Path: typhoon.sonic.net!not-for-mail Newsgroups: alt.magick.tyagi,alt.pagan.magick,alt.magick,talk.religion.newage,sci.skeptic Subject: Re: Science and Magic (was Skepticism 101 ....) References: <3D085E26.491011F3@pacbell.net> <3D097CF7.6060805@telusplanet.net> <3D0986CD.A90EA346@pacbell.net> <3D0A37D7.6070705@telusplanet.net> From: nagasiva Reply-To: spam@yronwode.com User-Agent: nn/6.6.0 Lines: 22 Message-ID: <%0xP8.1064$54.5080@typhoon.sonic.net> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2002 02:36:43 GMT NNTP-Posting-Host: 208.201.242.18 X-Complaints-To: abuse@sonic.net X-Trace: typhoon.sonic.net 1024367803 208.201.242.18 (Mon, 17 Jun 2002 19:36:43 PDT) NNTP-Posting-Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2002 19:36:43 PDT Xref: typhoon.sonic.net alt.magick.tyagi:33098 alt.pagan.magick:33202 alt.magick:306135 talk.religion.newage:152441 sci.skeptic:544202 50020617 VII I wrote about 'supernatural abilities': > such abilities would seem to be rather quickly discussed also. > they either exist, and may be catalogued, or they do not, and > the whole thing can be classed with phlogiston. for my part, I have never seen what I'd consider reliable evidence that psychic powers like telekinesis or even telepathy are possible as they are often featured in sci-fi/fantasy fictions. mysticism and luck-driving mechanisms are the only rational holdout for magic, outside shamanistic and artistic trajectories (not usually supported by rigorous scientific analyses -- watch for transpersonal psycholo- gists in support of this as well as other spiritual mechanisms). the poles of mysticism and luck-driving (fortune-making, rather than fortune-telling) are those which often sport the strongest opinions and rational arguments in their defense within public forums, in my experience. other experiential reflections on this topic welcomed. blessed beast! nagasiva