User:Thomas Butler/Tom Butler's paranormal sandbox

Welcome to the Paranormal Workgroup A collaborative effort to develop well-sourced articles about all things paranormal. About This Project Objective The objective of this project is to develop a set of articles that will help the reader understand the nature of related subject as a good study guide for further study. The articles should be reasonably free of statements based on belief, as everything substantive should have an easily accessible reference. it is sometimes necessary to provide commentary about the subject in the nature of an overview or abstract, but that verbiage should be clearly identified as opinion. Concepts related to paranormal Of course, "paranormal" means "not normal," but in the context of frontier thought, "paranormal" refers to all things that are outside of the mainstream of thought. The three main aspects of the subject are: Physical: This is the mainstream scientific view of what reality is like. As a general rule, the term "paranormal" doe snot apply to physical phenomena such as most of the subjects discussed in the forteantimes This would include UFOs, aliens and strange weather. Psi phenomena: the field of parapsychology addresses a class of phenomena generally described as "psi functioning." This study is based on the existence of a hypothetical subtle energy which is not addressed in mainstream science. Such subjects as ExtraSensory Perception (ESP), Psychokinesis (PK), Remote Viewing and precognition (Presentiment) and intentionality. The Super-psi Hypothesis is an important part of this study. Survival of personality:The concept that mins is independent of brain, and continues to exist beyond physical death is generally address in the Survival Hypothesis. This study extends physical and psi research to address to hypothetical existence of a greater, nonphysical reality. Related subjects include transcommunication, Instrumental TransCommunication (ITC), Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP), hauntings phenomena and mediumship. Please help develop this project Participate Your experience and understanding in this area is needed to develop develop a useful set of articles. Please explain your edits on the talk page. There are a lot of different views of these subjects and it is important that editors make an effort to develop a consensus view that is supported by evidence. What's New The following articles need further editing name The following articles are ready for review name List Plenums These are only proposed article titles. Please do not begin one without discussion. Parapsychology Psi phenomena Survival research Transcommunication Articles Listed in the Parapsychology index Professional organizations Research organizations Parapsychologists paranormal organizations Citizen scientists Articles Listed in the Psi phenomena index Parapsychology ExtraSensory Perception Psychokinesis [[Remote Viewing Precognition Presentiment Intentionality Super-psi Hypothesis Articles Listed in the Survival research index After death communication (This is the spontaneous form transcommunication. Near-death experience Out of body experiences Articles Listed in the Transcommunication index Instrumental transcommunication This includes both visual and audio; EVP is a subset. Electronic Voice Phenomena Hauntings phenomena Mental mediumship This includes channeling. Physical mediumship Article indexes and categories The appropriate templates should be included at the beginning of an article Paranormal community index CZ:Paranormal Subgroup Background Paranormal community History of Parapsychology Parapsychological educational Parapsychology research organizations Peer-reviewed parapsychological journals Parapsychologists Citizen scientist organizations Supporting articles Paranormal community/Glossary CZ:Paranormal Subgroup/References Researcher biographies Dean Radin Rupert Sheldrake Sarah Estep George Meek Ernst Senkowski Bruce Greyson Raymond Moody Pim van Lommel Edit Template:Paranormal community index Survival research index CZ:Paranormal Subgroup Historical name Phenomena primarily studied by parapsychologists After death communication Mediumship Near-death experience Out of body experiences Psi functioning ExtraSensory Perception Psychokinesis Remote Viewing Precognition Presentiment Intentionality Hypotheses Super-psi Hypothesis Survival Hypothesis Hypothesis of Formative Causation Morphic fields, morphic resonance should be redirected to this. Edit Template:Survival research index Psi phenomena index CZ:Paranormal Subgroup Historical name Psi phenomena ExtraSensory Perception Psychokinesis Remote Viewing Precognition Presentiment Intentionality Super-psi Hypothesis Edit Template:Psi phenomena index Template:Telecommunication Index One or more of the appropriate category should be noted at the bottom of each article [[Category: Paranormal]] [[Category: Parapsychology]] [[Category: Psi phenomena]] [[Category: Survival research]] [[Category: Transcommunication]] Useful References Morphic Resonance and Morphic Fields: An Introduction by Dr. Rupert Sheldrake Editors Editors are invited to include their name here if they are or plan to be involved in the Paranormal subgroup. User:Thomas Butler

Templates

These indexes might help navigation through the category. Editors would need to update the template with new article names. The {{Template:Paranormal}} would be added in the article to include the index. It should collaps with a "Hide" button, but that is not working now.

Template:Parapsychology index

This needs to be able to be collapsed by default. It does with the same code in my application. I think it also complies with MediaWiki instructions.

Parapsychology index
Background
History of Parapsychology parapsychological educational Parapsychology research organizations Peer-reviewed parapsychological journals Parapsychologists
Psi functioning
ExtraSensory Perception Psychokinesis Remote Viewing Precognition Presentiment Intentionality
Hypotheses
Super-psi Hypothesis Hypothesis of Formative Causation Articles related to this should be redirected to this as it is the proper title (morphic fields, morphic resonance)
Parapsychologist biographies
Dean Radin Rupert Sheldrake
Edit Template:Parapsychology index

Paranormal article template

Of course the writer's guide provided for this wiki should be followed. It seems easier and will produce more consistent articles if a template is used. This is one possible format.

