The following are famous primarily for fields other than parapsychology but still had important working interests in the field: Hans Eysenck Alister Hardy Carl Jung Arthur Koestler Rupert Sheldrake ...

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Parapsychology, Parapsychology - Types of parapsychology, Parapsychology - Status of the field, Parapsychology - How science views the field, Parapsychology - Interpretation of the evidence, Parapsychology - Criticisms of parapsychological research, Parapsychology - Responses from parapsychologists to criticisms, Parapsychology - Early Scientific American challenge, Parapsychology - Other objections to parapsychology, Parapsychology - History and evaluation, Parapsychology - Trivia, Parapsychology - Famous parapsychologists, Parapsychology - Claimed psychics, Parapsychology - Critics of parapsychology, Parapsychology - Psychic investigations, Parapsychology - General organizations, Parapsychology - Independent research organizations, Parapsychology - University research organizations, Parapsychology - External links

Read more here: » Parapsychology: Encyclopedia II - Parapsychology - Famous parapsychologists

See also:

Parapsychology, Parapsychology - Types of parapsychology, Parapsychology - Status of the field, Parapsychology - How science views the field, Parapsychology - Interpretation of the evidence, Parapsychology - Criticisms of parapsychological research, Parapsychology - Responses from parapsychologists to criticisms, Parapsychology - Early Scientific American challenge, Parapsychology - Other objections to parapsychology, Parapsychology - History and evaluation, Parapsychology - Trivia, Parapsychology - Famous parapsychologists, Parapsychology - Well-known psychic mediums, Parapsychology - Other claimed psychics, Parapsychology - Critics of parapsychology, Parapsychology - Independent research organizations, Parapsychology - University research organizations, Parapsychology - External links

Read more here: » Parapsychology: Encyclopedia II - Parapsychology - Famous parapsychologists

Many scientists hold that the entire body of evidence to date is of poor quality and not properly controlled; in their view, the entire field of parapsychology has produced no results whatsoever. Frequently, however, those who hold this view have not had any contact with the published literature of the field such as that which can be found in the Journal of Parapsychology, the Journal of the Society for Psychical Research, the Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research, or in the proceedings of the annual convention of the Paraps ...

See also:

Parapsychology, Parapsychology - Types of parapsychology, Parapsychology - Status of the field, Parapsychology - How science views the field, Parapsychology - Interpretation of the evidence, Parapsychology - Criticisms of parapsychological research, Parapsychology - Responses from parapsychologists to criticisms, Parapsychology - Early Scientific American challenge, Parapsychology - Other objections to parapsychology, Parapsychology - History and evaluation, Parapsychology - Trivia, Parapsychology - Famous parapsychologists, Parapsychology - Claimed psychics, Parapsychology - Critics of parapsychology, Parapsychology - Psychic investigations, Parapsychology - General organizations, Parapsychology - Independent research organizations, Parapsychology - University research organizations, Parapsychology - External links

Read more here: » Parapsychology: Encyclopedia II - Parapsychology - Interpretation of the evidence

Parapsychology is the study of the evidence of mental awareness or influence of external objects without interaction from known physical means. Most objects of study fall within the realm of "mind-to-mind" influence (such as extra-sensory perception and telepathy), "mind-to-environment" influence (such as psychokinesis) and "environment-to-mind" (such as hauntings). The premiere professional organization, the Parapsychological Association (PA), is a member in good standing of the American Academy for the Advancement of Science ...

Including:

Parapsychology - Types of parapsychology Parapsychology - Status of the field Parapsychology - How science views the field Parapsychology - Interpretation of the evidence Parapsychology - Criticisms of parapsychological research Parapsychology - Responses from parapsychologists to criticisms Parapsychology - Early Scientific American challenge Parapsychology - Other objections to parapsychology Parapsychology - History and evaluation Parapsychology - Trivia Parapsychology - Famous parapsychologists Parapsychology - Claimed psychics Parapsychology - Critics of parapsychology Parapsychology - Psychic investigations
Parapsychology - General organizations Parapsychology - Independent research organizations Parapsychology - University research organizations Parapsychology - External links

Read more here: » Parapsychology: Encyclopedia - Parapsychology

Many scientists hold that the entire body of evidence to date is of poor quality and not properly controlled; in their view, the entire field of parapsychology has produced no results whatsoever. Frequently, however, those who hold this view have not had any contact with the published literature of the field such as that which can be found in the Journal of Parapsychology, the Journal of the Society for Psychical Research, the Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research, or in the proceedings of the annual convention of the Paraps ...

