> A well developed rational function doesn't preclude delusory
beliefs!
> In fact 'scientists' can be screwed up by allowing their intuition
to
> atrophy and start applying logic where it isnt effective. Most great
> scientists seem to value art and intuiton as much as maths and logic
> . Bad scientists excessive faith in bad science cases much grief.
>
> > There is a
> > considrable body of proof: yet those who say there isn't is either
> > lying to themselves, or are ignorant of the facts
> Or are merely sceptical because there is not sufficient widely
accepted proof.

Keith, isn't that like saying I won't believe in hypnosis unless
everyone who's hypnotized can slow their hearts down to one beat per
hour?

That's basically what you've said about ESP and related phenomena. It
has always been related to emotions and biological processes that few
can control. Can you produce a theta state at will and walk around in
it? That's essentially what you-- and others want: do a trick and
prove to us psi exists-- and while you're at it, keep doing it until
we are satisfied that you aren't faking. Nina Kulagina, a
telekineticist, lost as much as five pounds of her body weight doing
TK experiments for Soviet scientists. The strain ultimately killed
her. Is that proof enough? For some, there'll never be enough proof.

You say you meditate? Suppose I don't believe in the benefits of
meditation until everyone who meditates proves that they can raise
the temperature of their right hand, five degrees above the norm. Is
that rational? No, but that's the same standard that's being applied
here.

However, folks like Erickson and others in your own field have done
numerous fascinating experiments to prove that such abilities do
exist, and that hypnosis can bring them out. Not that everyone wants
to be hypnotized to prove a point.

As for con men, let's not forget that many a scientist has also ben
con men. Look at cold fusion, at the Piltdown Man, and many other
scientific hoaxes. Scientists want the lay person to accept the idea
that there are invissible masssless particles that zip through us all
the time from space; particles we can't see, taste, feel or detect by
film-- yet psi is too far out? What's wrong with that picture? :-)

Ron