| Revision as of 21:56, 23 March 2013 editAddbot (talk | contribs)Bots2,838,809 editsm Bot: Migrating 1 interwiki links, now provided by Wikidata on d:q7670802← Previous edit | Revision as of 13:53, 29 March 2013 edit undoSecond Quantization (talk | contribs)Pending changes reviewers24,876 edits This is a synthesisNext edit → | ||
| (One intermediate revision by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 25: | Line 25: | ||
| '''''TM and Cult Mania''''' is a book authored by ], Normand Carrey and Lynn Suess.<ref name="jarrell">{{cite book| last = Jarrell | first =Howard R. | title =International Meditation Bibliography, 1950–1982 | publisher = ATLA Bibliography Series | year = 1985 | location = ] | page = 209 | isbn = 0-8108-1759-4}}</ref> It was published in 1980 by Christopher Publishing House.<ref name="jarrell" /> Persinger is a ] and has worked out of ].<ref name="harvey" /> He trained as a ] and focused on the impacts of religious experience.<ref name="brothers" /> Carrey is a ] who specialized in ].<ref name="catrinabrown" /> He focused his studies into ] with research at ],<ref name="quigley" /> and has taught physicians in a psychiatry residency program in the field of ].<ref name="catrinabrown" /> Suess assisted Persinger in researching effects of geological phenomena on ] sightings in ];<ref name="reynolds" /> the two conducted similar research in ] and ].<ref name="bobrow" /> | '''''TM and Cult Mania''''' is a book authored by ], Normand Carrey and Lynn Suess.<ref name="jarrell">{{cite book| last = Jarrell | first =Howard R. | title =International Meditation Bibliography, 1950–1982 | publisher = ATLA Bibliography Series | year = 1985 | location = ] | page = 209 | isbn = 0-8108-1759-4}}</ref> It was published in 1980 by Christopher Publishing House.<ref name="jarrell" /> Persinger is a ] and has worked out of ].<ref name="harvey" /> He trained as a ] and focused on the impacts of religious experience.<ref name="brothers" /> Carrey is a ] who specialized in ].<ref name="catrinabrown" /> He focused his studies into ] with research at ],<ref name="quigley" /> and has taught physicians in a psychiatry residency program in the field of ].<ref name="catrinabrown" /> Suess assisted Persinger in researching effects of geological phenomena on ] sightings in ];<ref name="reynolds" /> the two conducted similar research in ] and ].<ref name="bobrow" /> | ||
| The book examines assertions made by the ] (TM).<ref name="harvey" /> |
The book examines assertions made by the ] (TM).<ref name="harvey" /> ''TM and Cult Mania'' analyzes the efficacy or lack thereof of the TM meditation process, concluding that it is, "no more effective than many other meditation techniques".<ref name="harvey" /> The authors write that, "Transcendental Meditation has achieved international recognition through commercial exploitation" and "poor scientific procedures".<ref name="ralphsmith" /> The book notes that physiological changes observed due to partaking in TM methodology are very small.<ref name="weldon" /> Persinger, Carrey, and Suess conclude in ''TM and Cult Mania'', "science has been used as a sham for propaganda by the TM movement."<ref name="harvey" /> | ||
| A positive capsule review in the '']'' noted that the authors use ] to point out transparencies in the assertions of Transcendental Meditation.<ref name="freshman" /> ''Rational Mysticism'' questions Persinger's neutrality and says that in his book he treats religious beliefs and spiritual practices as mental illness.<ref name="horgan |
A positive capsule review in the '']'' noted that the authors use ] to point out transparencies in the assertions of Transcendental Meditation.<ref name="freshman" /> ''Rational Mysticism'' questions Persinger's neutrality and says that in his book he treats religious beliefs and spiritual practices as mental illness.<ref name="horgan" /> | ||
| ==Authors== | ==Authors== | ||
| Line 38: | Line 38: | ||
| ==Reception== | ==Reception== | ||
| A capsule review of the book for the '']'', Phil Freshman commented, "Using hard logic and crackling humor, a trio of Canadian laboratory researchers cogently deflates Transcendental Meditation; they spotlight transparencies in its claims and warn of its latent hazards to those in wobbly mental health."<ref name="freshman">{{cite news| last = Freshman | first =Phil | title =Notable | work =] | page = Q8 | date = August 24, 1980}}</ref> In his book ''Rational Mysticism'', author John Horgan comments that although Persinger says he's neutral toward religious belief, he's more biased than other neurotheologians and that his two books "cast religious belief and spiritual practices in a psychopathological light". That is, they consider it mental illness.<ref name="horgan">{{cite book| last = Horgan| first = John | title = Rational Mysticism: Dispatches from the Border Between Science and Spirituality | publisher = Mariner Books | year = 2004 | page = 95| isbn = 978-0-618-44663-6 |
