Comments on: The Progress of Science. Minus the Science. http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/07/30/the-progress-of-science-minus-the-science/ Atheism with Positivity Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:50:00 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: John M. Knapp, LMSW http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/07/30/the-progress-of-science-minus-the-science/comment-page-1/#comment-58516 John M. Knapp, LMSW Thu, 02 Aug 2007 03:36:39 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/07/30/the-progress-of-science-minus-the-science/#comment-58516 Many critics consider Transcendental Meditation a cult led by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. For an alternative view of the TM Movement, readers may be interested in checking out <a href="http://tmfree.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">TM-Free Blog</a>, <a href="http://trancenet.net/" rel="nofollow">Trancenet.net</a>, or my counseling web site, <a href="http://KnappFamilyCounseling.com/" rel="nofollow">KnappFamilyCounseling.com</a>, where those recovering from TM and similar groups will find information. John M. Knapp, LMSW <a href="http://KnappFamilyCounseling.com/" rel="nofollow">KnappFamilyCounseling.com</a> Many critics consider Transcendental Meditation a cult led by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. For an alternative view of the TM Movement, readers may be interested in checking out TM-Free Blog, Trancenet.net, or my counseling web site, KnappFamilyCounseling.com, where those recovering from TM and similar groups will find information.

John M. Knapp, LMSW
KnappFamilyCounseling.com

]]> By: Cody Clark http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/07/30/the-progress-of-science-minus-the-science/comment-page-1/#comment-58144 Cody Clark Tue, 31 Jul 2007 15:20:51 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/07/30/the-progress-of-science-minus-the-science/#comment-58144 Isn't this stuff kind of like shooting fish in a barrell? Out there is an endless parade of spiritually nutty/immature/naive/obnoxious people. They do all sorts of stupid/laugable/atrocious/evil things in the name of their respective religions. I'm not saying that's not a problem. It is. But it is a predictable one. Isn’t this stuff kind of like shooting fish in a barrell?

Out there is an endless parade of spiritually nutty/immature/naive/obnoxious people. They do all sorts of stupid/laugable/atrocious/evil things in the name of their respective religions.

I’m not saying that’s not a problem. It is. But it is a predictable one.

]]> By: mollishka http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/07/30/the-progress-of-science-minus-the-science/comment-page-1/#comment-58141 mollishka Tue, 31 Jul 2007 15:08:59 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/07/30/the-progress-of-science-minus-the-science/#comment-58141 <strong>@THz:</strong> I read that as sqrt(1) % ... so .... 1 % .... so maybe their math is off :-D @THz: I read that as sqrt(1) % … so …. 1 % …. so maybe their math is off :-D

]]> By: Lee http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/07/30/the-progress-of-science-minus-the-science/comment-page-1/#comment-58085 Lee Tue, 31 Jul 2007 11:16:35 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/07/30/the-progress-of-science-minus-the-science/#comment-58085 I think these meditators should be held responsible for not focusing their <em>scientific</em> 'powers' where they are most needed: poverty, child abuse, starvation, violence, cancer, birth defects, disease... after all, if only 8,000 of them are needed for world peace, then we could solve ALL problems and have a perfect world if we recruit only about 4,000 more. But wait... doesn't this whole story sound familiar? I think I may be experiencing a bit of Deja Vu: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Vincent_Peale I think these meditators should be held responsible for not focusing their scientific ‘powers’ where they are most needed: poverty, child abuse, starvation, violence, cancer, birth defects, disease… after all, if only 8,000 of them are needed for world peace, then we could solve ALL problems and have a perfect world if we recruit only about 4,000 more.

But wait… doesn’t this whole story sound familiar? I think I may be experiencing a bit of Deja Vu: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Vincent_Peale

]]> By: Maria http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/07/30/the-progress-of-science-minus-the-science/comment-page-1/#comment-58084 Maria Tue, 31 Jul 2007 11:08:24 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/07/30/the-progress-of-science-minus-the-science/#comment-58084 <blockquote>Is your problem with meditation or the inflated claims made for it by these people? </blockquote> The inflated claims for me. I use meditation quite a bit for personal relaxation.

Is your problem with meditation or the inflated claims made for it by these people?

The inflated claims for me. I use meditation quite a bit for personal relaxation.

]]> By: olvlzl, no ism, no ist http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/07/30/the-progress-of-science-minus-the-science/comment-page-1/#comment-58071 olvlzl, no ism, no ist Tue, 31 Jul 2007 10:20:49 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/07/30/the-progress-of-science-minus-the-science/#comment-58071 Is your problem with meditation or the inflated claims made for it by these people? As long as they're using no public funds or resources I say let them do whatever they want as long as no one is getting hurt. And by that I don't mean losing money in the stock market. The stock market is nothing but legal theft of the profits of other peoples' work. Is your problem with meditation or the inflated claims made for it by these people?

