A CHRISTIAN CONFRONTS THE PARANORMAL INTRODUCTION: The world of the paranormal is curious, fascinating, and sometimes even frightening. Is it fact or fancy? Most of us, although we probably would not want to admit it, have been intrigued by paranormal claims (PNCs), and maybe even secretly believed that there must be something to some of them. The news- media focus on such events and leave the impression that science is baffled and mystery prevails. In this paper we will discuss principles which will aid us in our understanding of these seemingly inexplicable events, and show how that by applying these principles we may effectively deal with these claims. PART I: PRINCIPLES FOR DEALING WITH PARANORMAL CLAIMS Why bother with paranormal claims, anyway? Does belief in the paranormal really make any difference? As Christians, why should it matter to us? There are at least three reasons for "bothering" with the paranormal. First, for some people the paranormal challenges their faith. The paranormal seems to give proof that the Scriptures do not contain all of the answers. Second, there is an intense interest in PNCs today--probably now more than ever. In 1984 a Gallup poll of 506 teenage Americans revealed a noteworthy belief in the paranormal. They responded to the question: "`Which of the following do you believe in?': ...ESP, 59 percent; astrology, 55 percent; clairvoyance, 28 percent; Bigfoot, 24 percent; witchcraft, 22 percent; ghosts, 20 percent; Loch Ness monster, 18 percent" (Frazier, 1986, p x). This poll is quite old, but there does not appear to be any trend away from belief in the paranormal. Third, we are asked about these strange things. How will we respond? Think about your own experience; have you ever been asked to explain a paranormal claim? Are you pleased with your response? I know I have not been pleased with mine. The purpose of this paper is to provide a foundation for dealing with PNCs. There are at least seven principles to keep in mind. In the first place, exercise a biblical skepticism. First John 4:1 tells us: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world." Not everything is as it seems, and as Christians we need to be cautious that we do not accept PNCs uncritically. By "biblical skepticism" is meant that we not only withhold judgment until we examine the evidence, but that we do indeed examine the evidence. Paul said, "Test all things; hold fast to what is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:22). In the second place, evaluate all phenomena with biblical criteria. It is never a waste of time to consult the Scriptures first. Whatever God may have said on a matter is eminently more important that what we may think about it. While only a few PNCs will be answered in this way, it is still appropriate to begin with the Scriptures. In the third place, be honest and open-minded. Of course, for Christians honesty goes without saying. However, are we being intellectually honest if we approach all PNCs with a closed mind? While it is true that we should not be open to error, we need to be open to the truth. Surely none of us has all the truth on every matter. Although it seems highly unlikely that very many things categorized as paranormal will ever be validated by science, some already have been found to be actually possible and explainable from science. If we expect people to give us a fair hearing we should grant them the same courtesy. In the fourth place, require proof. If the claim is unexaminable, then we have no choice but to dismiss it or withhold judgment until the evidence is forth-coming. When John preached repentance and baptism to the Pharisees, he required them to, "bear fruits worthy of repentance" (Matthew 3:8). Logically, the burden of proof rests upon those who claim the unusual. God never asks us to believe a thing without sufficient evidence--neither should those making PNCs. Second-hand information and hear-say should never be accepted as proof. Think of all the times you have found that the most popular piece of gossip in town turned out to be all wrong. Even things credited to trustworthy people often turn out to be totally fallacious. In the fifth place, demand appropriate evidence. Remember that "extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence" (Lett, 1990, p 159). If someone claims that a tornado touched down in Montgomery, Alabama no one would be surprised. Testimony alone would be sufficient. Tornadoes frequently occur here. But, if someone were to claim that a spaceship from Venus landed in his backyard, you should expect proof. His word would not be good enough. Saying a thing is true does not make it so. The evidence needs to be sufficient to the nature of the claim. If one claims that he can levitate (float in the air), a photograph would not be sufficient to support his claim (yet this is often the type of proof given). Such a feat is too easily faked. As would be a tape recording of "ghost noises." Ignore the number of believers. Such numbers are irrelevant; millions of people may believe an erroneous claim--this