Hi y'all - not for the first time, I agree with Taylor. Relaxation techniques are undoubtedly beneficial, but to take the leap of faith to dualism is unscientific and therefore unwarranted.
On Dec 13, 6:45 pm, Taylor <[email protected]> wrote: > I've read enough of the scientific investigation of meditation to > provisionally accept that there are some physiological benefits to the > practice. Whether the benefits demonstrated are the same as the ones > claimed in this article is a separate question and I'd have to review > the literature before I would accept that. Since the question isn't > that important to me, I will again provisionally accept that the > claims of the article are accurate. > > However, I will dismiss claims of "out-of-body experiences, past > lives, post death, pre birth experiences" because this stuff has been > explored by science and found to have no basis in fact. That's not > scientism, but plain ole science. I don't view this as a clash > between east and west, but a clash between those who don't wish to > have their claims validated and those who do. In this sense, eastern > mystics are very much like western mystics. > > I'm also skeptical of this whole idea of "enlightenment." It seems > ill-defined and thus hard to demonstrate when someone has achieved > it. It would not surprise me that it has some features in common with > such western spirtual gifts such as speaking in tongues, where people > adopt a behavior seemingly because it is expected of them. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Memphis Freethought Alliance" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/memphisfreethoughtalliance?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
