Kyu, your comment is no more valid that if I said 'Ghosts are real, end of discussion'. Either enter into the spirit (no pun intended) of the debate or do not post at all.
Adrian, I would like to mention the psychic phenomenon one last time. I am aware I may come across as a 'believer' who takes everything at face value. I sincerely hope not! Anyway I would just like to reveal why I think psychic energy exists and can act upon the world given the right circumstances.
First I would like to say that my definition of psychic energy is the mind being able to manipulate or change the material world without the use of the limbs. This includes manipulation of both living and non-living materials.
I think Dr. William A. Tiller's experiments are the most groundbreaking in indicating that this 'psychic' energy is a distinct possibility. He has (or claims) managed to change the pH value of a solution without adding chemicals. The change has come about due to the power of the will. In other words, the pH value changes because someone wills the pH value to change. This has been replicated several times under lab conditions. The links can be found below:
http://www.tillerfoundation.com/model.php
http://www.visionmagazine.com/archives/0...ealth.html
Another study influential in shaping my opinion was the Toronto Society of Psychical Research's efforts in creating a ghost. They invented the character Philip and, after months of 'willing' Philip into existence, their efforts were rewarded. In the mock seances the Society conducted, Philip began to answer. This fascinated many members of the Society, and they went on to summon the equally fictitious character of Lilith. A more in-depth review of the study is provided below:
http://www.pararesearchers.org/Ghosts/Ar..._five.html
There is also the 1924 account of Alexandra David-Neel (in her book Magic and Mystery in Tibet) in which she claims to have been able to create a 'monk' with the power of her mind. This monk was witnessed by several others and-over a period of months-began to exhibit poltergeist-like behaviour before she managed to will it out of existence.
Anyway, onto the poltergeist case. I have chosen to concentrate on the Rosenheim Poltergeist case (1967) because of the sheer volume of witnesses to the 'poltergeist' activity.
In 1967 the law practice of one Sigmund Adam began experiencing some strange activity. The 4 office phones would ring at the same time, and, when answered, would cut-off as abruptly. This was put down to some elaborate prank, but when the same phones began to cut-off when the office staff were in mid-call, Mr. Adam decided to have the phones replaced, thinking it must be due to a technical error.
The replaced phones exhibited the same malfunction as their predecessors. At this point Mr. Adam brought in the telephone repair people, hoping they would be able to fix the problem. They could find nothing wrong with the phones and nothing to explain the malfunction.
Latter in the same year the lights began to malfunction. The lights would switch themselves off and on and the sockets would swing of their own accord. Mr. Adam now called in the power company. They recorded everything as working fine. The phenomenon were left unexplained.
The final straw came when the photocopier began to leak. Mr. Adam ordered the power to be cut to the office and the equipment to be run using the back-up generator. The phenomenon continued unabated.
At this point two Physicists decided to investigate the strange electrical phenomenon. After several trips to the office they came up blank, concluding that the phenomenon was beyond their scope of understanding.
Enter Hans Bender. He decided to investigate the small office. He discovered that the phenomenon only ever happened when the teenager Anne-Marie Scaberl (AM) was in the office. After several interviews Hans concluded that AM was highly strung, had a deep dislike for her job and did not care for Mr. Adam. As time went on the activity intensified with heavy objects moving around rooms and calenders being ripped off walls. In mid-January 1968, AM left her job and the phenomenon ceased.
With all poltergeist cases we must first look at the power of suggestion as a possible and probable cause. I discounted this because of the sheer number of credible witnesses and, of course, the photographs. The photos may not be perfect (this was the 1960's after all) but they do indicate that it was not totally the power of suggestion-say what you like but I do not think that suggestion can move lamps or cause dents in walls.
