Frankly, I’m glad we still live in a world where headlines such as, “Vatican moves to assert more control over claims of supernatural sightings” can still appear, as this one did today, in The Washington Post. The story concerns the willy-nilly way in which bishops have been characterizing unexplained visions and apparitions over the centuries. Too often, the Church has ended up legitimizing dubious supernatural claims, such as Jesus appearing in a slice of toast. Then you have to canonize the toast and it’s a whole mess. Il Papa has decreed that, henceforth, “only the Vatican decides” what is truly of supernatural origin, and what is not.
I’m someone who tends to think there’s an explanation for everything but we might never know what it is, or it might be something really weird like photons being in two places at once or whatever, where figuring out one thing only leads to more mysteries, which is cool. But I also think science tends to pretend subjectivity doesn’t exist, when in a way, that’s all there is.
I wrote a thing about having a strong premonition about being hit by a truck about 30 seconds before I was nearly hit by one. It’s on my page if you’re interested (I don’t want to link it because that feels weird). But anyway, I’ve never known what to make of that. It’s only happened twice before in my life. Once, in college, we were visiting a cadaver lab, and though I was not nervous and was actually excited to be going. As I walked in and saw the covered cadavers, something strong that was both a voice in my head and a feeling said, “Get out,” and I suddenly noticed it was walking back out the door. I had no memory of deciding to leave. It’s like my body had a reflex I didn’t know about. Finally, I was in the ocean years ago, and I again found myself marching towards the land. I glanced back and saw a huge shadowy object very close behind me. Could have just been sea weed or a school of fish. Or…. lol. Anyway, I appreciate Michael’s fascination with these things. I don’t understand them, but I’m I interested to learn more.
I think a lot (most?) people have experiences they can’t explain but we’re discouraged from talking about them because they make us sound nutty. That’s the problem with strict materialism; anything that exists outside of it cannot be said to exist.
As the saying goes, the more you know, the more you know you don't know. The danger is in the people who know a little and then proclaim to know everything.
I don't trust reality shows in general, so I've never seen it. I will say I'm familiar with Skinwalker and all the crazy stuff that's been going on there forever. I have no idea what to make of it... which I love!
I tend to rely on rational thought, perhaps to a fault (as it probably makes me a very boring person). I have to believe that every phenomenon, no matter how mystifying, comes with an underlying scientific explanation, even if we can’t quite put our fingers on it. Like, there was probably a time when the aurora borealis was seen as a reward from God for having avoided masturbation for some prescribed period of time or something like that. Now we really understand the science behind the aurora borealis… so Kramer on!
Ahead of a trip to Europe I am reading Mark Twain's "The Innocents Abroad" and came across his description of the miracle of St. Januarius's blood in Naples. I chuckled to myself about the things that people believed in 1867, but then I Googled it to learn more and I saw that we are STILL doing this: https://www.ncregister.com/cna/st-januarius-blood-miraculously-liquifies-again-in-naples
I’m someone who tends to think there’s an explanation for everything but we might never know what it is, or it might be something really weird like photons being in two places at once or whatever, where figuring out one thing only leads to more mysteries, which is cool. But I also think science tends to pretend subjectivity doesn’t exist, when in a way, that’s all there is.
I wrote a thing about having a strong premonition about being hit by a truck about 30 seconds before I was nearly hit by one. It’s on my page if you’re interested (I don’t want to link it because that feels weird). But anyway, I’ve never known what to make of that. It’s only happened twice before in my life. Once, in college, we were visiting a cadaver lab, and though I was not nervous and was actually excited to be going. As I walked in and saw the covered cadavers, something strong that was both a voice in my head and a feeling said, “Get out,” and I suddenly noticed it was walking back out the door. I had no memory of deciding to leave. It’s like my body had a reflex I didn’t know about. Finally, I was in the ocean years ago, and I again found myself marching towards the land. I glanced back and saw a huge shadowy object very close behind me. Could have just been sea weed or a school of fish. Or…. lol. Anyway, I appreciate Michael’s fascination with these things. I don’t understand them, but I’m I interested to learn more.
I think a lot (most?) people have experiences they can’t explain but we’re discouraged from talking about them because they make us sound nutty. That’s the problem with strict materialism; anything that exists outside of it cannot be said to exist.
Love today’s article!
As the saying goes, the more you know, the more you know you don't know. The danger is in the people who know a little and then proclaim to know everything.
I share your love for high strangeness. Curious if you watch The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch and what your thoughts about it are.
I don't trust reality shows in general, so I've never seen it. I will say I'm familiar with Skinwalker and all the crazy stuff that's been going on there forever. I have no idea what to make of it... which I love!
I've read up on the ranch too, and I agree. It's mind-boggling and I can't get enough of it.
I tend to rely on rational thought, perhaps to a fault (as it probably makes me a very boring person). I have to believe that every phenomenon, no matter how mystifying, comes with an underlying scientific explanation, even if we can’t quite put our fingers on it. Like, there was probably a time when the aurora borealis was seen as a reward from God for having avoided masturbation for some prescribed period of time or something like that. Now we really understand the science behind the aurora borealis… so Kramer on!
Ahead of a trip to Europe I am reading Mark Twain's "The Innocents Abroad" and came across his description of the miracle of St. Januarius's blood in Naples. I chuckled to myself about the things that people believed in 1867, but then I Googled it to learn more and I saw that we are STILL doing this: https://www.ncregister.com/cna/st-januarius-blood-miraculously-liquifies-again-in-naples
Great piece Michael!
Yes, this is excellent! Michael is a gifted writer and thinker, I really enjoy reading his posts.