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Question to all the nonbelievers in the paranormal

Frank Goad

Well-Known Member
If there was was one paranormal thing that would make you believe in the paranormal.What would it be?I am asking this to all the nonbelievers in the paranormal.
 

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
Well....

Anything paranormal actually.

Wizards with healing spells. Hurling fireballs at one's enemy. Flying through walls and through the center of earth and coming out on the other side in China.

Stuff like that.
 

A Vestigial Mote

Well-Known Member
If there was was one paranormal thing that would make you believe in the paranormal.What would it be?I am asking this to all the nonbelievers in the paranormal.
So, considering anything as "paranormal" that which is outside the current normal (for, let's face it, if ghosts were all over the place, all the time, it would become the new "normal"), and considering the supernatural taint that the word "paranormal" has been given by usage, I would have to say that any variety of things could be outside my "normal" that I might classify as "paranormal." The appearance and some kind of verification of ghostly presence, someone being able to verifiably levitate things with their mind, someone always getting exact details right about future events, witnessing someone shape-shift or something. Those kinds of things would likely do it for me. I would admit there was something afoot, and that it necessitated further investigation, and it would warrant the label "paranormal" in my opinion. As to whether or not any sort of "supernatural realm" were at hand or something would definitely require more investigation, however.
 

HonestJoe

Well-Known Member
If there was was one paranormal thing that would make you believe in the paranormal.What would it be?I am asking this to all the nonbelievers in the paranormal.
"The paranormal" is a very widely defined collection of vastly different things so the idea of simply believing in "the paranormal" (or not) makes no sense. Any particular claim would have to be assessed on it's own merit but that things validity would have absolutely zero impact on the validity of anything else that might be lumped under "the paranormal".
 

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
That means a whole bunch of fireballs from the fingertips!

If you can produce fireballs from your fingers shout a crowd of independent judges and prove it two or three times. Until then i wont hold my breath in anticipation
 

QuestioningMind

Well-Known Member
If there was was one paranormal thing that would make you believe in the paranormal.What would it be?I am asking this to all the nonbelievers in the paranormal.

I would believe in any 'paranormal thing' for which there is verifiable evidence. But until that time comes it would be illogical for me assert belief.
 

Hockeycowboy

Witness for Jehovah
Premium Member
Just about anything that can be indipendentely observed, and of course, repeatable.
It will never be repeatable. There’s an intelligence behind the paranormal that doesn’t want to be discovered, by the majority.

(Have you ever heard of, or read anything by, Dr. Barry Taff? He was involved in the Doris Bither Case. Quite interesting .)
 

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
It will never be repeatable. There’s an intelligence behind the paranormal that doesn’t want to be discovered, by the majority.

(Have you ever heard of, or read anything by, Dr. Barry Taff? He was involved in the Doris Bither Case. Quite interesting .)

In your opinion. And until you can provide repeatable evidence it will remain your opinion.

No ive not read any Barry Taff, i consider him a woo merchant on the lines of Erich von Däniken
 

Hockeycowboy

Witness for Jehovah
Premium Member
In your opinion. And until you can provide repeatable evidence it will remain your opinion
Ok, Christine...no need to get testy about it.
I was just presenting a reason why events like that, won’t be repeatable.

No ive not read any Barry Taff, i consider him a woo merchant on the lines of Erich von Däniken

Why? Dr. Taff doesn’t give “woo” explanations for his evidence, he’s always looking for some scientific answer behind such events.
You gotta give him credit for even tackling these unexplained phenomena; most scientists prefer to ignore them.
 

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
Ok, Christine...no need to get testy about it.
I was just presenting a reason why events like that, won’t be repeatable.

Not testy, thats just me, i deal in facts and base my opinions on good solid evidence not hearsay.

Why? Dr. Taff doesn’t give “woo” explanations for his evidence, he’s always looking for some scientific answer behind such events.
You gotta give him credit for even tackling these unexplained phenomena; most scientists prefer to ignore them.

And never finds scientific answers.if he did find scientific evidence then it becones repeatable and not para-woo.

Nope, i give no credit to that sort of commercialism, its on a par with evangelist preachers with their give me your money because god says i need it.
 