Paranormal: Here, the scope of what is considered paranormal phenomena is restricted to subjects related to the etheric, where "etheric" implies nonphysical reality. Phenomena thought to be physical but not ordinary, such as UFOs, cryptozoological creatures and parallel realities would not be included here. It may be necessary to have categories: "Paranormal-physical" and "Paranormal-etheric."

Virtually all paranormal subjects are controversial because they are exceptions to what is predicted by mainstream science. The basic issue is the difference between what is expected in a physical-only reality and what is thought to be possible in a physical/etheric reality. Awareness of most forms of paranormal phenomena usually begins with unexplained experiences.

Because of articles about phenomena are to address exceptions to expected reality, they all need to approach the subject from the perspective of: this is what is reported, this is what is known to be true and this is what remains speculation. Each article should ask and answer the questions:

• Is the phenomena objective in any way--can others experience it without coaching?
• Is there a mental explanation?
• Have physical explanations been tested? What physical explanations -- artifact, mundane mistaken as paranormal?
• If all physical explanations have been eliminated, what are the current theories?

Notes:

• Two templates are needed: Template:Paranormal phenomena and Template:Paranormal community. exposition of uncontroversial subjects such as about parapsychological organizations and researchers, and for article explaining the phenomena.
• Begin by following the starting an article instructions. That is, search for the article title. When the system returns that there is no article, accept the offer to create one. In the edit field type: {{subst:Template:Paranormal phenomena}} or {{subst:Template:Paranormal community}} as appropriate and save. The information shown below will be added to the article. Replace the direction text with article content.
• Some of this will belong in supages, but I am not up to speed on them.
• All of this is up for discussion.

Proposed paranormal community article template

{{Template:Paranormal community}}

Template:Transcommunication index

Change this to Template:Parapsychology index, Template:Survival research index, Template:Psi phenomena index or Template:Transcommunication index as appropriate.

===Abstract===

This should provide an introductory overview of the subject. References for important points would be in the rest of the article.

===Introduction===

Make sure there is enough background information here so that the reader can have a sense of what the subject is about. A brief history will be provided next, so this is mostly "what it is." The introduction would be an expansion of the abstract but containing references for important points. This section should work with the current understanding section to provide a full picture of the subject.

====History====

The subject is more than its history. This section should provide a sense of how and when it came about, but an exhaustive history should be reserved for another article.

====Theory====

Things paranormal are not supposed to exist. If people think they do, then there should be some objective reason other than personal experience. It is okay to say there are no working theories, but this section should not be omitted. This section should treat opposing views (skeptical) as just another theory. The subject just is, probably because people experience it. What it is should be open for discussion. Unless there broad consensus--and there is not--any theory remains only a theory and its pros and cons should be addressed in a level-headed manner.

====Dependencies====

An important point to remember is that the subject depends on certain things to be true. For instance, most all of them depends on the existence of subtle energy. Some depend on mind-brain duality and survival of mind. If an article does not already exist for these dependencies, one needs to be written, but in the meantime, a brief "snaps" of what the article should contian can be included here as a place holder. Please include [[name of article about dependency]] somewhere in this section.

====Research====

Has there been any formal studies conducted to determine the objectivity of the subject? Since there are so few scientists working in this field, here, "research" may mean the work of a citizen scientist reported on a personal website and not in a peer-reviewed journal.

===Current understanding===

Thi is a compliment to the introduction. It is the part of the article that should give the reader a good sense of the state of the art for the subject. After explaining what it is (Introduction), how it might be possible (Theory) and the basis for that theory (Research). Be sure to address contrary opinions. The most important thing here is that "understanding" should be clearly identified as opinion based on.... Be sensitive to the difference between belief and objective understanding.

===End notes===

This is not a list of references (us them below). This is a place to include substantiating evidence not identified by the references. It is also a good place to include a bibliography.

===references===

Be sure to include the <references /> that should be in the template. Also include any additional categories.

Proposed paranormal phenomena article template

{{Template:''name''}}

Template:Transcommunication index

Change this to Template:Parapsychology index, Template:Survival research index, Template:Psi phenomena index or Template:Transcommunication index as appropriate.

===Introduction===

Make sure there is enough background information here so that the reader can have a sense of what the subject is about. A brief history will be provided next, so this is mostly "what it is." The introduction would be an expansion of the abstract but containing references for important points.

====History====

The subject is more than its history. This section should provide a sense of how and when it came about, but an exhaustive history should be reserved for another article.

====Scope====

What is involved in the subject? For instance, if this is about an organization, what is the primary focus of the organization? Does it include peer-review? Is there a publication for non-technical members?

====General====

The title of this section may need to be change to fit the subject. If this is a glossary, for instance, this would be where the terms are listed. For an organization, this is where the organization is discussed in some detail.

====Research====

For an organization, has there been any formal studies conducted to determine the objectivity of the subject? Explain the tone of the organization. For instance, is it mostly for human potential?

How is research funded? This section may be omitted for something like a glossary.

===End notes===

This is not a list of references (us them below). This is a place to include substantiating evidence not identified by the references. It is also a good place to include a bibliography.

===references===

Be sure to include the <references /> that should be in the template. Also include any additional categories.

Ideas?,