I think it was created by Isaac Bonewits, though it's possible it was around before he wrote about it in 1971. It states that through the collective unconscious (Jung) people with psychic abilities (which according to my faith is everyone) can add and take away from our collective Switchboard. For instance, if everyone disbelieves Jesus, he won't exist anymore. If enough people psychically project a true faith in Tahuti, the God of Knowledge, Cerridwen the Cauldron Goddess, or even the Lord and lady of the Wild, they will be a Gods that people dream about and pray to. You don't even have to be vocal about it, the change will come first from the Switchboard, then will just be how people view things.
2007-12-18 02:11:40 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I find the morphogenetic field as explained by Rupert Sheldrake to be a much better paradigm for these concepts.
Also what does our belief in the Akashic Records do when we stop believing in something? Does it go away or stay?
2007-12-18 22:55:55 · answer #1 · answered by slice39 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sorry, everything I've read suggests that those sub-conscious images would have to be at least somewhat socialized for them to be shared. Individual faith affects the individual. But it doesn't reach out to everyone around them if there are no actions associated with it.
(But then again, I don't believe in "psychic abilities." Just people who are awake and, on some level, paying more attention to the world around them than others.)
2007-12-18 02:16:25 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have heard similar in an experiment that was done
some psychical researchers wanted to see if you could create energy with thought
so they took a bunch of students to a building and made up a story of mass murders there
they gave them details of those who were murdered ...
and sure enough people started reported all manner of strange things
they then took another group of students and did not tell them anything other than the place was supposedly haunted
this group of students started reporting things that related to the story told to the first group
2007-12-18 02:16:29 · answer #3 · answered by ☮ Pangel ☮ 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
This is one of the subconscious beliefs in many cultures; many Pagans included.
The fear of, or belief in, something evil, so you don't speak of it in the hopes that it doesn't materialize is a good example of that.
Christianity says that the devil exists.
As Pagans, we do not believe in the devil, but so many Christians have believed for so long that it has become possible that the devil that they believe in has come into existence because of their belief rather than being an actually existing entity that they came to believe in after the fact. Kind of like the Id in Forbidden Planet.
2007-12-18 03:47:13 · answer #4 · answered by twoasonesfl 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Remember, it is just a theory. Isaac is often amused when some of his ideas become 'holy writ'.
I remember hearing him talk one day of how he had coined the term 'fam trad' only to see it become general useage and acceptance.
This idea of 'belief determining existence' is not a new one, but the 'switchboard' terminology is fairly new.
2007-12-18 02:20:02 · answer #5 · answered by conchobor2 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have never heard of it and I'm not sure what I think about it, having not read much along the lines of the subject. However I would not be surprised if it were to be true, after all the human mind is much more powerful than we realise.
2007-12-18 03:39:37 · answer #6 · answered by Witch 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When I was in high school, my best friend and I discussed this. People can bring physical ailments into being by believing, it follows that people can bring imaginary beings into being by believing as well.
We concluded that Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy shared a condo in New York.
2007-12-18 02:16:20 · answer #7 · answered by witchiebunny 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I believe it's called the small god theory. I can't remember.
No I don't believe it. THe gods don't "need" us to believe in them. Honestly my gods are pretty hands off. They exist and have thier drama whether I believe or not. They are gods for pete's sake. I am not the reason they exist. And in our faith they didn't create us just to freaking worship them.
2007-12-18 03:12:04 · answer #8 · answered by ~Heathen Princess~ 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
After several NDEs (Near Death Experience) I can attest
to that theory being just that,a theory,we have no effect on
spiritual races far older than even our universe.
Doc
2007-12-18 03:32:06 · answer #9 · answered by Doc 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Tinkerbell theory: Gods exist because we believe in them.
Nonsense. In that case, they aren't gods.
2007-12-18 04:21:12 · answer #10 · answered by LabGrrl 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