This leaves fraud. This may be the answer to the Rosenheim riddle but to establish this as a viable cause we must first answer the three important questions; who, why and how?
http://www.ghosttheory.com/paranormal-ca...-haunting/
http://ghosts-hauntings.suite101.com/art...haunts_law
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1LjrnsH144
Adrian, I would like to mention the psychic phenomenon one last time. I am aware I may come across as a 'believer' who takes everything at face value. I sincerely hope not! Anyway I would just like to reveal why I think psychic energy exists and can act upon the world given the right circumstances.
First I would like to say that my definition of psychic energy is the mind being able to manipulate or change the material world without the use of the limbs. This includes manipulation of both living and non-living materials.
I think Dr. William A. Tiller's experiments are the most groundbreaking in indicating that this 'psychic' energy is a distinct possibility. He has (or claims) managed to change the pH value of a solution without adding chemicals. The change has come about due to the power of the will. In other words, the pH value changes because someone wills the pH value to change. This has been replicated several times under lab conditions. The links can be found below:
http://www.tillerfoundation.com/model.php
http://www.visionmagazine.com/archives/0...ealth.html
Another study influential in shaping my opinion was the Toronto Society of Psychical Research's efforts in creating a ghost. They invented the character Philip and, after months of 'willing' Philip into existence, their efforts were rewarded. In the mock seances the Society conducted, Philip began to answer. This fascinated many members of the Society, and they went on to summon the equally fictitious character of Lilith. A more in-depth review of the study is provided below:
http://www.pararesearchers.org/Ghosts/Ar..._five.html
There is also the 1924 account of Alexandra David-Neel (in her book Magic and Mystery in Tibet) in which she claims to have been able to create a 'monk' with the power of her mind. This monk was witnessed by several others and-over a period of months-began to exhibit poltergeist-like behaviour before she managed to will it out of existence.
Anyway, onto the poltergeist case. I have chosen to concentrate on the Rosenheim Poltergeist case (1967) because of the sheer volume of witnesses to the 'poltergeist' activity.
In 1967 the law practice of one Sigmund Adam began experiencing some strange activity. The 4 office phones would ring at the same time, and, when answered, would cut-off as abruptly. This was put down to some elaborate prank, but when the same phones began to cut-off when the office staff were in mid-call, Mr. Adam decided to have the phones replaced, thinking it must be due to a technical error.
The replaced phones exhibited the same malfunction as their predecessors. At this point Mr. Adam brought in the telephone repair people, hoping they would be able to fix the problem. They could find nothing wrong with the phones and nothing to explain the malfunction.
Latter in the same year the lights began to malfunction. The lights would switch themselves off and on and the sockets would swing of their own accord. Mr. Adam now called in the power company. They recorded everything as working fine. The phenomenon were left unexplained.
The final straw came when the photocopier began to leak. Mr. Adam ordered the power to be cut to the office and the equipment to be run using the back-up generator. The phenomenon continued unabated.
At this point two Physicists decided to investigate the strange electrical phenomenon. After several trips to the office they came up blank, concluding that the phenomenon was beyond their scope of understanding.
Enter Hans Bender. He decided to investigate the small office. He discovered that the phenomenon only ever happened when the teenager Anne-Marie Scaberl (AM) was in the office. After several interviews Hans concluded that AM was highly strung, had a deep dislike for her job and did not care for Mr. Adam. As time went on the activity intensified with heavy objects moving around rooms and calenders being ripped off walls. In mid-January 1968, AM left her job and the phenomenon ceased.
With all poltergeist cases we must first look at the power of suggestion as a possible and probable cause. I discounted this because of the sheer number of credible witnesses and, of course, the photographs. The photos may not be perfect (this was the 1960's after all) but they do indicate that it was not totally the power of suggestion-say what you like but I do not think that suggestion can move lamps or cause dents in walls.
This leaves fraud. This may be the answer to the Rosenheim riddle but to establish this as a viable cause we must first answer the three important questions; who, why and how?
http://www.ghosttheory.com/paranormal-ca...-haunting/
http://ghosts-hauntings.suite101.com/art...haunts_law
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1LjrnsH144
