22 replies to this topic

[AlienDan]

Has anyone else gone through this or had extreme changes in beliefs? Years ago I used to be crazy about anything paranormal; UFOs, aliens, crop circles, metaphysics, psychic abilities, conspiracy theories, etc. I completely believed  90% of it! I've read stacks of books, watched movies, owned toys, liked anything related.

TLDR of the points bellow:
Then in the last couple years I began finding out more methods of hoaxing, learning psychology, photography, cinematography, magic (illusion), alternative explanations, a lack of proof... Started RE-researching and analyzing things with a more skeptical and knowledgeable view, coming to the conclusion that almost everything paranormal I believed is a hoax or explainable.

• Once thinking 90% of UFO sightings where unexplainable, now thinking knowing 90% are hoaxes or explainable. Photography and video editing knowledge sure helped. But seeing "thefakinghoaxer" on youtube, and replicating his stuff with realism did it for me.

• Alien contact? This was proof for me! - Oh wait, they're just stories that could be lies or delusion, and I've found many of them to be debunked.

• Ancient aliens? 1 year ago I was convinced we where made by the anunaki and aliens have been here... well who knows now. Theres many explanations and lack of proof.

• Crop circles? "Made by aliens!" some research later "Made by energy!" more research "50% real" research... made several myself, met circlemakers and started doing scientific experiments, disproving what I thought was evidence of a supernatural phenomena. Now I'm 99% sure all of them are man made, and theres easy ways to tell.

• Psychic abilities and spirituality. This ones is till there a little. I know most of psychics are frauds, and know many of their techniques. But I still wonder if there is a mind matter connection, if extremely subtle, and a spiritual realm. But I'm not longer sure, cant prove nor disprove. Agnostic.

As you can see, Total polar reversal in belief. But how? I thought humans where biased and if their strong belief system was chalanged, many things happen to protect and influence it. I did the very opposite, qustioning, doing things that would destroy it. For example Instead of searching "proof of my ___ belief", I started searching "my ___ belief debunked".

All the things that I believed in, I thought I had proof of many of them! But maybe proof is merely a degree and it wasnt hot enough. There are so many people who will completely deny any evidence that challanges there beliefs. But I was completely open to it all. And real open-mindedness, not the "i believe in a conspiracy, so that make me open minded". Haha, that's actually being closed minded. Even now, I still question everything but the most provable. But one mans proof is not anothers.

I guess I'm just feeling confused right now. I don't understand what I just went through. My belief is lack of belief? My bias is trying to be unbiased? I try to make an effort to not be biased or assume. I have opinions and thoughts on things but they are just thoughts... posibilities. If someone makes a claim without good evidence, I love to chalange it. Now all I care about is the truth, no matter how boring or challanging it is. The truth will set you free... _{or will it, can't be biased now! lol!}  

Thoughts? What about you?

I found this video series quite good, even though it's about religion, it applies to anything. I wish more people understood how they think:

Edited by AlienDan, 11 November 2012 - 07:48 AM.

[Beany]

AlienDan, I think questioning things is an excellent life's strategy. That's how we learn & grown & mature, and discover more about the world we live in. The more I question, the more convinced I am of how little I know. I always thought I'd acquire some knowledge & wisdom when I got older, and all I've acquired is the wisdom that I know that I don't know. So the great thing about that is once we've dumped the beliefs that don't serve us we create a space for things that do serve us; not a lot of things, but a handful of simple but profound truths can fill a lot of space. And while I've seen demonstrations of "psychic" phenomena in my life and the lives of close friends and family, I think it's more of a demonstration of the natural world than anything spiritual, which for me is more exciting than the idea of any of it being spiritual in nature. Oh, I typed that last sentence, and then realized, maybe nature is spiritual. Anyway, I expect you'll have a wonderful journey, when we let go of old ideas & ways of thinking is when our minds are truly open to all the wonder and magic of life.

