Challenge 4: Parapsychology

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Over the last century many reputable scientists have found evidence for significant paranormal activity. This fact has been hotly denied by many groups who, for a variety of reasons, believe paranormal functioning doesn't occur.

Various forms of paranormal functioning may be defined as follows:

  • EXTRA-SENSORY PERCEPTION (ESP): The ability to obtain information by means other than the known five senses or logical inference.
  • TELEPATHY - knowing someone's thoughts, emotions and sensations. Literally "distant feeling".
  • CLAIRVOYANCE- knowing about physical objects, locations or events. Literally "clear seeing".
  • PRECOGNITION- knowing about future events. Literally "knowing ahead".
  • PSYCHOKINESIS: The ability to mentally influence physical objects.
  • LEVITATION - lifting objects with the mind.
  • MATERIALIZATION - Creating physical objects with the mind.
  • THOUGHTOGRAPHY - Creating images on unexposed photographic film with the mind.
  • ASTRAL TRAVEL: The ability to leave the body.
  • OUT OF BODY EXPERIENCE - Conscious experience outside the body.
  • NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE- Conscious experience outside the body when near death.

Parapsychologists have found that exceptional paranormal functioning is often spontaneous and is very difficult to duplicate in a laboratory when required. Nevertheless many outstanding results have been obtained over the years including:

  • Clairvoyance: Card guessing with odds well in excess of a million to one against chance.
  • Remote-viewing experiments with 70% accuracy.
  • Synchronisation of physiological functions between sender and receiver.
  • Precognition: Detailed spontaneous predictions of world events.
  • Consistent precognitive ability in describing randomly selected remote-viewing targets.
  • Psychokinesis: Demonstrated ability to influence dice throws to exceptionally high odds.
  • Odds in excess of a million to one in influencing radioactive sources.
  • Demonstrated ability to influence an extremely well shielded magnetometer.

What do you think?

Internet:

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 Koestler Parapsychology Unit
Parapsychology is the study of apparent new means of communication, or interaction, between organisms and their environment (commonly referred to as psi, or psychic ability), beyond those presently understood by the scientific community.

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 Consciousness Research Laboratory
Throughout history, across all cultures, people have reported extraordinary anomalies associated with human consciousness. Whatever they may ultimately prove to be, the experiences are suggestive of phenomena called telepathy, psychokinesis, and clairvoyance or remote viewing.
The mission of the Consciousness Research Laboratory is to conduct basic and applied research on the frontiers of human consciousness, especially phenomena suggestive of direct mind-matter interaction and extended perceptual capabilities.
International Consciousness Research Laboratories, a nonprofit consortium of investigators dedicated to exploring Consciousness.

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 Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research - PEAR
Scientific Study of Consciousness-Related Physical Phenomena. The PEAR program pursues rigorous scientific study of the interaction of human consciousness with sensitive physical devices, systems, and processes common to contemporary engineering practice.

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 Parapsychology Sources on the Internet
  Anomalous Cognition
On Line Experiments and links to sites and research papers.
  Charles Tart
If you're interested in areas like consciousness, altered states of consciousness, dreams, Gurdjieff, hypnosis, meditation, mindfulness, personal growth, parapsychology, transpersonal psychology, or how to be both a scientific person and a spiritual seeker, there's good quality material here for you.

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 Laboratories for Fundamental Research
We conduct basic and applied research on the leading-edge of a variety of disciplines. The Cognitive Sciences Laboratory has been the home of the US Government-sponsored research into Extra Sensory Perception (ESP) since 1985. 

