Over the past decade, Psychology Today, the popular science magazine has slowly opened the door to the possible existence of psychic abilities, synchronicity, and even spiritual realms: the soul and life after death. At least, that’s the case for the on-line version of the popular science magazine. But it wasn’t that long ago that the magazine’s articles were firmly behind the old paradigm of science.
One notable shift might’ve started when a synchronicity pal of ours, psychiatrist Bernard Beitman, began writing a regular column on synchronicity for the on-line magazine. Prior to Beitman’s appearance, synchronicity was covered from a dismissive mainstream perspective that suggested it was the brain’s way of trying to create patterns where none really existed. So much for any mysterious paranormal connection. And the same could be said for the reality of the soul. What soul, where’s the evidence?
Now we’ve come upon a column in an on-line edition from 2011 that actually favors the existence of the soul, related to recent studies. In doing so, columnist Robert Lanza, MD, author of Biocentrism and other related books, takes some heavy swings at the prejudice of mainstream science, which he refers to as following outdated materialistic postures on puzzling subjects such as the spiritual dimension of life, the existence of the soul.
Lanza explains that the old paradigm of science has dismissed the soul as an object of human belief, or reduced it to a psychological concept that shapes our cognition of the observable natural world. From that perspective, everything knowable about the “soul” can be learned by studying the functioning of the brain. In their view, neuroscience is the only branch of scientific study relevant to understanding the soul.
In the column, Lanza writes: “We’re told we’re just the activity of carbon and some proteins; we live awhile and die. And the universe? It too has no meaning. It has all been worked out in the equations – no need for a soul. But biocentrism – a new ‘theory of everything’ – challenges this traditional, materialistic model of reality. In all directions, this outdated paradigm leads to insoluble enigmas, to ideas that are ultimately irrational. But knowledge is the prelude to wisdom, and soon our worldview will catch up with the facts.”
One notable study he cites shows that the “quantum weirdness” found in experiments with sub-atomic particles also extends to the macro world in which we live. In other words, the Alice-in-Wonderland oddities of a world in which particles are also waves and can leap from one place to another without traversing the intervening space can occur in the world in which we exist. It also implies that the logical foundations of classical science are being violated, that psychic abilities—and even our souls—are within the realms of science.
While mainstream science is still clinging to the old paradigm, Lanza notes that there are cracks in the materialistic view of reality. It’s only a matter of time for a new paradigm to take hold. As the old guard is dying off, they are being replaced by younger more open-minded scientists who will move science in a new direction that past generations couldn’t foresee.
PS And oh…there’s a lunar eclipse in Sagittarius today. Check December’s forecast in the masthead to see how it may impact you!
I finished college as an adult, changing from psychology to human development and family studies for this very reason. Psychology seemed so “behind the times” with what we were beginning to understand about the soul and human consciousness. Human development was beginning to talk about it and professors were very interested in students, like myself, who explored these concepts in papers. I read not long ago that Harvard now has courses on human consciousness. So happy to see mainstream science going in this direction.
It’s about time!
Oh yes and especially like it as today Dec 1st is my 71st birthday – life is exciting, expanding and a synchronistic adventure. And just in case people think I am some new age nerd – I teach teamwork and leadership to global corporations for 40 years in 62 countries.
Happy birthday!!
Great article Rob and Trish, and right on the money as most of the ideas always are. The main reason why people cling on to the old paradigm of science which says the mechanical world is all there is: FEAR. Data from my 2017 PhD research on synchronicity indicates that most people are afraid of what others will think about them if they let go of the linear mechanical view of the world – after all its all they have known. The biggest factor that will break this fear of what we can’t explain are 1. the stories that continue about synchronicity which do not fit in to a Newtonian Paradigm; and 2. Pioneers like Rob and Trish who continue to break boundaries helping us reveal the true nature of our journey here on Earth. Love this website.
You’re one of the trailblazers!!
Sooo….
Covid: Trust the scientists. Except for the ones who disagree with us.
Climate change: Trust the scientists. Except for the ones who disagree with us.
Paranormal: Don’t trust the scientists. Except for the ones who agree with us.
Got it. Thanks.
Such drippy sarcasm! You can do better than that.
You can’t compare the science on Covid and climate change with the lack of science on the paranormal. A virus and the Earth’s climate are inherently part of the material world. The paranormal, ie. Life after death, the soul, psychic abilities, including synchronicity are part of a realm that are not easily proven or disproven by the tools scientists use to experiment aspects of the physical world. That’s why the paranormal has been “out there” so long. People have experiences that don’t fit the reality of the everyday world and either accept them as their truth or reject them…usually out of fear.
People who doubt the existence of Covid, deny the value of wearing masks, or think there is no climate change because they say it’s just a way for scientists to make money are speaking largely from political-based prejudices and ignorance. They are the followers Rush Limbaugh’s “Four Corners of Deceit: science, academia, and the media, and government.