forget one of the messages that really struck me. Despite my initial skepticism, something stood out and strongly impacted me. Raymon Grace was telling one of his stories about his dowsing projects, which seemed unbelievable and like something out of a Harry Potter movie. Very matter of fact and nonchalantly, he states;

“No one told me I couldn't do it and I don’t know what I don’t know, so I did it anyway.”

And what he did, worked. I am not going to recount one of those stories but suggest you attend one of his workshops.

The Power of Stories in Teaching

At the heart of Raymon Grace's teachings are his stories—narratives rich with wisdom, humor, and insight. These stories offer more than just entertainment. They are vessels of knowledge, intricately woven with experiences that deeply resonate with his audience. Through tales of dowsing triumphs, community healing, and personal revelations, Grace illustrates the profound impact of dowsing, making the intangible tangibly powerful. To truly grasp the profound wisdom within a story, one must listen attentively to the unspoken messages it conveys. Only then can you fully immerse yourself in its rich and profound teachings. After all, as human beings, we are built for story telling, so what better way to transmit knowledge through story. The Native Americans, who are embedded in Raymon’s philosophy, are often taught through stories and communicate through stories.

Empowering Through Dowsing

Central to Grace's mission is the empowerment of individuals and the capacity within each person to affect change. One of his principles is that ‘energy follows thought.’ He firmly believes in the ability of dowsing to unlock personal growth and community well-being. His workshops are more than just lessons on how to find water or clear energies; they are transformative experiences that provide individuals with the necessary tools to access their inner potential and create positive transformations in both their personal lives and surroundings.

Continuing the Journey

Raymon Grace's legacy is an ongoing narrative of inspiration and empowerment. His work has spawned a vibrant community of dowsers, eager to explore the mysteries of the Earth and harness the potential within themselves. Through books, seminars, and personal engagements, Grace continues to spread the message of dowsing, not as a mere practice, but as a path to empowerment and a deeper understanding of the world. He is further on in his years and I hope that he will continue to share his wisdom until he takes his last breath. I felt truly honored to be in his presence and to witness at first hand the passion he has for serving humanity.

Final Thought

In Raymon Grace's enduring journey with dowsing, we find a profound lesson—the Earth speaks to those who listen, and within its whispers lie secrets waiting to be discovered. Grace's life is a testament to the transformative power of dowsing, not only as a means to find water or minerals but as a tool for personal empowerment and communal harmony.

As we stand amidst the energies that weave through our world, we are reminded of the power of stories, the strength of intent, and the unyielding potential that resides within each of us. Raymon Grace's teachings invite us to embark on this journey of discovery, to harness the power of dowsing, and to awaken the dormant capabilities that await within the depths of our being.

One great gift I received from that weekend was meeting the people at the seminar and spending time with individuals who just wanted to end suffering.

Finally, keep tuned in as Raymon will be my guest on Deadly Departed. If you have a question, send your questions to: editor@paranormaldailynews.com

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Two new paranormal TV shows are changing the landscape of ghost-hunting shows

A few months ago, I joined a team of paranormal investigators, visiting haunted locations for the first season of a brand-new indie ghost-hunting show called Inhuman Beings. This month, we launched a Kickstarter to finish Inhuman Beings and a paranormal documentary series called New Blood. The two shows aim to present a new outlook on the supernatural, showcasing the esteemed specialist in the occult, Michelle Belanger. Her expertise has been previously displayed on several publications such as Paranormal State, Portals to Hell, Conjuring Kesha, among others. Locations have been chosen for the first season of a brand-new indie ghost-hunting show called Inhuman Beings. This month, we launched a Kickstarter to finish Inhuman Beings and a paranormal documentary series called New Blood.

Inhuman Beings

Each episode of Inhuman Beings features a different location with a reputation for high strangeness. Rather than trying to banish ghosts or uncover demons, we approach the unknown with a sense of curiosity, keeping an open mind and looking into ghosts, UFOs, cryptids, the fae, and more.

We use some traditional paranormal investigation techniques, experimenting with REM pods, spirit boxes, a Kinect SLS camera, and an Ovilus. But we also get weird, trying out remote viewing experiments, using dream sigils to communicate with entities, and following our curiosity as far down the rabbit hole as we can go.

That led us to some strange places. During production, we found ourselves crossing a remote river to visit land ruled by the fae, exploring a strange castle with a mysterious past, and investigating the most haunted building in a small town.

As the team’s paranormal researcher, I dug into the locations before filming and was floored by how many anomalies had been reported in each spot.

In one episode, we venture to the area of the original Loveland frogman sightings, along the banks of Ohio’s Little Miami River. While doing preliminary research, I couldn’t believe how much lore was concentrated in one small area and how interconnected the different paranormal phenomena were there.

I had heard the famous 1950s story about a man encountering strange, frog-like humanoids—one of whom carried a wand emitting sparks—but the more research I did, the more reports I found about local sightings of UFOs, cryptids, aliens, and ghosts.

That was my first hint that things were going to get a lot stranger than I had expected. However, I was not fully prepared for the firsthand experiences we had when we arrived at the site and engaged in conversations with the locals, conducted our own experiments, and gained a true understanding of what the place was truly like.

