LyricalReckoner

March was a very busy month for those hell-bent on getting some ancient laws of a deceased kingdom posted in public buildings throughout the U.S. It was a busy month for public schools confronted with a deadline for certifying that they weren't denying students certain, inalienable rights. A professor used his Transcranial Magnetic Stimulator to get a devout Atheist to experience God. Two Nobel laureates -- celebrating the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the structure of DNA -- took the opportunity to belittle belief and proclaim a cure for stupidity.

Get all the details:

http://www.misterthorne.org/NEWS/MAR_2003.htm


Enjoy!

Jesse

LyricalReckoner:
A professor used his Transcranial Magnetic Stimulator to get a devout Atheist to experience God.

Actually the article says Dawkins experienced nothing more than a tingling sensation. From what I've read, Persinger's Transcrainial Magnetic Stimulator doesn't come close to living up to his claims.

LyricalReckoner

What I learned was that they can program the solenoids to fire in different patterns. They take a flashlight and shine it at the test subject. They raise and lower the light, and many subjects -- it is said -- report that they imagine being taken to an alien space ship, being examined, and then returning to earth.

If I had such a gizmo, I'd hit the state fairs coming up. $10 a pop. That would be the thing to do.

Gurdur

Not very lucrative, your plan.
the only people really affected would be those who were
easily suggestible
and/or
on the edge of neuropathology in any case

No-one who want to have a real epileptic fit induced in them, pre-onset aura or no aura.

Nickle

Gurdur is right, charge $20.

Oolon Colluphid

For those of you in the UK, this is going to be covered in an upcoming BBC Horizon programme, as detailed in this thread. I imagine it will make it to the US eventually; I gather the show’s called Nova over there.

DT

ps418

IIRC, both Michael Shermer and John Horgan described rather unprofound experiences with Persinger's TMS. Of course, I'd still try it if I could.

Unless someone at the fair is selling LSD for 5$ a hit

Godless Dave

Guys, you need to think big. First, do it on a few impressionable people for free. Once you convince them you are a prophet, get them to spread the word. Open a church (or whatever) and make up some kind of ritual around the magnetic thingy. Don't charge money; guilt-trip the marks into giving you donations. You could make millions, and best of all you wouldn't have to pay taxes on it.

MadKally

That's what L. Ron Hubbard did. He said he could easily start a religion and he did it. (Scientology) I went to a meeting once and had to fight to keep them from getting my credit cards and cash. I finally ran out of there after midnight. I swear I was almost brainwashed. At the time I didn't know all the stupid stuff like becoming a "CLEAR!"

Dave, can I please remove this magnetic halo from my head now? It's too heavy.

Godless Dave

Sceintology's machines don't even do anything and look how successful they are. Think of the cash you could rake in if you had a machine that really induced a religious experience!