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| A '''psychic''' is a person who is able to experience ], such as ], ], and ], or who has other paranormal abilities such as ]. The study of such ] abilities is called ]. | A '''psychic''' is a person who is able to experience ], such as ], ], and ], or who has other paranormal abilities such as ]. The study of such ] abilities is called ]. | ||
| The issue of whether or not psychic abilities are real is controversial within science |
The issue of whether or not psychic abilities are real is controversial within science. A 2006 poll showed that college seniors and graduate students have more paranormal beliefs than college freshmen.<ref>] have scientifically studied psychic abilities for over a century, and many have claimed that belief in some psychic abilities may be scientifically plausible. For instance, parapsychologists such as Dr. ], a leading parapsychological researcher and President of the ], claims that ] alteration of the output of ] is scientifically well-founded.<ref name="ConsciousUniverse"> ''The Conscious Universe: The Scientific Truth of Psychic Phenomena'' by Dean I. Radin Harper Edge, ISBN 0-06-251502-0</ref> | ||
| ], like psychics, also claim to have ] but claim to obtain their information from ]s or the deceased. | ], like psychics, also claim to have ] but claim to obtain their information from ]s or the deceased. | ||
Revision as of 23:35, 4 January 2007
A psychic is a person who is able to experience extra-sensory perception, such as clairvoyance, psychometry, and precognition, or who has other paranormal abilities such as psychokinesis. The study of such paranormal abilities is called parapsychology.
The issue of whether or not psychic abilities are real is controversial within science. A 2006 poll showed that college seniors and graduate students have more paranormal beliefs than college freshmen. Parapsychologists have scientifically studied psychic abilities for over a century, and many have claimed that belief in some psychic abilities may be scientifically plausible. For instance, parapsychologists such as Dr. Dean Radin, a leading parapsychological researcher and President of the Parapsychological Association, claims that psychokinetic alteration of the output of random number generators is scientifically well-founded.
Mediums, like psychics, also claim to have extra-sensory abilities but claim to obtain their information from spirits or the deceased.
The term in religious doctrine
The term "psychic" is also featured in many variations of Gnosticism. For a brief treatment of the subject, and how psychics related to pneumatics and hylics in the Gnostic hierarchy, see hylics.
The Bahá'í faith acknowledges the reality of the potential of psychic ability, but characterizes many claims as false. Of the true ability itself, it is suggested that individuals do not seek to develop it as it is an unnatural condition perhaps hurting the development of the soul, and that the natural practice of that ability is from the next world. However there is a distinction between psychic ability and a gift of the Holy Spirit - while the former is to be avoided, the second is to be lauded and the first is often faked while the second is rare and precious. See external links below.
Popular culture
Psychic is also the name of a song performed by the artist Vanessa Hudgens.
Psychic characters are common in fiction as well. For example, The Dead Zone by Stephen King (and the film and TV series based on it) are about a psychic named Johnny Smith whose abilities are awakened after a car accident.
See also
- Parapsychology
- Clairvoyance
- Cold reading
- Psychic detective
- Remote viewing
- Psychokinesis
- Psionics
- Dean Radin
- Ailene Light
- Douglas James Cottrell
- Hylics
- Miss Cleo
- Medium (spirituality)
- Psychic Powers
External links
- The Society for Psychical Research — Founded in 1882 to examine paranormal phenomena in a scientific and unbiased way
- James Randi Educational Foundation — An Educational Resource on the Paranormal, Pseudoscientific, and the Supernatural
- Alternative Science - Criticisms of James Randi's $1 million challenge
- Skeptic's Dictionary — Psychic
- Psychic Powers & Intuition — The various types of psychic powers
- Bahai Library - Some Answered Questions Part Four -- On the Origin, Powers and Conditions of Man section 71. Visions and Communication with Spirits and Lights of Guidance under XLII. Psychic Phenomena.
References
- [http://www.rense.com/general70/smart.htm Smart People See Ghosts Higher education supports belief in the paranormal By Brad Steiger in the April 2006 issue of Fate Magazine 4-7-6
- The Conscious Universe: The Scientific Truth of Psychic Phenomena by Dean I. Radin Harper Edge, ISBN 0-06-251502-0