New Blood

Much of the cast and crew of Inhuman Beings are also in New Blood, a longform docu-series about modern-day vampires.

In New Blood, a series of synchronicities leads witch and host of paranormal podcast Follow the Woo Fen Alankus (she/they) to move from LA to the spooky Midwest. There, she conjures an investigative film crew to document a secret society of vampires.

They delve into the mysterious world of vampires while staying in a haunted Airbnb. The experience, which involves visiting sacred vampire ritual spaces, braving the creepy woods of Ohio, and performing out-of-the-box psychical experiments and spells, changes all of them. Season one was a wild ride, and the next phases of initiation have already begun for the team.

The Kickstarter and team

Michelle Belanger (he/she/they) and Fen Alankus (she/they) have gathered a top-notch crew of film professionals and paranormal investigators. That includes historian and medium Stephanie Bingham (she/her), who has been featured on the CW’s Mysteries Decoded, Destination America’s Paranormal Lockdown and SyFy Channel’s School Spirits; tarot/oracle reader Tigresse Bleu (they/she); filmmaker, forager, and hedgewitch Aubrey P. Archer (they/them); and photographer and skeptic-turned-believer Taylor Brown (she/they), and me.

More than 100 hours of footage have already been shot for these shows, and both shows are slated for release in Fall/Winter 2023.

With the Kickstarter funding, the team will finish up the first seasons of both shows, start pre-production on the next seasons, and more. Backers get rewards like magically imbued Ouija planchettes, Bigfoot and Pride Demon T-shirts, subtle-body portrait readings, bonus and behind-the-scenes content, executive producer credit, guest spots on their shows, and more. Spread the word and help bring this fresh paranormal project into the world!

Wikipedia and the Paranormal

I’ll get to Wikipedia in a moment, but first a little background. One of the more depressing aspects of my job as a Parapsychology journalist is dealing with the skepticism. It’s not that skepticism isn’t warranted when dealing with the paranormal, it absolutely is, it’s that the vast majority of skepticism is just . . . bad. Any open minded person arguing with people who are strongly skeptical quickly realizes that their claim to being tough minded and objective is really just stubborn people never admitting to being wrong. It’s not critical thinking, it’s just . . . tedious.

Where skepticism really goes off the rails is when it becomes a belief system. This is what I documented in my book PSI WARS: TED, Wikipedia and the Battle for the Internet. The skepticism has become more of a fringe atheist religious-like crusade to bring rationality to an increasingly irrational world, it seems like it should be a good thing. Who doesn’t want more rationality? Amiright?

Pseudoskepticism

In practice, what they do is properly called pseudoskepticism, which isn’t a careful analysis of specific objections, but rather a general dismissal of both people and subjects that they disagree with. Even the word “rationality” becomes a sort of dog whistle.

In their case rationality refers to a very specific belief system that these skeptics fully embrace: They believe in a material universe. (This is increasingly up for debate as quantum physics repeatedly demonstrates that the universe is entangled and not locally real. As Rovelli pointed out, even physics itself is relational.)

This materialistic belief, which is at the core of this true believer skepticism, leads to assumptions about reality which these skeptics hotly defend. They believe that psychic ability can’t possibly exist and its study is pure pseudoscience (another skeptic dog whistle); holistic medicine is nonsense and is also pseudoscience. One finds this all over Wikipedia now. Reddit User Hastener_Of_Days wrote this assessment.

The way the terms "pseudoscience" and "fringe" are used on Wikipedia, is now akin to jewtagging. It's really quite disgusting. In the Wikipedia coverage of any of these areas, most notably Homeopathy, readers are treated like children, and are quite literally beaten over the head and forced to a conclusion. This is distinct from the original Wikipedia model of neutrality, where you simply present the facts, in due proportion to their reliability, and trust the reader to come to the right conclusion.

Weird Skepticism

When you travel down the rabbit hole of this organized skepticism it gets really weird. Congratulating children on discovering that Santa Claus isn’t real; attacking naturopathy, (the science of promoting self healing in the body. It’s a licensed profession found in many hospitals); licensed chiropractors (found everywhere, accepted by insurance companies) are also apparently pseudoscience to them for . . . reasons. Religion is an infantile belief that does more harm than good. Religions are responsible for most wars.

And now that we have that out of the way, it’s time to discuss Wikipedia and the Paranormal.

Bias and Lack of Scholarship

If you concentrate on Wikipedia articles about holistic medicine, or the paranormal, you’ll find that most of the articles are not just written from a skeptical point of view, but one that is strikingly similar to that of a particular skeptic organization.

Wikipedia, for example claims the following about parapsychology:

Criticized as being a pseudoscience, the majority of mainstream scientists reject it.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Parapsychology has also been criticised by mainstream critics for many of its practitioners claiming that their studies are plausible in spite of there being no convincing evidence for the existence of any psychic phenomena after more than a century of research.[1][10][11]

What is wrong with this? What’s not wrong with it? Parapsychology isn’t a pseudoscience. The Parapsychological Association is an affiliate of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Here is a quote from a paper by a very skeptical critic who has worked with parapsychologists and is familiar with the research:

Parapsychology at its best—as exemplified by, for example, the articles in the Journal of Parapsychology—appears to meet most if not all of the benchmarks of true science as opposed to pseudoscience.

