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'''Paranormal''' is a general term that describes unusual [[experiences]] that lack a [[scientific]] explanation,[1] or [[phenomena]] alleged to be outside of science's current ability to explain or [[measure]].[2] Notably, paranormal phenomena also lack scientific [[evidence]], as detectable but not well explained phenomena such as [[dark matter]] or dark [[energy]] are not commonly called paranormal.

'''Paranormal''' is a general term that describes unusual [[experiences]] that lack a [[scientific]] explanation,[1] or [[phenomena]] alleged to be outside of science's current ability to explain or [[measure]].[2] Notably, paranormal phenomena also lack scientific [[evidence]], as detectable but not well explained phenomena such as [[dark matter]] or dark [[energy]] are not commonly called paranormal.

Stories relating to paranormal phenomena are found in popular [[culture]], but the scientific [[community]], as referenced in statements made by organizations such as the United States [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Science_Foundation National Science Foundation], maintains that scientific evidence does not support paranormal [[beliefs]].[3]

Stories relating to paranormal phenomena are found in popular [[culture]], but the scientific [[community]], as referenced in statements made by organizations such as the United States [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Science_Foundation National Science Foundation], maintains that scientific evidence does not support paranormal [[beliefs]].[3]

==Paranormal research==

==Paranormal research==

Approaching the paranormal from a [[research]] [[perspective]] is often difficult because of the lack of acceptance of the [[physical]] [[reality]] of most of the purported [[phenonema]]. By definition, the paranormal does not conform to conventional expectations of the [[natural]]. Despite this challenge, studies on the paranormal are periodically conducted by researchers all from various [[disciplines]]. Some researchers study just the [[beliefs]] in the paranormal regardless of whether the phenomena are considered to objectively exist.  

Approaching the paranormal from a [[research]] [[perspective]] is often difficult because of the lack of acceptance of the [[physical]] [[reality]] of most of the purported [[phenonema]]. By definition, the paranormal does not conform to conventional expectations of the [[natural]]. Despite this challenge, studies on the paranormal are periodically conducted by researchers all from various [[disciplines]]. Some researchers study just the [[beliefs]] in the paranormal regardless of whether the phenomena are considered to objectively exist.

 

==Anecdotal approach==

==Anecdotal approach==

An anecdotal approach to the paranormal involves the collection of stories told about the paranormal. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Fort Charles Fort] (1874-1932) is perhaps the best known collector of paranormal anecdotes. Fort is said to have compiled as many as 40,000 notes on unexplained paranormal [[experiences]], though there were no doubt many more than these. These notes came from what he called "the orthodox [[convention]]ality of [[Science]]", which were odd events originally reported in magazines and newspapers such as The Times and scientific [[journals]] such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_American Scientific American], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_(journal) Nature] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_(journal) Science]". From this research Fort wrote seven books, though only four survive. These are: The Book of the Damned (1919), New Lands (1923), Lo! (1931) and Wild Talents (1932); one book was written between New Lands and Lo! but it was abandoned and absorbed into Lo!.

An anecdotal approach to the paranormal involves the collection of stories told about the paranormal. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Fort Charles Fort] (1874-1932) is perhaps the best known collector of paranormal anecdotes. Fort is said to have compiled as many as 40,000 notes on unexplained paranormal [[experiences]], though there were no doubt many more than these. These notes came from what he called "the orthodox [[convention]]ality of [[Science]]", which were odd events originally reported in magazines and newspapers such as The Times and scientific [[journals]] such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_American Scientific American], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_(journal) Nature] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_(journal) Science]". From this research Fort wrote seven books, though only four survive. These are: The Book of the Damned (1919), New Lands (1923), Lo! (1931) and Wild Talents (1932); one book was written between New Lands and Lo! but it was abandoned and absorbed into Lo!.

 

Reported [[events]] that he collected include [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleportation teleportation] (a term Fort is generally credited with coining); [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poltergeist poltergeist] events, falls of frogs, fishes, inorganic materials of an amazing range; [[crop circles]]; unaccountable noises and explosions; spontaneous fires; [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levitation_(paranormal) levitation]; [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_lightning ball lightning] (a term explicitly used by Fort); [[Ufo|unidentified flying objects]]; [[mysterious]] appearances and disappearances; giant wheels of light in the oceans; and animals found outside their normal ranges (see phantom cat). He offered many reports of OOPArts, abbreviation for "out of place" [[artifacts]]: strange items found in unlikely locations. He also is perhaps the first person to explain strange human appearances and disappearances by the hypothesis of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_abduction alien abduction], and was an early proponent of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraterrestrial_hypothesis extraterrestrial hypothesis].

Reported [[events]] that he collected include [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleportation teleportation] (a term Fort is generally credited with coining); [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poltergeist poltergeist] events, falls of frogs, fishes, inorganic materials of an amazing range; [[crop circles]]; unaccountable noises and explosions; spontaneous fires; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levitation_(paranormal) levitation]; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_lightning ball lightning] (a term explicitly used by Fort); [[Ufo|unidentified flying objects]]; [[mysterious]] appearances and disappearances; giant wheels of light in the oceans; and animals found outside their normal ranges (see phantom cat). He offered many reports of OOPArts, abbreviation for "out of place" [[artifacts]]: strange items found in unlikely locations. He also is perhaps the first person to explain strange human appearances and disappearances by the hypothesis of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_abduction alien abduction], and was an early proponent of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraterrestrial_hypothesis extraterrestrial hypothesis].

Fort is considered by many as the father of modern paranormalism, which is the study of the paranormal. The magazine [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortean_Times Fortean Times] continues Charles Fort's approach, regularly reporting anecdotal accounts of the paranormal.

'''''[[Occult]]'''''

Fort is considered by many as the father of modern paranormalism, which is the study of the paranormal. The magazine [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortean_Times Fortean Times] continues Charles Fort's approach, regularly reporting anecdotal accounts of the paranormal.

# "What does 'Paranormal' mean? by Christopher Orapello, Mid-Atlantic Paranormal Research, Accessed November 23, 2008

# Belief in the Paranormal or Pseudoscience

[https://www.dmoz.org//Society/Paranormal// Paranormal] at the Open Directory Project

[[Category: Parapsychology]]

[[Category: Parapsychology]]