A capsule review of the book for the '']'', Phil Freshman commented, "Using hard logic and crackling humor, a trio of Canadian laboratory researchers cogently deflates Transcendental Meditation; they spotlight transparencies in its claims and warn of its latent hazards to those in wobbly mental health."<ref name="freshman">{{cite news| last = Freshman | first =Phil | title =Notable | work =] | page = Q8 | date = August 24, 1980}}</ref> In his book ''Rational Mysticism'', author John Horgan comments that although Persinger says he's neutral toward religious belief, he's more biased than other neurotheologians and that his two books "cast religious belief and spiritual practices in a psychopathological light". That is, they consider it mental illness.<ref name="horgan">{{cite book| last = Horgan| first = John | title = Rational Mysticism: Dispatches from the Border Between Science and Spirituality | publisher = Mariner Books | year = 2004 | page = 95| isbn = 978-0-618-44663-6}}</ref> | ||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 13:53, 29 March 2013
 Book cover | |
| Author | Michael Persinger, Normand Carrey, Lynn Suess |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Subject | Transcendental Meditation |
| Genre | Psychology |
| Publisher | Christopher Publishing House |
| Publication date | 1980 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Pages | 198 |
| ISBN | 0-8158-0392-3 |
| OCLC | 6582905 |
| Dewey Decimal | 158/.9 19 |
| LC Class | BF637.T68 P46 |
TM and Cult Mania is a book authored by Michael Persinger, Normand Carrey and Lynn Suess. It was published in 1980 by Christopher Publishing House. Persinger is a neurophysiologist and has worked out of Laurentian University. He trained as a psychologist and focused on the impacts of religious experience. Carrey is a medical doctor who specialized in psychiatry. He focused his studies into child psychiatry with research at Dalhousie University, and has taught physicians in a psychiatry residency program in the field of family therapy. Suess assisted Persinger in researching effects of geological phenomena on unidentified flying object sightings in Washington; the two conducted similar research in Toronto and Ottawa.
The book examines assertions made by the Transcendental Meditation movement (TM). TM and Cult Mania analyzes the efficacy or lack thereof of the TM meditation process, concluding that it is, "no more effective than many other meditation techniques". The authors write that, "Transcendental Meditation has achieved international recognition through commercial exploitation" and "poor scientific procedures". The book notes that physiological changes observed due to partaking in TM methodology are very small. Persinger, Carrey, and Suess conclude in TM and Cult Mania, "science has been used as a sham for propaganda by the TM movement."
A positive capsule review in the Los Angeles Times noted that the authors use logic to point out transparencies in the assertions of Transcendental Meditation. Rational Mysticism questions Persinger's neutrality and says that in his book he treats religious beliefs and spiritual practices as mental illness.
Authors
Michael Persinger is a neurophysiologist who has worked at Laurentian University in Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. He trained as a psychologist and focused on the impacts of religious experience. Persinger is the author of the book Neuropsychological Basis of Human Belief, and since its publication he has researched and examined the physiological and neurological causes of religious belief systems. Normand Carrey received education as a medical doctor and specialized in psychiatry. He became a child psychiatrist, and worked out of Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada. Carrey has conducted studies into psychological resilience, and has taught physicians in a psychiatry residency program in the field of family therapy. He has worked in the field of adolescent psychiatry at IWK Health Centre. Lynn Suess assisted Persinger in 1980, in researching geological phenomena which may have affected unidentified flying object sightings in Washington. Suess and Persinger performed similar research in Toronto and Ottawa.
Contents
TM and Cult Mania takes a look at the assertions made by the Transcendental Meditation movement and analyzes them from a scientific perspective. The book acknowledges that those who practice the Transcendental Meditation technique feel relaxed and experience an increase in creativity. According to the book, the physiological effects reported by the scientific studies on Transcendental Meditation are relatively small from a scientific perspective and "no more effective than many other meditation techniques". Transcendental Meditation is seen as most noteworthy due to its ability to manipulate stress and expectancy.
"Transcendental Meditation has achieved international recognition through commercial exploitation" and "poor scientific procedures", write the authors. The book notes, "Frankly, the reported effects of TM upon human behavior are trivial. Considering the alleged potency of the TM procedure, the changes in physiological and behavioral measures are conspicuously minute." TM and Cult Mania comes to the conclusion that, "science has been used as a sham for propaganda by the TM movement."
