Article  The rise and fall of parapsychology

https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/...sychology/

EXCERPT: More than 130 years after the term parapsychology was coined, there is no proof of the existence of parapsychological phenomena. Compare this to the progress of biology, physics, chemistry, and other sciences.

Therefore, today, we do not know what psi is, if it is anything at all. Is it some kind of energy? If so, what kind of energy is it? Nobody knows. No scientific instrument has ever detected such “energy.”

Other experiences, such as near-death experiences, out-of-body experiences, dowsing, etc., have been associated with psi phenomena. The first two have explanations provided by neuroscience. The last one persists in the inconsistency of its results, as parapsychological experiments do.

In short, parapsychological research has fallen into decline from what once promised to be a cutting-edge science. And yet, a few researchers, increasingly fewer in number, insist on holding onto the hope of obtaining some proof that psi phenomena are a reality... (MORE - missing details)

Some people will never let go of their pseudo-religious beliefs.

I'm always amused how the skeptics begin by making the absolute truth claim that there's no proof for such and such:

Quote:More than 130 years after the term parapsychology was coined, there is no proof of the existence of parapsychological phenomena.

I personally haven't been following the progress of scientific research into parapsychology over the past 25 years. My general conclusion there is that it's not going to be very decisive or conclusive for the reason that paranormal phenomenon does not happen on cue and is hardly ever repeatable. As mentioned in the article, J. B.Rhine's experiments pretty much demonstrated that.

OTOH, my certainty of the reality of such is so strong now due to the explosion of field research into the phenomena since the 2000's that it cannot be denied except with some dogmatic loyalty to the modern skeptical movement. The internet itself, as well as television documentaries, is a rich source of investigations into the paranormal, providing thousands of stunning examples of filmed paranormal phenomena happening all over the planet. As far as esp or telepathy goes, that remains largely a matter of overwhelming anecdotal though first-hand accounts which are also now easily accessible online.

In my own personal life the phenomenon of synchronicity is so persistent though unpredictable that I know for a fact it is happening as well to many others, demonstrating some sort of timeless property of the human mind. So again, another crybaby screed from club skeptic, from a bunch of out-of-touch old codgers recycling sophomoric arguments trying to boost subscriptions to their failing magazines and websites. Meh..If there's no evidence for it, why are they still in the business of so valiantly fighting it?

(Mar 19, 2026 06:35 PM)Magical Realist Wrote: [...] I personally haven't been following the progress of scientific research into parapsychology over the past 25 years. My general conclusion there is that it's not going to be very decisive or conclusive for the reason that paranormal phenomenon does not happen on cue and is hardly ever repeatable. [...]

Doomed from the outset, since a science discipline entails construing its area of study as conforming to principles (predictable) and events that can be replicated. Which would be just the opposite of genuine anomalies and miracles (glitches in the Matrix).

Some of these, though (if real) would be amenable to probability/coincidence and pareidolia rather than disruption of natural ordination (albeit still unreliable as to when they occur): https://www.thescroller.net/15601/25-eer...efy-logic/

(Mar 19, 2026 06:35 PM)Magical Realist Wrote: The internet itself, as well as television documentaries, is a rich source of investigations into the paranormal...

Then it must be true. The internet and TV said so.

9_9

(Mar 19, 2026 07:40 PM)Syne Wrote:

(Mar 19, 2026 06:35 PM)Magical Realist Wrote: The internet itself, as well as television documentaries, is a rich source of investigations into the paranormal...

Then it must be true. The internet and TV said so.

9_9

You never watched documentaries before? Do you really think they are faked?

Documentaries are entertainment.. and often biased. Some are more fiction, some are more fact. Assuming all are the latter is foolish.

Quote:Some are more fiction, some are more fact. Assuming all are the latter is foolish.

So the dictionary is foolish?

"documentary

/dɑkjuˈmɛnɾəri/
/dɒkjəˈmɛntəri/

Other forms: documentaries; documentarily

A documentary is a film or video examining an event or person based on facts."

https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/do...0documents.

"documentary: noun
a movie or a television or radio program that provides a factual record or report."

So you're lying again. There is no such thing as a fictional documentary. When they are satirical and fictional they are called mockumentaries.

(Mar 20, 2026 12:05 AM)Magical Realist Wrote:

Quote:Some are more fiction, some are more fact. Assuming all are the latter is foolish.

So the dictionary is foolish?

"documentary

/dɑkjuˈmɛnɾəri/
/dɒkjəˈmɛntəri/

Other forms: documentaries; documentarily

A documentary is a film or video examining an event or person based on facts."

https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/do...0documents.

"documentary: noun
a movie or a television or radio program that provides a factual record or report."

So you're lying again. There is no such thing as a fictional documentary. When they are satirical and fictional they are called mockumentaries.

No, you're still just that gullible. I didn't say "fictional," I said "more fiction." Learn to read.

Quote:No, you're still just that gullible. I didn't say "fictional," I said "more fiction." Learn to read.

Learn to quit lying. There is no "more fiction" in documentaries. It's all based on facts (eg non-fiction). You're done.