happens all of the time. Further, do not be overly impressed with credentials. A man with a Ph.D. in philosophy is no more qualified to give expert testimony in behalf of PNCs than is a high school drop-out. Too many things are accepted uncritically because of an inappropriate emphasis upon credentials. In the sixth place, expect repeatability. Claims of unique events are difficult to take seriously since there is no way to test them. Without repeatability, how can we know the PNC was not a trick or a coincidence, or whether the claimant made an error of perception? Coincidences are by their nature surprising and difficult to explain. Just the other day I repeated the phrase "hold on, hold on" to my cat as we were pulling out of a drive way. Directly, I turned on the radio only to find a singer repeating the words "hold on, hold on....." Was it ESP? Likely I would fail the rule of repeatability. Repeatability is essential in true science. This is how the recent claim that cold fusion had been achieved was refuted. Repeatability means that the phenomenon may be witnessed by independent observers who follow the same procedure under the same conditions. Again, without repeatability you are being asked to believe a claim based on biased testimony alone. This is often an unrealistic expectation. In the seventh place, look for the simplest and most natural explanation first. If one finds a wet spot on his kitchen floor it is more reasonable to assume that someone had earlier dropped an ice cube which has since melted, or that someone spilled a little water while in the room, than to postulate that demonic forces from Pluto made a secret landing in your attic and upon inspecting your house secreted a mysterious substance (which only looks like water) upon your kitchen floor. This is known as the principle of parsimony. The simplest explanation is best. Experience and science have shown that in the final analysis, the simplest answers are usually correct. Most of us operate according to this rule every day. Imagine the adventures we would have if we did not (e.g., "is this green substance toothpaste or alien strength-enhancer?")! A word of clarification is in order at this point. The actual miracles of biblical times would not have been amenable to all of these principles. For example, it seems that Jesus walked upon the water only once--but this lack of repeatability does not throw the event into suspicion since the testimony is trustworthy. A skeptic in the first century might have attempted to discredit genuine miracle-workers by searching for a natural explanation. However, true miracles were of such a nature that such an explanation would not be available. Therefore, the principle of parsimony, if applied, would have confirmed the truth of the miracle, rather than deny it. True miracles, have stood the tests of authenticity and time. The biblical writers' reliability as credible witnesses is unimpeachable, and the inspiration of the Scriptures remains intact. PART II: APPLYING THESE PRINCIPLES TO SPECIFIC CLAIMS Firewalking Have you heard about the firewalkers of Fiji who are supernaturally immune to the effects of heat? I have lived in the Fiji Island.... I have watched-- and photographed--Indian firewalkers in Fiji as they danced in procession mile after mile, chanting to their deity who would empower them to dance up and down, up and down, up and down, on those white-hot coals. They had prepared for weeks, and now the time had come. I stood near the great coal pit and had to shield my eyes from the heat. I watched the frenzy of young men, some of whom I knew as quiet employees of the Fiji Government, now transformed into superhuman beings who engaged in nonhuman activities, fearing neither heat nor pain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . One man, who was not a priest, raced up and down the coal bed without being hurt. Another tried it, and his feet were shockingly burned...I had no "natural" explanation that really satisfied me: the answer was apparently linked to the realm of spiritual realities, of vindictive beings who would show their power in one case and spitefully withhold that power as they gleefully caused pain to another would-be-devotee" (Wilson & Weldon, 1980, pp 2,3). Firewalking is an interesting example of PNCs. The ability to walk bare-footed on hot coals is attributed to different things by different individuals. For example, whereas Mr. Weldon blamed the spirit realm (demonic spirits) for this power, others give the credit to deities, and still others claim that such powers are proof of mind over matter. Which is it? Who is responsible, the Devil, God, or the individual firewalker? The Bible is silent on this subject. So we then ask for evidence. For this we may travel to Fiji where the ritual is carried out. Upon our arrival we ask that the feat be repeated. Sure enough, it can be demonstrated. After witnessing it a few times (with the same results), we conclude that it is a genuine phenomenon. Now, what is the cause? The first step is to look for a natural explanation which explains why the firewalkers do not get burned. It just so happens that there is such an explanation: In reality, it is the basic laws of physics that prevent people's feet from getting burned while firewalking.... two well-known physical principles account for the rarity of burned feet. First there is the Leidenfrost effect. This is the effect seen when a drop of water darts about on a hot skillet. Between the skillet and the drop is a layer of steam that insulates the drop from the full heat of the skillet and prevents it from boiling away almost at once. In the firewalking situation, the soles of the feet are often damp, either from sweat caused by nervousness or from dew on the grass surrounding the bed of coals. In many...demonstrations of mass firewalking, the grass is hosed down around the bed of coals. The water on the soles provides a layer of steam that helps to insulate the foot from the full heat of the coals. But the Leidenfrost effect is not sufficient to explain the lack of burning. The material upon which one walks is a very important factor.... Coals are hot (up to 1,200 degrees) but they have low heat capacity and thermal conductivity. Thus, if one walks fairly rapidly over them, no burns will occur. Of course, if one lingers burns can and do occur. Leiking and McCarthy (1985-86) also note that firewalking as practiced by other cultures involves walking on material (coals or porous stones) that is low in both heat capacity and thermal conductance (Hines, 1988, pp 293,294). Now, since the phenomenon has a simple, natural explanation we are justified in concluding that an appeal to the paranormal is unwarranted. The firewalkers themselves may be deceived into believing there is a supernatural cause, but the plain truth is that there is nothing magical or superhuman about the feat. Spontaneous Human Combustion Have you heard about the woman who mysteriously burst into flames? At 8 a.m. Mrs. Carpenter was interrupted...by a telegraph boy with a telegram for her tenant, Mrs. Mary Reeser. There was something very strange about Mrs. Reeser's apartment. As Mrs. Carpenter reached the door a wave of heat struck her in the face and the doorknob was too hot to handle. She screamed for help. With the assistance of two workmen, she entered the apartment. At first it seemed that Mrs. Reeser was not there. The superheated air hung thick and heavy, with nothing to account for it; no cooker or heater was on, but curiously there was a small flame dancing over the partition between the gallery kitchen and the living area. Mrs. Reeser's bed had not been slept in so they assumed that she had left the flat the night before. But when the authorities were called in to deal with the effects of the heat--presumed fire--they discovered that Mrs. Reeser, or rather what was left of her, was still in the apartment. As the official report read: Within a blackened circle about four feet in diameter were a number of coiled seat springs and the remains of a human body. Within the remains consisted a charred liver attached to a piece of backbone a skull shrunk to the size of a baseball, a foot encased in a black satin slipper but burned down to just above the ankle, and a small pile of blackened ashes. The "overstuffed easy chair" in which she had been sitting when overcome by this terrifying and inexplicable doom, had been burned down to its springs, but apart from that one small flame on the joist there was no other evidence of fire in the apartment.... She had died from spontaneous human combustion (SHC)" (Pickett, 1987, pp 88-90). Although spontaneous human combustion (SHC) may seem to us like a "way-out" PNC, it is actually one of the favorite examples of the paranormal. Each case is usually told in mysterious terms with the writer pointing out how impossible it is to assign any but a paranormal reason for its occurrence. Beginning with the Bible, we find that it reveals nothing of this phenomenon. Repeatability is also an impractical test to apply (who would volunteer?). So, where is the proof that we should believe such claims? In this case we must rely on investigative records and testimony of those who were present at the scene for "evidence." The Reeser case, which has been called the best documented modern case of SHC, is really quite typical of this PNC. Joe Nickell and John F. Fischer investigated thirty cases of SHC over a period of two years; their special focus was upon the Reeser case. Their study revealed a few interesting facts. First, they found that several of the victims of this phenomenon were heavy drinkers, and many were likely drunk at the time of their deaths. This fact has led some to postulate that the victims' bodies were so saturated with alcohol that they were extremely flammable. However, research showed that before a person's flammability is affected, he would first die of alcohol poisoning. That the victims were drinkers and probably drunk at the time of death is significant because a drunk person is less careful with fire. Second, the material upon which the victim