Conscientiology
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Conscientiology is a name used by advocates of a particular paranormal theory about consciousness. It is based around the believe that the human consciousness is something which exists independently of the physical body. Researchers of conscientiology claim that their discipline is a "new science" that addresses flaws in conventional scientific reasoning. Critics, however, dismiss conscientiology as a pseudoscience.
Conscientiology was first proposed by Waldo Vieira, a Brazilian medical practitioner, in 1986.
Theory
According to the International Academy of Coscientiology (IAC), one of the primary advocates of the conscientiologist theory, the human consciousness "extends far beyond the boundaries of the physical realm", with the human body being merely the "unidimensional" manifestation of a "multidimensional" consciousness. The IAC claims that because conventional science is "limited to materialistic methodologies to conduct its research", it is impossible to study the consciousness without a new approach.
The conscientiologist theory is closely linked to other paranormal claims about out-of-body experiences. Because conscientiologists believe that the consciousness has an existence independent of the body, they therefore believe that the consciousness can be separated from the body. According to the IAC, all humans have the "capacity [to leave] their physical body with lucidity", and out-of-body experiences are described by the IAC as "the conscientiologist's main research tool". Conscientiologists use the term "projectiology" to describe the study of projecting one's consciousness outside the physical body.
Another product of the conscientiologist theory is the belief that the consciousness exists before birth and after death - according to the IAC, the consciousness has multiple manifestations, a conclusion which essentially equates to belief in reincarnation.
Criticism
Critics of conscientiology dismiss its claims, believing that the methods used by conscientiologists are unscientific and that the views they promote are not backed up with evidence. According to sceptics, conscientiology's rejection of traditional scientific method is merely a way of escaping the burden of proof.
External links
- International Institute of Projectiology and Conscientiology (http://www.iipc.org)
- International Academy of Conscientiology (http://www.iacworld.org/English/Sciences/Conscientiology/Default.asp)
- Associação Internacional do Centro de Altos Estudos da Conscienciologia (http://www.ceaec.org/Portuguese/Association/default.asp) (in Portuguese)