10 Famous Scientists Who Held Surprising Supernatural Beliefs

[Potoooooooo]

http://io9.com/10-famous-scientists-who-held-surprising-supernatural-b-1689425142


While we typically hold up scientists, especially those who have made important discoveries, as paragons of rationality, numerous scientists have had fascinations with cryptids, psychic phenomena, and other aspects of the occult. And what some of these particular people believed may surprise you.

 

[Keith&Co.]

I rejected spiritualism despite Doyle's belief, even when a spiritualist asked if i thought i was smarter than the guy that invented Sherelock Holmes.
I've rejected deism despite a Christain telling me that Flew was an atheist hero who'd become a Christain because of the evidence.
I've accepted evolution despite people claiming that Darwin was racist.
And i have admired the art of cross-dressing da Vinci.

It's not all that surprising if scientists hold supernatural beliefs. The question becomes, did they try to take god (or leprechauns)(or Fae)(or whatever) to work with them....

 

[rjh01]

Not one person on the list is a current scientist. Or even close to it.

 

[skepticalbip]

Not one person on the list is a current scientist. Or even close to it.

There are a few like Brian Josephson who won the Nobel Prize in physics in the 1970s but is off the deep end on parapsychology. There are likely many scientists who hold some odd beliefs but don't mix it with their work in hard science and don't mention the beliefs in company where it would damage their credibility. And then there was the Global Consciousness Project at Princeton around 2000 that had several enthusiastic researchers.

Also, there are certainly many scientists who hold strong religious beliefs.

 

[fromderinside]

... there are certainly many scientists who hold strong religious beliefs.

 John Eccles (neurophysiologist) is typical of those born in the early 20th century.