Reception
A capsule review of the book for the Los Angeles Times, Phil Freshman commented, "Using hard logic and crackling humor, a trio of Canadian laboratory researchers cogently deflates Transcendental Meditation; they spotlight transparencies in its claims and warn of its latent hazards to those in wobbly mental health." In his book Rational Mysticism, author John Horgan comments that although Persinger says he's neutral toward religious belief, he's more biased than other neurotheologians and that his two books "cast religious belief and spiritual practices in a psychopathological light". That is, they consider it mental illness.
See also
- Cognitive science of religion
- Neurotheology
- Psychology of religion
- Religious experience
- Spiritual crisis
- Transpersonal psychology
References
- ^ Jarrell, Howard R. (1985). International Meditation Bibliography, 1950–1982. United States: ATLA Bibliography Series. p. 209. ISBN 0-8108-1759-4.
- ^ Harvey, Bob (December 18, 1993). "Establishing Transcendental Meditation's identity; Few can agree if it's a religion, Hinduism or meditation". The Ottawa Citizen. p. C6.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Brothers, Leslie (2002). Mistaken Identity: The Mind-Brain Problem Reconsidered. State University of New York Press. p. 56. ISBN 0-7914-5187-9.
- ^ Brown, Catrina (2006). Narrative Therapy: Making Meaning, Making Lives. Sage Publications, Inc. p. 323. ISBN 1-4129-0988-0.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Quigley, Ann (2007). Mental Health. Greenhaven. p. 86. ISBN 0-7377-2484-6.
- ^ Reynolds, Nancy E. (November 26, 1908). "Ashford Sightings Involved – Scientist Has New Ufo Twist". The Dispatch. Pierce County, Washington. p. 1.
- ^ Bobrow, Robert S. (2006). The Witch in the Waiting Room: A Physician Investigates Paranormal Phenomena in Medicine. Da Capo Press. pp. 228–229. ISBN 1-56025-814-4.
- ^ Smith, Jr, MD, Ralph S. (October 2, 1991). "Maharishi Ayur-Veda". Journal of the American Medical Association. 266 (13). American Medical Association: 1773–1774. ISSN 0098-7484.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Weldon, John (2004). "Transcendental Meditation in the New Millennium – Part Two: Does TM Really Work?". Christian Research Journal. 27 (6). Charlotte, North Carolina: Christian Research Institute: 2. JAT262‐2.
- ^ Freshman, Phil (August 24, 1980). "Notable". Los Angeles Times. p. Q8.
- ^ Horgan, John (2004). Rational Mysticism: Dispatches from the Border Between Science and Spirituality. Mariner Books. p. 95. ISBN 978-0-618-44663-6.
- Burguete, Maria (2008). Science Matters: Humanities As Complex Systems. World Scientific Publishing Company. pp. 74–76. ISBN 981-283-593-8.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - Ungar, Michael (2008). Resilience in Action: Working with Youth Across Cultures and Contexts. Toronto, Canada: University of Toronto Press. p. 111. ISBN 0-8020-9471-6.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - "Young people need more access to mental health services – volunteer". The Chronicle Herald. Halifax, Nova Scotia. March 11, 2009. p. B1.
Further reading
- Bickel, Bruce (2005). World Religions and Cults 101. Harvest House Publishers. p. 159. ISBN 0-7369-1263-0.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - Boa, Kenneth (1990). Cults, World Religions and the Occult. David C. Cook. p. 197. ISBN 0-89693-823-9.
- Galanter, Marc (1989). Cults and New Religious Movements: A Report of the American Psychiatric Association. American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc. pp. 311, 320, 321. ISBN 0-89042-212-5.
- Galanter, Marc (1999). Cults: Faith, Healing and Coercion. Oxford University Press, USA. pp. 63, 65, 190. ISBN 0-19-512369-7.
- Goldwag, Arthur (2009). Cults, Conspiracies, and Secret Societies. Vintage. pp. 45–46. ISBN 0-307-39067-5.
- Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry (1992). Leaders and Followers: A Psychiatric Perspective on Religious Cults. American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc. p. 12. ISBN 0-87318-200-6.
- Snow, Robert L. (2003). Deadly Cults. Praeger. pp. 86–87. ISBN 0-275-98052-9.
External links
- OCLC 6582905
- Michael Persinger, webpage at Laurentian University
- Normand Carrey, profile page at Dalhousie University
| Transcendental Meditation | |
|---|---|
| Programs | |
| Organizations | |
| Education | |
| People | |
| Places |
|
| Media | |
Categories: