Can Conventional Concepts and Theories Adequately Address Mystical and Paranormal Experiences?
William Braud This paper appeared originally as an invited chapter in the book, NeuroTheology: Brain, Science, Spirituality, Religious Experience, edited by Rhawn Joseph (San Jose, CA: University Press, California, 2002), pp. 143-158. Used with permission. Abstract This chapter provides a balanced account of both the strengths and limitations of conventional cognitive science and neuroscience, as these attempt to address and explain nonordinary and transcendent experiences. These nonordinary and transcendent experiences include—but are not limited to—mystical, spiritual, and paranormal experiences. Although some findings and theories of experimental psychology, cognitive science, and neuroscience may explain, and are quite relevant to, certain aspects of these nonordinary experiences, these same explanatory concepts are not yet able to deal with other aspects of these experiences—particularly those well-researched cases in which the experiences yield veridical knowledge about sensorily
