a claim, belief, or practice which is presented
as scientific but which does not adhere to valid scientific
methodology, lacks supporting evidence or plausibility,
cannot be reliably tested, or otherwise lacks scientific status.
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It is important that we all speak the same language. Here are some common terms with which we all need to be familiar. Further explanations or amplification of definitions can be found elsewhere on the internet.
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apparition: |
A ghostly figure; a specter | ||
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demon: |
an evil supernatural being | |||
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EMF: |
Electromagnetic fields,
or EMFs are invisible lines of force created whenever electricity is
generated or used. EMFs are produced by power lines, electric wiring,
and electric equipment and appliances. The frequency of EMFs is measured
in hertz (Hz, or cycles per second). an EMF or electromagnetic field is the field or area of force caused by movement of an electrical charge and containing some amount of electromagnetic energy. |
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EMR: |
Electromagnetic radiation, or electromagnetic radio
frequency radiation EMFR. EMR is electrical and magnetic
energy emitted by various
types of energy sources: radio waves, microwaves, light, x-rays, and
nuclear energy. EMR or EM radiation is the result of oscillating electrical and magnetic fields that move as an energy force in wave form through space. Depending on the wave length of a particular EMR source, it may be visible to the human eye (visible light spectrum). |
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EVP: |
Electronic Voice Phenomenon - electronically
generated noises that resemble speech, but are not the result of
intentional voice recordings or renderings. Common sources of
EVP include static, stray radio transmissions, and background
noise. Interest in the subject normally surrounds claims that
EVP are of paranormal origin, though there are natural
explanations such as apophenia (finding significance in
insignificant phenomena) and auditory pareidolia (interpreting
random sounds as voices in their own language).
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| or | voices not heard during the recording session but heard later during replay of the recorded data. | |||
| or | the alleged communication by spirits through tape recorders and other electronic devices. | |||
| or |
Class A - easliy heard and understood without need for amplification or
filtering. Class B - can be heard and understood Class C - identifiable as a voice but unable to discern what is being said. |
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ghost: |
supposed spirit remaining after death: the supposed spirit of somebody who has died, believed to appear as a shadowy form or to cause sounds, the movement of objects, or a frightening atmosphere in a place. | |||
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hypothesis: |
a tentative explanation for a phenomenon, used as a basis for further investigation. | |||
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IR: |
Infrared - portion of invisible spectrum: the portion of the invisible electromagnetic spectrum consisting of radiation with wavelengths in the range 750 nm to 1 mm, between light and radio waves. | |||
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Konstantīns Raudive |
Raudive studied parapsychology all his life, and was especially interested in the possibility of the afterlife. He and German parapsychologist Hans Bender investigated Electronic Voice Phenomenon (EVP). He published a book on EVP, Breakthrough in 1971. | |||
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magic |
a supposed supernatural power that makes impossible things happen or gives somebody control over the forces of nature. | |||
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metaphysic: |
The branch of philosophy that examines the nature of reality, including the relationship between mind and matter, substance and attribute, fact and value. |
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metaphysical: |
relating to
metaphysics:
relating to
the
philosophical
study of the
nature of
being and
beings or a
philosophical
system
resulting
from such
study
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| necronomicon: | originated as a fictional book in the works of H.P. Lovecraft | |||
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occult:
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popularly taken to mean "knowledge meant only for certain people", or "knowledge that must be kept hidden". It is also used as a label given to a number of magical organizations or orders, the teachings and practices taught by them, and to a large body of current and historical literature and spiritual philosophy related to this subject. | |||
| paranormal: | a term that designates experiences that lie outside "the range of normal or scientific explanation" or that indicates phenomenon that are understood to be outside of science's current ability to explain. | |||
| parapsychology: |
study of unexplained mental phenomena: the study of supposed mental phenomena that cannot be explained by known psychological or scientific principles, e.g. extrasensory perception and telepathy |
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| pseudoscience: |
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| science: | is an enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions. An older meaning still in use today is that of Aristotle, for whom scientific knowledge was a body of reliable knowledge that can be logically and rationally explained. | |||
| supernatural: | anything above or beyond what one holds to be natural or exists outside natural law and the observable universe. Religious miracles are typically received as supernatural claims, as are spells and curses, divination, and the afterlife. The field of study dealing with the supernatural is sometimes called metaphysics or the occult. | |||
| theory: |
an idea of or belief about something arrived at through speculation or conjecture |
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| UV: |
ultraviolet
- relating
to invisible
light:
relating to
or producing
electromagnetic
radiation of
wavelengths
from about 5
to about 400
nanometers,
beyond the
violet end
of the
visible
light
spectrum.
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Copyright © 2006 - 2011 by Ohio Organization of Paranormal Studies. All rights reserved. Revised: 01/31/12 |
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