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POST 1: Assignment 2 - World Mysteries - by Marco Roselli

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POST 1: Assignment 2 - World Mysteries - by Marco Roselli

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By: Marco Roselli

Student ID: 100903215

Working solo again! :)

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POST 3: Pseudoscience Watchlist - Use of scientific-sounding language

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POST 3: Pseudoscience Watchlist - Use of scientific-sounding language

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Definition: The use of complex, scientific-sounding language without real meaning.

Connection:

The flux capacitor is a perfect example of scientific-sounding language. The device from "Back to the Future" allowed Marty and Doc to travel in time. They used a lot of language that sounded technical and complex. It's a great example of how scientific methods and critical thinking prevent us from being influenced by scientific-sounding language. In real life, we need skepticism and the ability to debunk claims that are lacking demonstrable validity and not rely on anecdotes from Doc Brown!

A cacophony of blatherskites to discombobultate and make me absquatulate!

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POST 4: Pseudoscience Watchlist - Does Not Progress

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POST 4: Pseudoscience Watchlist - Does Not Progress

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Definition: Something that "doesn't progress." It has been the same since its inception and hasn't produced any new scientific findings.

Connection: Psychics have been around since ancient civilizations, and they have never progressed or provided proof to back their clairvoyance claims. Priests and priestesses used to look for signs from beyond and were seen as a connection between the gods and ordinary people. Currently, their methods do not follow the scientific method, which requires testing and collecting evidence to support claims. Current-day "psychics," say they can predict the future, and they usually charge money. People who believe in this can easily fall prey because they lack critical thinking and are so emotionally vested that they can't tell what's real and what's not.

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POST 5: Psuedoscience Watchlist - Often Appearls to Emotion

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POST 5: Psuedoscience Watchlist - Often Appearls to Emotion

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Definition: Beliefs and practices that connect with people on an emotional level, instead of logic.

Connection: Let''s use the election as an example of this watchlist item. People making a decision that impacts a whole country, maybe even the world without considering the integrity of the people they are voting for. The politicians attract people by playing on their feelings—like hope, fear, and desire. This emotional connection can make it hard to think clearly, leading people to support them without really using critical thinking and possibly a distorted view of truth based on misinformation.

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POST 6: Psuedoscience Redflag - All Natural

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POST 6: Psuedoscience Redflag - All Natural

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Definition: "All Natural" means that the product or treatment is safe or effective because it comes from nature.

Connection: Parents from Alberta decided to treat their toddler with meningitis the "all natural" way and used a concoction of maple syrup, berries, garlic and horseradish instead of bringing their child to the ER, even after a nurse suggested it. Sadly, the todler passed away as and the parents were charged.

Relying on natural remedies can lead to severe consequences since these remedies are not backed by evidence most of the time. Have skepticism regarding your health and make choices that focus on health and safety using the Scientific Method.

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An Alberta couple whose son died of meningitis after being treated with natural remedies were told to take their son to a doctor a day before his death, court heard Tuesday.

David Stephan, 32, and his wife, Collet Stephan, 35, have pleaded not guilty to failing to provide the necessaries of life for 19-month-old Ezekiel, who died in March 2012.

As the trial continued for a second day in Lethbridge on Tuesday, David Stephan kept his arm wrapped around his wife's shoulders for most of the day.

Just days before his death, Ezekiel fell asleep in the bathtub, the court heard.

Worried, his mother called a friend who is a registered nurse. That friend, Terrie Meynders, told the court she didn't see anything obviously wrong with the toddler, who was sleeping when she came by.

'Knowledge is power'

However, Meynders said she told Collet Stephan it could be meningitis and she should take the boy to see a doctor.

"I always say that knowledge is power," she told the court. "In my mind, if he was sick, it would be helpful to find out why."

The court heard that the Stephans did not seek medical help until the next day, when the toddler stopped breathing.

Ezekiel was airlifted to a hospital in Calgary and, after five days, doctors took him off life-support.

The Stephans are charged with failing to provide the necessaries of life by failing to get their child medical attention.

In the days leading up to his death, they had treated Ezekiel with a number of home remedies, including water with maple syrup, juice with frozen berries and finally a mixture of apple cider vinegar, horseradish root, hot peppers, mashed onion, garlic and ginger root as his condition deteriorated.

Would now go to doctor 'without hesitation'

A social worker who interviewed the couple in hospital while their brain-damaged toddler was on life-support testified that she asked the Stephans what they would do if their other son became sick.