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 Rhine Research Center (Inst. for Parapsychology)
The Rhine Research Center is a non-profit research and education organization established to explore the unusual types of experiences that suggest capabilities as yet unrecognized in the domain of human personality, and to investigate those capabilities thoroughly by exact scientific methods. The Center is successor to the Duke University Parapsychology Laboratory and carries forward that famed laboratory's research mission and educational programs.
  The Anomalist
Exploring the Mysteries of Science, History, and Nature .
- Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP)
The more serious-minded among us ask what is going on. Why the sudden explosion of interest, even among some otherwise sensible people, in all sorts of paranormal "happenings"? Are we in retreat from the scientific ideas of rationality, dispassionate examination of evidence, and sober experiment that have made modern civilization what it is today?
  Earth Tech

The Institute for Advanced Studies at Austin is a private research institute in Austin, Texas, established in 1985 to explore advanced concepts in forefront scientific areas.  As the theoretical and publication division of EarthTech International, Inc., its activities range from theoretical studies of such fundamental issues as gravitation, inertia and cosmology, to laboratory studies of innovative approaches to energy generation.

 
  esp research.com - Russel Targ

 
  Parapsychological Association

We are the international professional organization of scientists and scholars engaged in the study of 'psi'’ (or 'psychic') experiences, such as telepathy, clairvoyance, psychokinesis, psychic healing, and precognition.
  Esalen Center for Theory & Research

The Esalen Center for Theory & Research supports essential philosophic, academic, and research aims of the Esalen Institute. It evaluates frontier inquiry, creates networks of pioneering individuals, and works to catalyze new discoveries that promote personal and social transformation. It carries forward projects at the growing edge of philosophy, psychology, comparative religious studies, education, sociology, somatics, the arts, ecology, and related disciplines that bear upon transformative practice and the continued evolution of humankind.
  Society for Psychical Research

The purpose of the Society for Psychical Research is to advance the understanding of events and abilities commonly described as 'psychic' or 'paranormal', without prejudice and in a scientific manner.
  Research Journals

 
  International Remote Viewing Association

Remote viewing is a novel perceptual discipline for gaining information not available to the ordinary physical senses.
  People with PSI ability
  Exceptional Human Experience Network

The Exceptional Human Experience Network, Inc. (EHEN) is an educational, research, and information resource organization studying all types of anomalous (out of the ordinary) experiences. Because these experiences are primarily subjective, scientists tend to ignore them. They do not fit into today's scientific theory, and our culture typically does not have a way to understand and deal with them. People who have these types of experiences are often not believed, or are considered odd or strange.

We take a very different approach. We view these types of experiences as potential starting points for positive, personal, life-enriching, and even life-changing growth. We believe that by valuing these experiences in new ways, and sharing them (even anonymously) with other experiencers, we all gain meaningful insights into ourselves and our world.
 

References:

Gardner, M. FADS AND FALLICIES IN THE NAME OF SCIENCE. New York:Dover Publications, 1957.
Gittleson,B. INTANGIBLE EVIDENCE. London:Simon & Schuster, 1989.
Gris, H. & Dick, W. THE NEW SOVIET PSYCHIC DISCOVERIES. Warner Books:New York, 1978.
Mishlove, J. THE ROOTS OF CONSCIOUSNESS. Random House:New York, 1975.
Randi, J. FLIM - FLAM! PSYCHICS, ESP, UNICORNS AND OTHER DELUSIONS. New York: Prometheus Books, 1982.
Rogo, D.S. EXPLORING PSYCHIC PHENOMENA: BEYOND MIND AND MATTER. Wheaton:Quest Book, 1976.
Rogo, D.S. BEYOND REALITY. Northampshire:Aquarian Press, 1990.
Sugrue, T. THERE IS A RIVER. Dell Publishing:New York, 1979.
Swann, I. NATURAL ESP. NEW YORK:Bantam Books, 1987.
Targ, R. & Puthoff, H. MIND-REACH. Dell Publishing:New York, 1978.
Watson, L. SUPERNATURE. Hodder & Stoughton:Kent, 1978.
Zollschan et al (Eds) EXPLORING THE PARANORMAL. Dorset:Prism Press, 1989.

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Last Update: 12th June 1998