echi wrote:One thing we both know, I suspect, is that it always makes sense to go with the simplest, most rational explanation. I can respect your beliefs, just as I can respect a religious person's beliefs (If I try real hard). More than that, I would like to understand why a seemingly intelligent person would hold such beliefs. Personal experience is not necessarily good evidence. People hallucinate, have distorted memories, and can easily be swayed by their emotions, their hopes and fears. You stated that "the rational approach is to look for explanations that do not violate what we know about the world". If there are gaps between your ideas and science, how do you think those gaps might be filled?
The best explanation is as simple as possible, but no simpler. To disregard personal experience is to over-simplify. Beliefs that arise as a result of our personal experience are worthy of consideration, provided that there is no indication of aberration, mental problems, brain tumor, etc., and that we can provide evidence to support those beliefs. Personal experience is necessary because we cannot understand the totality of life if we remain a dispassionate observer. Life is participatory. We can understand about nature with the scientific method, but self knowledge requires participation in the life process.
In my case, I not only have my personal experiences of spiritual states, but I also have the benefit of having lived or participated in various spiritual communities over the past 33 years. I am not referring to any of the institutionalized religions, but rather to smaller groups of spiritual practitioners who come together at various times and places, but may not be well-known by the public. (As a recent example, a few years ago I took part in a week-long retreat with the spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle, author of "The Power of Now".) I have become aware that many others share my experiences, and that the collective participation of those engaged in true spiritual practice can produce a more responsible culture. In addition, I have also been involved with the scientific community as a materials scientist for the past 25 years. I have been to many scientific conferences, presented papers, and been involved with a wide variety of projects, including a crystal growth experiment conducted by a close coworker who flew aboard the NASA space shuttle. So, I have participated in both the cultures of the scientific community and alternative spirituality communities. I can speak from personal experience rather than theorize.
From my point of view, scientists are completely ordinary people with the exception that they have highly developed intellects. This allows them to delve into the complex workings of nature and discover the laws that govern the physical world. Otherwise they possess no particular wisdom about life, nor for the most part any notable insights into human nature or spiritual matters. (There are a few exceptions.) Yet we are the "priests" of the modern age and are often accorded a certain degree of respect. On the other hand, many of the communities of spiritual practitioners with which I've been involved have displayed a mature culture largely free of the neurotic dilemmas of modern life and without the dramatization of ego, such as cultic behavior. It is apparent to me that spiritual practice has not only benefited me personally but also contributes to better social functioning. This does not seem to be the result of "hallucinations", "distorted memories", and emotions.
If there are "gaps between [my] ideas and science", they need to be resolved. I cannot, as a scientist, believe in things that violate what we know about the world and have strong evidence for. That is why I mostly reject faith-based institutionalized religion. However, I have studied a large cross-section of spiritual literature, both ancient and modern, as well as modern accounts of near-death/out-of-body experiences, tantric and kundalini practices, etc., and I see a metaphysics that does not contradict what I know of science and does not conflict with my own experience. I believe it is possible to explore the spiritual dimension in a rational, intelligent way that does not compromise modern scientific understanding.
