BAE 5.2

Magazine Overview

Title: Bulletin of Anomalous Experience
Issue: Volume 5, Number 2
Date: April 1994

This issue of the Bulletin of Anomalous Experience (BAE) is a bimonthly publication focused on UFOs, anomalous experiences, and related phenomena, serving as a networking newsletter for mental health professionals and interested scientists. It aims to provide a forum for discussion and presentation of ideas.

Mail

David Ritchey, Ph.D., expresses concern that the magazine may be publishing too much material, suggesting that selectivity could improve quality and encourage more submissions. He also proposes a special networking insert for subscribers to exchange contact information and areas of interest. The editor acknowledges this feedback, noting that BAE has evolved from a networking newsletter to also include reviews of medical and psychological literature relevant to anomalous experiences, and presents collections of research on specific topics. The editor agrees to organize a special networking insert for the next issue and solicits further comments on issue size, content, and frequency.

Key Persons Mentioned

• David Ritchey, Ph.D.: Contributor to the 'Mail' section, suggesting improvements to BAE's content and proposing a networking insert.
• Richard Boylan, Ph.D.: Continues a dialogue on 'How Are Experiencers Needs Being Met?', responding to Georgia Flamburis and emphasizing the importance of experienced, non-biased professional support for experiencers.
• Georgia Flamburis: Her essay 'How Are Experiencers' Needs Being Met?' initiated a dialogue with Richard Boylan.
• Peter M. Rojcewicz, Ph.D.: Author of 'Religion And Discrimination: A Meditation,' exploring themes of faith, doubt, and tolerance in relation to anomalous experiences.
• Jim Schnabel: Author of 'Dark White: Aliens, Abductions, and the UFO Obsession,' reviewed in this issue.
• John Keel: Author of 'The Flying Saucer Subculture,' a reviewed article.
• Filip Coppens: Reviews 'Possession and Abduction.'
• Edward Carlos: Author of 'Some Spiritual Resonances In Encounter Recollections: Cognizance of the Pathology of Guilt and Healing.'
• Robert S. Kimball: Author of 'Astrology, Abductions, and Near-Death Experiences.'
• Colin Ross: Author of 'Commentary on Positive Associations between Dichotic Listening Errors, Complex Partial Epileptic-Like Signs, and Paranormal Beliefs.'
• Geoffrey Schultz and Ronald Melzack: Authors of 'Visual Hallucinations and Mental State: A Study of 14 Charles Bonnet Syndrome Hallucinators.'
• Ann Livingston: Author of 'Alien Abductions and Childhood Sexual Abuse: Personal Notes.'
• Dennis Stacy: Inquired about the connection between Robert Lindner's 'Kirk' and Cordwainer Smith.
• Michael Strainic: Responded to Dennis Stacy's query about 'Kirk' and Cordwainer Smith.
• Claude Mauge: Sent copies of encyclopedia entries on Lindner and Cordwainer Smith.
• Paul Myron Anthony Linebarger: Identified as Cordwainer Smith.
• Steve Mizrach: Author of an article on 'Mass Hallucination' that Mark Briggs commented on.
• Mark Briggs, CSW: Commented on Steve Mizrach's article regarding the Fatima event.
• William Thomas Walsh: Quoted regarding the Fatima event.
• John Keel: Mentioned in relation to the Fatima event and his book 'The Flying Saucer Subculture.'
• Hilary Evans: His description of BAE's editorial policy is quoted.
• David Gotlib, M.D.: Editor and publisher of BAE.

Feature Articles

Religion And Discrimination: A Meditation

Peter M. Rojcewicz, Ph.D., a folklorist and professor of humanities, explores the themes of faith, doubt, knowing, and tolerance of uncertainty, which are relevant to anomalous experiences. He uses examples of religiously motivated violence and political action to illustrate how interpretations of religious scriptures can lead to conflict. Rojcewicz argues that the ineffability of God and the use of mytho-poetic language in religious traditions challenge fundamentalism and discrimination against non-believers. He emphasizes that true religious understanding comes from questioning and self-examination, drawing parallels with the philosophies of Socrates and the Buddha.

Some Spiritual Resonances In Encounter Recollections: Cognizance of the Pathology of Guilt and Healing (Part I)

Edward Carlos explores the spiritual resonances within recollections of encounters, focusing on the pathology of guilt and healing.

Astrology, Abductions, and Near-Death Experiences

Robert S. Kimball discusses the connections between astrology, abductions, and near-death experiences.

