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(January 21, 2013 at 5:39 am)NomenMihiNon Wrote: Well, that's the thing. Christians have their "evidence", however flawed it may be, in the form of scripture and dogma. Whereas New Agers' beliefs tend to be based on an amalgam of theirs and others' speculations, which can be much harder to refute. But you're right, at least the New Age folks are more likely to actually discuss it as opposed to argue about it.
It's not harder to refute. "I refute the so called 'evidence' produced by New Ageists". There, easy. Also, from what I've seen, the people who practice New Age crap and other superstitious shit are actually just as hard to reason with as the staunchly religious.
My mother had a delicate and almost suicidal friend, who was deeply into psychic readings and would regularly hold séances and practice spirit healing. When I tried to talk to her about her practices she got excited, but the moment she realized I was trying to ask for evidence and was a little sceptical, she immediately sunk into a defensive shell and seemed so disgruntled that I was worried I might make her suicidal condition worse, and I didn't persist any further.
She was so emotionally invested in her new age nonsense that she couldn't handle the slightest criticism.
Funnily enough, her delicate emotional condition had arisen out of her being in deep debt. The reason for this it turned out, was she that was getting financial advice from one of her "spirit guides".
I'm not sure all New Ageists are even remotely like this lady, but I do not think for a moment that they are in the least bit open minded about whether their beliefs are true or not, and very few would be bold enough to be tested in a scientific experiment.
Yeah, all of this, basically. I have yet to meet any new-ageist who is any more rational, open-minded, or willing to discuss their silliness than any theist...in fact, to be entirely honest, it seems quite often like new-ageists are fully aware of how unrealistic and utterly bullshit their silly practices are; ANY criticism to prove their bullshit as being nothing more than exactly that is met with an irrational level of defensiveness. This generally suggests a level of self-consciousness that is usually in proportion to the amount of defensiveness displayed, and it's highly likely that the self-consciousness comes from an active awareness in how unsubstantiated their stance is. Their stances are harmless for the most part but as it is with every other form of stupidity, if I see it being practiced or I hear it being talked about I'm going to openly mock the fuck out of it. Like the "herbal naturalists" who claim shit like grapeseed can somehow cure or treat autism. I knew someone like that once upon a time. The dumb bitch.
