Coming out of the closet

[UltraBudgie]

I openly admit in public to being interested in -

UFOs
Mandela effect/time shifts
Ghosts
ESP
Political conspiracies - (Kennedy assassination, payoffs, backroom deals, "zero year curse")
Vatican conspiracies

And although it's not 'conspiracy' or 'alternative topic' ... I'm very interested in phenomenon in the Catholic church ... Fatima, Medjugorje (I've been there), Betania (I've been there) and other apparitions of saints ... and phenomenon having to do with the saints such as bilocation, incorruptables, gifts of prophecy, odor of sanctity, etc etc

it is very interesting you mention religion because it reminds me of faith and for example the hairgel preacher types saying no no evil for you to doubt or explore here is what you need to believe not anything else ignore that.  because to me that is the opposite of faith because faith is like a firm foundation if thats your thing a safeharbor and in fact it allows you to go as far away as you want because it will always be there and is thus freeing rather than constraining, so go ahead and read buddah or puzzle over the church or whatever

And in a similar fashion, I take issue with those who say "don't be unreasonable".  Reason should not constrain hypothesis; in fact the exact opposite is true.  Reason is built from exploring hypotheses, and doing so require building new systems of explanation, and really inhabiting them, to see if they hold water.  Then, objectively discussing that, sharing observations, etc.  By exploring in the mind, if you will, these territories of belief by actually embracing them, seeing where they lead -- I think that is a very scientific and rational attitude.  Doing so builds the facilities of the intellect.  Yes, many of the more "out there" stuff has underlying assumptions that are contradictory or appear outright false.  But, I am actually able to keep track of those, and be flexible.  They're not poison to be avoided, but rather the diet of a true skeptic, avoiding closed-mindedness or cynicism.

I do get a little testy on some of the ancient Egyptian topics (like the "light bulb" or the "helicopter" "Great Pyramid Ram Jet") but I'm willing to at least read the introductory material.  (I can read SOME hieroglyphs, which means I'm really willing to point at them and say "no, this is what this thing says."

Me too! I mean, handbags. Really? Well, okay -- but the very fact that some people are fascinated by this, means they're looking for something. There are dots they want to connect. And yes, the ways may look silly, but the psychology, archetypes, mythology, gaps in historical record that are unsatisfying -- those I am very accepting of considering.
 So that's the level I engage at.

...except when they want me to watch a video.  Give me text and something solid to back it up with.

QFT