Are miracles “violations” of the laws of nature? Are demons and ghosts more than just a relic of ancient mythology? Is there any truth behind modern-day exorcism? Do some people possess prophetic abilities? Are near-death experiences a true glimpse of the afterlife? Can the worldview of the ancient texts of Scripture help us interpret these supernatural phenomena?
These are the kinds of questions that Matt McGuire tackles in his work in general and in his book in particular. In this conversation we run the gambit from ghosts to “zener cards” (check out the YouTube video for that), and a variety of stops along the way.
There were so many things I wanted to talk about (including John Wesley’s apparent use of “casting lots”), but time flies when you’re talking about this stuff. In the show’s intro I mention this recent Joe Rogan podcast, which we also do not talk about, but is a great example of how hungry people are for the esoteric. Do you have any examples of paranormal experiences that may or may not “fit well” with your own understandings of how stuff works?
Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
05:15 - Education & Career Path
07:40 - Exploring the Supernatural
10:48 - Parapsychology and Personal Journey
13:38 - The Rhine Research Center
16:28 - Scientific Methods in Parapsychology
19:11 - Understanding Zener Cards
21:35 - Skepticism and Acceptance
24:50 - ESP and Spirituality
27:41 - Theories on Innate Abilities
31:16 - Exploring Miraculous Abilities Across Cultures
32:54 - The Importance of Meditative Practices in Spirituality
36:58 - Understanding Parapsychology and Christian Spiritual Gifts
42:27 - The Nature of Christian Prophecy and Spiritual Gifts
45:47 - The Biblical Perspective on Seeking Spiritual Gifts
51:50 - Experiences at Charismatic Conferences and Healing
58:18 - The Role of Worship in Altered States of Consciousness
1:01:36 - Navigating Supernatural Experiences in Christianity
Keywords:
parapsychology, psychic phenomena, altered states, consciousness, collective effervescence, ESP, psychokinesis, religious rituals, trance states, sensory deprivation
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