Skeptic Food

[Veccolo]

Don't generalize all the skeptics. Also, don't equate skepticism with close mindedness. That's simply not the case.

...

It's a fact that most (not all, but most) of the stuff in NewAge literature can't be validated in any way, so the reader either believes it or not. It's also a fact that every moron nowadays can write a book, and most of them actually do. Plus, some of them contradict each other, which is confusing for the reader. S

Because of that, skepticism IS a useful and valid tool. It's nice that _you_ can believe something that's written down, but don't think that everyone can turn off his/her common sense so easily (thank god that not everyone can do that).

Being open minded is good, I agree, but being open minded doesn't mean to "accept everything as truth," just because it's written somewhere or because it sounds nice or plausible. "Just because something is written down doesn't mean it's true." I hope you know that. That goes for the books you mentioned too, btw.

You say that incredible stuff like teleportation, telekinesis, shapeshifting etc. is real, so this must mean _you_ can do this stuff or _know_ someone who can. So go and prove it to the world ... but I know you won't do that, and I know you'd come up with cheap excuses when asked "Why not?". Or, you'd simply say "I don't have to prove anything". That's true, you don't have to, but if you don't can or want to prove it, don't make such claims. It just makes you look really stupid.

People can write books about these stuff, but if they are asked to do it in a controlled environment they will either fail or simply won't do it for some ridiculous reason. Am I the only one who thinks that's strange? I hope not.

Whatever. BTW: Crossposting is EVIL.

[Cezyl]

Skeptic Food
By Cezyl, Copyright © 2004 by Cezyl (Darryl E Berry Jr)
Sunday, August 22, 2004
cezyl@cezyl.com

Introduction

This article is both in response to the wealth of negative or skeptical information and presentation abounding and in support of those true seeker here progressing. It is amazing to find, as I read metaphysical material, that this bend of focus is not new at all. Not only is it old, but also the same arguments are put forth over and over again. Reading the great book The Facts of Psychic Science and Philosophy by A. Campbell Holms I see that he dedicates several pages of the book to skeptics and their rants, and state two of their most favored arguments against psychic phenomenon: deceit or misperception. These are the same two arguments presented to me, that the 'would be' experiencers are lying, or that the 'would be' experiencer is thinking they are seeing or doing something but are not, be it do to hallucination or some kind of flaw in perception. Back to the 19th and 20th centuries this has been going on, this throe of skeptic people butting their heads in psychic researchers' and experimenters' affairs, spouting negativity and put-downs. It is so amazing. This is not new.
It brings to mind the writings of both David Icke and Stuart Wilde. Both point out malevolent forces that are attempting to offset our growth in one way or another. Are these skeptics, knowingly or unknowingly, being influenced by or working in concert with these malevolent forces? Is there a definite attempt so slow our growth and progression down? Why put so much effort into throwing skepticism into someone's boat? Why, on a forum or newsgroup dedicated to out-of-body travel, are there people who don't believe that out-of-body travel is real who are throwing that opinion onto the people there? Really think about that? What do they hope to accomplish, to gain? What really? Why not let us be and mind his or her business? Or, if they are deep down inside wondering if (or even scared that) it is real, why not honestly voice that opinion? Most likely as Sanaya Roman and Orin suggest, it is a cry for love, an expression of pain and fear. Love them.
We have never (overtly) asked for skeptics to come, and several times I've seen people strongly ask the skeptic to leave. Why do they stay in an environment not suited to them and not wanting them? What is there for them to gain? Something must be a motivator there. If it's to 'enlighten' those who 'believe' in such stuff, at the point in which the 'unenlightened' voice they are not interested in what the skeptic has to say, the skeptic, if the true intent was to enlighten, I presume would leave. So why remain? Love them. It can only be a cry for love, according to the works of Roman and others. It's like a child that constantly interrupts you once you get on the telephone or are watching TV. They feel ignored, or perhaps you are giving the TV more attention than them. Their lack of strength in self-love causes them to need to feel that all your attention is going to them to feel loved. Or they need to feel that you are taking away from other things you need to do in order to give love and attention to them in order for them to feel loved. Do not the skeptic seem to want to start big arguments and such, or cause big debates? Do not they persistently point at the phenomenon you are experiencing or researching trying to poke holes in it?
I see several points in skepticism that I shall touch upon now, that are proposed by the skeptic of phenomenon they are perhaps afraid to admit or accept, or unknowledgeable or 'too knowledgeable' enough to accept or admit as possible, for instance:

Extraterrestrial Life

It is amazing the repetition of things. Reading X3, Healing, Entities, and Aliens by Adrian Dvir I see that he has run into several of the same refutation by skeptics as far as ET civilizations go, such as supposed 'distance barriers' like the speed of light and supposed insurmountable light-year distances. The idea or prospect that the distance to other stars systems and galaxies are too far for any extraterrestrial civilization to make it to us is a PERCEPTION based upon OUR range of travel and OUR range of knowledge and understanding. And how could it be anything else? In other words, to a race of beings whose furthest overt manned venture has been to the moon, of course traveling several light years away would seem a massive undertaking. We can't get to the outer planets of THIS solar system, or at least, such technology is not being publicly announced. Who knows what the governments have in their backyards (or underground bases).
Consider this. Hundreds of years ago going just to cross the continent was a massive venture. Here in the USA people took weeks or months to traverse from one coast to the other, needing caravans of horse pulled buggies and so forth. To such a person, it must have seemed impossible to think that someone could traverse the same distance in HOURS, not to mention by traveling THROUGH THE AIR in a metal capsule with fire shooting out towards its back. But today we CAN traverse across the continent in hours with airplanes. So back then traveling from point A to point B seemed very intimidating, whereas the same distance is but a plane ride and bag of peanuts away now. NOW. Another example. Back in New Orleans (I've recently moved to Kentucky) my workmates looked aghast at how I would ride my bicycle to work and back home. "All that distance? That far??? You want to put your bike in my trunk??" It seemed they were about to faint just at the thought. But to me that distance is a piece of cake. It's all perspective. To someone who hasn't been on a bicycle in years, or who is used to driving everywhere, according to his or her PERSPECTIVE the distance of 5 miles on a bicycle could seem limitless. But to someone used to bicycle riding, even comfortable with riding 30 miles in one sitting, a 5 mile distance could be a piece of cake. For a baby to crawl to the corner is a giant leap, but a grown man can walk down the block with ease. Do you get my point? It's all perspective. It's all perception.
To this present race, in our present development, intergalactic travel may SEEM impossible. But to a race of beings hundreds or even THOUSANDS of years ahead of us in development, such distances can be to them analogous to the distance of a plane ride compared to the horse pulled buggies of old on this planet. Not to mention the fact that such beings could have the ability to transcend time-space and travel in hyperspace or in the form of hyper-physical matter, and then tune back down at their destination. In reference to the horse and buggy and plane analogy of earth, such beings could be thinking, "Remember when we on our planet used those big fuel propelled rocket type things trying to travel space." I have personally perceived the interdimensional manifestation of a UFO. Thus I am confident through first hand observation that at least some beings have the ability to take their craft and their bodies through dimensions. I have perceived craft move from one horizon to the other in seconds. SECONDS. And would there even BE a speed limit to a craft taken out of the physical dimension? Is there REALLY a speed limit in the physical dimension? It has been found that subatomic particles can resonate with no time lag, thus some kind of interdimensionally interfaced form of travel could potentially surpass any 21st CENTURY EARTH HUMAN **PERCEIVED** time and distance so-perceived 'limits' of physical matter and distance/light-speed 'barriers', and even those are only perceptions due to our level of development at the time. Wasn't and isn't the speed of sound called the sound 'barrier'? Read The Holographic Universe by Michael Talbot to learn more of the non-locality of the finer things, for I am no master of the subject, though I know enough to put pieces of the puzzle together. We'll touch more on this later.

