Are miracles “violations” of the laws of nature? Are demons and ghosts more than just a relic of ancient mythology? Is there any truth behind modern-day exorcism? Do some people possess prophetic abilities? Are near-death experiences a true glimpse of the afterlife? Can the worldview of the ancient texts of Scripture help us interpret these supernatural phenomena?

These are the kinds of questions that Matt McGuire tackles in his work in general and in his book in particular. In this conversation we run the gambit from ghosts to “zener cards” (check out the YouTube video for that), and a variety of stops along the way.

There were so many things I wanted to talk about (including John Wesley’s apparent use of “casting lots”), but time flies when you’re talking about this stuff. In the show’s intro I mention this recent Joe Rogan podcast, which we also do not talk about, but is a great example of how hungry people are for the esoteric. Do you have any examples of paranormal experiences that may or may not “fit well” with your own understandings of how stuff works?

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro

05:15 - Education & Career Path

07:40 - Exploring the Supernatural

10:48 - Parapsychology and Personal Journey

13:38 - The Rhine Research Center

16:28 - Scientific Methods in Parapsychology

19:11 - Understanding Zener Cards

21:35 - Skepticism and Acceptance

24:50 - ESP and Spirituality

27:41 - Theories on Innate Abilities

31:16 - Exploring Miraculous Abilities Across Cultures

32:54 - The Importance of Meditative Practices in Spirituality

36:58 - Understanding Parapsychology and Christian Spiritual Gifts

42:27 - The Nature of Christian Prophecy and Spiritual Gifts

45:47 - The Biblical Perspective on Seeking Spiritual Gifts

51:50 - Experiences at Charismatic Conferences and Healing

58:18 - The Role of Worship in Altered States of Consciousness

1:01:36 - Navigating Supernatural Experiences in ChristianityKeywords:

parapsychology, psychic phenomena, altered states, consciousness, collective effervescence, ESP, psychokinesis, religious rituals, trance states, sensory deprivation

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