was seated determined the extent of the bodily damage. In the instances where the body was only slightly burned, only the victim's clothes were available for fuel. However, if the victim was seated in an over-stuffed chair, their bodies were often almost completely consumed. Apparently, as the body fat melted, it was absorbed by the chair stuffing; this would then act like a candle and continue to burn until all of the fuel was used up. Third, various reports of the phenomenon often failed to mention essential data, thereby enhancing the "mystery." But when the reports are brought together, they supplement each other and much of the mystery dissipates. This was especially true with the Reeser case (this information from Nickell, 1988, p 155). Taken together, the reports revealed these pertinent facts: (1) Mrs. Reeser was wearing a flammable nightdress and housecoat; (2) she was seated in an overstuffed chair; (3) she was smoking a cigarette; (4) she had earlier "told her son, a physician, that she had taken two sleeping pills and intended to take two more before retiring;" and, (5) Mrs. Reeser had a stiff leg which she held rigid when seated (this could explain why her foot was not burned like the rest of her body). The strangest element in the Reeser case is the alleged "shrunken skull." This is thought to be paranormal because in a fire the human skull is usually completely consumed. Regarding this oddity, Nickell exclaims: The self-described "bone-detective" who is often quoted on the subject merely referred to second-hand news accounts and thus spoke of "a roundish object identified as the head." Actually, a forensic anthropologist theorized at our request, Mrs. Reeser's skull probably burst in the fire and was destroyed, and the "roundish object" could have been merely "a globular lump that can result from the musculature of the neck where it attaches to the base of the skull" (p 156). In conclusion, there seems to be no reason to appeal to a paranormal explanation for Mrs. Reeser's death. Nor does there appear to be any reason to believe that SHC is a legitimate phenomenon. When the evidence in each case is examined, natural explanations for these so-called mysterious deaths are available. Out of Body Experiences Maybe you have heard about the woman who died and lived to tell about it: ...I was admitted to the hospital with heart trouble, and the next morning I was lying in the hospital bed, I began to have a very severe pain in my chest. I pushed the button beside the bed to call for the nurses, and they came and started working on me...I quit breathing and my heart stopped beating. Just then I heard the nurses shout, `Code pink! Code pink!' As they were saying this I feel myself moving out of my body...then I started rising upward, slowly. On my way up, I saw more nurses come running into the room...I drifted up past the light fixture--I saw it from the side and very distinctly--and then I stopped, floating right below the ceiling, looking down. I felt almost as though I were a piece of paper that someone had blown up to the ceiling. I watched them reviving me from up there! My body was lying down there stretched out on the bed...I heard one nurse say, `...She's gone!', while another nurse leaned down to give me mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. I was looking at the back of her head while she did this. I'll never forget the way her hair looked.... Just then, I saw them roll this machine in...and they put the shocks on my chest. When they did, I saw my whole body just jump right off the bed, and I heard every bone in my body crack and pop. It was the most awful thing! (Moody, 1975, pp 35,36). Out of body experiences (also called near death experiences) are common PNCs. Dr. Raymond A. Moody's 1975 book, Life After Life, is likely the major factor responsible for the phenomenon's current popularity. Since the release of this book, cases of out of body experiences (OBEs) have been widely circulated and have gained much publicity among the masses through other books, articles, movies and television shows on the subject. This avalanche of fanfare has caused many Christians to wonder if there is anything to this PNC. A little fuller background of the "experience" is useful. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross' examination of Dr. Moody's 50 cases of OBEs revealed: All of these patients have experienced a floating out of their physical bodies, associated with a great sense of peace and wholeness. Most were aware of another person who helped them in their transition to another plane of existence. Most were greeted by loved ones who had died before them, or by a religious figure who was significant in their life and who coincided, naturally, with their own religious beliefs (Moody, 1975, p xi). Other elements also include the following components: hearing a buzzing or ringing noise, feeling as though one is traveling rapidly through a dark tunnel, seeing one's body from the outside, seeing a bright light, seeing cities of lights and intense colors, witnessing