IGX

Some of them might want their money back after reading a withering expose of Alexander's ALX -0.79%
background, written by journalist Luke Dittrich and published by Esquire. (It’s behind a paywall, but non-subscribers can purchase access for $1.99.)

Blaidd Drwg wrote:If you want to see god,it will take about 10 minutes total.

DMT.

If you want a longer session with god/gods/jungle magix..this could take 2-48 hours (depending on dosage) to ascend the rope of death. Descent not included.

http://www.ayahuasca.com/

Conclusion

I understand that what Alexander experienced was strange, powerful, and profound and is coupled with the fact that he experienced a brush with death and survived. I will not presume to know how such an experience would affect me. This does not mean, however, that we can take his interpretation at face value.

Alexander, in my opinion, has failed to be true to the scientist he claims that he is. He did not step back from his powerful experience and ask dispassionate questions. Instead he concluded that his experience was unique, that it is proof of heaven, and that it defies any possible scientific explanation. He then goes on to give a hand-waving quantum mechanics, the universe is all unity, explanation for the supernatural. This is a failure of scientific and critical thinking.

Addressing his one major unstated premise, that the experienced occurred while his cortex was inactive, demolishes his claims and his interpretation of his experience.

As a neuroscientist I admit to a fascination with such experiences. I would love to experience something similar, to see what it is like (although I am not willing to damage my brain or take mild-altering drugs to do it). I would think that a neuroscientist would see such an experience as a powerful window into how the brain works (as Susan Blackmore did), how it constructs reality, and how the subjective experience that results from that construction can be altered, not as a window into a mystical and supernatural world.

Damien wrote:Steven Novella's take on it:
http://theness.com/neurologicablog/inde ... of-heaven/

Conclusion


Alexander, in my opinion, has failed to be true to the scientist he claims that he is. He did not step back from his powerful experience and ask dispassionate questions. Instead he concluded that his experience was unique, that it is proof of heaven, and that it defies any possible scientific explanation. He then goes on to give a hand-waving quantum mechanics, the universe is all unity, explanation for the supernatural. This is a failure of scientific and critical thinking.

Addressing his one major unstated premise, that the experienced occurred while his cortex was inactive, demolishes his claims and his interpretation of his experience.

Ed Zachary wrote:http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbercovi ... -problems/

Some of them might want their money back after reading a withering expose of Alexander's ALX -0.79%
background, written by journalist Luke Dittrich and published by Esquire. (It’s behind a paywall, but non-subscribers can purchase access for $1.99.)