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THE QUESTION
Paranormal and Supernatural Beliefs
Poll routinely show that 75 percent of Americans hold some form of belief in the paranormal such as astrology, telepathy and ghosts. All religions contain beliefs in the supernatural. Is there a link? What's the difference?
Posted by
Sally Quinn and Jon Meacham on July 16, 2008 10:43 AM
FROM THE PANEL
The Power of Faith and the Problem with Magic
One person’s “paranormal” is another person’s religion. All religions believe that there is consciousness greater than ours and that it is possible to be in touch with it. So how do we distinguish between the ones of which we approve and those of which we don’t?
Posted by Brad Hirschfield, on July 21, 2008 7:08 AM
The Paranormal and the "Normal"
What is ‘normal’ is for people to have dreams, intuitions, hunches, flashes of inspiration, incidents of serendipity, and moments of deep connection that can’t be measured or predicted.
Posted by Starhawk, on July 21, 2008 6:03 AM
Why the Paranormal is Normal
Religious people are allowed to cling to a different model of reality, tolerated by the official gatekeepers but not believed in.
Posted by Deepak Chopra, on July 21, 2008 5:33 AM
Paranormal Not the Path to God
We are made for contact with an unseen, spiritual realm. But if there are not responsible religious guidelines, this curiosity often leads into darker realms.
Posted by Charles "Chuck" Colson, on July 21, 2008 4:03 AM
The Supernatural and Tradition
Such belief defines a weak theological understanding of one's own faith tradition and emphasizes the secular culture creep into orthodox theological belief.
Posted by John Bryson Chane, on July 18, 2008 11:55 PM
The Supernatural Is What the Paranormal May Be: Real
The supernatural is real.
Posted by Willis E. Elliott, on July 18, 2008 11:54 PM
Astrology & Hinduism
Astrology continues to be popular in Hindu society
Posted by Rajan Zed, on July 18, 2008 12:58 PM
The Undead World Of Supernatural Junk Thought
What unites all believers in all forms of the supernatural and the paranormal is that they either require no evidence or invent evidence to fit the faith they already hold.
Posted by Susan Jacoby, on July 18, 2008 11:01 AM
Difference Between Supernatural and Extra-natural
Inherent in religious belief is an acceptance of the supernatural.
Posted by Adin Steinsaltz, on July 17, 2008 7:16 PM
Theology's Failure, Astrology's Gain
Our "high" theologies often are rather inadequate for helping ordinary folks deal with very basic issues that preoccupy them (and us!): problems in our intimate relations, financial woes, complex health concerns.
Posted by Richard Mouw, on July 17, 2008 4:39 PM
Ghostly Polling Data
I think that all religions attempt to make sense of human life and the ubiquity of human pain.
Posted by Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite, on July 16, 2008 6:00 PM
Spirituality is All in How You Think
I do not believe anymore that human life, as we see it, is all there is. I respect the power of the spirit world and I respect the cyclical nature of life. Bodies die but spirits linger.
Posted by Susan K. Smith, on July 15, 2008 4:42 PM
FEATURED COMMENTS
Betsyw: Once you have experienced a "miracle"...some physical appearance of a weeping icon or statue of the Madonna, a cross of light, a self portra...
Aquarius: People are predisposed to see the world as gears running in a box. Man is another box with gears and a mechanical hand that goes out the man...
Al: If you study astrology in depth with an open mind you will be amazed at what you learn (Isaac Newton was a life long student for example).
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