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For one, there are many people, such as myself who have experienced what people call paranormal, but do not believe the phenomenon is due to supernatural forces. For example, a person can see what appears to be a ghost, yet still not believe in ghosts; they may think that there has to be some other explanation for what they saw other than it truly was a ghost.
Two, just because many people who experience "paranormal" experiences believe in the paranormal, it does not mean that everyone who experiences the paranormal will believe the phenomenon was truly paranormal.
Three, it is a non sequitur (latin for "it does not follow"), a logical fallacy where a stated conclusion is not supported by its premise. There is no reason why a person must change their beliefs just because they experience something they don't have an immediate explanation for. People have experienced the "paranormal" and do not become believers in the paranormal.
I think that both the God question and the paranormal question can be answered with a YES a NO or an I DON"T KNOW. Without further clarification, as long as one can read and understand English.
In principle yes, in practice I've found that's not the case.
Quote:
Originally Posted by sanspeur
Because it is no doubt hallucinations caused by misfiring neurons in the temporal lobes of the brain.
Then the experience is not paranormal. Or it is paranormal if paranormal simply means "an unusual event beyond your normal experience." (That might sound "woo woo" but winning $500 on a scratch-ticket could possibly fit that version of "paranormal.")
So if you have what others, or yourself once, sees as a "paranormal experience" there's just two ways where I think you could disbelieve in the paranormal.
1: You disbelieve the experience was paranormal, therefore you did not have a paranormal experience. This would make it where you actually aren't "A person who experienced the paranormal and disbelieves it." You're more, "A person who experienced what's alleged to have been paranormal, but who doesn't personally agree with that opinion."
2: You disbelieve it the way you disbelieve in a politician. You think it's a genuine paranormal experience, but you have no confidence in it. It's just weird irrelevant stuff or it's some thing that told you lies or nonsense.
Last edited by Thomas R.; 07-13-2011 at 12:54 AM..
Me either ...They have to convince themselves its all in their mind-- maybe so they dont go crazy
Not at all. I believe everything has a valid, scientific explanation. I may not know that explanation. Shoot, scientists may not have figured it out yet, but that doesn't mean there isn't one.
Not at all. I believe everything has a valid, scientific explanation. I may not know that explanation. Shoot, scientists may not have figured it out yet, but that doesn't mean there isn't one.
Well if scientists have not figured it out yet, then I wouldnt close the door on an experience with the paranormal being more than just "neurons firing away rapidly, causing the mind to create an image"
Well if scientists have not figured it out yet, then I wouldnt close the door on an experience with the paranormal being more than just "neurons firing away rapidly, causing the mind to create an image"
Just to clear up the use of the term "paranormal", I define the word as something beyond the range of normal experience or scientific explanation.
That said, I approach weird things as potentially solvable or understandable. I say, "Hmm, this strange thing happened (or I think it happened). I wonder what the logical explanation is for that?" It doesn't occur to me to believe it was a ghost or a telepathic experience.
Is paranormal the same as supernatural? Or is there some minor semantic difference?
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...They have to convince themselves its all in their mind-- maybe so they dont go crazy
