Does believing in paranormal activity conflict with a person’s religious beliefs? Two recent surveys indicate that more Americans are trying to find ways to balance the two.<\/p>\n
In part of its extensive religion survey, released last month, the Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion found a “surprising level of paranormal belief and experience in the United States.”<\/p>\n
The paranormal includes: telekinesis, haunted houses, astrology and communicating with the dead.<\/p>\n
According to a 2005 Gallup Poll, about 75 percent of Americans hold some form of paranormal belief in at least one of the following: extrasensory perception, haunted houses, ghosts, mental telepathy, clairvoyance, astrology, communicating with the dead, witches, reincarnation and channeling.<\/p>\n
William Dinges, professor of religious studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., said one explanation for such findings is the growing “spiritual, but not religious” mind-set among people.<\/p>\n
“That’s become a fairly pervasive kind of mind-set in our society,” he said.<\/p>\n
Additionally, he said, some forms of paranormal activity have become popular in recent years because of television shows such as “The X-Files.”<\/p>\n
…More…\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Studies have found that most Americans, including people of faith, embrace some paranormal beliefs. BY JOE RODRIGUEZ The Wichita Eagle Does believing in paranormal activity conflict with a person’s religious beliefs? Two recent surveys indicate that more Americans are trying … Continue reading