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| The '''Institute of Noetic Sciences''' (IONS) is a |
The '''Institute of Noetic Sciences''' (IONS) is a nonprofit research institute that uses the tools and techniques of science to attempt to understand alleged ] phenomena such as ], ], ] and "mind-body" interactions such as the effects of meditation on health and healing. The Institute has no religious affiliation but does take seriously the possibility that spirituality and science have much to offer each other. The word "Noetic" is derived from the ] "nous," meaning "intuitive ways of knowing." | ||
| Headquartered in ], IONS' membership rolls number about 35,000. <ref>Institute of Noetic Sciences. </ref> The organization is situated on a 200-acre (80 ]) campus housing an active retreat and learning center. <ref>Institute of Noetic Sciences. </ref> | Headquartered in ], IONS' membership rolls number about 35,000. <ref>Institute of Noetic Sciences. </ref> The organization is situated on a 200-acre (80 ]) campus housing an active retreat and learning center. <ref>Institute of Noetic Sciences. </ref> | ||
| The Institute was founded in ] by ] |
The Institute was founded in ] by ] astronaut ]. During the three-day journey back to Earth aboard Apollo 14, Mitchell had an epiphany while looking down on the earth from space. "The presence of divinity became almost palpable, and I knew that life in the universe was not just an accident based on random processes ... The knowledge came to me directly," Mitchell said of that experience. Following his spaceflight, Mitchell and others founded the Institute of Noetic Sciences. <ref>Institute of Noetic Sciences. "What the Bleep do we Know?!" </ref> | ||
| Among the projects the Institute has sponsored are a bibliography on the physical and psychological effects of ], a ] bibliography, and studies on the efficacy of compassionate intention on healing in ] patients. Current research and education is focused on "extended human capacities," "integral health and healing" and "emerging worldviews." <ref>Institute of Noetic Sciences. </ref> | Among the projects the Institute has sponsored are a bibliography on the physical and psychological effects of ], a ] bibliography, and studies on the efficacy of compassionate intention on healing in ] patients. Current research and education is focused on "extended human capacities," "integral health and healing" and "emerging worldviews." <ref>Institute of Noetic Sciences. </ref> | ||
| The Institute publishes a quarterly review called ''Shift: At the Frontiers of Consciousness''. | The Institute publishes a quarterly popular review called ''Shift: At the Frontiers of Consciousness''. Its scientific research is published in peer-reviewed journals. | ||
| ==Skepticism== | |||
| In a November 2005 article that critiqued the ]'s detachment from the ] ], Thomas W. Clark, founder of the Center for Naturalism, criticized members of the institute. Clark wrote: "parapsychologist Dean Radin of the Institute of Noetic Sciences ... what humanist philosopher Paul Kurtz calls the 'transcendental temptation' drives the flight from standard, ] ] into the arms of a ] that privileges the mental over the physical, the teleological over the non-purposive."<ref>Clark, Thomas W. "The Specter of Brain Science — or — How the New Age Might Lose Consciousness" Center for Naturalism, November, 2005. </ref> | |||
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| The skeptical organization ] includes the IONS on its list of websites it does not trust.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/04ConsumerEducation/nonrecorg.html|author=], M.D|title=Questionable Organizations: An Overview |accessdate=2007-02-12|publisher=]}}</ref> | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
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| * Independent description of IONS. (] course guide for "New Religious Movements.") | |||
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Revision as of 03:06, 6 April 2007
The Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) is a nonprofit research institute that uses the tools and techniques of science to attempt to understand alleged paranormal phenomena such as telepathy, clairvoyance, psychokinesis and "mind-body" interactions such as the effects of meditation on health and healing. The Institute has no religious affiliation but does take seriously the possibility that spirituality and science have much to offer each other. The word "Noetic" is derived from the Greek "nous," meaning "intuitive ways of knowing."
Headquartered in Petaluma, California, IONS' membership rolls number about 35,000. The organization is situated on a 200-acre (80 hectare) campus housing an active retreat and learning center.
The Institute was founded in 1973 by Apollo 14 astronaut Edgar Mitchell. During the three-day journey back to Earth aboard Apollo 14, Mitchell had an epiphany while looking down on the earth from space. "The presence of divinity became almost palpable, and I knew that life in the universe was not just an accident based on random processes ... The knowledge came to me directly," Mitchell said of that experience. Following his spaceflight, Mitchell and others founded the Institute of Noetic Sciences.
Among the projects the Institute has sponsored are a bibliography on the physical and psychological effects of meditation, a spontaneous remission bibliography, and studies on the efficacy of compassionate intention on healing in AIDS patients. Current research and education is focused on "extended human capacities," "integral health and healing" and "emerging worldviews."
The Institute publishes a quarterly popular review called Shift: At the Frontiers of Consciousness. Its scientific research is published in peer-reviewed journals.
References
- Institute of Noetic Sciences.
- Institute of Noetic Sciences.
- Institute of Noetic Sciences. "What the Bleep do we Know?!"
- Institute of Noetic Sciences.