an "instant replay" of his life, reaching a point beyond which he cannot go, and finally, reuniting with his body only to find that he earlier had been pronounced dead (Moody, pp 21-107). The first step we should take in dealing with such claims is to find out what the Bible might say relative to it. The Bible teaches that one's fate is sealed at death (Hebrews 9:27; 2 Corinthians 5:10). The people interviewed by Dr. Moody were from various religious backgrounds; yet, regardless of their backgrounds, they reported similar experiences. But how could a person of non-Christian beliefs die and temporarily enter a pleasant after-life realm? Such a notion is absurd. From the biblical perspective, if a person who lives in rebellion to the will of God dies, returns to life, and reports an OBE that is pleasant, then we may know immediately that he is mistaken. The rich man described by Jesus in Luke 16 was in no way enjoying a pleasant after-life experience. Further, there is not one single inspired account of an after-life experience recorded in God's Word. This is significant when one remembers that no fewer than nine people were raised from the dead in biblical times. Paul's discussion in 2 Corinthians 12 provides the only hint of an OBE in Holy Writ; and Paul was strictly forbidden to relate the things that he had seen. Notice the force of this prohibition: "...he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for man to utter" (2 Corinthians 12:4). If the inspired apostle was not allowed to relay the information gained from such an experience, why should we believe that others of even non-Christian backgrounds have been so permitted? Not only does this phenomenon fail to agree with biblical teachings, but two common natural phenomena are very similar to the OBE phenomenon as well: dreams, and hallucinations (drug induced or otherwise). How many of us experience dreams that defy logical explanation? No doubt all of us would reply in the affirmative. As a child, I once dreamed that I rose to the ceiling and saw my body below. I passed through the roof and heard voices below discussing my recent demise. I then saw myself enclosed in a white casket surrounded by friends and family who were mourning my death. I finally awoke with a feeling of bewilderment, knowing that I was still alive, and yet certain that I had experienced the events in the dream. Was this an OBE? If so, why does it not match reality? The characters in that dream are long lost in the past--including some who have since passed away. This was obviously the product of the very active imagination of a little boy--and nothing else. If OBEs look and sound like dreams, then may we not be excused for suggesting that they may be dreams? Scientists have also done research on the effects of hallucinogenic drugs upon the human mind. The results from such studies show that there exists amazing affinity between OBEs and LSD trips. Ronald K. Siegel meticulously compared the accounts of drug experiences and cases of OBEs and reported parallels in every major particular (such as the tunnel experience, the bright lights and colors, the sensation of leaving the body, the review of life memories, etc.) (1981, pp 159-184). This congruence suggests a very important factor that must be considered: if drugs can produce the same effect on the mind as experienced in OBEs, then it must be admitted that the mind is capable of manufacturing such images. Siegel has also shown that the brain produces hallucinations even in the absence of drugs when triggered by such natural stimuli as "fever, exhausting diseases, certain injuries and accidents, as well as by emotional and physiological processes involved in dying" (p 184). This being true, the question arises as to why one must turn to a paranormal solution when a natural one is so readily available. An additional pertinent criticism of the OBE reports is offered by Dr. Franklin Payne: People who report these experiences were not dead.... Although the moment of passage from life to death may not always be clear, no one confuses their inseparability as states. Those people who have near- death experiences did not truly die. It is dangerously deceptive to apply the physiological changes which constitute the process, to the final state (1985, p 184). While it is true that in many cases these people were pronounced dead, this is not to say that they were actually dead. The brief absence of one's vital statistics may lead a doctor to prematurely declare that death has occurred, but this is a far cry from the incontestable cessation of life called death. The Bible clearly teaches that the spirit (soul) of man remains with the body until death (cf. Genesis 35:18; 25:8; John 19:30; James 2:26). Thus, those reporting OBEs were neither scientifically nor biblically dead. Therefore, we may conclude that not only do the PNCs of OBEs directly contradict the Bible, but a more logical explanation for this strange phenomenon lies in the areas of dreams and hallucinations. Likely, it will be very difficult to convince a person that an alleged OBE was all in his head, but the refusal to acknowledge a rational conclusion in no way negates the facts. The burden of proof is upon him to justify his appeal to the paranormal. Demon Possession Have you heard about the psychologist who became a believer in demon possession? In Newport Beach, California, I encountered a case of demonic possession in which five persons, including myself, were involved. In this case the girl, who was about 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighed 120 pounds, attacked a 180-pound man and with one arm flipped him 5 or 6 feet away. It took four of us, including her husband, to hold her body to a bed while we prayed in the name of Jesus Christ for the exorcism of the demons within her. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I have a psychologist friend who was present with me at an exorcism in Newport Beach, California. Before we entered the room he said, "I want you to know that I do not believe in demonic possession. The girl is mentally disturbed." I said, "That may well be. We'll find out very soon." As we went into the room and closed the door, the girl's supernatural strength was soon revealed. Suddenly from her body a totally foreign voice said quietly, with a smirk on the face (she was unconscious--the psychologist testified to that), "We will outlast you." The psychologist looked at me and said, "What was that?" "That is what you don't believe in," I said. We spent about 3 1/2 hours exorcising what the psychologist didn't believe in! At the end of the exorcism he was not only a devout believer in the personality of the devil, but in demonic possession and biblical exorcism as well. He know knows that there are other-dimensional beings capable of penetrating this dimension and of controlling human beings! (Martin, Walter, Exorcism: Fact or Fable, pp 17-21, quoted in McDowell, 1983, p 179). The question of demon possession is perennial. Clearly, it is treated as a genuine phenomenon in the New Testament. Jesus cast out demons, He empowered the disciples to do so, He granted the power to the seventy as they embarked upon the limited commission, and the ability to cast out demons was obviously one of the spiritual gifts (see Matthew 4:24; Matthew 10:1; Luke 10:17; Mark 16:17). Those who assert that demon possession was a superstition which Jesus did not bother to refute, have greatly erred. Jesus was not in the business of reinforcing superstitions, and the New Testament authors report the phenomenon in a way that leaves no doubt as to its reality. Granting that the Bible has much to say concerning this topic forces us to evaluate modern-day claims according to the biblical criteria. There are three facts about demon possession which one may know from the Scriptures. First, it was a New Testament phenomenon. There is not a hint of demon possession in the Old Testament. Many are quick to mention Saul's evil spirit (1 Samuel 16:14) as an example of demon possession in the Old Testament. There are at least three problems with this assertion. (1) The Bible says it was an "evil spirit" not a demon which troubled Saul. (2) Can anyone imagine God sending a demon to possess a man? But the Bible says: "...the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the Lord troubled him" (1 Samuel 16:14--NKJV). (3) Unlike the obvious cases of demon possession in the New Testament, Saul's spirit was affected by music: "And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him" (1 Samuel 16:23). Again, demon possession was limited to the New Testament era. Second, demon possession (and the miraculous ability to cast them out) served the function of confirmation (see John 20:30,31; Mark 16:20). The identity of Jesus Christ and the divine origin of the Gospel message were facts which miraculous feats confirmed. Now that this information has been deposited in the perfect Word of God, the need for such miraculous signs has passed. This was foretold in 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 (miracles = that which was "in part;" "perfect" = written Word). Miraculous gifts were given directly only to the apostles and Cornelius' household. Apart from these two exceptions, miraculous power was received by the laying on of the apostles' hands (Acts 8:18). Since all of Christ's apostles have been long dead, no living person has the ability to cast out demons. Without this ability, it stands to reason that the phenomenon of demon possession is also lacking. Otherwise Satan would have an unfair advantage over Christ. Third, in the Bible, demons were cast out almost instantaneously (see Mark 5:2-19). Today, elaborate rituals are often conducted to bring about an alleged exorcism. This contrast should raise a red flag in the mind of one who examines this PNC. The Bible is our standard. If a biblical phenomenon is being claimed today, it is logical to expect it to conform to the biblical pattern. Modern-day demon possession and exorcism do not conform at all. Since, from Scriptural considerations, we are able to rule out the actual existence