His views are shared by other skeptics familiar with the research such as Richard Wiseman and Susan Blackmore. When you limit your search to the tiny handful of critics who actually engage with the research you come away with an entirely different take on this scientific field.

Bad Citations

Some of their citations to back up this Wikipedia article are over over 30 years old, others are just someone’s opinion that they wrote down, unsupported by evidence. One says the opposite of what they’re claiming. This isn’t what valid citations look like; it’s just Wikipedia editors scrounging up whatever they can find to support their weak argument.

And lastly, we see the claim that there is no convincing evidence. Here is a paper that Wikipedia editors seem to have mysteriously failed to cite despite the fact that it’s extremely well known within the field:

The Experimental Evidence for Parapsychological Phenomena: A Review

Parapsychology is an area of expertise for me; I can see the flaws in articles like this because I know what’s missing and where the editors are making claims that I know aren’t true. I have read many of the documents they’re referencing, I know who’s who in this field, when someone is just a poser and who is the real deal.

It’s Worse than Mere Incompetence

The Wikipedia editors had to go out of their way to make this article as blatantly false as it is. This isn’t incompetence; it’s deliberate. And it isn’t a one off either. The vast majority of articles related to parapsychology of any substance are treated this way, including biographies.

This extends into articles about the paranormal, including psychics and mediums and also pretty much any holistic medicine or holistic medical practice you care to name. They are so littered with references to criticism that you’d think this was a gossip column and not an encyclopedia.

To understand why Wikipedia is horrifically inaccurate and/or misleading about paranormal topics and holistic medicine, you need to understand the connection between the editors and the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI).

The Link between Organized Skepticism and Wikipedia

CSI is an organization dedicated to skepticism. They publish the Skeptical Inquirer and came into being at a convention of the American Humanist Association in 1976. It was founded by Paul Kurz and Marcello Truzzi. Truzzi left the organization after realizing that impartiality wasn’t the goal.

Because the organization is driven by a non mainstream atheistic belief that the paranormal is impossible and that they, the chosen few, are providing rationality to an increasingly superstitious and irrational world, this has led to their never ending battle against an increasingly convincing body of scientific evidence, with at least one of their leading skeptics grudgingly conceding first that parapsychology is a real science and then that the results of some of the experiments are valid.

And as I said earlier, they dismiss chiropractic care, naturopathy, acupuncture and other generally accepted holistic medical practices as pseudoscience. For those interested in a longer read of their history, here is an article by the late Guy Lyon Playfair. (here) There is also an accounting of their deliberate attempt to suppress the results of an experiment they conducted when they didn’t get the results they wanted. (here)

This cultist skeptical organization and others like it, form an echo chamber where they cherry-pick their way to conclusions they want, often relying on their own members to form the arguments and then citing those as proof. They pounce on positive portrayals of psychic ability or holistic medicine, making sure to write articles and then seek media attention to promote their viewpoint.

The Guerrilla Skeptics of Wikipedia

Out of this toxic stew, the Guerrilla Skeptics of Wikipedia was born. I first found out about them after I’d finished reporting on parapsychologist Rupert Sheldrake’s dust up with TED talks and had started writing my book about the controversy in 2013.

Sheldrake, at the time, was the subject of a great deal of controversy after his TED talk was banished to the hinterlands of an unsearchable corner of TED. He is notable enough to have a Wikipedia page written about him and his Wikipedia page got worse in proportion to the increase in fame he was experiencing. A few Wikipedia editors with an agenda had targeted him and were making changes to his biography to portray him as a pseudo scientist and quack.

It was strongly suspected by journalists who cover this subject, Greg Taylor of the Daily Grail, myself and Robert McLuhan, who works with the Society for Psychical Research, that the Guerrilla Skeptics had a hand in this. They never admitted to it and they operate in such secrecy that this could never be factually established. Susan Gerbic, founder of the Guerrilla Skeptics wrote in the Skeptical inquirer:

Plus, when asked, I always refused to offer transparency of who our members are, what conversations we have been having, or what pages we have worked on.

The Problem of Secret Editing Groups

Except for Gerbic herself, who uses her real name on the platform and personally operates in the open, no one really knows who they are or what they’re doing. That this has been allowed to exist on Wikipedia is a clear demonstration of the flaws inherent in the platform. So what is the problem of an organization like the Guerrilla Skeptics? A reddit user familiar with Wikipedia outlined the issues:

With the advantage of being able to coordinate in private without anyone on Wikipedia knowing these people are acting as a group, it is if course suspected that GS [Guerrilla Skeptics] breaks any number of really quite important Wikipedia rules. Rules against canvassing, rules against vote stacking, rules against using blocking powers in your own interests, and rules that say you must declare any relevant conflicts of interest.

The rules that essentially ensure that Wikipedia is a level playing field for all editors, equal under the wiki law, given the same opportunity to propose and defend their edits as anyone else, and letting the benign force of consensus result in the best edit for Wikipedia.