See also:

Parapsychology, Parapsychology - Types of parapsychology, Parapsychology - Status of the field, Parapsychology - How science views the field, Parapsychology - Interpretation of the evidence, Parapsychology - Criticisms of parapsychological research, Parapsychology - Responses from parapsychologists to criticisms, Parapsychology - Early Scientific American challenge, Parapsychology - Other objections to parapsychology, Parapsychology - History and evaluation, Parapsychology - Trivia, Parapsychology - Famous parapsychologists, Parapsychology - Well-known psychic mediums, Parapsychology - Other claimed psychics, Parapsychology - Critics of parapsychology, Parapsychology - Independent research organizations, Parapsychology - University research organizations, Parapsychology - External links

Read more here: » Parapsychology: Encyclopedia II - Parapsychology - Interpretation of the evidence

In the scientific disciplines there is a belief that all claims should be treated with scientific skepticism. Mainstream science believes that after examining psi claims for over a century, there has been significant difficulty in merging the results of parapsychology studies with other fields of science. A growing network of scientists — in association with the Institute of Noetic Sciences, which was founded by American Astronaut, Dr. Edgar Mitchell — is seeking to bridge t ...

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Parapsychology, Parapsychology - Types of parapsychology, Parapsychology - Status of the field, Parapsychology - How science views the field, Parapsychology - Interpretation of the evidence, Parapsychology - Criticisms of parapsychological research, Parapsychology - Responses from parapsychologists to criticisms, Parapsychology - Early Scientific American challenge, Parapsychology - Other objections to parapsychology, Parapsychology - History and evaluation, Parapsychology - Trivia, Parapsychology - Famous parapsychologists, Parapsychology - Well-known psychic mediums, Parapsychology - Other claimed psychics, Parapsychology - Critics of parapsychology, Parapsychology - Independent research organizations, Parapsychology - University research organizations, Parapsychology - External links

Read more here: » Parapsychology: Encyclopedia II - Parapsychology - How science views the field

The standing of the field of parapsychology has always been controversial within the scientific community. As its name indicates, parapsychology is sometimes considered a sub-branch of psychology, and this has arisen historically since it involved the study of apparently mental faculties. In its modern form, parapsychology is an interdisciplinary field, which has attracted physicists, engineers, and biologists, as well as psychologists and those from other sciences. (For an argument that parapsychological phenomena may not in fact be ...

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Parapsychology, Parapsychology - Types of parapsychology, Parapsychology - Status of the field, Parapsychology - How science views the field, Parapsychology - Interpretation of the evidence, Parapsychology - Criticisms of parapsychological research, Parapsychology - Responses from parapsychologists to criticisms, Parapsychology - Early Scientific American challenge, Parapsychology - Other objections to parapsychology, Parapsychology - History and evaluation, Parapsychology - Trivia, Parapsychology - Famous parapsychologists, Parapsychology - Well-known psychic mediums, Parapsychology - Other claimed psychics, Parapsychology - Critics of parapsychology, Parapsychology - Independent research organizations, Parapsychology - University research organizations, Parapsychology - External links

Read more here: » Parapsychology: Encyclopedia II - Parapsychology - Status of the field

There are a variety of other objections to parapsychology as well. Psi Phenomena as a Violation of the Laws of Physics or Nature Some critics claim that the existence of psi phenomena would violate "the known laws of physics", and some of these critics believe that this is reason enough that such phenomena should not be studied. Parapsychologists respond that "laws of nature" are simply summaries of existing scientific knowledge and do get revised from time to time during the course of scientific progress, in ...

