VISIONS AND REVELATIONS
How do we explain all those visions, appearances and revelations throughout the ages? Little was known about mental illnesses, such as paranoia and schizophrenia that can cause many illusions and hallucinations. Mass hypnoses can involve many people.
One can also wonder why there are many people caught up in extreme beliefs, not only religious ones but also political ones. Might this be a form of mass hypnosis? Cult leaders are a prime example of one person capable of influencing many people. Some political and religious leaders fall into that category as well.
There are the many drugs that are and were used. Many plants used by humans have hallucinatory effects. In the past people regarded these plant extract as gifts from the God(s) to be able to get in contact with the Deities. The Oracle of Delphi was apparently under the influence of gasses emitted from a geological fault in the earth crust.
Mountain climbers suffering from hypoxia, oxygen deprivation, have reported that when alone and under severe stress often have sensed another “presence” beside them. (“The Believing Brain” by Michael Shermer). This phenomenon also happens to people in isolation, with sleep deprivation or in other very stressful situations. These illusions are created in the brain itself. Since in the past, mountains were considered “gateways to Heaven” and the abode of Gods, I suspect that many persons, trying to reach the gods by climbing mountains sensed a “presence” in their own brains and regarded that as the presence of a God. This reinforced their belief that their own ideas and philosophy were actually messages from a Deity. The biblical figure of Moses comes to mind here.
The recent spate of Flying Saucers “observations” and those of “kidnapping” by aliens is a prime example of how observations which cannot be readily explained or understood are part of the mass “hypnosis” that convinces people that there are extra terrestrials about. It may be part of fear of the unknown for some or wish full thinking for others. These observations have been taking place throughout history and were generally thought to be messages from the Gods. In modern times, however, people are influenced by the many science fictions stories and by the speculation that there could be other intelligent life forms in the universe. With such a vast universe there probably will be other intelligent life somewhere. Even in the unlikely situation that ours is the first one in the whole universe there certainly will be many others to follow.
Some people, who claimed to have been abducted by aliens or believe that they have met or contacted aliens, might be suffering from a disease called Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE). There are many causes such as head injuries, multiple sclerosis or other brain related diseases that can cause hallucinations.
One can also wonder why there are many people caught up in extreme beliefs, not only religious ones but also political ones. Might this be a form of mass hypnosis? Cult leaders are a prime example of one person capable of influencing many people. Some political and religious leaders fall into that category as well.
There are the many drugs that are and were used. Many plants used by humans have hallucinatory effects. In the past people regarded these plant extract as gifts from the God(s) to be able to get in contact with the Deities. The Oracle of Delphi was apparently under the influence of gasses emitted from a geological fault in the earth crust.
Mountain climbers suffering from hypoxia, oxygen deprivation, have reported that when alone and under severe stress often have sensed another “presence” beside them. (“The Believing Brain” by Michael Shermer). This phenomenon also happens to people in isolation, with sleep deprivation or in other very stressful situations. These illusions are created in the brain itself. Since in the past, mountains were considered “gateways to Heaven” and the abode of Gods, I suspect that many persons, trying to reach the gods by climbing mountains sensed a “presence” in their own brains and regarded that as the presence of a God. This reinforced their belief that their own ideas and philosophy were actually messages from a Deity. The biblical figure of Moses comes to mind here.
The recent spate of Flying Saucers “observations” and those of “kidnapping” by aliens is a prime example of how observations which cannot be readily explained or understood are part of the mass “hypnosis” that convinces people that there are extra terrestrials about. It may be part of fear of the unknown for some or wish full thinking for others. These observations have been taking place throughout history and were generally thought to be messages from the Gods. In modern times, however, people are influenced by the many science fictions stories and by the speculation that there could be other intelligent life forms in the universe. With such a vast universe there probably will be other intelligent life somewhere. Even in the unlikely situation that ours is the first one in the whole universe there certainly will be many others to follow.
Some people, who claimed to have been abducted by aliens or believe that they have met or contacted aliens, might be suffering from a disease called Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE). There are many causes such as head injuries, multiple sclerosis or other brain related diseases that can cause hallucinations.