Even other Wikipedia editors are sick of them and put them on trial. But on a platform that allows anonymous editors, all kinds of shenanigans can take place which cannot be prevented. This includes individuals being both editors and their own administrators under different names, organized editing to capture administrative positions and control arbitration processes.

If they have succeeded at this, they can then ban other editors over disagreements by misusing Wikipedia’s own rules. A product of anonymous editing is that a secret group can gain de facto control over information on sections of the encyclopedia.

Wikipedia Cannot Prevent This

Wikipedia’s enforcement abilities are limited to banning specific editors. Even if they had decided to ban the Guerrilla Skeptics entirely they could not have done so. They don’t know who the members of the organization are; nor would it help if they did know. Banned members only need to come back under a different name. They can ban IP addresses, but it’s easy enough to get around that.

I see little reason to doubt that they are behind the steady degradation of paranormal topics on Wikipedia. when one sees the Wikipedia treatment of various paranormal subjects, one finds many references to articles by CSI fellows, Skeptical Inquirer articles and other sources that are unique to the skeptic community. Various members of CSI and their editors have favorable Wikipedia pages, while their paranormal and parapsychology counterparts are either omitted or their Wikipedia pages contain a lot of skepticism. This type of editing is literally their mission.

Guerrilla Skeptics = The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

If one needed further proof of the connection, one needs to look no farther than the Skeptical Inquirer, the magazine of CSI. Gerbic writes for it and they have a page for her. She’s described as their Wikipediatrian. It’s safe to say that her views and theirs align.

The result is that there’s a never ending stream of edits to paranormal articles on Wikipedia that all look like they were written by people from the same group with the same agenda. It might be acceptable if it was all out in the open, but the fact that it’s being organized by a group that claims to be benign, but collaborates in secrecy creates serious credibility problems for Wikipedia.

Their secrecy is a double edged sword. On the one hand they have plausible deniability, but on the other hand there is absolutely no reason to trust anything Gerbic says. “We operate in total secrecy, but you can trust us.” is not convincing to any objective party.

Fair Minded Scholarship is Missing From Wikipedia

For many of these articles, particularly for anything related to parapsychology, there are a number of knowledgeable people who could contribute sufficient documentation to balance the articles, but have been shut out of the process. They have run into coordinated efforts that rebuffed their attempts and in some cases, kicked them off Wikipedia, solely for scholarly disagreement. They are simply shut out of the process. I documented a couple of these cases in my book, and I know of others.

You have to be organized to do that. It takes several people working together to kick someone off that platform. And the only organization that exists on Wikipedia with the means and the motivation is the Guerrilla Skeptics. It would also partly explain why they operate in secrecy because ganging up to kick people off the platform for the kind of disagreement that is supposed to be a normal part of the Wikipedia process is frowned upon, to say the very least.

Wikipedia Can be Fixed

All of this could be fixed with a couple of changes to how Wikipedia is edited.

1. Require people to use their verified real name to edit. So many problems can be solved by just this one thing. When people are tethered to their online behavior, they tend to be less obnoxious.
2. Ranking by real world expertise. Once Wikipedia limits people to using their real names, they can be ranked by their real world expertise and removed from discussions where they have nothing important to contribute. If an area has a governing body, they have the final say. Encyclopedia articles are supposed to tell you about the subject matter and the best people to do that are those that are experts in that field. True experts generally know what the evidence is, both for and against their subject.

Do those two things and many of Wikipedia’s worst problems will go away. People with actual expertise will be able to edit and trolls will be powerless to stop them.

Parawize Talks - Embark on Your Journey to the Truth

An invitation to open your mind to the possibilities.

According to a 2005 Gallup poll, 3 out of 4 Americans believe in the paranormal. Is their belief based upon evidence? Are there any dangers to paranormal belief? Has reality television influenced the public?

On November 12, 2022, Paranormal Daily News (PDN) launched Parawize Talks. These talks were developed to bring open discourse about the paranormal, parapsychology, and Psi to the public. The newly launched Parawize Talks brought together four thought leaders for an impactful and thought-provoking four hours. PDN will bring more thought leaders who are prominent in their fields to deliver more educational content, raise funds for research organizations, and support organizations in the field.

Jock Brocas, is the founder of Paranormal Daily News, an author, and a renowned evidential medium. He explains that these talks were inspired by the PDN team. The idea was to forge a greater relationship between science, academia, and spiritual thought for the public. Together, Jock and Craig created Parawize Talks. The idea is to share an examination of the truth by bringing awareness to various topics in the paranormal, parapsychology, PSI, and the afterlife. This will help bring complicated subjects to the public in easy understandable formats.

This series aims to sow enough seeds in your mind to compel you to keep asking questions. It is so important not just to accept the perceptions proliferated by uninformed voices. It is your invitation to avoid accepting everything at face value. Parawize Talks will offer you different perspectives, even competing ones, that are unified by a commitment to seek knowledge. You will decide the truth for yourself.

Dangers of the Paranormal - Awareness, and Empowerment

Jock Brocas kicked off the sessions. He dove head first into the question: do we need to be cautious when seeking knowledge or becoming involved in the paranormal? In Jock’s opinion, the answer is yes. Through years of experience as an evidential medium. Jock states that many people are driven by curiosity, while others are driven by a need to comfort their fear of death. Despite the underlying motivation. Those who probe into the paranormal are all looking for answers they haven’t been able to find in the material world around them.

