From: george@brooks.ics.uci.edu (George Herson)
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Psi and Scientology
Message-ID: <288DF164.2064@ics.uci.edu>
Date: 24 Jul 91 21:30:12 GMT
References: <1991Jul22.203524.5493@cadence.com> <asbestos.22Jul91.123@midway.uchicago.edu> <1991Jul24.131318.32248@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu>
Reply-To: george@ics.uci.edu (George Herson)
Organization: UC Irvine Department of ICS
Lines: 76
Nntp-Posting-Host: brooks.ics.uci.edu

In article <1991Jul24.131318.32248@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu> mauler@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu writes:
>In article <asbestos.22Jul91.123@midway.uchicago.edu>, asbestos@midway.uchicago.edu writes:
>> In article <1991Jul22.203524.5493@cadence.com> deej@cds8613.Cadence.COM (Jim Howard) writes:
>>
>>>In article <29880@uflorida.cis.ufl.EDU>, dirkct@pine.circa.ufl.edu
>>>(TERRELL) writes:
>>>> Sorry, I guess I should have been more clear. By "psi" I meant paranormal
>>>> phenomena such as ESP, remote viewing, telekinesis, etc. What does
>>>> scientology have to say about these things?
>>
>>>  These are all powers of the "theta" - powers that in many of us
>>>have been "lost" or at least greatly supressed.  The theta, in its
>>>purest form, has great power over the MEST universe (Matter,
>>>Energy, Space and Time).
>>
>> Howls of derisive laughter.
>>
>> How the hell can you believe this stuff?
>>
>
>God damn it, now I have to defend Scientology!  You idiot!
>
>As Shakespeare once put it, "A rose by any other name would still smell as
>sweet."  In this case, an ESP person by any other name, such as "increased
>theta capabilities", should still be capable of feats and ability beyond
>ordinary physical reality.  In short, Scientology may have its bad points, but
>at least it does cover paranormal abilities in something other than, "demon
>possession," and "powers granted by the Lord of all that is Evil."
>
>And unfortunately, paranormal abilities exist.  They may not be currently
>measurable directly, but they can be indirectly measured through what is
>commonly known in medical science as the placebo effect--because they, like
>the ancients who called it magic, have no idea how it happens--in patients who
>are given "sugar pills" as wonder drugs, and the patient's belief cures him or
>her; in the creative visualization clinics, where cancer patients visualize
>white knights attacking their tumor cells, and the tumors subside if the
>patient focuses enough "whatever-energy" onto the problem; and in the
>practitioners of Oriental mind-body martial arts, some who are capable of
>knocking down enemies who are some yards away without the use of standard
>projectile weapons or lackeys (through an "invisible" personal force, called
>"ki", "chi", etc., extended beyond the physical body).

It is obviously unnecessary to "explain" the placebo effect as a psi
phenomenon.  Haven't you ever felt physically better after hearing
good news?  How about worse when upset?  The mind and body, if not
one, are closely associated, no?

Your facts about "invisible" psychic forces knocking people down
should be of great interest over in sci.physics.  Discovery of a new
force of nature would be worth a Nobel prize at least...

>So while I may not agree with the tactics Scientology uses to bring about L.
>Ron Hubbard's dream planet, while I may not agree with the idea that people
>must pay large amounts of money just to receive salvation, and while I may not
>agree with Scientology's apparent exclusion of women from rights and
>privileges afforded the men in Scientology, they do have a slight point in
>their favor by including the paranormal as something to be supported,
>treasured, and encouraged, rather than scorned, suppressed, and criminalized.

Let's hear it for Scientology!

>
>> --
>> asbestos@midway.uchicago.edu
>>
>> Not that I see anything wrong with these views! No, sir!
>> I don't even *have* a sock drawer!
>>         --Dave Barry
>
>Leo

--
George Herson
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