From: donal@brewich.hou.tx.us (Donal)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Re: Firewalk
Date: 31 Jul 92 13:32:30 GMT
Organization: The Brewer's Witch BBS, HouTx, +1 713 272 7350

57Tim.ONeill@english.utas.edu.au (Tim O'Neill) writes:

> In article <2HZmoB4w165w@brewich.uucp>, donal@brewich.uucp (Donal) writes:
> > 
> > Tim.ONeill@english.utas.edu.au (Tim O'Neill) writes:
> > 
> > > In article <15523@ucdavis.ucdavis.edu>, darsie@eecs.ucdavis.edu (Richard 
> > > > This past weekend I shared a truly transcendent experience with
> > > > about 25 other people. We attended a firewalking seminar.
> > > 
> > > Well Richard, the group support may have had a great deal to do with
> > > your plucking up the courage to step into the coals, but it had nothing
> > > to do with the lack of third degree burns to your feet. That was due to
[...] 
> > > thinking sessions are great, but con-men who use cheap parlour tricks to 
> > > make money are not.
> > > Tim O'Neill 
> > 
> > Tim, I am amazed that you could post something like this!? Have you no 
> > sense of the profound effect that the walk had on the poster?
> 
> Did I question the profundity of the experience? All I did was point out
> that it had a perfectly mundane explanation. I have no doubt that stepping
> out into a pit of glowing coals and walking across them would be deeply
> impressive, even if you did know why it worked. In fact I wouldn't mind
> trying it myself sometime. I saw a fantastic disply of the Aurora Australis
> the other night. I know the scientific explanation for that as well, but
> it is still a deeply profound experience.
> 
> > Do you 
> > realize that at that moment, Ciaran could have done ANYTHING???
> 
> I realise nothing of the sort. He could *not* have walked across a steel
> plate heated to the same temperatures without burning his feet very, 
> very badly for example. If he, or anyone else, claims that they can, 
> then this can be easily tested and I can be shown to be wrong. Shall 
> we arrange an experiment?

But he could! That is just the point. Perhaps he could not have, 
personally, just then. Perhaps he had not reached that level, but I firmly 
believe that the power of the human mind can do anything, change time and 
space, even bend the laws of Physics. nothing is impossible if we truly 
believe (the real message of the mountain moving bit re: Mohammed).

> > I forget 
> > who but someone once asked, "What would you do if you KNEW you could not 
> > fail?" The scientific explanation does nothing to invalidate Ciaran's 
> > experience. All the firewalk did was confirm the truth the walker already 
> > knew, that we are limited by nothing but the limits we pla{_ce on 
> > ourselves.
> 
> Soory Donal, but I see no reason to believe that we aren't limited by the
> laws of physics. You can prove me wrong, of course, by taking up my offer
> of a test. I like to be shown that I am wrong because that's how I learn
> new things. Until you give me some good evidence, however, then I am forced 
> to go with what has been demonstrated. A walk across poorly conducting
> wood coals proves nothing except that its possible to walk across poorly
> conducting wood coals, which everyone knew anyway. Show me someone doing
> something impossible through mental powers and I'll change my tune. 
> 
> > Ciaran, please do not let Tim's doubts or scientific explanation reduce 
> > the power of your vision. Do what you would dare, and know that you 
> > CANNOT fail.
> 
> Indeed Ciaran, but don't walk across 400 degree steel unless you never want
> to walk again.
> Tim O'Neill

Once and for all, btw, I will make final apologies to Richard and Ciaran 
for misnaming the poster. Richard did the firewalk. ok, can we keep the 
names straight now?   :D


--------------------
Donal, Sysop of The Brewer's Witch BBS -- +1 713 272 7350
(Internet) donal@brewich.UUCP  or  donal%brewich@lobster.hou.tx.us
(SCA) Ld. Donal Dubh, IC of Dun Bruddair, B of the Stargate, K of Ansteorra
Newsgroups: alt.pagan