During his talk, Jock declared his commitment to serving others and particularly, to helping those in spiritual crisis. Jock also cites cases where the family was left in turmoil and how mediums and investigators have a ‘Paranormal Bias. Jock is the author of the book Deadly Departed. He wrote the book to give awareness and empowerment to anyone working in the paranormal.

He believes that there is a moral and ethical obligation upon all mediums and paranormal investigators. Jock postulates that when they are called in to help those who are in spiritual crisis, the mediums and investigators should operate with the highest of ethics, and integrity. Jock pointed out that often, families who seek help from a medium or a paranormal investigator are sometimes left worse off after an investigation because they have not exercised due diligence nor fulfilled their duty of care. In his opinion; there may be many who are looking only for phenomena to support their next book or television show.

According to Jock, education is the answer to moving safely forward with seekers and practitioners alike.

A Conscious Universe

Craig Weiler, the science editor at Paranormal Daily News, explored the nature of our reality as a conscious universe. Can materialism and idealism coexist? Craig shared his opinion by putting forth an argument that they can’t coexist because the materialism framework has an inherent constraint. In reality, it doesn’t allow for an understanding of the paranormal.

“There is no way at all to prove a truly physical universe without injecting meaning into it… without consciousness.” - Craig Weiler

If we can’t step outside of consciousness to examine the universe. Then it is not possible to prove a material world suggested Craig. He spoke further about a world based on ideas and topped it off with a page out of quantum physics called “entanglement”.

If you want to find out more about the concept of a conscious universe, read Craig’s recent article on PDN: Your reality is in fact, a conscious universe.

Lessons in Humility

Darby Orcutt, professor, and researcher at North Carolina State University is well known for his work where Science meets the Strange.

Professor Orcutt delivered a session that highlighted the need for humility. He encouraged everyone to look at the world through collaborative and alternative lenses, rather than through an egocentric perspective.

“Building our plane as we are flying it.” - Darby Orcutt

Professor Orcutt went on to speak about the current efforts in genomics, parapsychology, and more. These efforts have resulted in key research and development to advance the creation of a microchip that can read and write information to the brain.

If you want to be a citizen scientist and become involved with Professor Orcutt’s work, [find link]

Behind the Scenes - Loyd Auerbach, Keynote Speaker

Professor Loyd Auerbach is known as Professor Paranormal. 40+ years experience in Parapsychology as an investigator, educator, and researcher. He is the author and co-author of 9 paranormal books. Loyd is also the president of the Forever Family Foundation and teaches online for the Rhine Education Center.

Professor Auerbach was born into a life around media, television, radio, and film and spent much of his childhood behind the scenes. This awareness and familiarity stayed with him when he entered the study of parapsychology and into a different type of “behind the scenes.” During his session, he described Parapsychology as studying the experiences of human consciousness inside and outside the laboratory, including ESP, psychokinesis, and other abilities, and evidence for survival of bodily death.

Professor Auerbach describes how apparitions use non-sensory perception to interact with the world while humans connect with apparitions using extra-sensory perception.

“There is a split between what is shown on television and what Parapsychologists know.” - Loyd Auerbach

He directs our attention to how using a piece of technology doesn’t equate to doing a scientific investigation. Further, he reveals that witnesses are the most important part of an investigation, that is, human experiences of whatever is going on.

Reality Television

Professor Auerbach explores how reality television, like ghost-hunting shows, misrepresents how the study of Parapsychology is actually carried out and driven by the desire to entertain and raise ratings. Given the competing objectives between parapsychologists and television shows, he acknowledged that he has turned down and been turned down for shows. Although the shows may be unscripted, they are directed and edited to suit the purposes of television producers and networks.

Professor Auerbach circled back to the need for ethics and a duty of care to the witnesses who are experiencing phenomena. He stresses that there is a risk that a made-for-tv type of investigation could inflict more harm than good on those witnesses. Moreover, these shows may be shaping our beliefs about the paranormal and ourselves. According to Professor Auerbach, “We are a lot more than the media tells us.”

You can watch the Parawize Talks

If you missed the event and would like to watch the talks in your own time, these talks will be available within the new premium para network that will be launching soon. Of course, if you have already purchased the talks, you will be given free access to them, and you can log into the host service to watch the replays.

Join Us For Monthly Parawize Talks

Join us for the next leg of the Parawize journey by signing up for the PDN Newsletter. You’ll be the first to be notified of the next Parawize Talks live and interactive session with an early bird discount.

Defending The Soul

This article is a rebuttal to the article; “Souls: It’s Time We Give Up the Ghost” recently published in Psychology Today by Bill Sullivan Ph.D. While I am not an academic, I am an author and paranormal researcher who can certainly spot a bad argument when I see one.

The article suggests that we should give up the idea of a soul. It suggests we find the hidden power in refuting the idea of a soul. It is rather like saying one should deny the existence of our thoughts. These thoughts certainly exist but have no material form. The author suggests that all emotion is controlled by the brain. Therefore, that would suggest that no matter what emotion we experience, it would be a purely physical process. But emotions are also thoughts, and the physical experience of emotion comes from those non-material thoughts.