As long as they’re using no public funds or resources I say let them do whatever they want as long as no one is getting hurt. And by that I don’t mean losing money in the stock market. The stock market is nothing but legal theft of the profits of other peoples’ work.

]]> By: Taisen http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/07/30/the-progress-of-science-minus-the-science/comment-page-1/#comment-58041 Taisen Tue, 31 Jul 2007 06:52:29 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/07/30/the-progress-of-science-minus-the-science/#comment-58041 TM researchers have indeed published in the region of 600 papers. Some of them are even quite good. But a lot of them aren't... the alleged 'Maharishi effect' has been cited as doing all sorts of things, statistically significantly, most often the reduction of crime rate and even reduction of political violence. It's twaddle, of course. It's a shame, because it means that even some of the better research that goes on at the "Maharishi University of Management" (I think that's what they still call themselves) gets tarnished with the same patina of self-delusion at best, academic impropriety at worst. Some of the neuropsych research by, e.g. Travis and Wallace, is actually really productive stuff. Sigh. [Travis F, Wallace RK. (1999). Autonomic and EEG patterns during eyes-closed rest and Transcendental Meditation (TM) practice: A basis for a neural model of TM practice. <em>Consciousness and Cognition</em>, 8, pp. 302-318.] TM researchers have indeed published in the region of 600 papers. Some of them are even quite good. But a lot of them aren’t… the alleged ‘Maharishi effect’ has been cited as doing all sorts of things, statistically significantly, most often the reduction of crime rate and even reduction of political violence. It’s twaddle, of course. It’s a shame, because it means that even some of the better research that goes on at the “Maharishi University of Management” (I think that’s what they still call themselves) gets tarnished with the same patina of self-delusion at best, academic impropriety at worst. Some of the neuropsych research by, e.g. Travis and Wallace, is actually really productive stuff. Sigh.

[Travis F, Wallace RK. (1999). Autonomic and EEG patterns during eyes-closed rest and Transcendental Meditation (TM) practice: A basis for a neural model of TM practice. Consciousness and Cognition, 8, pp. 302-318.]

]]> By: Richard Wade http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/07/30/the-progress-of-science-minus-the-science/comment-page-1/#comment-58036 Richard Wade Tue, 31 Jul 2007 06:23:03 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/07/30/the-progress-of-science-minus-the-science/#comment-58036 THz, actually close to a billion people really really want the same thing at the same time every day and it's no big deal. Every day when the sun sets over the east coast of China, close to a billion people really really want dinner. And every day when the sun rises over the east coast of China, close to a billion people really really want to go to the bathroom. Not all of them get their dinner, but one way or another they all take a leak. THz, actually close to a billion people really really want the same thing at the same time every day and it’s no big deal. Every day when the sun sets over the east coast of China, close to a billion people really really want dinner. And every day when the sun rises over the east coast of China, close to a billion people really really want to go to the bathroom.

Not all of them get their dinner, but one way or another they all take a leak.

]]> By: Maria http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/07/30/the-progress-of-science-minus-the-science/comment-page-1/#comment-58035 Maria Tue, 31 Jul 2007 06:22:12 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/07/30/the-progress-of-science-minus-the-science/#comment-58035 well, there is proof that mediation relaxes people and helps them focus, and that it's a great stress reliever. but influencing the stock market and north korea??? uh, I don't think so. and what's up with that math???? I'd be very interested to see these so called "peer reviews"........... well, there is proof that mediation relaxes people and helps them focus, and that it’s a great stress reliever. but influencing the stock market and north korea??? uh, I don’t think so. and what’s up with that math???? I’d be very interested to see these so called “peer reviews”………..

]]> By: THz http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/07/30/the-progress-of-science-minus-the-science/comment-page-1/#comment-58029 THz Tue, 31 Jul 2007 04:38:22 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/07/30/the-progress-of-science-minus-the-science/#comment-58029 <blockquote>when as few as the square root of one percent of a population</blockquote> 1% = 1/100 sqrt( 1% ) = sqrt( 1 / 100 ) = 1 / sqrt( 100 ) = 1/10 (= 10%) So as few as 1/10th the population? So 600 million people when assuming a world population of 6 billion. So when 600 million people really really want something at the same time and it happens, then I'll give them some credit. Or maybe their math is off.

when as few as the square root of one percent of a population

1% = 1/100
sqrt( 1% ) = sqrt( 1 / 100 ) = 1 / sqrt( 100 ) = 1/10 (= 10%)

So as few as 1/10th the population? So 600 million people when assuming a world population of 6 billion. So when 600 million people really really want something at the same time and it happens, then I’ll give them some credit.

Or maybe their math is off.

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