From the Scientific Literature

Commentary on Positive Associations between Dichotic Listening Errors, Complex Partial Epileptic-Like Signs, and Paranormal Beliefs

Colin Ross comments on research linking dichotic listening errors, epileptic-like signs, and paranormal beliefs.

Visual Hallucinations and Mental State: A Study of 14 Charles Bonnet Syndrome Hallucinators

Geoffrey Schultz and Ronald Melzack present a study on visual hallucinations and mental state in individuals with Charles Bonnet Syndrome.

Recent Abstracts

This section provides brief summaries of recent scientific literature relevant to anomalous experiences.

Experiencers' Section

On Comparing Disbelief of the Holocaust to Disbelief of Anomalous Experiences

Georgia Flamburis discusses the parallels between disbelief in the Holocaust and disbelief in anomalous experiences.

Alien Abductions and Childhood Sexual Abuse: Personal Notes

Ann Livingston shares personal notes on the connection between alien abductions and childhood sexual abuse.

Reviews

The Flying Saucer Subculture

This is a reprint of an article by John A. Keel, originally published in The Journal of Popular Culture in 1975. Keel views UFOlogy as a propaganda movement rather than a scientific one, suggesting that the government coverup premise has contributed to a credibility gap. The review notes that Keel's investigative works and observations on abductions and psychic phenomena predate current discoveries in the abduction field by 20 years. A 1993 afterward indicates no significant progress in UFOlogy since the original publication.

Dark White: Aliens, Abductions, and the UFO Obsession

This review of Jim Schnabel's book describes it as a snapshot of UFOlogy from an outsider's perspective, focusing on key figures in the abduction field. The reviewer suggests that the book highlights the 'image problem' of the abduction field and notes Schnabel's comparison of the abduction syndrome to a modern version of spirit-possession. The review also touches upon the idea of self-victimization syndromes and draws parallels with I.M. Lewis's work on spirit-possession syndromes in the Third World.

Possession and Abduction

Filip Coppens reviews a book by Edith Fiore and Roger Vanderdonck, who independently concluded that some of their patients were 'possessed' and termed it the 'E-syndrome' or 'entity-syndrome.' The article draws parallels between symptoms of the E-syndrome, such as poltergeist effects, hearing voices, missing time, and compulsive behavior, and those reported by UFO abductees. It notes that while possession and abduction may be distinct, they share overlapping qualities, and researchers should be cautious in their judgments.

Networking

UFOROM (Ufology Research of Manitoba) and Swamp Gas Journal

This section features a press release about UFOROM, a private, non-profit organization established in 1975 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, dedicated to the rational and objective study of UFOs and related phenomena. UFOROM associates with other organizations like CUFOS and MUFON and engages in dialogue with both believers and debunkers. They are associated with the 'Swamp Gas Journal,' an irregular ufozine published since 1978, which is available via zine exchange or by requesting electronic format via INTERNET.

From the Scientific Literature

This section includes commentary on research linking psychological factors (dichotic listening errors, complex partial epileptic-like signs) with paranormal beliefs, and a study on visual hallucinations in individuals with Charles Bonnet Syndrome.

Experiencers' Section

Georgia Flamburis compares the disbelief in the Holocaust to the disbelief in anomalous experiences, while Ann Livingston offers personal notes on the connection between alien abductions and childhood sexual abuse.

Contribution and Subscription Information

Information is provided for subscriptions, contributions, and copyright policies. BAE is described as a networking newsletter about the UFO abduction phenomenon and related issues for mental health professionals and interested scientists. Subscriptions are $25 per calendar year for six bimonthly issues. Back issues are also available. Contributions are welcomed, and material in computer-readable format is especially encouraged. The editorial policy is to publish a wide range of material as long as it is on topic, aiming to 'comfortably tread the narrow path between the groves of academia and the dust and heat of the marketplace.'

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the intersection of religion and anomalous experiences, the nature of possession and abduction phenomena, the challenges of interpreting anomalous experiences, and the importance of scientific and psychological investigation. The editorial stance, as described by Hilary Evans and reiterated by the editor, is to provide a balanced forum for discussion, publishing a wide range of views without necessarily endorsing them, and encouraging constructive dialogue between different perspectives within the field of anomalous experiences.

This issue of the Bulletin of Anomalous Experience, Volume 5 Number 2, dated April 1994, explores a range of topics related to spirituality, psychology, and anomalous phenomena. The magazine features articles that delve into the nature of faith and doubt, the historical significance of the Axial Age, the psychological impact of anomalous experiences, and research into potential correlations between astrology and near-death experiences.

