Atheists say that there is no such thing as the supernatural. If that's true, how do you explain how physic powers have been shown in scientific experiments?
Take this one experiment where there were two people in two seperate rooms that were completely isolated. There was a computer in each room. The computers would show one of three possible images randomly at one time.
Person B would have to guess if the image shown on HIS computer was the SAME image as the computer shown on person A. He answered by saying Yes or No.
Then they would switch and have Person A do the guessing.
Guess what happened? The people were correct FIFTY percent of the time which is not suprising since the only answers were Yes and No.
But guess what? WHEN Computer A had the SAME random image as Computer B, then each person guessed correctly 70 PERCENT of the time.
This experiment was repeated 1,000 times exactly.
77 percent accuracy. How do you explain that?
2007-10-05 18:49:41 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Your questions are always so much fun...
One. I have never heard of this experiment, and it doesn't sound like a very credible one. I would have to witness it firsthand or at least be given a detailed description from several unbiased sources to take it seriously. That's the difference between we, the non-religious, and you, the religious. We don't hear a vague description given by someone who only briefly heard about something, listen to the parts we like, and go, "Well, now we have proof!"
Two. (Or maybe one, continued...) The account you gave is impossibly hard to follow. What people were correct 50% of the time? Was this experiment performed on alleged psychics, or just random people, or both? Are we saying that when the computer image was different, accuracy was 50%, and when it was the same, accuracy was 77%?
Three. If we're to believe these people have psychic powers, why was their accuracy not 100%?
How do I explain it? I would venture to guess that this is about the fiftieth time this description has been passed on, and embellished, and even so, it is still not convincing.
Do you hear yourself talk? Are you paying attention to what people are telling you? You make no sense. You are deluded, and ignorant. WAKE UP!!
Oh, wait, I'm supposed to be trying for best answer, aren't I? Let me tell you what you want to hear...
Hur hur! Yeah, atheists! Take that! Becuz psychic experiments showed there was psychic...ness. So there am supernatural. And nevermind that there are plenty of things we don't understand yet, and that they may, and probably do, have nothing to do with religion. The only answer is God, cause we said so!
2007-10-06 15:59:20 · answer #1 · answered by Master Maverick 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1) Reference to your source.
2) Probability of matching images? If it is 50% then it can mean that the answering person answered "Yes" in 70 or 77% cases, lol.
3) If probability of matching images is 30% then it's only proves existence of unreliable line of communication, nothing else.
2007-10-05 19:37:03 · answer #2 · answered by Aleks 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I have seen this form of experiment done. The results were never as high as 77%, so state your sources. Researchers can reproduce this experiment without any hint of the supernatural and get 55%
2007-10-05 18:58:27 · answer #3 · answered by Freethinking Liberal 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I'll answer this question when you direct me to the peer reviewed study this observation is based on.
Based on all the evidence I've ever read, there is no such thing as psychic powers. But this new study might shed some insight if it's an actual scientific study.
Moreover, I'd like to direct you to the Project Alpha hoax. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Alpha
While wikipedia isn't the most viable academic resource, it's pretty good with this sort of material.
2007-10-05 18:55:26 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 1⤋
Cite your sources? If there is irrefutable evidence of 'psychic power' I will believe it. People didn't believe that the earth moved around the sun way back when it was unproven.
Atheism isn't skepticism. Religions are skeptical of science because it goes against their religion, atheists are just skeptical of claims that don't have proof.
Where I get lost with your argument is, how would the reality of psychic ability automatically prove that deities exist?
Until then, get back to me with your source/reference for your claim.
2007-10-06 23:30:51 · answer #5 · answered by Bajingo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Incorrect. Atheists say there is no such thing as god. Not believing in the supernatural is up to the individual. You need some learnin' about the definitions of "supernatural" and "atheism".
2007-10-05 18:58:36 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
I can't respond to your particular story because you give no sources.
Most of the results that parapsychologists touted as highly significant have been exposed as the result of cheating either by the subjects or the experimenters. I'm not aware of any result that has been replicated by another independent investigator, but please feel free to correct me, if you have one.
What does this have to do with atheism? Do you think that no atheists believe in psychic powers, or that all theists do?
2007-10-05 19:01:30 · answer #7 · answered by Voyager 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Was this experiment published in a scientific journal? Or preformed by a hippie in his basement? Or made up?
You need some kind of proof to convince someone of something! You can't just start ranting on about something and expect people to take you seriously.
2007-10-05 18:53:39 · answer #8 · answered by Seeker 3 · 6⤊ 1⤋
No, no, no, you see you got it all wrong. Atheist don't attribute "A lack of understanding" to the supernatural. If that was the case all of science open questions would be mysteries of God.
2007-10-05 18:54:20 · answer #9 · answered by Future 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You answered you own question. If it can be measured, than it's NOT supernatural. That being said, you should provide evidence for your statements. Anyone can make up stories.
2007-10-05 18:54:08 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