The arguments put forth regarding emotion and healing or experiences of a visual nature and degeneration or disease, suggest that split-brain means that consciousness is the brain when in fact, this could not be further from the truth. Conclusive research, as noted in Science Daily and Brain, indicates that split-brain does not mean split consciousness (Split brain: divided perception but undivided consciousness)

The Argument Against The Soul Is Weak

Sullivan begins his argument with an example of how split-brain patients experience two different realities at the same time. He then argues that this would not happen with a unified soul. This argument is one of the better ones that are made in defense of materialism, but it relies on materialist assumptions.

Once you examine those assumptions, the argument is less clear-cut. Consider this, if a radio is broken or cannot receive transmissions in the field - perhaps in a military environment. The soldier or operator would not blame the signal. It is not the signal that is broken. In fact, the signal is still operating perfectly. The radio signal does not require a receiver for its existence. Therefore, the signal exists whether the receiver is there or not. The reality is the radio receiver is broken. Therefore, the only issue is the receiver. Should the soldier Sullivan is therefore blaming the radio signal, which is nonsensical and the argument is rather futile.

In my opinion, it seems to me that Sullivan is labeling the soul as a being or separate entity. Suggesting the doppelgänger if you will, existing as an entity on its own with form and function parallel to the material form. The article actually shows that he has very specific perceptions of the reality of the soul. He thinks he understands what the soul actually is, and what part it plays in human function. His belief is based upon the assumption the brain is acting as the soul, or that because the brain acts within its varying pathways based on stimulus and emotion, the soul cannot exist.

A Potential Understanding Of The Soul

Defending The Soul’s Existence

If one is forced to believe a soul is a separate form, that it has its own identity and personality, then of course Sullivan’s assumptions may have some merit. But this assumption is at best, based on a reductionist, materialistic view of science and does not look toward the plethora of survival evidence that suggests the contrary. Consequently, in the article, the author tries to forcibly play his hand by claiming the newest research in this field supports his assumptions. Furthermore, it is noted the article does not cite any real case studies that have valid efficacy and are replicable, as continually pointed out - a requirement of real scientific inquiry. The scientific evidence for Psi is overwhelming and serves to refute materialist claims and assumptions. Not including this research as part of the discussion in Bill's article, means the conclusions are cherry-picked to suit.

The soul, like any word in our language, has an etymological history. We find it easier to attach labels to concepts in order to satisfy our need for understanding. If we look at the origin of the word, we can deduce where this concept or construct has come from.

The modern English word soul derives from the Old English sáwol, sáwel, which itself comes from the Old High German sêula, sêla. The Germanic word is a translation of the Greek psychē (ψυχή- "life, spirit, consciousness") by missionaries such as Ulfila, apostle to the Goths (fourth century C.E.).

This has become increasingly misunderstood, as in modern times, many people tend to label the soul and give it form with the assumption of it being a separate form from consciousness. The reality, of course, is the soul is not formed and is not biological or physiological in function.

Theories In Biocentrism

Again, this is my own opinion with regard to the soul and whether it exists as a separate being or energy. In my mind, the soul is an aspect of the animating force that gives life, that allows the functioning of the being in human form within the constructs of material existence. This is also an opinion shared by others and noted in Robert Lanza M.D's article: “Does the soul exist, the evidence says yes!”. Robert cites many new hypotheses from modern research on the subject titled Biocentrism. This theory challenges the model widely accepted in the science community, which is based in materialism and draws many conclusions based on false assumptions.

Soul, therefore, is spirit and spirit is the aspect of the animating force that is creation itself. It is not a separate being that is outside the human form and in the same way that the brain is needed to function in the rest of the material or corporeal form, so too, the spirit is needed for the human brain to function. Without this animating force, the brain is lifeless and is connected to nothing.

Where are the replicable studies?

Sullivan further states in his article,

"Science has definitively shown that all of the things that define us, including our thoughts, emotions, and memories, are generated by the brain."

Where are these studies cited and are they replicable? Scientists are forever hammering us about the need for studies to be validated through replication. Yet nowhere in this article does the author try to prove his assumptions. He only gleans over information that is gathered from hypotheses and perceptions. His argument also falls flat with other studies that have further evidence of a vastly different hypothesis that can be replicated.

Intelligent discourse and reasoning

We know from afterlife research and evidential communications from discarnate beings, that reasoning and intelligent discarnate communications exist. Yet, if we were relying on the assumptions of the author, this would be impossible. Why? Because there is no human brain, which means that these beings who communicate from the other side of life would not be able to communicate intelligently or reason with information being gleaned.

Near-Death Experiences

If indeed the brain is the only form of consciousness and all emotion is contained within those neural pathways, then how can near-death experiences give empirical evidence of events and intelligent information with the capacity to reason, when the brain is in fact - dead - for lack of a better term.

Empirical Mediumship Evidence

Afterlife Research

One particular medium stands out in the annals of parapsychological history. Leonora Piper was one of the most remarkable mediums in the world and one of the most researched mediums. Piper produced remarkable empirical evidence over many years and was subjected to rigorous scientific research by notable pioneers in parapsychology. Professor William James of Harvard sat with Piper and was so convinced of the evidence that he continued to arrange sittings for research purposes. James arranged for a colleague from the Society of Psychical Research (SPR) to carry on the sittings. Richard Hodgson, an Australian who had been teaching law and philosophy in England, began to work full time on the sittings which were conducted three times per week.

