Debunking the Pseudoskeptics
of Near-Death Experiences
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Many people who
refer to themselves as "skeptics" of
near-death experiences are actually
pseudoskeptics. A true skeptic,
as defined by philosophers of ancient
Greece, is a nonbeliever - a person
who does not make conclusions based
on inconclusive evidence.
Critics
of near-death experiences who assert
negative claims but call themselves
skeptics often think they have no burden
of proof. Such critics take this position
thinking it is only necessary to present
a case for a counter-claim based upon
the plausibility of evidence rather
than empirical evidence. Such pseudoskeptics
are actually believers that survival
of consciousness after death is impossible.
This article examines some of the tactics
such critics use to "debunk" NDEs.
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1. What Pseudoskeptics
Do
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Pseudoskeptics of near-death
experiences have done the following:
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1. |
Pseudoskeptics claim that science
already knows everything, and since
it doesn't include the reality of
an afterlife, it can't exist. This
is referred to as
scientism. |
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2. |
Pseudoskeptics claim that the assumptions
underlying consciousness and death
are
empirical facts that science
has already proven. |
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3. |
Pseudoskeptics have already decided
that an afterlife is impossible,
even though
evidence has not ruled it out,
and they are not interested in participating
in a debate anyway. |
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4. |
Pseudoskeptics make claims such
as, "Consciousness cannot survive
death" base upon scientific expertise
they don't have. |
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5. |
Pseudoskeptics make negative claims
about near-death experiences but
do not apply their own critical
analysis equally to their own criticism. |
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6. |
Pseudoskeptics respond to claims
which were not made such as, "Since
near-death experiences have a brain
chemical connection, this means
there is no afterlife." |
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7. |
Pseudoskeptics argue that an afterlife
contradicts established theories
of nature, and because all other
alternative explanations of near-death experiences
have been exhausted, claims of the
existence of an afterlife are fraudulent. |
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8. |
Pseudoskeptics firmly believe an
afterlife is impossible regardless
of any evidence suggesting otherwise. |
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9. |
Pseudoskeptics refuse to examine
the entire body of circumstantial
and anecdotal evidence supporting
the existence of an afterlife by
claiming near-death experiences
are merely hallucinations. |
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10. |
Pseudoskeptics debunk near-death
experiences by associating them
with something else such as, "If
we suppose an afterlife exists,
then we might just as well
suppose werewolves exist." |
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11. |
Pseudoskeptics resort to personal
attacks, such as, "These people
are nuts!" instead of focusing on
the issue at hand. |
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By this definition, pseudoskeptics
are not true skeptics because they have already
made up their minds that near-death experiences
are nothing more than chemical reactions producing
hallucinations from a dying brain. Such pseudoskeptics
rule out claims otherwise without a shred scientific
evidence.
A true skeptic of the afterlife
hypothesis keeps an open mind and does not take
a position in favor of one side of the argument
or the other until the evidence proves it either
true or false.
Examples of how pseudoskeptics
attack unconventional paradigms such as the
near-death experience are:
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1. |
Pseudoskeptics attempted to discredit
the research of a researcher, who
yielded
evidence that certain astrological
signs, especially the planet Mars
are associated with champion athletes.
Although the pseudoskeptics' research
actually confirmed the findings,
they distorted their own data when
they published it and caused their
statistician to go public stating
that the science establishment covered
up evidence for the occult.
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2. |
A researcher published
a study showing that ultrahigh dilutions
of LgE effected white cells in the
lab. There were 10 authors on
the study and pseudoskeptics investigated
and "debunked" the study. The researcher
complained they made no effort to
replicate his study, but only came
and accused him of fraud, without
reviewing the evidence.
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3. |
One particular pseudoskeptic offers
a one million dollar challenge
to prove the reality of paranormal
claims such as proving psychic abilities
are real. Concerning his challenge,
critics of the pseudoskeptic's million
dollar challenge claim the offer
is insincere and that the pseudoskeptic
has ensured he will never have to
pay out. He was quoted in a well-known
magazine as allegedly saying, "I
always have an out."
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4. |
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A study was done to understand to
what extent psychic mediumship works
(not how it works). The study was
led by a university professor with
impeccable credentials. Using five
of the most credible psychic mediums
in the country, a test subject underwent
a reading by all five mediums. The
test subject was selected by the
researchers and known only to them.
The controls used in the study are
the following:
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a. |
The mediums have never met
the test subject. |
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b. |
10 to 15 minutes are allowed
per reading. |
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c. |
The medium and test subject
would be separated by a
wall so that no eye contact
is possible. |
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d. |
The test subject is to give
only yes or no answers. |
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e. |
No information can to be
shared between the medium
and the subject. |
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The result of the study were as
follows:
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I. |
All the mediums identified
the same six deceased loved
ones of the subject including
information about them and
their passing. These
include a son who committed
suicide, a father with lung
cancer, a mother with lung
cancer, and a little dog.
Eight other individuals
were identified by various
mediums.
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II. |
All the mediums were identical
in average performance (in
the 90 percentile).
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III. |
The study didn't reveal
how it works, but suggests
it is a phenomenon which
can be replicated.
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IV. |
The study launched an ongoing
debate between the research
and a high-profile pseudo-skeptic
on this study. You can read
about it at this website:
http://survivalscience.50megs.com/torandi.htm
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V. |
One of the mediums involved
in the study is
John Edward who performed
readings before a live audience
on television. His impressive
abilities suggested he may
actually be communicating
with the dead. Pseudoskeptics
claim Edward is a master
of reading body language
to elicit information despite
the fact he often does readings
by phone and sometimes readings
where he cannot see the
subject.
Pseudoskeptics
also claimed Edward manipulates
people into supplying answers
which he then builds on.
However, Edward comes up
with symbols in his head
which are "hits" that sometimes
even the subject doesn't
know about until they have
more time to reflect about
it. Edward states he receives
symbols that the subject
ultimately identifies with.
Pseudoskeptics also
claimed there were set-ups
planted in the audience
even though none have come
forward.
Pseudoskeptics
claimed that questionnaires
and bugging devices help
producers learn about deceased
family members; but the
show's producer revealed
that viewers only fill out
a standard release form.
Concerning bugging devices,
the show's producer replied,
"Of course there's microphones,
but are they being fed anywhere?
No. And John doesn't see
any of this."
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2. Links and Resources on Pseudoskepticism |
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