Reaching Through the Ether: What do you believe?

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

What do you believe?

In his recent book, The Believing Brain: From Ghosts and Gods to Politics and Conspiracies – How We Construct Beliefs and Reinforce Them as Truths, Michael Shermer writes about a 2009 Harris Poll concerning what people believe. 2,303 Americans were surveyed for the poll. The results included the following:

Ø God: 82%

Ø Miracles: 76%

Ø Heaven: 75%

Ø Jesus is God or the son of God: 73%

Ø Angels: 72%

Ø Survival of the soul after death: 71%

Ø The virgin birth (of Jesus): 61%

Ø The devil: 60%

Ø Darwin’s Theory of Evolution: 45%

Ø Ghosts: 42%

Ø Creationism: 40%

Ø UFOs: 32%
Ø Astrology: 26%
Ø Witches: 23%
Ø Reincarnation: 20%

Of the 17 items listed above, only Darwin’s Theory of Evolution is a concept that has been tested using scientific means as well as being peer reviewed. More of the survey participants believe in the 10 supernatural items listed prior to the aforementioned scientific theory. It should also be noted that all of the 10 beliefs are Christian-based, which would be expected considering the American demographic that was surveyed. This is in contrast to, with the exception of Creationism, the beliefs that are not of a wholly Christian or religious base.

Though not stemming from a Judeo-Christian belief system, the “believing” author of this article would suggest that the sheer number of people holding supernatural beliefs implies something about the validity of paranormal experiences. So, the above poll brings the question: Why do people believe what they do? A strong majority of people believe in things for which there is no definitive evidence while dismissing comprehensively tested scientific theories. Are those believers in the supernatural simply examples of confirmation bias? Michael Shermer has regularly written about how this is indeed the case. In addition, he has extensively detailed how people come to believe what they do, which does not typically involve the objective study of a topic. So, then, if Shermer is correct, how can so many people hold such beliefs and give detailed accounts of otherworldly experiences?

This blog post is not going to answer these questions. What the authors are hoping for, however, is a dialogue between those reading. In addition to the comments section for this blog, readers are invited to send more extensive examinations on the nature of one’s beliefs to reachingthroughtheether@gmail.com. Those comments that are particularly insightful will then be posted on this site, which will hopefully allow for a more in-depth discussion of the subject matter. Remember, the authors of this blog both hold drastically different views from one-another, with one being a believer in the paranormal and the other being much more of a materialist. Consequently, the intent of this exercise is not to provoke argument between the readers themselves or the authors and the readers. In addition, the authors are not wanting to simply learn more about what people believe, but, more importantly, to have readers answer the question of why they believe what they do. This is a public forum, so others may offer differing views. This is acceptable as long as it is done politely and the discussion centers on the beliefs and not the believer. Most importantly of all, responses to readers should further the discussion and our understanding of the wonderful and uniquely human characteristic: belief.

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...our upcoming article on the examiner.com, covering the same topics as this blog, at: www.examiner.com/astrology-and-paranormal-in-columbus. In addition, visit M's fiction blog for discussions on speculative fiction and to read his own works of fiction as well as up and coming publications at: www.storiesfromtheether@blogspot.com. Finally, for those interested in handmade paper products, visit D's blog at: aloveaffairwithpaper.blogspot.com as well as her onlone shop at etsy.com/shop/aloveaffairwithpaper.

Our Mission

What we hope to accomplish is twofold. First, we aim to understand the background and mythology that led to the belief that a paranormal event has taken place in a particular location. On a micro-level, we want to understand the individual making the claims and on a macro-level, we want to follow the nature of the evolving meme that has been created in a community of people holding a given belief. This is as equally interesting as to whether or not an “event” actually took place. This is meant to go beyond whether an old pipe is pretending to be a ghost. Second, we, of course, want to determine the validity of the paranormal events being explored. Here, the balance of the skeptic and the believer will be used to shed light on whether or not there are really paranormal events reaching out to us from the ether.

Our Process

Before going out to a site, we will do the prep and due diligence. We will announce our project and the date of the site visit. In the days or weeks leading up to the site visit, we will research the event, the location and those involved to the best extent possible. Our research will then be shared with all of you who honor us with your readership. Some information – videos, audio recording, writings, etc. – will be shared as we are in the process of the site visit. Depending on the nature of “the event,” additional follow-up research may continue and, of course, be shared. We thank you and look forward to taking all of you on this journey with us!