Misuses of Energy Concepts in Pseudoscience

Ginarley

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Ginarley
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Hi all

I am doing some research about the misuse of energy and thermodynamics concepts (such as chakras, chi, energy pathway blockages, pure energy, 2nd law prohibits evolution, etc) in pseudoscience and was wondering if anyone here could help out with any of the following:

a) Examples of poor use of energy concepts in pseudoscience (even if pedantic)
b) Examples of other research on this topic
c) Blog posts or forum threads (here or elsewhere) that discuss this issue

I figure this thread can serve as a resource for anyone that is curious about the topic as well as helping me out :)

Cheers
Ian
 
Spiritualists are very fond of misinterpreting the law of conservation of energy. Energy cannot be destroyed, we are made of energy, ergo we exist in some form forever after death (or after life as they refer to it).

Spiritual psychic psuedosurgeons like Gary Mannion "operate" upon "patients" using "energy" rather than producing the chicken gizzards.

Lots of "complimentary" (useless) therapies like Reiki claim to manipulate this non existant energy, using a plethora of different names like Qi, Kiai, etc etc.

I know of no examples where this evasive energy has been tested and found to exist.
 
Thanks for that, I forgot about the 1st law justification for life after death. Can you think of specific examples where this is used?

The psychic surgery example is also a good one but I looked up Gary Mannion's website and he seems to completely avoid the use of the term energy (http://www.garymannion.com/), and just refers to his spirit Abraham and programs/patterns. Who are other prominent psychic surgeons around at the moment?
 
For pseudoscience and pseudoscientific studies on energy and more: Lynn McTaggert The Intention Experiment. If you don't mind pedantic (to put it nicely), The Secret by Rhonda Byrne.

Psychic surgeons/healers: I seem to recall that Adam the Dreamhealer includes lots of pseudoscience in his books and is into energy healing.

In my somewhat limited understanding, one of the more popular mistakes being made is presuming that what seems to apply at the quantum level applies at the level of day to day life, and a misundersanding of the "observer" effect. Therefore, the observing mind has the ability to affect things at a quantum level, and by focusing our intention we can create our own reality.
 
Perfect example is the main thread of Tim4848's "Department of Positive" something-or-rather. I can't remember the exact title since I have the whole thread on ignore.

Basically he believes that we "live in energy" and because of that, we continue to live after our body has ceased functioning. He calls it "future out of body afterlife" or some other such nonsence. Don't bother asking for proof. He'll claim it's part of his "science" and tell you it's true since he had an out of body experience.
 
Physiotherapist said:
Stephen Turoff has been around for many years. BBC 2 did something on him not that long ago - last year I think.

Check out his website at www.stephenturoff.org
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What a terrible website lol - doesn't say much about what he does or about energy. The only thing I found was this from an article linked on the site:

‘During the last few years a new energy, resonating at a higher vibratory rate, has been beamed down to Earth. This has greatly helped the Spirit world to work more closely with us.’


ExMinister said:
For pseudoscience and pseudoscientific studies on energy and more: Lynn McTaggert The Intention Experiment. If you don't mind pedantic (to put it nicely), The Secret by Rhonda Byrne.
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I'll look into Lynn McTaggert, I had her book The Field on my list to find so I'll add that one. I have already (painfully) watched The Secret and transcribed the section about energy. Is there much new in the book?


ExMinister said:
Psychic surgeons/healers: I seem to recall that Adam the Dreamhealer includes lots of pseudoscience in his books and is into energy healing.
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This guy is going to be a treasure trove, thanks!


ExMinister said:
In my somewhat limited understanding, one of the more popular mistakes being made is presuming that what seems to apply at the quantum level applies at the level of day to day life, and a misundersanding of the "observer" effect. Therefore, the observing mind has the ability to affect things at a quantum level, and by focusing our intention we can create our own reality.
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Yeah the Quantum Physics stuff they throw around is ridiculous. I am specifically focusing on energy issues however.


Alice Shortcake said:
Gary Mannion and the two other founder members of the Unity of UK Psychic Surgeons make lots of references to "energy" here:

www.badpsychicsgarymannion.co.uk
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Thanks for that, I'll have a dig. Seems he doesn't specifically focus on energy (other than occasionally mentioning it) but I'll see what I can find :)


Alice Shortcake said:
Some classic woo beliefs about energy here:

http://moh2005.proboards78.com/index.cgi?board=scepthink&action=display&thread=4522
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Apparently I need to register so I'll dig into that later, thanks :)


Little 10 Toes said:
Perfect example is the main thread of Tim4848's "Department of Positive" something-or-rather. I can't remember the exact title since I have the whole thread on ignore.

Basically he believes that we "live in energy" and because of that, we continue to live after our body has ceased functioning. He calls it "future out of body afterlife" or some other such nonsence. Don't bother asking for proof. He'll claim it's part of his "science" and tell you it's true since he had an out of body experience.
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Thanks for that, I presume that's the thread entitled "The Department of Positive Out of Body Possibilities". I'll grit my teeth and do some reading, 22 pages... wow lol.


Empress said:
Also their nonsense about ley lines. Apparently points on lines have some sort of electrical or magnetic attraction among them, and intersection points between ley lines produce a special psychic energy. That's why UFOs fly along these lines, you know. :rolleyes:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ley_line
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I'd never even heard of this, I shall do some digging, thanks :)
 
Ginarley,

I started a thread a few days ago about a water powered car mentioned by someone from another mailing list I'm on. It's all about an "inventor" who ran his motor on oxyhydrogen from water. This isn't a misuse of the term "energy", which was your original thought, but thinking you can get energy out of water to run a car efficiently is certainly a failure to understand energy.

Just a thought.
 
mattdick said:
Ginarley,

I started a thread a few days ago about a water powered car mentioned by someone from another mailing list I'm on. It's all about an "inventor" who ran his motor on oxyhydrogen from water. This isn't a misuse of the term "energy", which was your original thought, but thinking you can get energy out of water to run a car efficiently is certainly a failure to understand energy.

Just a thought.
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Good idea, I'll add water power to the list.
 
Ginarley said:
Good idea, I'll add water power to the list.
Click to expand...

You can add any of the "free energy" schemes.
In general, the proponents seem to believe that power and energy are the same thing, and can be used interchangeably.
 
Dunno whether it fits your areas of interest, but Fuelstar claims to increase energy output by 10-15% through some magically inexpicable pseudoscience.
 
I think the chemistry is probably set for maximum bogosity, but just claiming an increase in efficiency is not necessarily a misuse of energy concepts, unless, of course, it exceeds 100% of the Carnot limits.
 
ExMinister said:
A few that are considered classics in energy/vibrational healing:

Hands of Light by Barbara Brennan.

Vibrational Medicine by Richard Gerber - An interview with him:

http://www.spaceandmotion.com/health/richard-gerber-medical-doctor-vibrational-healing.htm
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Thanks for those, I actually have access to a copy of Hands of Light. I'll add Gerber's work to the list.

TjW said:
You can add any of the "free energy" schemes.
In general, the proponents seem to believe that power and energy are the same thing, and can be used interchangeably.
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Yep - I unintentionally left the perpetual motion and free energy nonsense off the list but thats another area I am looking into.

The Atheist said:
Dunno whether it fits your areas of interest, but Fuelstar claims to increase energy output by 10-15% through some magically inexpicable pseudoscience.
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Yep that's on my list too - I'm going to ask you about that in detail at some stage :)
 
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