They told her "without hesitation" that they'd bring him to a doctor, she said.

The trial continues in Lethbridge.

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Parents charged in toddler's meningitis death told by nurse to consult doctor, court hears | CBC News

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An Alberta couple whose son died of meningitis after being treated with natural remedies were told to take their son to a doctor a day before his death, court heard Tuesday. David Stephan, 32, and his wife, Collet Stephan, 35, have pleaded not guilty to failing to provide the necessaries of life for 19-month-old Ezekiel, who died in March 2012.

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POST 7: Psuedoscience Redflag - Ideological Support

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POST 7: Psuedoscience Redflag - Ideological Support

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Definition: Ideological Support is when people believe in something or someone because it aligns with their beliefs even though it's not based on evidence or facts.

Connection: People being cured after visiting a holy site instead of actual evidence showing how the person was cured (some still believe despite evidence contradicting their beliefs. Also, a person might believe that praying to a certain saint will help them pass an exam (I know because I have done this :) ).

While stories of this actually happening might exist, there's no evidence to show that prayer is what helped them to pass. Be skeptical and stay grounded by facts!

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Lourdes is the most famous healing shrine in the world but it's a fascinating pilgrimage destination for anyone, even if you're not in need of a miracle. People from many nations fill its streets.

Each year the French shrine of Lourdes draws millions of visitors from around the world. But when a young servant girl named Bernadette Soubirous claimed to see a radiant vision of a woman in white here on February 11, 1858, it was a just small market town virtually unknown to the larger world.

Over the next five months the lady would appear 17 more times to Bernadette, visions that the Roman Catholic Church (though initially skeptical) would declare authentic appearances of the Virgin Mary. Miraculous cures have been associated with Lourdes ever since.

Lourdes today is far different from the isolated mountain hamlet of 1858. During the main pilgrimage season that runs from Easter through the end of October, an average of 25,000 pilgrims gather here each day in the shrine located in the center of Lourdes.

Several huge basilicas and churches dominate the grounds, each with many services throughout the day and evening. The torchlight processions for which Lourdes is famous wind between them, a flickering ribbon of light held by pilgrims singing hymns of praise to Mary.

While Lourdes has clearly changed from the time Bernadette saw the first vision, the heart of the grotto remains essentially the same. The large outcropping of stone known as Massabiele is still there, and in the niche where the lady had appeared to Bernadette stands a statue of the Virgin Mary, her hands joined in prayer as her eyes gazed heavenward.

Below, a long line of people slowly wind into the area beneath the stone, where they reverently touch the rock and leave photographs, flowers, and other tokens near the spring that had been uncovered by Bernadette. A rack of candles burns brightly in front of the grotto, and nearby is a line of spigots where people collect water from the spring.

I visited Lourdes on the days surrounding February 11, the anniversary of the first apparition and a feast day of Bernadette. More than 20,000 pilgrims would join me in the celebrations at the shrine. (About 25,000 pilgrims are present daily in Lourdes during the main pilgrimage season that runs from Easter through the end of October.)
Seeking Healing Miracles
The diversity of people was striking: nuns in long habits, elderly couples, young people traveling in groups, elegant Italian women in fur coats, and groups of men holding large banners aloft bearing the names of their cities and churches.

After several more blocks, the commercial district ended and I reached the entrance to the shrine. Just inside St. Joseph's Gate, a large marble statue depicted the Virgin Mary appearing to a man in a hospital bed. A few more steps and a huge basilica came into view, an imposing structure with a gilded crown set atop its lower level. Two ramps extended like arms from each side, ending in a huge square and esplanade capable of holding many thousands of people.

Once I wandered around to the side of the basilica, I was relieved to see that the heart of the grotto remained essentially the same as it had been all those years before. The large outcropping of stone known as Massabiele was still there, and in the niche where the lady had appeared to Bernadette stood a statue of the Virgin Mary, her hands joined in prayer as her eyes gazed heavenward.

Below, a long line of people slowly wound into the area beneath the stone, where they reverently touched the rock and left photographs, flowers, and other tokens near the spring that had been uncovered by Bernadette. A rack of candles burned brightly in front of the grotto, and nearby was a line of spigots where people collected water from the spring.

While the grotto was the heart of the sanctuary, I found the rest of the complex intriguing as well. Several huge churches welcome the hordes of pilgrims that throng here, each with many services throughout the day and evening. My favorite was the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, a Roman-Byzantine structure with exquisite mosaics.