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Parapsychology, Parapsychology - Types of parapsychology, Parapsychology - Status of the field, Parapsychology - How science views the field, Parapsychology - Interpretation of the evidence, Parapsychology - Criticisms of parapsychological research, Parapsychology - Responses from parapsychologists to criticisms, Parapsychology - Early Scientific American challenge, Parapsychology - Other objections to parapsychology, Parapsychology - History and evaluation, Parapsychology - Trivia, Parapsychology - Famous parapsychologists, Parapsychology - Well-known psychic mediums, Parapsychology - Other claimed psychics, Parapsychology - Critics of parapsychology, Parapsychology - Independent research organizations, Parapsychology - University research organizations, Parapsychology - External links

Read more here: » Parapsychology: Encyclopedia II - Parapsychology - Other objections to parapsychology

The phenomena in question fall into two broad groups. Extra-sensory perception (ESP) is also known as anomalous cognition, and includes telepathy, clairvoyance, clairaudience, clairalience, clairgustance, clairsentience, precognition, postcognition, psychometry, and dream transference. Anomalous operation includes psychokinesis (in the past referred to as telekinesis), out-of-body experiences, astral projection, near-death experiences, mediumship, and reincarnation. The general term "psi phenomena" (or the somewhat older term, "psychic phenomena," which was said to be the "psi ...

See also:

Parapsychology, Parapsychology - Types of parapsychology, Parapsychology - Status of the field, Parapsychology - How science views the field, Parapsychology - Interpretation of the evidence, Parapsychology - Criticisms of parapsychological research, Parapsychology - Responses from parapsychologists to criticisms, Parapsychology - Early Scientific American challenge, Parapsychology - Other objections to parapsychology, Parapsychology - History and evaluation, Parapsychology - Trivia, Parapsychology - Famous parapsychologists, Parapsychology - Well-known psychic mediums, Parapsychology - Other claimed psychics, Parapsychology - Critics of parapsychology, Parapsychology - Independent research organizations, Parapsychology - University research organizations, Parapsychology - External links

Read more here: » Parapsychology: Encyclopedia II - Parapsychology - Types of parapsychology

The opinion of parapsychologists regarding the overall evaluation of the body of evidence to date is divided. As noted above, some parapsychologists are skeptic and do not believe that there is anything observed so far which cannot ultimately be explained within the existing framework of known science. Probably a majority of parapsychologists believe in the likelihood, or at least the possibility, of actual psi phenomena, though there is a range of attitudes toward the evidence. Regarding the evidence, the rule of the thumb of the ske ...

See also:

Parapsychology, Parapsychology - Types of parapsychology, Parapsychology - Status of the field, Parapsychology - How science views the field, Parapsychology - Interpretation of the evidence, Parapsychology - Criticisms of parapsychological research, Parapsychology - Responses from parapsychologists to criticisms, Parapsychology - Early Scientific American challenge, Parapsychology - Other objections to parapsychology, Parapsychology - History and evaluation, Parapsychology - Trivia, Parapsychology - Famous parapsychologists, Parapsychology - Well-known psychic mediums, Parapsychology - Other claimed psychics, Parapsychology - Critics of parapsychology, Parapsychology - Independent research organizations, Parapsychology - University research organizations, Parapsychology - External links

Read more here: » Parapsychology: Encyclopedia II - Parapsychology - Responses from parapsychologists to criticisms

Healer:

Someone who claims the power of healing.

(See also: Healer, Psychic, Psychic Dictionary, Parapsychology, Parapsychology Dictionary)

Prediction:

A statement that claims to foretell future events.

(See also: Prediction, Psychic, Psychic Dictionary, Parapsychology, Parapsychology Dictionary)

Skeptic:

A person inclined to discount the reality of most paranormal claims and to be critical of some parapsychological research. Generally seeks rational or scientific explanations for the phenomena studied by parapsychologists.

(See also: Skeptic, Psychic, Psychic Dictionary, Parapsychology, Parapsychology Dictionary)

Theosophy:

Religious and philosophical system of the Theosophical Society, founded in 1875 by Madame Blavatsky. Its paranormal claims were controversially and damningly reported upon by the Society for Psychical Research in 1885.

(See also: Theosophy, Psychic, Psychic Dictionary, Parapsychology, Parapsychology Dictionary)

Aigypan:

A "sasquatch" like creature reported as inhabiting the remote jungles of Venezuela, which some allege to build primitive tools and weapons, as well as crude huts for shelter.

Some reports even claim that these creatures are carnivorous, sometimes attacking and eating men, but prone to carrying off women, allegedly for breeding purposes. Said to be very dangerous and quite ill-tempered.

(See also: Aigypan, Psychic, Psychic Dictionary, Parapsychology, Parapsychology Dictionary)

Abduction:

The act of an unknown life form taking an individual or a group. Many people believe these life forms to be of extraterrestrial origin. In many abduction cases the abductees are studied by the alleged aliens.

