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I thought I would start this column by focusing on two well-conducted recent surveys, one exploring belief in anomalous perception (AP1)—knowing something you could not know through normally mediated sense perception or from intellectual sources, the other dealing with anomalous perturbation (AP2)—consciousness in some way directly affecting physical reality. Each study confirms that beliefs associated with these two phenomenological cousins, whether belief is framed as psychic, spiritual, or formally religious—be it a traditional Christian, Hindu, deist, or secular metaphor—constitutes a powerful force shaping our world.

The first survey, which polled the general public, was conducted by the Gallup Organization.1 It involved telephone interviews with 1,002 “national adults” (Americans 18 years of age or older). Gallup maintains the conclusions have 95% confidence with a maximum sampling error ± three percentage points. It found the following:

“About three in four Americans profess at least one paranormal belief,” and that, “the most prevalent belief is extrasensory perception (ESP), at 41%.” Twenty percent believe in reincarnation. Other phenomena that would involve what we are increasingly calling nonlocal mind include:

Publication History: Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing
September 2005 (Vol. 1, Issue 5, Pages 338-339)

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EXCERPT:

It is generally thought that, for immediate personal needs, each person on the planet requires at least five gallons of clean water per day. Not surprisingly, that’s not how it works out. Many poor people in Africa, Asia, and Latin America survive on just over one gallon of water per day—most of it contaminated—whereas those of us in the United States and much of Europe send 13 gallons down the drain daily flushing toilets.

Imagine, then, you turned on the tap. .. and nothing came out. It really is unthinkable, isn’t it? We take it as a given that when we turn on a faucet, clean drinkable water will come out—as much as you like. Will your children think that way? Maybe. Maybe not. Will your grandchildren? Definitely not.

Can this be true?

Water stress is defined as a nation providing for each individual, for all purposes, access to less than 449,150 gallons (1,700 cubic meters) per year.1 Water scarcity is less than 264,200 gallons (1,000 cubic meters) per person per year.1 It takes a lot of water to be an even marginally vital human.

Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing
March 2007 (Vol. 3, Issue 2, Pages 95-97)

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He was a small black boy. About nine years of age. I was the same age give or take a year, and we had both been brought to the train station. I can no longer remember where, but somewhere in the Deep South. It could have been Florida, or maybe Georgia. Nor do I know, if I ever knew, what part of the year it was, although it was very hot, and the caged metal fans that stood sweeping the room moved air so hot it hurt to have it blow on my skin. I was with the black woman who took care of me, a doctor’s son. Her name is lost to me now, and no one living can tell it to me. He was with his grandmother. I watched him walk across the tiles of the station as I sat in one of the worn wooden pews that lined the vaulted waiting room.
There were two drinking fountains jutting from the wall. One sign read “Whites Only.” I was a compulsive reader of signs, proud of my ability to do so. Like many signs, though, I am not sure I understood what it meant.

Publication History: Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing
November 2007 (Vol. 3, Issue 6, Pages 558-560)