Some people may be too quick to accept metaphysical theories and methods without much consideration. Unfortunately, blind acceptance doesn’t usually lead to complete comprehension.
Most people who advocate various metaphysical concepts don’t automatically accept new theories. For many, having faith in an idea that can’t be proved or disproved such as reincarnation involves questioning, considering various explanations, applying the idea to their own life and the lives of others, and looking at other possibilities. Only then, after finding no good reason to discount it, will they accept it.
With an unbiased attitude, diligent research, and intuitive awareness, truth is uncovered.
An example is the past life regression therapist who does many regressions, being careful to remain objective, while compiling impressions and details about his clients’ past lives. Many, many cases offer explicit, verifiable details about distant, even ancient cultures such as types of societal standards like common marriage arrangement particulars, and even specific addresses and descriptions of particular houses and places of employment. Do these things prove reincarnation? No. Does it prove reincarnation when the hypnotized client begins speaking in a foreign language, one previously completely unknown (in this life)? Again, no, but it sure lends a lot of corroboration for supportive theories of reincarnation.
Ironically, it’s frequently those who condemn the belief in metaphysical concepts who display gullibility, believing misinformation (such as that of the organized religion they follow) all too readily without bothering to do their own objective research.
More and more people are opening up to alternative spiritual theories. It’s not too surprising that books like “The Da Vinci Code,” by Dan Brown are best-sellers today.
That which is looked upon by one generation as the apex of human knowledge is often considered an absurdity by the next, and that which is regarded as a superstition in one century, may form the basis of science for the following one. –Paracelsus
Copyright © 2004 Scott Petullo, Stephen Petullo
I am surprised to be the first commenter to this fantastic article. To my great dismay, I spend too much time trying to explain to people why learning about spirituality and metaphysics is important, usually to no avail. Negative connotations such as “blind faith” and “gullibility” attempt to keep the seal of science out of the hands of those exploring these areas of study. It is constantly demeaning, belittling, and disempowering. I love the way you reclaim the language of science in describing metaphysical research, in this and other articles (empirical, objective, supportive theories, verifiable details, etc.) It’s a joy to know that others besides myself are working to change the face of “occult science” into something with Universal credibility!