There have been reports of beings performing surgical operations, and collecting sperm, ova and tissue samples. In some cases, the abducted person will claim to have had a device implanted somewhere in the body.

(See also: Abduction, Psychic, Psychic Dictionary, Parapsychology, Parapsychology Dictionary)

Four states of consciousness:

Ordinary consciousness is characterized by three states:

 1. The waking state

 2. The dreaming state

 3. The state of deep sleep However mystics claim that there is a fourth state, called turîya, which permeates and transcends the three states of ordinary consciousness. It is said to witness everything that occurs during the ordinary states (cf. Song of Solomon 5:2: I slept but my heart was awake). While the subject of ordinary consciousness is the ego, the witness of the fourth state is said to be the Absolute Subject. When the fourth state is experienced, the yogi is filled with the Light of the Essential Self (cf. Matt. 6:22).

(See also: Four states of consciousness, Psychic, Psychic Dictionary, Parapsychology, Parapsychology Dictionary)

Loch Ness Monster:

A legendary animal which lives in the depths of Loch Ness, a lake in the Highlands of northern Scotland. The size of this monster, Nessie as it is fondly called, is 12-15 m (40-50 ft) and it has a long, snake-like neck. It is popularly believed to be female.

The sightings date back to 565 CE when the Irish Saint Columba claimed he saw the Niseag (the Celtic name for Nessie) when he attended a burial for a man who had been bitten to death by the monster. While it has been sighted in the subsequent centuries, it was not until the 19th century that the sightings become more frequent.

The most famous encounter was perhaps in the summer of 1933. On that day Mr. and Mrs. Spicer, returning from a trip to London, saw a monster cross the road, with an animal in his jaws, and submerge in the lake. This incident drew the attention of the world press and Nessie became an international phenomena. There have been many expeditions since, but none as successful as to prove its existence. Also the many sightings, photos and films have been inconclusive.

(See also: Loch Ness Monster, Psychic, Psychic Dictionary, Parapsychology, Parapsychology Dictionary)

Psychokinesis

The power of mind over matter without the use of physical or sensory means. Together with ESP, psychokinesis is investigated by parapsychology.

Psychokinesis includes telekinesis, the paranormal movement of objects; levitation and materialization; mysterious events associated with given people or houses such as rappings, overturned furniture, and flying objects; and psychic healing.

Since the 1930s psychokinesis has been a major research interest among parapsychologists, especially in the United States and Russia, but, in general, the results have been inconclusive.

In 1968 Russia released film and other evidence to the West showing Nina Kulagina, a housewife from Leningrad, apparently using psychokinesis to move a variety of stationary objects. She was also photographed apparently levitating objects.

In the 1970s the Israeli psychic Uri Geller dazzled TV audiences with his alleged powers of bending metal with a few gentle strokes or taps with his fingers. Under laboratory conditions, experiments with Geller proved inconclusive, and certain professional magicians have claimed that Geller is a fraud using simple sleight-of-hand to achieve his extraordinary feats.

Most scientists deny the existence of psychokinesis, and the difficulty in reproducing psychokinesis phenomena and the lack of an adequate theoretical explanation excludes it from systematic scientific investigation.

(See also: Psychokinesis, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Psychokinesis

The power of mind over matter without the use of physical or sensory means. Together with ESP, psychokinesis is investigated by parapsychology.

Psychokinesis includes telekinesis, the paranormal movement of objects; levitation and materialization; mysterious events associated with given people or houses such as rappings, overturned furniture, and flying objects; and psychic healing.

Since the 1930s psychokinesis has been a major research interest among parapsychologists, especially in the United States and Russia, but, in general, the results have been inconclusive.

In 1968 Russia released film and other evidence to the West showing Nina Kulagina, a housewife from Leningrad, apparently using psychokinesis to move a variety of stationary objects. She was also photographed apparently levitating objects.

In the 1970s the Israeli psychic Uri Geller dazzled TV audiences with his alleged powers of bending metal with a few gentle strokes or taps with his fingers. Under laboratory conditions, experiments with Geller proved inconclusive, and certain professional magicians have claimed that Geller is a fraud using simple sleight-of-hand to achieve his extraordinary feats.

Most scientists deny the existence of psychokinesis, and the difficulty in reproducing psychokinesis phenomena and the lack of an adequate theoretical explanation excludes it from systematic scientific investigation.

(See also: Psychokinesis, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)