Out-of-Body Travel

The same 'hallucination or lie' theory is put forth for the out-of-body experience. Also is detailed questioning, such as, if while out-of-body you are nonphysical and thus can't see physical light, what are you seeing. ALSO is the admonition that there is no evidence for the reality of the out-of-body experience (OBE). First off, there is confirmation of objectivity. Secondly, not knowing how something works doesn't negate its workings. And as for their being no evidence of the reality of OBE and different dimensions and such, that's simply untrue. There is much empirical evidence for the reality of the out-of-body experience, EMPIRICAL evidence, which is more than what evidence on which we accept perhaps the majority of things in our lives. The skeptics seem to be ignoring this, or not wanting YOU to know this.
Firstly, a great example of empirical evidence for the OBE is the works of Robert Monroe, in particular his first book Journeys Out of the Body. In that book he has several confirmed experiences of a high nature, which I shall briefly outline.
Robert Monroe visited two friends of his, and confirmed their whereabouts, dress, and actions. It was a couple, the husband supposed to be in bed sick. In contrast to his expectations, Robert Monroe found the couple outside, on the way somewhere. He confirmed their unexpected whereabouts, their clothing, and the time of the occurrence, as well as the general lay of the land in the area around their home.
Robert Monroe was very skeptical of a medium, which reportedly had two guides helping her, a deceased husband and an Indian if I remember right. Monroe was very skeptical, for their answers to his questions were very vague. He was ushered out-of-body to a séance of hers by two nonphysical beings fitting the descriptions of her guides. Not only did Monroe verify who was there and what they were wearing, including confirming people he hadn't seen before and clothing he'd never seen those he knew wear before. Robert Monroe confirmed things that were said there, AND the medium confirmed Monroe's visit, making direct reference to him WHILE HE WAS IN THE ROOM in the out-of-body state, apparently able to perceive his nonphysical presence. Monroe took it upon himself to sit in a chair, and one of the incoming visitors unknowingly went to sit where Monroe was invisibly sitting, and the medium announced this causing much laughter, all confirmed by Monroe on investigation with the medium later.
Most amazing to me, Robert Monroe went to visit a friend on vacation, and found her in an unexpected location with two people he'd never seen before. He confirmed the people with the lady friend, their dress, and not only this. He chose to mark the occasion and pinched the lady, the lady letting out a shriek of pain. He not only later confirmed the location and the people that were her, who were I think her nieces, and their dress and hair color and such, BUT ALSO THE LADY SHOWED HIM A BRUISE, RIGHT WHERE HE PINCHED HER.
The above is more evidence than has been presented for many things we accept as being true and factual. For instance, how do you know that South America exists, or that the pyramids exist? Think about it, or other things that you 'know' from second or third hand sources, but that you don't really 'know' in the strict way many skeptics profess is the only 'knowing'. Why don't the skeptics present such stark skepticism to things like that? Perhaps locations are not the best example, but I'm sure you can find other examples of what I mean. How do you know that planet Pluto exists for instance? We accept so many things on far, far less evidence than the above.
As far as detailed questioning, it is not necessary to know every detail of the workings of something for it to work, or to be able to work it. How many of us know how our cars work, or how airplanes work? What causes the proper translation of the radio signal into the words and music we hear from our radio? How do microchips work? How does the operation system of your computer work? If I gave you all the parts for a car, could you put it together? I don't know of a skeptic who refuses to use an airplane, and who refuses to believe in the reality of airplanes, because they don't know every working of airplanes. Sure airplanes are visible in the air, and so are OBEs prominently occurring around the world, as they have been since time immemorial.
I've taught people to get out of their bodies by sharing simple techniques with them. One person I told him to simply focus on his heart as he went to sleep. They guy was new to the subject, did no to very little reading on the subject, but got out in a few weeks. There is a person in a foreign country who hasn't read a single book on OBE, but who applied some techniques I taught him and got out in a few weeks. He may not know the full workings and background of OBE, or have a firm theory behind it, but dammit he's doing it! So much we take for granted with so little detail of their working.
I may not know what happens to the air at the destination that one teleports to, or what happens to the space at the origin from whence one teleported from. I may not know how OBE perception works, or the specific mechanics of how I healed myself of asthma by will for example. I may not be able to explain how that UFO materialized out of 'nothing', but I saw it, and I have the missing time to prove it. This may not hold up in court for instance, but I know what I saw, I saw what I saw, and I know what time it was when I reached the destination and when I got home. An hour and a half of my life is 'inexplicably' missing. Even Robert Monroe may not have been able to explain the details of many of the things asked of the OBE by skeptics, yet his experiences stand as they do. They are what they are. My computer is typing and getting this out to you, though how the processing system works is unfathomable to me.