Faith and Doubt: The Paradox of Spirituality

The issue opens with a reflection on the writings of Elie Weisel, particularly his protagonist Elie's questions to his master, Moshe the Beadle: "Why do you weep when you pray? Why do you pray?" Moshe's response emphasizes that true answers are found within oneself and that each person has their own unique path to mystical truth. The article posits that religious discrimination often stems from a desire for certainty, whereas true faith involves living with uncertainty. It quotes Flannery O'Connor, who described doubt as a process by which faith is deepened, comparing faith to a cross rather than an electric blanket. Christian theologian Paul Tillich is cited for his view that "Faith is the continuous tension between itself and the doubt within itself," distinguishing faith from logical evidence and unquestioning authoritarianism.

The Taoist notion of the relativity of values and the identity of opposites is introduced to illuminate the paradox of faith and doubt. The Yin-Yang symbol illustrates how opposites complement each other, and the dynamic world of Tao suggests that assertions are not absolute. The article recounts the dream of Chuang Tzu, who wondered if he was a butterfly dreaming he was himself or vice versa, highlighting a rejection of the distinction between subject and object and between reality and unreality. This perspective makes religious discrimination impossible. The article suggests that the "God is on our side" attitude, common among religious zealots, can be countered by the Taoist idea that all values are relative. Goethe's quote about bewilderment and curiosity being the best part of man is also included.

A Second Axial Age

Karl Jaspers' concept of the Axial Age, a period of profound transformation in consciousness from the 6th to the 4th century B.C. in China, India, Persia, and the Eastern Mediterranean, is discussed. This era saw the emergence of great spiritual teachers like Confucius, Lao-Tzu, the Upanishadic sages, Mahavira, Buddha, Zoroaster, and the Hebrew prophets, as well as philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. These figures shifted focus from mythic and ritualistic thinking to self-critical, analytic, and individualistic consciousness, questioning the meaning of life, the authority of kings, and the principles of a good society. The article argues for a "second Axial Age" of self-directed seekers pursuing spiritual paths. It reiterates Moshe the Beadle's idea of "a thousand and one gates" to mystical truth, warning against absolute concepts of God or definitive spiritual practices, which are seen as forms of idolatry. The confusion of religious maps with divine territory is cautioned against.

Failing to discern that religious forms are tools, not the divine itself, can lead to illusions and suffering. The Zen master's warning to "kill the Buddha" if you meet him on the road is interpreted as a call to reject external authority and realize that Buddhahood is already achieved within. The article emphasizes living out one's own dharma and contemplating one's own mind, echoing Milarepa and Jesus's "Kingdom of God is within." Detaching from religious certainty, fear-driven notions, and religious practices is presented as a way to find the true spirit of religious experience. Frederic Spiegelberg's idea of transcending religion, or the "Religion of No-Religion," is discussed as the highest form of religion, equating it with the Hindu concept of sat-chit-ananda (being-mind-bliss). Mahatma Gandhi's quote, "Religion itself is outraged, when outrage is done in its name," is used to advocate for detaching from dogmatism and discrimination, promoting compassion and love for all beings, as exemplified by Akbar the Great's inclusive approach to different religions.

Some Spiritual Resonances In Encounter Recollections: Cognizance of the Pathology of Guilt, and Healing (Part 1 of 2)

This essay by Edward Carlos explores the connection between psychological health and pathology, particularly in the context of encounter experiences. It contrasts the work of researchers like David Jacobs, who categorize encounter phenomena, with Carl Sagan's view of mass hallucination. Carlos argues that paradigmatic models can lead to the prejudgment and disevaluation of 'encontrants' (those who experience encounters). The research seeks to establish control over the ineffable and metaphoric nature of these experiences, noting that efforts to classify them can lead to limitations. The article discusses how fear and anger are often expressed by encontrants, and how meaning can be at odds with statistical computations. The process of hypnosis is examined as a means to understand the variation in reactions and responses to these experiences.

Carlos describes his own hypnotic regression experiences, noting the rapid and often chaotic nature of the imagery, making verbal description difficult. He highlights the difference between the imagic experience and the verbal description, which is always in the past. The essay also touches on James Hillman's concept of "pathologizing," where the psyche creates illness or abnormality. It suggests that this can apply to researchers as well as those experiencing encounters. Guilt is presented as a significant emotion for encontrants, often arising from the feeling of having to speak when instructed not to, or from the aftermath of the experience. The article uses the example of rape victims to illustrate how guilt can be confused by external questions and societal judgments. The author shares a personal experience of guilt and pathos related to an image of a helmet worn by creatures, fearing its implication.