Several reports were presented on the sittings with Piper and research continued. Noted researcher Sir Oliver Lodge remarked:

The trance is, to the best of my belief, a genuine one. In it Mrs. Piper is (sometimes, at least) insensible to pain, as tested by suddenly pushing a needle into her hand, which causes not the slightest flinching; and her pulse is affected beyond what I can imagine to be the control of volition.8Remarkable Evidence Verified.

Frederick Myers Founding Member Of The Society Of Psychical Research

Frederick Meyers, who also researched Piper noted her integrity and honesty. In a statement made as to the nature of the intelligent discourse, he confirmed the following:

that many of the facts given could not have been learnt even by a skilled detective; (2) that to learn others of them, although possible, would have needed an expenditure of money as well as of time which it seems impossible to suppose that Mrs. Piper could have met; and (3) that her conduct has never given any ground whatever for supposing her capable of fraud or trickery. Few persons have been so long and so carefully observed; and she has left on all observers the impression of thorough uprightness, candour, and honesty.

Cross Correspondences

If we are refuting the idea that the brain controls all intelligence and consciousness, it is important to also consider examples of cross correspondences. This was a research modality that was prevalent in the early 20th century as scientific research into the phenomenon of automatic writing. Piper was also involved in these formal studies and research. This form of communication, performed under scientific conditions, is perhaps one of the best forms of evidential communication that refutes the necessity of the existence of the brain for the existence of consciousness. In fact, by 1936, there were over 3000 transcripts recorded and analyzed by notable SPR researchers. The evidence contained within those transcripts was considered to be the best proof of survival of bodily death.

Cross correspondences demonstrate that information coming from a discarnate being through automatic writing under trance conditions can not only be validated but the information gained could not be attained through other means. Again, this would be impossible if the brain was indeed in control. Even though cross correspondences are still controversial, the given examples of intelligence still refute the necessity of the brain for consciousness to exist.

Further Empirical Validation

Another example of this type of empirical evidence was demonstrated in another séance by a medium known as Estelle Roberts and her guide Red Cloud, who was known to get it wrong on occasion. Nevertheless, during one particular sitting, Bessie Manning came through the medium and asked Barbanell to pass a message to her mother. Barbannel sent her mother 2 telegrams in order to relay the message and the evidence given by the discarnate spirit was properly validated.

This should be impossible under Sullivan’s materialist assumptions, but it did indeed happen and here we are.

Past Lives

Research into past lives suggests the existence of more than one personality experience in other lives prior to the one in the present moment. Dr. Ian Stevenson (Now Deceased) was perhaps the most notable researcher in the field of past life research. His work is now continued by Dr. Jim Tucker of the Division Of Perceptual Studies At Virginia University. Stevenson’s work spanned many years and culminated in thousands of cases of children whose evidence of past lives was incredibly accurate.

If memory was stored in the brain only and the soul contained only in the brain, how can the evidence of a past life surface when the brain of the subject would be different from the brain in the past life's existence? This suggests that consciousness or the existence of the soul is not a prerequisite of brain function.

In Memory Of You

In another remarkable statement, the author suggests that memory is indeed a function of the brain and that losing memory in a case such as Alzheimer's would mean the soul does not exist. The following statement is a weak point of his argument for the non-existence of the brain.

If our soul contains our memories and experiences, then the amyloid plaques that form in the brain of Alzheimer’s patients should not rob us of them. If our soul was separate from our brain, lobotomies should not work. Anesthesia should not work. Novocain should not work.

Our memories here are not as full and real as the memories in the spirit; what escapes us here, cannot escape the memory in the spirit. The reality is that we are all a sum total of all memories. There have been examples of discarnate beings who in this life suffered from memory loss or from the effects of psychological disturbance, yet the evidence relayed brings forth the memories they once forgot that had to be third person validated. Once more, this refutes the idea that the brain is the constant in all forms of conscious experiences.

Jungian Psychology

“I shall not commit the fashionable stupidity of regarding everything I cannot explain as a fraud." —address to the Society for Psychical Research in England” ― C.G. Jung

In this article, Sullivan tried to argue that the soul did not exist. However, the basis of the argument is in material assumptions and beliefs. He fails to consider other evidence that weighs heavily in favor of the soul, and he further rejects other parapsychological evidence that supports the survival of consciousness. To a materialist, he is convincing, but his argument fails when you provide research that adequately refutes his argument.