A Vestigial Mote

Well-Known Member
Ok, Christine...no need to get testy about it.
I was just presenting a reason why events like that, won’t be repeatable.
I don't think she was being "testy" at all. Just letting you know that whatever you're peddling isn't going to be accepted unless you can back it up. I don't know why believers get so in a huff when you let them know this simple thing. They take it personally, and act as if you are getting angry. The atheist likely isn't angry - they are telling you like it is, and not being wishy-washy or emotional about it.

Why? Dr. Taff doesn’t give “woo” explanations for his evidence, he’s always looking for some scientific answer behind such events.
You gotta give him credit for even tackling these unexplained phenomena; most scientists prefer to ignore them.
If the items are, by nature, unrepeatable, immeasurable and untestable, then no scientist worth his salt will be touching them with a 10 foot pole, because that makes each and every "instance" of this type of thing a literal one-off anecdote! You can't base scientific research or hypothesis on that. You just can't. You'd be a laughing stock to try. Which is likely where this "Dr. Taff" finds himself quite frequently. Except to entertainment industry, of course, where I have read that he served as the technical advisor to the staff of a supernatural horror/thriller film. Very likely one of his biggest credits. I'd be willing to bet he puts it on his resume.
 

HonestJoe

Well-Known Member
It will never be repeatable. There’s an intelligence behind the paranormal that doesn’t want to be discovered, by the majority.
Or maybe it is repeatable but there is an intelligence behind it all that doesn't want you to know that?

If we're allowed to simply declare that there are powerful intelligences controlling things behind the scenes to explain anything we don't understand, nobody could declare anything to be true, including the existence of those powerful intelligences. It's basically one huge roundabout way to say "I don't know" without actually admitting or accepting it. :cool:
 

Hockeycowboy

Witness for Jehovah
Premium Member
Or maybe it is repeatable but there is an intelligence behind it all that doesn't want you to know that?
That’s what I said.
If we're allowed to simply declare that there are powerful intelligences controlling things behind the scenes to explain anything we don't understand, nobody could declare anything to be true, including the existence of those powerful intelligences. It's basically one huge roundabout way to say "I don't know" without actually admitting or accepting it. :cool:

So now, what? You’re discrediting your previous statement?

I did not say nor imply “anything we don’t understand.”
But it would explain quite a few things.
 

HonestJoe

Well-Known Member
That’s what I said.
Not exactly. You said evidence for "the paranormal" will never be repeated because there is an intelligence preventing it being discovered by the majority.

I said that maybe it can be repeated but there could be an intelligence preventing you from seeing it.

So now, what? You’re discrediting your previous statement?
Yes, because mine was a parody of yours, just with different assertions.

The point is that if you are asserting that there is an intelligence out there which is capable of completely and unconditionally blinding us to the truth, they could be applying that ability to anything, including anything (you think) you know. I also raises the question of how you could know this intelligence exists at all.
 

Hockeycowboy

Witness for Jehovah
Premium Member
The point is that if you are asserting that there is an intelligence out there which is capable of completely and unconditionally blinding us to the truth, they could be applying that ability to anything, including anything (you think) you know. I also raises the question of how you could know this intelligence exists at all.

Or, anything you think you know.

Let me ask you a question.
The numerous RF members on here, who have interaction with their spirit guides / gods, and / or have experienced phenomena unconstrained by laws of physics.... what’s your explanation? You think all these people have mental aberrations or are on drugs? Or they’re simply lying?

Granted, some are outright fraudulent, quite a few even....but all of them?
Only to the naïve....and especially to those whose worldview would be shattered.
 

McBell

Resident Sourpuss
Or, anything you think you know.

Let me ask you a question.
The numerous RF members on here, who have interaction with their spirit guides / gods, and / or have experienced phenomena unconstrained by laws of physics.... what’s your explanation? You think all these people have mental aberrations or are on drugs? Or they’re simply lying?

Granted, some are outright fraudulent, quite a few even....but all of them?
Only to the naïve....and especially to those whose worldview would be shattered.
wait...
Your "argument" is that there has to be at least one telling the truth about it, thus it has to be true?

And you want to be taken deriously?
 
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