While its physical setting is striking, the shrine's power is also interwoven with the pilgrims who journey here. Scenes from my time there stand out sharp and clear in my memory. I remember a young woman, her face open and vulnerable, kneeling on the cement before the grotto in the falling rain, and a friar wearing a brown cape who looked like he had stepped out of a tapestry from the Middle Ages. I recall the Italian woman who noticed me standing near the water fountains and gestured me forward with a broad smile and the words "Bella! Bella!" I remember the many people in wheelchairs at all the processions and services, and the pilgrims who waited patiently to take their turn in the baths near the grotto.

When I recall my trip to Lourdes I remember the grand drama of my experiences there, the processions and masses and the exultant feeling of being surrounded by so many pilgrims. But I recall with special fondness something that may seem small and trivial in comparison-all those shops selling Virgin Mary souvenirs. While one can complain about the commercialism, I think there's something pleasingly subversive about those endless shelves of knick-knacks.

I imagine the places where those trinkets are likely to end up, how they will find their way into nursing homes, hospital rooms and bedside tables, into the pockets of chemotherapy patients and the hands of soldiers going off to war.I recall with special fondness something that may seem small and trivial in comparison-all those shops selling Virgin Mary souvenirs. While one can complain about the commercialism, I think there's something pleasingly subversive about those endless shelves of knick-knacks.

Though small and inexpensive, those tokens carry a powerful message: they are a reminder that the broken and wounded will be the first to enter the Kingdom of God, that miracles are possible even when the darkness seems overwhelming, and that the most unlikely among us can receive a life-changing vision of light.

To learn more:

See Also:

Before visiting Lourdes, I hope you'll read my book Holy Rover: Journeys in Search of Mystery, Miracles and God, which is a memoir told through trips to a dozen holy sites around the world. One of the chapters focuses on Lourdes and its influence on my own spiritual life.

If You Go:

Located in the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains near the Spanish border, Lourdes has a population of just 15,000 (but more hotels than any other French city except Paris).

The main pilgrimage season in Lourdes runs from Easter through the end of October. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes is open 24 hours every day, and admission is free.

Getting to Lourdes: Lourdes is 5 ½ hours from Paris by high-speed train and has an international airport with direct flights from many European cities. The airport is 10 minutes from the downtown.

Lodging: A wide variety of lodgings are available in Lourdes, including accommodations for the sick. The Best Western Lourdes Hotel offers accommodations near the train depot and within walking distance of the shrine.

If you want to venture beyond the sanctuary at Lourdes, you can tour the medieval fortress that perches atop a hill overlooking the town for insight into Pyrenees history and culture, then drive 15 miles south into some of Europe's most spectacular scenery in Pyrenees National Park. Hiking trails wind amid 100,000 acres of jagged peaks, alpine meadows, and waterfalls.

Don't miss the Cirque de Gavarnie, a natural rock amphitheater and World Heritage Site with the longest waterfall on the continent. At one end of the valley looms a break in the peaks called Roland's Gap (according to legend, it was cut by Roland, nephew of Charlemagne). Rare fauna in the park include the isard-a species of antelope-and Pyrenean bear, as well as soaring Egyptian and griffon vultures.

In the ski resort town of Cauterets 20 miles from Lourdes, hot springs offer rejuvenation for footsore mountain explorers.

For more information: The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, Lourdes Tourist Office; and the French Government Tourist Office
Lori Erickson is one of America's top travel writers specializing in spiritual journeys. She's the author of the Near the Exit: Travels With the Not-So-Grim Reaper and Holy Rover: Journeys in Search of Mystery, Miracles, and God. Her website Spiritual Travels features holy sites around the world.

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Lourdes: The World's Most Famous Healing Shrine - Spiritual Travels

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Lourdes is the most famous healing shrine in the world but it's a fascinating pilgrimage destination for anyone, even if you're not in need of a miracle. People from many nations fill its streets. Each year the French shrine of Lourdes draws millions of visitors from around the world.

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POST 8: Psuedoscience Redflag - Proof by Verbosity

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POST 8: Psuedoscience Redflag - Proof by Verbosity

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Definition: Proof by Verbosity; when someone tries to prove a point by overloading you with information, even if it doesn't make sense.

Connection: According to the Institute for Functional Medicine website, the elimination diet is supposed to identify your food sensitivities and reduce inflammation. On their website, they have used this red flag to push their diet and make you spend money on their services. They have posted overwhelming amounts of information to support their claim and trick you into thinking their diet works. When it comes to anything that has to do with your health, use critical thinking, skepticism, and scientific methods. Make sure the information is from a reputable source!

