Page 13 - Encyclopedia of the Unusual and Unexplained Vol. 3

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Understanding
the Unknown

The belief in a reality that transcends our
everyday existence is as old as humanity itself
and it continues to the present day. In fact, in
recent years there has been a tremendous surge
of interest in the paranormal and the supernat-
ural. People speak freely of guardian angels, a
belief in life after death, an acceptance of
extrasensory perception (ESP), and the exis-
tence of ghosts. In a Gallup Poll released on
June 10, 2001, the survey administrators found
that 54 percent of Americans believe in spiri-
tual or faith healing; 41 percent acknowledge
that people can be possessed by the devil; 50
percent accept the reality of ESP; 32 percent
Introduction believe in the power of prophecy; and 38 per-
cent agree that ghosts and spirits exist.

What are the origins of these age-old
beliefs? Are they natural phenomenon that
can be understood by the physical sciences?
Some scientists are suggesting that such mysti-
cal experiences can be explained in terms of
neural transmitters, neural networks, and
brain chemistry. Perhaps the feeling of tran-
scendence that mystics describe could be the
result of decreased activity in the brain’s pari-
etal lobe, which helps regulate the sense of self
and physical orientation. Perhaps the human
brain is wired for mystical experiences and the
flash of wisdom that illuminated the Buddha,
the voices that Mohammed and Moses heard
in the wilderness, and the dialogues that Jesus
had with the Father were the result of brain
chemistry and may someday be completely
explained in scientific terms.

Perhaps the origin of these beliefs is to be
found in psychology? Humankind’s fascination
with the unknown quite likely began with the
most basic of human emotions—fear. Early
humans faced the constant danger of being
attacked by predators, of being killed by people
from other tribes, or of falling victim to the
sudden fury of a natural disaster, such as flood,
fire, or avalanche. Nearly all of these violent
encounters brought about the death of a friend
or family member, so one may surmise that
chief among the mysteries that troubled early