Citations:

Etymology of the soul: https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Soul

Split Brain Does Not Lead To Split Consciousness: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/01/170125093823.htm?fbclid=IwAR1dw38PnZ8oIaf8qm44gw0s0dELkH_S9sGe_bc4f3ourDTgBuXkDL7W3Yk

Split Brain Theory: Sperry, R.W. (1968) Hemisphere deconnection and unity in consciousness. American Psychologist, 23, 723-33

Brain: Yair Pinto, David A. Neville, Marte Otten, Paul M. Corballis, Victor A.F. Lamme, Edward H.F. de Haan, Nicoletta Foschi, Mara Fabri. Split brain: divided perception but undivided consciousness. Brain, January 2017 DOI: 10.1093/brain/aww358

SPR (Cross Correspondences) : https://psi-encyclopedia.spr.ac.uk/articles/cross-correspondences

Parapsychology - https://ameribeiraopreto.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/The-Experimental-Evidence-for-Parapsychological-Phenomena.pdf

Psi - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/287911609_The_Unbearable_Fear_of_Psi_On_Scientific_Censorship_in_the_21st_Century

Robert Lanza, MD - https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/biocentrism/201112/does-the-soul-exist-evidence-says-yes

Myers, Frederic et al. (1890). ‘A Record of Observations of Certain Phenomena of Trance’, Proceedings of the Society for Psychical Research 6, pp. 436-660.

McLuhan, R. and Matlock, J. G (2015). ‘Children with Past-Life Memories (overview)’. Psi Encyclopedia. London: The Society for Psychical Research. https://psi-encyclopedia.spr.ac.uk/articles/children-past-life-memories-overview.

The Hanover Haunting Podcast With Tom And DeAnna

Sometimes in our life, things happen that we never expected to happen. These experiences create lasting wounds that will follow you for the rest of your life. It's easy to dismiss the idea of ghosts until you become a victim. The same thing occurred to a lovely couple who wanted to live their life to the fullest but fell victim to a haunted home that ruined their lives, albeit — temporarily. Let's dive into the famous Hanover haunting.

Tom and DeAnna

This is the narrative of Tom, Deanna, and their children. After they got married, the small apartment was not adequate for this big family. They chose to move into a large house to live their dreams and create lasting memories. They finally discovered the house of their dreams after a long and difficult search. Deanna became increasingly drawn to the house as she recalled childhood memories. Tom wasn't a big fan of the house, but he couldn't say no to Deanna, the love of his life. She pleaded with Tom to finalize the purchase of the home, and Tom eventually agreed. Finally, the day arrived when they moved into the house, but no one knew what was in store for them.

Moving Into the Haunted Home

Not wanting to waste time, they moved into the new house the following Monday. Sometimes the things that bring you happiness, can be a terrible omen. The couple noticed something was off on the first day. While DeAnna was unpacking, she felt as if something was watching her from the shadows. She looked around, in vain, and then went back to work. Everything appeared to be normal, but their sixth sense warned them that something was wrong. It is a natural rule that haunted locations gradually reveal themselves. On a typical day, Tom was in the kitchen when he saw a large scar on his palm that was not there a second before. It caused him to view everyday happenings with increased skepticism. Strange things were happening to both of them, but they felt it was an illusion and were hesitant to tell each other about it.

A Fateful Night

Tom and Dee were both watching TV in the living room one night. Dee became exhausted and needed to relax, so she began heading to her bedroom. Neither of them was prepared for what occurred next. On her way to the bedroom, Dee felt as if someone was following her, and the next thing she knew, she was being dragged onto the kitchen floor, and smashed her head on the kitchen table. She began weeping because she felt so defenseless. Tom dashed into the kitchen and discovered Dee sobbing on the floor. He attempted to question her, but she couldn't say anything. She shook with dread, sweating profusely. There were no words to convey what had happened; all he could do was console her. Dee clutched Tom like a scared kid and they both sat on the floor, struggling to process what had happened.

The Deer Sounds Off During The Hanover Haunting

The number of hauntings grew by the day. There were constantly new catastrophes to deal with. Amber, DeAnna's daughter, also complained of strange voices. She told her mother that she frequently heard the chattering of glasses in the kitchen and that the most astounding thing she heard was someone calling her name. But when she went to investigate, she found nothing.

One night, Tom and Dee were out, and Amber was busy reading a novel. Somewhere around 3 a.m., she became terrified after hearing sounds coming from Tom's room, which was locked. When Dee and Tom arrived home, they opened the room to check. Nobody was prepared for what they witnessed; the stag head was on the floor in the middle of the room. The previously mounted head had been pulled off the wall and placed on the floor by someone or something. But the room was locked, so how was that even possible?

Wavy Dreams

It is said that lost spirits communicate with you in your dreams. Dee was visiting her neighbor's house one day when she stumbled upon a photograph of two men. She froze as a chilly wave ran down her spine. She stated the names of the men, even though she had never met in her life. Dee’s neighbor was perplexed as to how she knew them. Dee told her that she had seen them in her nightmares and that they had advised her to leave her house. When Tom and DeAnna looked into it, they discovered that the house belonged to those abusive guys who had died a long time ago. It became clear that these two restless souls were haunting their home.

The Hanover Haunting Continued

Normally, people get frightened when they see a shadow of something strange or they might experience horrible things when they are alone on a scary night. But Tom, DeAnna and their children had terrifying experiences at their home during the day. They were even assaulted physically, which is unusual. When people are tormented to such an extent, their world is turned upside down. These kinds of tragedies must be examined to the point where victims can relate their stories in a safe atmosphere. Listen to Tom and Dee share their narrative if you want to experience the depth of their story.