They believe in science in the same way that New Agers believed quantum mechanics backed up their views.

DC

Chicken:
Wanna explain that?

Sure.

New Agers misused and misunderstood quantum mechanics only to foster their own viewpoints such as multiple possibility and the possibility of supernatural phenomenon. (In fact its better to say they never understood QM in the first place.)

Pagans and/or Wiccans misuse physics, biology (ecology) and chaos theory similarly. For example, I've heard a pagan misinterpret Sagan's "we are all star stuff" quote to imply an ecological consciousness of sorts.

DC

DChicken,
Have you read The Tao Of Physics, Dancing Wu Li Masters, The Holographic Universe, Cracking The Cosmic Egg, etc, there is good indicators that QM and other states of consciousness are connected. Even some QM physicists are saying that reality is a lot stranger than we know.
BTW, you sound like an agnostic or atheist/rationalist at times, what is your ontological paradigm or spiritual path?

namaste, We can only find truth with logic if first we have found truth wihout it. GKChesterton.

Oh Please. I have a degree in physics. The attempt to apply non-intuitve principles found in QM to some sort of consciousness theory is a failure. Once you get a deeper understanding of QM, then these sort of "theories" evaporate into the air.

I'm an atheist but I do not believe in scientism.

DC

In my opinion, Silver Ravenwolf (a "Wiccan" author who wrote books such as "How to be a Teen Witch") is a big contributer to the popularity of Wicca. She teaches that you can make your life better simply by doing spells with candles and incense - for example, her books contain love and money spells. People want more control over their lives, and hence turn to a religion where, it seems, something YOU do with water/incense/candles/colours will change the outcome of your life.

[This message has been edited by greenbean51 (edited May 23, 2001).]

Very well put, the control issue as I stated earlier. My sister has lots of her books.

Paranormal events like ESP and telepathy, have never ever been confirmed in a controlled study environment. So far Paranormal is in a contradiction with science. If ESP is true then we have to dismiss a lot we understand about the world.

http://www.randi.org
James Randi is a famous skeptic dedicated to pointing out paranormal faults.

An uncritical mind is a gullible mind.

-Derek

Silver Ravenwolf has been blacklisted even more than other witches for her 'promoting witchcraft to children' books. She ranks up there with 'harry potter'. <shiver>

of course, that is the 'soft' stuff that traditionals shake their heads at in dismay.

DC: Since very few people 'understand' QM, myself included in the majority, is that really a legitimate reason to 'blast' people for misconceptions? It seems petty to me.

I also disagree with your concept that 'pagans missue science'. The Christians blast people like you for 'missusing science.' Please show me the letter from science complaining about the misuse or the ettiquette book describing how to 'use' science correctly.

I was under the impression that 'using' science in any way was bad--- as it implies a slant and a motivation. Pagans as a whole love science and promote research and development as a 'moral imperative'. If some 'misconceptions' come about as a result of not being formally trained, it is no reason to blast an entire faith. When a group develops that is founded on a misconception, then feel free to blast that particular group.

As a whole, pagans are science and learning friendly. I think that is 'a good thing'. Regardless of whether or not any understand it at all.

(ANSIMC)

ok: How is paranormal in contradiction with science? (the other two quoted points are important too, but one at a time)

As a whole, pagans are science and learning friendly.

As a whole, they are pretty sexy too. Sexy goes a long way in my books.