of demon possession, what answer can we give to this PNC? The simplest and most natural explanation is that the people who are thus afflicted have a mental disorder. Wayne Jackson put it in these words: Current cases which are associated with demon possession are doubtless the results of psychosomatic problems, hysteria, self-induced hypnosis, deception, delusion, and the like. They have natural, though perhaps not always understood, causes (1984, p 7). Extrasensory Perception Have you heard how ESP saved a woman's life? The incident occurred during an air raid [of World War II], when Dr. [Ruth-Inge] Heinze often had to scurry to bomb shelters during the Allied raids over Germany. During one raid, however, the bombing got so intense that she couldn't make it to a shelter. She sought safety in the entrance to a public building instead. "Shrapnel fragments from the aircraft cannon fell like rain everywhere," she later explained. "Hundreds of guns, big and small, kept shooting at the multitudes of planes. The entrance niche barely offered any cover. Suddenly, however, I felt compelled to go out on the street and run to the next house, approximately one hundred yards away. It was a miracle that I was not hit by any of the shrapnel pieces, which were falling all around me. The moment I reached the next building, the first house where I had been standing was hit by a bomb and completely demolished. I had somehow sensed the course of the oncoming bomb." Today, Heinze simply scoffs when skeptics try to tell her that ESP doesn't exist (Berlitz, 1988, p 129). Extrasensory perception (ESP) is the broad name which includes three related paranormal claims: precognition, clairvoyance, and telepathy. "Precognition" is the claim that one can see or sense something before it happens (as per the example). "Clairvoyance" is the claim that one can obtain information which is not obtainable through the five senses. Mindreading falls into this category. "Telepathy" refers to the ability of transmitting mental information from one person to another without using any of the five senses. In biblical times God granted some individuals with the ability to foretell future events. This was part of the prophetic office. However, this was not ESP since God was the source of the information. Since the error rate of modern-day prophets exceeds the biblical limit (one is too many), we know that God is not the source of their information (Deuteronomy 18:22). In fact, if their failures were publicized as widely as their "successes" all clear-thinking individuals would immediately dismiss the claims of ESP. Paul seems to invalidate ESP when he says: "For what man knows the things of man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God" (1 Corinthians 2:11). Paul's argument was that man only knows God's plan in as much as that plan is revealed--in the same way that you know what I am thinking only when I tell you. Men have been testing this PNC for several decades. Three problems are common in such research. First, the tests which produced results favoring ESP usually have several weaknesses which critics say invalidate the results. Second, when a satisfactory test is conducted, the results are seldom better than what would be expected by the laws of chance. Those who believe in the paranormal complain that the tests were inappropriate or unfair. Third, there has been an extremely high occurrence of fraud in psychic research. If for no other reason, we have every right to be skeptical. [Note: An excellent volume on this study is: A Skeptic's Handbook of Parapsychology, edited by Paul Kurtz (Prometheus Books, 1985).] Consider the claim that Dr. Heinze was saved by ESP. There is no way to test the validity of her claim. In the first place, notice that she was not in a bomb shelter. If bombs are dropping all around, you are likely to get very worried that the building you are in will be hit. Is that ESP? No, it is just common sense. Second, if she had run away and the building had not been hit, she would likely have forgotten the "premonition" which caused her to leave. Third, as anyone who has been in a perilous situation can attest, if you think very long about your plight, you are very likely to second-guess your every move. An elderly gentleman has related to me the terror one feels when standing in a fox-hole with bombs dropping all around. He said after a while every bomb looks like it is coming right for you! How many men under those conditions have felt very strongly that they needed to move? If they did, would such be proof of ESP? While Dr. Heinze may remain convinced that this coincidence is proof of ESP, her claim is hardly the kind of evidence needed to establish a case for the truth of ESP. Consider another claim of ESP: Psychic Alex Tanous was being interviewed by Lee Speigel for NBC radio's `Unexplained Phenomena" show. ...Speigel asked for a prediction that would be of special interest to the station's listening audience, eighteen to thirty-four-year-old rock enthusiasts. `The prediction that I will make,' Tanous