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Heal the Microbiome With the IFM Elimination Diet | IFM

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Emerging research continues to show that symptoms and conditions that have failed to respond to conventional medical therapy may resolve when a patient follows an elimination diet.

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POST 9: Psuedoscience Redflag - Red Herring

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POST 9: Psuedoscience Redflag - Red Herring

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Definition: A red herring tries to distract from the main point by introducing irrelevant information or changing the subject.

Connection: In the picture, a mother asks her child to clean his room, and the child responds by asking for pizza. The child is trying to distract his mother to avoid cleaning his room. He is diverting attention from the main issue by shifting the subject. This is also done a lot in politics during debates; they provide information that might appear relevant but lead away from the main point so that they don't have to answer. When someone throws a red herring, it's important to redirect them, and, most importantly, stay skeptical!

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POST 10: Psuedoscience Redflag - Supression by Authorities

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POST 10: Psuedoscience Redflag - Supression by Authorities

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Definition: Suppression by authorities claims that powerful people are up at the top, deliberately hiding the truth from the public.

Connection: Many people believe that the government is in cahoots with pharmaceutical companies, hiding a cancer cure to continue profiting from treatments rather than providing a cure. Some argue that the profits lie in treatment, not in a cure. When encountering claims like this, it's easy to be swayed if you don't apply critical thinking or consult a reputable source. Always stick to the scientific method!

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Suppressing a cure for more than 40 years! BURZYNSKI: THE CANCER CURE COVER-UP - FULL DOCUMENTARY

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POST 11: Reason for Belief - Perception and Observation

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POST 11: Reason for Belief - Perception and Observation

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Perception and Observation: This is how we process and interpret information, while observation means gathering the data we perceive.

Connection: In the justice system, mistakes can happen when a witnesses inaccurately remebers events leading to wrongful convictions. As was the story of Ronald Cotton who was sentenced twice to life in prison for horrible crimes, except he did not commit the crimes. His conviction was due to inaccurate identification where perception and observation errors led to a distorted view of truth. Suppression of evidence and bias by the accuser, as well as the police, also played a big role in this case. In the justice system we need to ensure accurate and reliable data is used when there are serious crimes and accusations that could potentially convict the wrong person.

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Eyewitness Testimony Is Unreliable… Or Is It?

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A new study of the data says it depends on timing.

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Definition: An idea that shapes how people's think and act, especially in religion and politics.

Connection: You could say that World War I was caused by an ideology: Nationalism. This sense of "my country is better than yours!" made people want to expand their power and territory, causing tension and competition among many nations. Other countries were seen as a threat. This belief lead to many countries forming alliances and eventually it lef to World War I.

This ideology was supported by groupthink and a distorted view of truth caused by a lack of critical thinking.

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In this article, we shall attempt to define what nationalism was, in the context of nineteenth and twentieth century Europe, and have a look at how did nationalism lead to WW1

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Definition: Choosing simple explanations over more complex ones because the simple answer is probably true.

Connection: Occam's Razor is from a 14th-century friar names William of Ockham. William said that if you have two ideas, the simplest one is usually the right one. For example, if you think, "this is just a cough; it will go away on its own" you might believe it's not urgent and decide not to get medical help and potentially miss other underlying health issues. It's ok to value simplicity but remain skeptical and don't oversimplify things. We need to use critical thinking and sound judgement. Dont oversimplify everything! #CriticalThinking #ScienceMatters

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A guiding principle of logic exhorting us to keep things as simple as possible.

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POST 14: Reason for Belief - Unexplained

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POST 14: Reason for Belief - Unexplained

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Definition: Refers to phenomena that lack scientific explanations.

Connection: A story of life after death, as told by Tony Cicoria, a New York surgeon who was struck by lightning and had a near-death experience. Tony said that when he died he remembers leaving his body and being in another dimension where he felt peace, love and a "God energy". When he woke up, Tony said he felt different. He developed an interest in classical piano music, even though he had never been interested in it. He started teaching himself to play the piano and compose music. Tony became a famous piano player and was featured in a popular book.

Tony maintained that he experienced life after death, or maybe Tony didn't die after all. Perhaps the scientific explanation is that he was unconscious, and his brain was working overtime. Let's embrace curiosity without abandoning skepticism!

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Surgeon Struck by Lightning : Discovers the God Energy (Near-Death Experience)