[Jinxdom]

Pretty much what happened to me except I only turned like 175 instead of the full 180 degrees. Knowing that 99% is bull crap but finding out there is still that 1% that makes you go wtf that isn't possible after you test all of the realistic possibilities and they don't hold up. It's that 1% that irks me.

[Bling]

You live and learn. Believing what makes you happy and content is most important, why live your life any other way?

[Bling]

I was in religion for years and then I saw it for what it was, and it was weird and scary to leave at first because I was brainwashed...but now I have peace and a greater understanding in what I believe.

[Rlyeh]

I used to be a creationist. Believed all the crap about radiometric dating, and fossils being inaccurate guesses invented by evolutionists.
Wasn't until I checked the sources of their claims did I see they were presenting only enough information to support their position.

[Beany]

For me, when I practice detachment, I realize how much of myself, my opinions, ideas, etc. I project onto the world. Up until about 5 minutes ago I believed there was one universal reality that existed, now I don't know that's true. I do believe there are some universal truths, but that's different from reality. It makes  me wonder what I'm not seeing clearly because of my own projections.

[Ryu]

I used to think that there was a possibility with souls/spirits and thought there was something to the whole crop circle thing. I used to think that psychic abilities were real and that maybe alines DI visit our world but then something happened, I read other books and did my own research instead of agreeing and going along with what my father told me and a whole new avenue was opened up to me.

[Beany]

Ryu, on 11 November 2012 - 05:31 PM, said:

I used to think that there was a possibility with souls/spirits and thought there was something to the whole crop circle thing. I used to think that psychic abilities were real and that maybe alines DI visit our world but then something happened, I read other books and did my own research instead of agreeing and going along with what my father told me and a whole new avenue was opened up to me.

Ryu, I'm interested to know what opened up for you. I might learn something. I do think there's a possibility of souls/spirits, along with a lot of other odd/strange things, but here I'm confronted with my "not knowing." In a small way, I'm envious of people who are so certain in their beliefs and the comfort that brings them. However, comfort has never been one of my goals.

[eight bits]

Quote

As you can see, Total polar reversal in belief. But how? I thought humans where biased and if their strong belief system was chalanged, many things happen to protect and influence it. I did the very opposite, ...

Enantiodromia, too, is a feature of human psychology.

[Ryu]

Beany, on 11 November 2012 - 05:57 PM, said:

Ryu, I'm interested to know what opened up for you. I might learn something. I do think there's a possibility of souls/spirits, along with a lot of other odd/strange things, but here I'm confronted with my "not knowing." In a small way, I'm envious of people who are so certain in their beliefs and the comfort that brings them. However, comfort has never been one of my goals.

I am not sure I understand what you mean by "what opened up for you?".
Nothing actually "opened" for me, I did the opening by questioning what I had been told, researching all aspects of a topic and realizing why I even accepted, often without question, the afore mentioned subjects.

I was never really "sure" of anything if all I did was nod and follow along with what others told me.

[freetoroam]

I have always wondered how the Romans and Greeks, who had gods depicting the elements of life, decided to stop believing in their gods to start believing in one? would you trust someone who had such a drastic change in their beliefs without actually proof to back it up?
There is no disputing the Sun, moon, layout of stars, water, fire etc etc etc.....so a god relating to them is logical. BUT WHY did these people decide to drop their gods?

[C235]

You believe what you read.

[Beany]

Ryu, on 11 November 2012 - 06:46 PM, said:

I am not sure I understand what you mean by "what opened up for you?".
Nothing actually "opened" for me, I did the opening by questioning what I had been told, researching all aspects of a topic and realizing why I even accepted, often without question, the afore mentioned subjects.

I was never really "sure" of anything if all I did was nod and follow along with what others told me.

Have you found this is an ongoing process for you?

[Ryu]

Beany, on 11 November 2012 - 08:30 PM, said:

Have you found this is an ongoing process for you?

What? Learning? Sort of. It can be hard if all you hear is one side of any topic and often just hearing another view is enough of an impetus to look into it further.