Science Vs The Paranormal
The Paranormal, things that go bump in the night, things that cant be explained by science, so they are swiftly brushed under the carpet and forgotten. Most people grow out of any interest for the Paranormal once they reach High School. Chalking up most phenomena to fairy-tale stories and fictional fantasies like Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny. We believed in them as a kid, but somewhere along the bumpy road of life, we realized they werent real. It left us a little heart broken, at least it did me. I began to wonder what else wasnt real, what else was a lie?
About that time, Science entered the picture. It has a tendency to put on a flashy show, throwing facts and data my way to back up its claims. Quickly explaining many things in my life and how the world operates. By comparison, it seem far more solid then anything Paranormal, and in turn, a little more comforting as well. If science was a religion, it would be the biggest in the world. To stand out and say, Science doesnt know everything. Santa Clause does exist and there is a Monster under my bed, would be social suicide. With facts and the numbers by its side, why would anyone think any differently then? What room is there for me to stand outside and say What if when so many people dont deal with Ifs they deal with only what they can pick up with their five senses, and sadly, what they are told to believe.
But the fact is, science Is Not the world around us. It isnt the computer your reading this on, or the phone you use to call people, or the television that you watch your shows on. It isnt the electricity you use to power your home, or the microwave to cook your foods. It truly isnt. It is nature. Science isnt the things around you, science is a measuring stick, a ruler. It is here to understand and explain the world around you. Through this understanding we can take what weve learned about electricity and focus it to houses through channels to power appliances. Through this understanding, we can make things like Computers and Televisions and Phones, that we use everyday.
Science runs and operates on what it can understand, it only exists through people. If man cannot understand it, then neither can science. Science is now a term used like it itself is an entity. We refer to science like its some god that passes out answers, like statements such as According to science. Science is people, in labs, with the only limiter being the people in those labs, and what they can understand. Which means, if man cannot understand it, then science doesnt recognize it, yet. It doesnt mean what ever phenomena is out there, doesnt exist, it just means we dont understand it yet.
Lets look at the example of an Eclipse. An Eclipse way back when would have likely been misunderstood as some religious phenomena or a sign from a deity, (I actually think ancient man knew astronomy well, but that is the general consensus of ancient mans misconceptions). But nowadays Science understands this phenomena as a planet or a star passing in front of the sun or other light source.
So, if we look at other phenomena, such as Ghosts, Psychokinesis, Spontaneous Human Combustion, Lucid Dreaming, Demon or Spirit Possession, Poltergeists, etc. Just because science doesnt recognize these phenomena right now, doesnt mean they dont exist, it just means, right now, we dont understand them. Science in so many ways has in-fact become a religion, to the point where peoples faiths in science puts pressure on it to answer questions with a fairly strict yes or no answer format. If they are unsure, they cant exactly say Yes, but people wont except, Maybe at least not from science, so they have to answer No.
But, if it was truly a no, then how come so many of these phenomena still happen without a sufficient explanation as to the how and why? In fact, science is beginning to turn around and re-look at many of these phenomena with an open mind and see if it really is possible. They are finding that it is. But the How is still eluding them, so they cannot come out and say Yes just yet.
With that in mind, we can then take another look at the Paranormal. What is out there, hidden within us, or around us, that we cant quite see or understand yet? Knowing now, that science doesnt have all the answers, and that these Phenomena do exist, many of which do not have a sufficient explanation.
Many of these things in-fact do exist. We just have to have the courage to take a look at them, and try and understand these things, even in the face of adversity where numbers and skeptics are not on your side. Science got to where it is today, by venturing into the Paranormal. Someday we probably will understand these Phenomena more, and even utilize them like we did Electricity. But for now, we dont understand them, and therefore, they remain in the Paranormal.