Skeptiko – Science at the Tipping Point

I'm a regular OBEer, and this show has helped me a whole lot. This is the rational and patient side of skepticism, and believe me, there is a lot of rottweiler-style skepticism out there which makes it very hard to imagine having a decent conversation with one from my end. This show has really given me some fellow-feeling for skeptics and made me understand that they truly will do some patient work to understand things and set up relationships that allow real investigation.

I always want to feel there is the capacity to listen in a calm way without going crazy the moment something 'irrational' comes up in the other person, but believe me, *neither* side (skeptics/'believers') is 100% given to that amount of care.

Hearing the calm way Mr. Tsakiris handles this subject is so refreshing. It makes me feel that understanding is possible even with people of vastly different experience.

Whether this show will make anyone think differently or not about OBE I don't know — if they do, please remember the best way is to *try* it. It's not the same thing as 'mediumism', and there's a big literature with many good teachers and techniques. There are a lot of good ways to learn out there now, and I think Ms. Hughes has published some herself. If you actually have one OBE (and IMO we all OBE at night when we sleep) then it becomes not belief but experience and knowledge. This is something we can all try, and the final point made by Mr Tsakiris, that grief counsellors know nothing about the non-physical, is a pretty good point!

Also it might be good to say: you do *not* need to be religious in order to do this. I respect the choices of those (like Ms. Hughes) who are religious but I myself am not. It doesn't change a thing so far as getting out of body is concerned. On the other hand, I know some Catholics have talked about OBE as if it's 'from the devil' (!), so the fact that Ms. Hughes works in a Catholic context gives me yet more hope from another angle. The church isn't always such a patient listener on these subjects either, to be frank, so the existence of Ms. Hughes is very welcome. (Although there's a little undertone of disrespect to the 'Wicca' faith at one point in this show… still you can't have it all in one podcast can you? ^_^ Interfaith squabbling is really more of the same intolerance, but must lie outside the 'Skeptico' remit I think.)

For me personally, whether people are 'convinced' by a show like this or not isn't really the point. What I like here is the attitude on *all* sides, a respectful and reasonable one without kneejerk condemnations. That in itself is the beautiful and 'healing' thing about this show for me, never mind the actual content which was so stirring.

The prospects talked about at the end of this show are also very exciting.

Thanks for reading!

wow… how cool… thanks… your points are great… and a reminder to me that we're all in this together… we're all connected… so, even though it can be tough working with skeptics who don't agree with us, we have to continue the dance the best we can

Marilynn Hughes is obviously controlled by demonic forces. The bible clearly states in many, many verses that it is forbidden to communicate with the dead, and if communication with the dead is claimed, it is demonic in nature. Any questions that one might have should be asked of the Lord, not of , mediums or psychics. Mediums, such as Marilynn Hughes, are controlled by “familiar spirits”, and should be avoided.

Great blog! I suggest reading Traveling- An Accidental Expert's How to Leave Your Body Handbookit is a very insightful book on out-of-body travel.

Oh wow. You are so skeptical. Kudos for your rational thought.

She gives all credit to God.

In my encounters with her I found her to be a very honest, warm, spiritual

person.

Hey, Alex. Been listening a lot to your podcasts, I noted something in this one. It's very interesting and all, but you said the she couldn't possible have known that Meg went to collage but then again you gave Marilynn Hughes the information when she was born, and the chances Is quite big if Meg just was 20 years old to guess that correct, or am I wrong? 

Since I'm Swedish I've might have got it wrong because English isn't my first language you know, but I've said before, this is very interesting and what an relief for Megs mother. 

I won't say that I'm a believer, I won't say that I'm a skeptic either, I'm hoping for the answer one day. 

By the way, there was this scientist in Sweden that have done a lot of researching regarding this case, OBE and NDE, he is at Uppsala Universitet. He did some experiment, where the people actually thought that they were out side his their body, it would be fun if you could get him on here and talk about it with him. 

I can't remember his name, I will try to find it and post it. 

Keep up the good work Alex.

I didn't give her the year… just the month and day… she wouldn't have know age.

pls do post the prof if you can.

glad you're enjoying Skeptiko

I found him! His name is Dr. Henrik Ehrsson UCL researcher at the Karolinska Institute http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K… he have done experiments with OBE with quite interesting results, found a old article about it - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/696… - It would be interesting if you could have him on the show, very. Very interesting for be more exact. This is his website - http://www.ehrssonlab.se/index… -

Take care Alex!

thx… will add him to the ever growing list

Hi John, 

He gave me a birthday – month and day – no year. Many Blessings, Marilynn

Hi Alex

I really like your show.
 
To Marilynn, you gave Megan’s first name,  birthday and the date of death. Can’t these things be triangulated so that information about the dead person could be found through official records/other types of search? A sceptic (and I am not a closed-minded skeptic) would dismiss this investigation for this reason.

I agree with you about Marilynn: she seems very genuine and interesting. But giving her all this data seems to have undermined this fascinating work.

All the best

John

I sort of agree with Dr John Morley, that is the first thing I thought when you were going over the outlines of the study.