Archive for Sunday, September 18, 2005
IONS studies ‘frontiers of consciousness’
September 18, 2005
Advertisement
It might be surprising that an organization seriously dedicated to the scientific study of phenomena such as spirit, transcendence and enlightenment thrives internationally, with nearly 30,000 members in over 50 countries.
Founded by lunar astronaut Edgar Mitchell in 1973, the Institute of Noetic Sciences explores "frontiers of consciousness," attempting to establish new ways of thinking and shifting global worldviews. But this is no ethereal new age group. The immediate faculty of IONS boasts dozens of doctoral and medical degrees.
Berney Williams, the president of the Lawrence group and Kansas University professor of geography, says a broad array of people are drawn to IONS.
He notes that many attendees are "people who have had some frustration with the conventional assumptions with intellectual investigation. Many have had personal experiences that are contrary to (mainstream science)."
What IONS is attempting to do on a global scale, members try to do on a personal level, such as redefining how they think and reaching a higher level of understanding about the nature of their own consciousness and potential.
Williams says it is encouraging for members to know there are others out there who have had what - until learning of IONS - they considered abnormal experiences.
"There are varying degrees of questing among the people, but they all find it congenial watching others trying to express their views," he said.
Bob Nunley is president of the local branch of the International Society for the Study of Subtle Energies and Energy Medicine, an organization whose mission is to reconcile and unify the fundamental theories behind arts like acupuncture, chiropractics or reiki by cross-disciplinary studies that draw on fields such as psychophysiology, psychophysics and medicine.
He also is a KU professor of geography and an active member of IONS since its founding in 1973. He has watched the group grow.
"We are primarily an organization that forms the bridge between the mystically inclined scientists and the scientifically inclined mystics," Nunley says.
The Lawrence group aims to facilitate the self-development and education of its members and learn that there are others who have experiences they cannot explain as well.
For Williams, it's easy to know whether someone will fit in with IONS.
"If they are interested in the nature of knowledge, that is what the meetings are about. If they are reflective on their own assumptions, they will find a congenial community there. If not, it would probably sound like nonsense."
Sam Knowlton is a student at Kansas University.
More like this
- SCHOOL PANEL DISCUSSES DATA SYSTEM April 11, 1991
- Made for faith November 27, 2004
- Special interest groups September 25, 2003
- NPR reporter puts mystical experiences under microscope 1 comment / June 20, 2009
- Cinema with soul January 28, 2005
Top ads RSS
- Director of Development and Director of Program Operations. Two full-time ...
- Live On Site Manager- Self storage complex in Kansas City ...
- St. Francis Health Center - NAS Recruitment
- Occupational and Physical Therapy Staff Positions. Rehab Center seeking full, ...
- Academic Advisor Hawk Link Retention Specialist The Office of Multicultural ...
- Blog: What's Your Stripper Name? November 12, 2009 · 41 comments
- Muslims troops deserve support November 12, 2009 · 51 comments
- Blog: When Will We Get Our First Snow? November 11, 2009 · 30 comments
- On the street: Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? November 12, 2009 · 14 comments
- Blog: Breaking News: Lou Dobbs Allegedly Resigns After Threatened Exposure For Being A Dissenter On Several Ljworld Stripper Blogs. November 12, 2009 · 4 comments
- Police accuse 'victim' in Long John Silver's break-in of lying, committing crime himself November 11, 2009 · 48 comments
- Blog: Someone Asked For A Different Question November 12, 2009 · 13 comments
- Mormons throw support behind gay-rights cause November 12, 2009 · 18 comments
- Q&A with Kansas health officer about H1N1 November 12, 2009 · 7 comments
- County endorses CritiTech proposal November 12, 2009 · 8 comments
- Kansas conservation activist Jan Garton dies at 59 November 11, 2009
- Q&A with Kansas health officer about H1N1 November 12, 2009
- Douglas County ceremony honors America's veterans November 11, 2009
- Report looks at county’s learning programs November 12, 2009
- Report: Nearly 6 million children die from hunger November 23, 2005
- Kansas women sign four November 12, 2009
- Mormons throw support behind gay-rights cause November 12, 2009
- City police welcome 6 graduates after 23-week ‘grueling academy’ November 7, 2009
- Free State chef serves lesson on nutrition November 11, 2009
- Great American Smokeout is Nov. 19; story wins award November 12, 2009
Post a comment
Requires free LJWorld.com registration. Register or log in below.
Read our full policy. Also, read about banned accounts and harassing comments.
Post a blog entry
You have to be logged in to blog on LJWorld.com. Please log in or sign up.
Learn more about blogging on LJWorld.com.