Paranormal Beliefs: A Sociological IntroductionDespite the continued and growing popularity of such phenom- ena as angels, witches, extra-sensory perception, psychics, astrology, foretelling the future, living past lives, ghosts, and communicating with the dead, such beliefs have received little scrutiny from sociologists. Who believes in them? Why? And with what consequences? A paranormal belief system is generated as a result of cultural, social, and social-psychological forces; it is linked with social institutions in identifiable ways and has identifiable consequences. According to the author, the explication of how paranormal beliefs are accepted or rejected yields richer understanding of social structures and dynamics. Accepting one or more of the beliefs--or accepting a cosmology that rules them out of the realm of the possible--tells us a great deal about the believers and disbelievers as well as the society in which they live. This compelling, well-documented work presents a much-needed sociological examination of the role paranormal beliefs play in our society. |
From inside the book
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Page 147
... things seen in the sky were monsters , ghosts , and demons . In these cultures , their members were told , that's what these things are . In Catholic countries or communities , what is seen is the manifestation of God's wondrous powers ...
... things seen in the sky were monsters , ghosts , and demons . In these cultures , their members were told , that's what these things are . In Catholic countries or communities , what is seen is the manifestation of God's wondrous powers ...
Page 265
... things we deem unreal or impossible . Many things that are part of our everyday life today were once considered impossible . Sometimes scien- tists figure out a way of making what was once thought to be impossible possible . Years ago ...
... things we deem unreal or impossible . Many things that are part of our everyday life today were once considered impossible . Sometimes scien- tists figure out a way of making what was once thought to be impossible possible . Years ago ...
Page 280
... things happen to some people ; one would be foolish not to question what kind of God would allow such things to happen . But one has to look at everything that unfolds after someone's life is suddenly harmed or senselessly ended before ...
... things happen to some people ; one would be foolish not to question what kind of God would allow such things to happen . But one has to look at everything that unfolds after someone's life is suddenly harmed or senselessly ended before ...
Common terms and phrases
accept aliens angels asked assertions astrology Christian conspiracy theories contactees conventional crank creationism creationists Dean Radin debunker devil dimension dream earth empirical ence entists epistemology evidence evolution evolutionists exist experience explanation extraterrestrial craft extraterrestrial hypothesis fact faith false falsifiability feel forces Gallup poll ghosts heaven Hence human influence instance issue lives look mainstream major material means million mind observed occult paranormal belief systems paranormal beliefs paranormal claims paranormal phenomena paranormal thinking paranormalists parapsychology percent person perspective physical planets powers predictions principle pseudoscience psychic psychokinesis question Radin reality reason reject religion religious remote viewing reports respondents Roswell Roswell incident scientific scientists believe secular secular humanism sense Skeptical Inquirer social society sociological sociologists someone specific spiritual story supermarket tabloids tabloids teleology telepathy things tion traditional true truth ufologists UFOs universe validity versus violate wrong X-Files