said, `is that a very famous rock star will have an untimely death and this can happen from this moment on. I say untimely death because there is something strange about this death, but it will affect the consciousness of many people because of his fame' (Berlitz, 1988, p 132). This prediction was aired September 8, 1980 and John Lennon was shot to death in December 1980. Was the prediction ESP or coincidence? Consider these facts. First, the parameters for the prediction were set (i.e., something of interest to rock enthusiasts). Second, the prediction was vague (anyone, anytime, dying an "untimely death"). Since most rock musicians are young, any death among them would be considered untimely. Also, the death of any working artist would be "untimely" to fans who wished for more of the artist's work. Third, any person with even minimal success in the music business would have qualified, since "very famous" is undefined. Fourth, tragic deaths among rock musicians are very common. Their travel schedules make them susceptible to transportation accidents, and they occasionally die of drug and alcohol abuse. All these facts point to one conclusion: the "prediction" could not fail! This case is typical of the many PNCs that are made all of the time. On the surface they shine brightly; upon examination they lose their luster. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, it has been the intention of this paper to suggest that while the answer to every PNC may not be immediately obvious, honest evaluation usually reveals the emptiness of such claims. Paranormal claims need not be a hindrance to faith. God has "given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue" (2 Peter 1:3). We have all the information we need to combat attacks on our faith. If we will calmly and honestly examine the evidence for PNCs we will see time and again that reason and revelation will prevail over superstition and mystery. REFERENCES Berlitz, Charles (1988), Charles Berlitz's World of Strange Phenomena (New York, NY: Fawcett Crest). Frazier, Kendrick (1986), Science Confronts the Paranormal (Buffalo, NY: Prometheus). Hines, Terrence (1988), Pseudoscience and the Paranormal: A Critical Examination of the Evidence (Buffalo, NY: Prometheus). Jackson, Wayne (1984), "Demons--What Do You Know About Them?," Christian Courier, 20:5-7. Lett, James (1990), "A Field Guide to Critical Thinking," Skeptical Inquirer, 14:2. McDowell, Josh and Don Stewart (1983), Handbook of Today's Religions (San Bernadino, CA: Here's Life Publishers, Inc.). Moody, Raymond (1975), Life After Life (New York, NY: Bantam Books). Nickell, Joe with John F. Fischer (1988), Secrets of the Supernatural: Investigating the World's Occult Mysteries (Buffalo, NY: Prometheus). Payne, Franklin E. (1985), Biblical/Medical Ethics (Milford, MI: Mott Media). Pickett, Lynn (1987), Flights of Fancy?: 100 Years of Paranormal Experiences (New York, NY: Ballantine). Siegel, Ronald K. (1981), "Life After Death" In: Science and the Paranormal Edited by George O. Abell and Barry Singer, (New York, NY: Scribners). Wilson, Clifford and John Weldon (1980), Occult Shock and Psychic Forces (San Diego, CA: Master Books). RECOMMENDED READING Besides the books listed above, I recommend the following resources: Conley, Darrell (1975), The Gospel Versus Occultism (Shreveport, LA: Lambert). This is an excellent little book (61 pages) by a man who has impressive credentials as a magician and Gospel preacher. Availability unknown. Randi, James (1982), Flim-Flam!: Psychics, ESP, Unicorns, and Other Delusions (Buffalo, NY: Prometheus). This book is written by "The Amazing Randi," popular magician and debunker of PNCs. Randi carefully and effectively explodes the claims of psychics and demonstrates that the paranormal is an unreasonable option. Harris, Melvin (1986), Investigating the Unexplained (Buffalo, NY: Prometheus). Like the books by Nickell, Hines, and Singer mentioned above, this volume gives the results of careful investigations into popular PNCs. Skeptical Inquirer. This is the quarterly journal of the "Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal." This is an excellent resource for those looking for rational answers to PNCs. The subscription price is $22.50 per year. A word of caution is in order with this magazine as well as many of the materials mentioned above. Since the authors are atheists and skeptics, they are critical of the Scriptures and biblical teachings (notably Creation and miracles). If one recognizes the philosophy of the writers, he should be able to avoid the bad and benefit from the good material in these works. This file may be copied, but is distributed on the understanding that it will not be modified or edited, and will not be used for commercial purposes. Further, it may not be copied without due reference to the original publication source, author, year, and name and address of the publisher. Apologetics Press 230 Landmark Drive Montgomery, AL 36117-2752 Downloaded from: The Christian Connection of Palm Beach 300/1200/2400 bps 407/533/5216