CIA-RDP96-00792R000700110001-8

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Parapsychology Abstracts International
Approved For Release 2000/08/11 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000700110001-8
society is the locus of conceptual orger and how facts are
made fact-like in spite of their hy man creators. Finally,
and this is a coronary of the last point, I have tried to
explain why the version of events described here is so
little known. If we always has the image of the core set
before our eyes then there would be no facts. The
privacy of creation is what maintains its sanctity and its
power" (p. 152).
A Postscript discussof the wide implications of the
book for science education, science pome questions, foren-
sic science, public inqueries and the role of scientific ex-
pertise in the institutions of democratic society
It con-
cludes with some exa aples of the way that an understand-
ing of scientific change sheds light on political processes.
A methodological a pendix follows. - DT/R.A.W.
2564.
Finkler, Kaja. Spiritualist Healers in Mexico:
Successes and Failures of Alternative Therapeutics.
South Hadley, MA: Bergin & Garvey, 1985. 256p. Biblio-'
graphy: 228-242; Chapter notes: 224-227; 6 graphs; 1 Glos-
sary; Index: 245-256; 17 tables
This is a report of an intensive investigation of the
successes and failures of Spiritualist healing in a rural set-
ting in Mexico made by an anthropologist. In the course
of the investigation the natives insisted that she participate
in the rituals and undergo initial training as a Spiritualist
healer. The author summarizes her work as follows: "The
two interrelated tasks of this book have been (1) to:
demonstrate the ways in which an alternative healing sys-
tem succeeds and fails to heal, as perceived by its patients,
and in which one rural segment of a complex society ex-
presses and manages illness, and (2) to describe the inter-
action between a therapeutic regime and the historical, so-
cial, and economic forces of the larger society of which it
is a part. I have identified the people's recovery requisi-
tes, explored the beliefs and practices of an important al-
ternative health-care delivery system in contemporary:
Mexico, and have analyzed its impact on the clientele
within a personal and societal framework. I have unveiled
a folk Mexican cognitive model of recovery, which I postu-
late is rooted in the history of its bearers and is fostered
by current ecological conditions."
There are useful chapters on "Spiritualist Healing
Techniques" and "How Spiritualist Healers Heal." Several'
appendices present background information on her research.
A glossary, extensive bibliography, and an index enhance
the book's usefulness. - DT/R.A.W.
02565. Flynn, Charles P. After the Beyond: Human
Transformation and the Near-Death Experience.
Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, #1986. 190p. Bibliogra-
phy: 181-183; Index: 185-190; 4 tables-
This book is about the spiritual impact of near-death
experiences (NDEs). It looks at what many NDErs have
had to say about life, death, and love. In the first chapter
Flynn provides an overview of the book. Chapter 2 ex-
amines the NDEs of a number of persons.
Chapter 3
deals with the difficulties experienced by NDErs in getting
people even to listen to their stories, let alone accept them
as valid. Chapter 4 is concerned with the difficulties
NDErs have in incorporating their experiences in their
lives. Chapter 5 examines some of the value transforma-
tions that NDErs undergo and presents two in-depth, cx-
tensive case studies of major changes in the lives of two
NDErs. The sixth chapter covers research aimed at dis-
covering whether a brush with death without an NDE
leads to transformation. Various religious aspects of NDEs
are examined in Chapter 7, which emphasizes how NDErs
adopt a theocentric attitude centered in a God of uncondi-
tional love. The implications of NDEs for Christianity is
the subject of Chapter 8. Chapter 9 looks at the positive
effects NDErs exercise on the lives of nonexperiencers, to
whom they direct the love of the Light they were imbued
with by their experience. The 10th chapter deals with the
meaning of NDEs for those who have not had any sort of
transcendent or death-related experience and have not been
influenced by anyone who has.
Some of the more sig-
nificant findings of an educational experiment -- the Love
Project -- which he conducted with several classes are
presented. In this project he attempted to provide his stu-
dents with
and efforts like we Love Project
opportunity to become more loving and
caring after the manner of NDErs but in a context not
directly related to the NDE. It is hishope that "the NDE
. . might provide a
scedbed for large-s le transformation in a world close to
annihilation through Porces opposite to those of the love of
There is a Foreword by Raymond
the Light" (p. 8).
Moody and an Afterward by Kenneth Ring. The latter
points out that Flyn goes beyond Ring's Heading
Toward Omega by saying we should not simply wait pas-
sively for the coming of Omega but should "participate ac-
tively in its emergence" (p. 16 ).
Materials for the Love
Project are included in the Appendices. - R.A.W.
02566. Frazier, Kendrick (ed.). Paranormal Border-
lands of Science. Buffalo. N : Prometheus Books, 1981.
469p. Chapter bibliographic , 19 igs; 23 illus; 34 tables
Anthology of critical papers on various pseudosciences
(parapsychology included). The arcles include reports of
original research, critical ssays, anaertical articles, and in-
vestigative reports. All were originally published in the
official CSICOP journal. Skeptical Ing, irer, which Frazier
edits. Book I deals vith "Skeptical Inquiries Into the
Paranormal." Under this head there are 7 articles dealing
with psi phenomena and belief, 3 articles on "Tricks of the
Psychic Trade," 6 on Deller-Type Phenomena," 3 on "Storm
of Life and Death
and 2 on biorbythms.
Book
"Inquiries Into Fringe Science," is not mainly on para-
psychology but there is a test of do sing ability and one
on psychic archae ogy.
The value of a book with such
varied subject matter would be enhanced by an index,
which it lacks. - K.A.W.
02567. GR sso, Michael. The Final Choice: Playing the
Survival Gane. Walpole, NH: S Allpoint, 1985. 348p. Biblio-
graphy: 341-342-
The purpose of this "sketch of a New Age
Metaphysics of bath and Enlightenment" is to "draw a
picture of Mind a Large and to show how that concept
may relate to our survival, both here and hercafter" (p. 6).
It is in 6 parts. The first presents an outline of the idea
of a modern deathcraft ownart of dying. Part Two deals
with research on survivaland stresses the importance of a
synoptic view of psi, sur hval research, altered states, and
biological theory. Part 3 attempts to show that the OBE is
a way in which we explore the fringes of Mind at Large.
Part 4 is about near-death phen mena, which are important
routes to Mind at Large. He shows that there is a general
mechanism, triggered By near death, that may work in any
crisis of transformation.
In Part NDEs are viewed as
"part of a larger class of appariticeal phenomena whose
function is to assist, reassure, guide and direct individuals,
or groups of individuals, in times of isis" (p. 8). These
he calls Messengers From Mind at Large. Part 6 is on the
possibility of global near-death and transformation. There
is much in this book about the meaning and significance
of parapsychological phenomena. - R.A.W.
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