As previous posts attest, I enjoy scientific investigation, especially where it concerns astronomy and potential space travel. Biology interests me as well because it helps to analyze the great story that is humanity. Chemistry is awesome for its potential to heal or completely destroy and I will admit, learning about explosives is kinda cool! Physics, of course, pairs nicely with chemistry and astronomy. What I call esoteric science fascinates me the most. I refer here to things such as parapsychology and cryptozoology, which are called by many scientists, "pseudo-science".
I don't want to give the appearance that I believe in some of the more far-fetched theories presented as science that are based more on faith, wishful thinking, superficial bigotry (based on gender or "race") possibly drug-induced hallucinations, than proveable fact. We can debate until the end of days whether or not there is a Goddess or God that created us, but her or his presence does not negate the fact that humans, animals, plants and the planet itself evolved. I call upon a Goddess but am still debating whether or not I believe in a transcendental deity. Is Big Foot real? Probably not, but if there is such a creature it is probably a freak of nature. It is not exactly outside the realm of possibility and humankind's continued existence proves repeatedly that remote possibilities are closer than we think. The one-drop rule? Definitely pseudo-science, though held beloved by Americans of all colors.
Two phenomena within the esoteric sciences intrigues me the most: ghosts and UFOlogy. I think the reason so many people believe in ghosts is that death is far too final for us to accept. The human approach to this reality ranges from hesitance to outright fear with the latter doing everything in their power to stave it off or ensure a posthumous rebirth in some idyllic afterlife. The former, myself included, may not fear death in itself but aren't in a rush to get there. After all, fearing death is a waste of time. To quote The Doors, "Death makes angels of us all." This is the one event after your own birth that you're guaranteed.
The possible existence of ghosts provides a comfort to those who fear death even as they fear ghosts themselves. Ghosts prove, if they are real, that death is not final. There is life after death. But this assumption also rests upon an idea that a person retains their consciousness and awareness of their surroundings post mortem. Some people believe ghosts are a form of angel. Interesting. I have had an experience that has lent credibility to some sort of guardian spirits protecting humans at various points in their lives.
I am a fan of the reality television series, in fact the only one I ever watch, Ghost Hunters on the SciFi Channel. I think the investigators deserve a lot more credit than they receive from the mainstream scientific community who seem to completely dismiss their investigations out of hand. Personally, I do not always come to the same conclusions as the Ghost Hunters and some evidence I see as a bit of a stretch. What I do respect about them is that they do attempt to debunk occurrances that owe more to human error or Nature than any supernatural happenings. I also like the fact that not every location visited is haunted and most are described as having "some activity". I'm dismayed by the number of people who still dismiss this show and its teams despite their attempt to eliminate as much coincidence from investigations as possible.
Now, UFOlogy is a bit of a different animal. The stereotype is of tinfoil hat wearing fringe types spouting off about Greys or the Reptiles or the Nordics. Having read descriptions of alleged encounters, I can spot any number of different personal factors that play significant roles in the person believing they have met beings from other worlds. But I am not arguing the veracity so much as the phenomena surrounding this. Obviously something is going on and I think it is worth serious, objective investigation from the scientific community at large.
That said, I am not arguing against the existence of extraterrestrials. I think it is more than a little arrogant to think that out of the billions of galaxies and stars and planets, that our little number of people on this one blue rock is all the life in the universe. The Drake Equation certainly allows for this reality. I think the actual question is whether or not they've been here, if they have did they try to interact or would they want to. Looking at a map of our Milky Way galaxy, we are essentially in the sticks, which means that our planet is also one of the youngest in the galaxy as it is far from the galactic core that is formed first. If there are alien species are they so sophisticated technologically to travel here? Perhaps they are also socially and intellectually advanced and decide the inhabitants of the blue world are probably more trouble than they're worth, especially since they love to harm each other and their own planet.
I delved into these topics to discuss the difference between being skeptical, which is always healthy, and simply being closed minded. Most information should not be believed in without some empirical investigation and anything that cannot withstand pointed questions isn't worthy of belief. Especially not the blind faith demanded by the worlds "great" religions or by the increasingly dogmatic and corporatized scientific realm. An interesting conundrum among several Americans these days to quickly show harsh skepticism about something as frivolous as Ghost Hunters but not regarding something even more important like our political process, our politicians and how our society is run. A closed mind is a bigoted mind.
The skeptic questions conclusions and requests facts to prove said conclusions. They enter into an investigation of a subject with as much objectivism as possible. One should not be subjective in scientific inquiry because new discoveries can be made that could invalidate previous theories. That is the entire point of science. The pursuit of knowledge, development and not the promotion of ignorance. True skeptics have firm yet flexible notions on reality aware of the fact that all it takes is one accident, one observation, like a random apple falling from a tree or overflowing the bathtub to change the entire world.
That is what the closed minded person does. They have their own conclusions, theories, beliefs, findings and they're sticking to them regardless of how often or thoroughly it is debunked. Belief is dogged and dogmatic. This is found among fundamentalists of all stripes. Unfortunately these days, they seem to be the loudest. I feel it is having a very negative effect on humankind.
I would like to close with a great quote I read somewhere. I do not remember what site I saw this on but I did not see an attribution:
"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, not to their own facts."
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