The supernatural: We Want to Believe

Last night a woman I know (who for the most part does not believe in the supernatural) talked about something she said she could not explain: a couple of dreams which came true to an uncanny degree. Her words were dispassionate; she made no claims that anything supernatural occurred, only that she could not explain what happened.

On the other hand, her emotional communication, her tone and attitude, all seemed to be saying: “don’t give me a cold, rational explanation for this.” And when some of the people there did so, she argued strongly against them all. Apparently she wanted one last bit of magical ability for herself that was not explained by the perceptiveness and intelligence of her unconscious mind (or anything else).

Nor is she alone. A number of other people I know who are smart and practical-minded also believe they can predict the future or have inexplicable knowledge of things which happen far away.

When I was young I also believed in this sort of thing as well as much more. I loved the idea of miracles and magic and aliens visiting from outer space. But the more I looked into these things the less evidence I found that any of it was true. Worse still, I saw that these beliefs were actually belittling people’s actual achievements: Space aliens, not people, built the pyramids. People did not figure out how to make fire on their own, Prometheus stole it from the gods. The doctor did not cure your disease; it was god, or fate or karma.

Eventually I realized that all the achievements plain old ordinary people have accomplished against all the obstacles in their way are more wonderful than all the magic ever imagined. So I no longer needed to believe, though there is still a place for unicorns in my fantasies.