For those who are unaware, Gwyneth Paltrow has a new Netflix show,
Goop Lab. It goes into depths on various topics ranging from energy healing to the medicinal properties of “shrooms”. Dr. Julie Beischel is in an episode about mediumship and the afterlife. Several journal outlets are having a field day with this, including this one which made me laugh by the complete lack of awareness in her research.
https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/cul...ix-941830/
Anyway, I recommend the episode/show. It isn’t anything new for anybody who browses the forum, but it’s nice seeing this type of work in mainstream media.
“And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming.”
(2020-01-30, 08:02 AM)Chris Wrote: Thanks for this. It is interesting that the article criticises Beischel's work essentially on the ground that the subject of her research is obviously impossible - and that "clairvoyance" is not "a legitimate area of study" - rather than that there's anything wrong with her methods. It also mentions that she works at "a nonprofit, donation-supported research center run by Beischel and her husband" and that her Ph.D. is in pharmacology and toxicology rather than parapsychology, but of course neither of those facts necessarily invalidates the work either.
Of course I don't mean to imply there aren't valid criticisms to be made of at least some of Beischel's work. But this is lazy stuff.
Yeah, every article I’ve ran across about this episode in particular is just absolutely lazy. There are legitimate criticisms of her work and I’ve seen numerous people on this very forum have concerns. If you start from the position that it is impossible, then all science/research into the subject will look like a waste of time. I don't necessarily believe in energy healing, but people who are willing to research into it have nothing but my respect and support.
“And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming.”
Hate to say it but being on the show may hurt Julies credibility, not that it should.
(2020-01-31, 11:15 AM)letseat Wrote: Would you mind summarizing some of the criticisms?
The one criticism I mainly remember has to do with the medium knowing the name of the person they are doing a reading on. Someone, I think it was Chris actually, said that this could give subconscious cueing, or something to that effect. I’m not really the one to ask about this, as I am not entirely familiar with her work. Nor am I good at seeing the potential problems in studies. I think the threads here and at Skeptiko on her might have some of those criticisms.
“And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming.”
Oh god, why did she had to associate with Paltrow? That woman credibility is such a disaster. Hope at least she is making good money for future projects. I really like her work and I don't want to see it wasted.
(2020-01-31, 11:10 AM)letseat Wrote: Hate to say it but being on the show may hurt Julies credibility, not that it should.
I was thinking the same thing. This show was going to be controversial from the start. People are going to attack it, even for the smallest of reasons. Not sure it was a smart idea to get involved in it.
“And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming.”
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