This is not open to debate, and we don't know it all

This is not open to debate. Any call for debate or email about this will simply be sidestepped or deleted. This is my present and henceforth stance on skepticism. I am writing this for those of us who are courageous enough to embrace that there just may be something greater than our knowledge, wisdom, and understanding can presently bring to bear. It is amazing the audacity and ego of skepticism. For instance, to say that the distance from here to the next galaxy is too far for an extraterrestrial civilization to travel is arrogance. To make such a statement assumes that the full range and properties of matter, time, space, speed, etc., is known. Think about it. How can any of us make a definite statement about what is too far to travel in the universe? Do we really know that much about time and space? Only centuries or less ago we were saying that the earth is flat and the sun revolves around the earth! Already now we have full knowledge and understanding of what is possible in this vast universe? Objects have been FILMED doing maneuvers that surpass our knowledge of physics and aerodynamics. I have seen such maneuvers first hand. Look and you can see too.
Skeptics assume they know it all, or in their pain or fear they must present such a face, or by whatever motivation they want to instill fear and doubt in others. It may be scary to not have the belief of knowing it all, to face the unknown fully, or to face something or some being greater in ability and knowledge than us. I understand. Yet it is a big step in growth to say that, there may be something in existence beyond my knowledge. There may be more than what I know. This planet just may not yet wield complete knowledge of the properties of space, time, and matter. There just may be a civilization in existence with knowledge of space and time that is beyond our own. I ascertain that, both individually and collectively, more exists than the whole of both our knowledge and understanding. Broader exists than the whole of our perspectives. Deeper exists than the whole of our wisdom. To say that interstellar travel is impossible is to assume to know all there is to know about interstellar travel or its possibility. I have seen no indication of such knowledge in any skeptic, and I can THINK OUTSIDE OF SUCH SMALL PARAMETERS AND POSSIBILITIES, as evidenced by the above. Remember the horse and buggy to plane analogy. The horse and buggy is only centuries behind us. What may be possible for a civilization a thousands years ahead of us???

Keep going!!

Again, this is not open to debate. I am finding that debate is futile, for our great intellects can intellectualize for or against anything ad infinitum. Why waste energy arguing and debating with skeptics. Henceforth I just ignore them or sidestep them and their comments, and use their skepticism as food to have more drive and determination to succeed in my growth and development.
This article is for the true seekers on this planet, who are seeking to understand and expand. Keep going. Don't stop. The skeptic in his or her persistent and cold negativity and frivolous questioning does present a potent request of attention. Yet from this moment forth there is no more need to spend time on frivolities with skeptics. From now on spend your time and energy developing, evolving. If skepticism assails you I suggest that you keep this article close by and read it to empower you. Then read and continue to read the works of those who are in the paint. Look into the works of Robert Monroe, Stuart Wilde, Mary Summer Rain, Samael Aun Weor, David Icke, Bob Frissell, Carlos Castaneda, Adrian Dvir, Riley Martin, Joseph McMoneagle, Paul Dong, Waldo Vieira, Jane Roberts, and others. The list goes on. Focus on how people ARE going out-of-body, teleporting, shifting dimensions, psychically functioning, shape shifting, seeing, filming, and even riding in alien craft, interacting with extraterrestrials, psychically healing self and others, and so many other things that there is much evidence for, and THAT ARE HAPPENING, THAT WE CAN DO, though the consensus of earth may not be ready to bear it yet.
We are the trailblazers. We are open to accepting that perhaps we DON'T have all the answers. Perhaps we never will. But how can we ever get to the answers while assuming that we already know them all? This in one way explains the closed-mindedness of skepticism. Skepticism has its place, or it wouldn't exist. But what place do we append to it. One I suggest is that analogous to a carrot dangling before a horse. Let not their skepticism slow you don't, or cause you to expend needless energy on pondering the frivolous. Instead let it strengthen you. Run harder. Let it propel you. Look at their skepticism from the outside, not internalizing it at all. And then let their skepticism cause you to look even more closely at the experiences and works of those in the DO, such as Robert Monroe, and Louis Ruiz. Then run even faster and stronger than ever before. Their skepticism is such fuel to me now.
Study the works of those in the DO. Robert Monroe's works, in particular his first book Journeys, is great for examples of empirical and confirmed out-of-body experiences. And there are several works out there with confirmed experiences. Look at Soul Traveler by Albert Taylor, who has had several OBEs with confirmation of people, places, things, and locations. I have had confirming OBEs. Bruce Moen has had many confirming OBEs. And then seek to experience and explore for yourself. SEEK TO CONFIRM FOR YOURSELF THESE THINGS. SEEK TO DEVELOP IN YOU THE ABILITY TO GO OUT-OF-BODY, TELEPORT, SELF-HEAL, BE TELEKINETIC, ETC. WE CAN DO IT. What you focus on you manifest. Focus on the best. Focus on the possibilities. And then fly free and manifest the infinite. When all of us can for instance get out of body and fly around and individually and collectively confirm OBE at will, what a world it will be. Focus on THAT. We can start that process now. Go forth and be. Go forth and fly free.

Cezyl
cezyl@cezyl.com
www.cezyl.com