Astrology, Abductions, and Near-Death Experiences

This article by Robert S. Kimball presents preliminary findings from his research project exploring the relationships between astrological configurations and UFO abduction experiences. Kimball is seeking comments and further cases to extend his work. The research is inspired by Ken Ring's "The Omega Project," which suggests that NDE experiencers and UFO abduction experiencers may have entered an "archetypal" level of reality. Kimball tested this hypothesis using planetary and astrological cycles, analyzing data from 189 near-death experience (NDE) cases and 18 UFO abduction cases.

The study addressed three questions: whether planetary configurations can predict candidacy for NDE or UFO abduction; whether certain time periods are "windows of opportunity" for transformative experiences; and what conclusions can be drawn from particular 3-body planetary relationships. The methodology involved examining over 1,100 planetary combinations at the time of NDEs and comparing them with wedding dates as a control measure. Specific three-body combinations were assigned points based on their suggestive interpretations from "Prediction In Astrology."

Recent developments include a t-Test performed by John Broida, Ph.D., on 27 individuals with NDEs. The statistical analysis revealed significant differences between "wedding points" and "NDE points" earned at the time of the NDE (Event A) and the wedding (Event B). Specifically, the probability of obtaining these differences randomly was very low (<0.001 for NDE points at the time of the wedding vs. wedding points at the time of the wedding, and <0.001 for NDE points at the time of the wedding vs. wedding points at the time of the wedding). Another t-test showed a reliable difference between "NDE points" earned at the time of the NDE and "NDE points" earned at the time of the wedding (Probability = 0.008).

Kimball concludes that while correlation does not equal causation, the results strongly suggest that particular planetary alignments may indicate "windows of opportunity" for transformative, mystical, or spiritual experiences. He emphasizes that this is not Sun Sign Astrology but rather the examination of over 1,150 planetary combinations. Planets like Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto were found to be especially predictive of NDEs. The research suggests that NDEs may indeed be an entrance into a higher or "archetypal" reality, but more research is needed to answer the many questions surrounding this "cosmic connection."

From the Scientific Literature: Commentary on Positive Associations between Dichotic Listening Errors, Complex Partial Epileptic-Like Signs, and Paranormal Beliefs

This section features a commentary by Colin Ross, M.D., on a paper by Skirda and Persinger. Ross discusses complex partial epileptic-like signs (CPES) and their potential association with paranormal beliefs. He lists 16 experiences that are considered symptoms, not signs, and suggests that these might be categorized into subsets or factors. He predicts that these subsets will have different frequencies in various populations, such as those with EEG-documented partial complex seizures, dissociative identity disorder patients, and normal individuals. Olfactory hallucinations (items 9, 12, and 16) are highlighted as potentially differentiating patients with epilepsy from those with dissociative identity disorder, though childhood trauma victims can also experience olfactory flashbacks. Items 2, 8, 11, 13, and 14 are noted as being similar to items in the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES), which differentiates dissociative identity disorder patients. A third cluster (items 1, 4, 6, 10, and 15) is described as a "scientific discovery" cluster, suggesting it might be endorsed more by creative scientists and artists. Ross doubts that the 16 CPES items form a unidimensional construct and believes that different factors would be endorsed differently across populations.

Visual Hallucinations and Mental State: A Study of 14 Charles Bonnet Syndrome Hallucinators

This abstract and article by Geoffrey Schultz, B.Sc., and Ronald Melzack, Ph.D., investigates complex visual hallucinations in individuals with Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS). CBS is a condition where individuals experience visual hallucinations despite having normal psychological and cognitive functioning, often associated with visual deficits. The study assessed 14 CBS hallucinators using four psychological tests: the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Mini-Mult, and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). The results were consistent with previous reports, suggesting that these hallucinations are not due to psychopathology. The mean scores for BDI and STAI indicated minimal depression and generally low anxiety levels. The MMPI results showed no significantly elevated scales, with most individuals having few or no elevated scales. The study concludes that psychopathology is not a necessary explanatory mechanism for these hallucinations, as the majority of the hallucinators did not exhibit emotional distress or cognitive abnormalities.

Recent Abstracts

This section summarizes several recent research papers:

• Perception and "Discontinuous Experiences": A study by Zimbardo, LaBerge, and Butler investigated the psychophysiological consequences of unexplained arousal using a posthypnotic suggestion paradigm. It found that unexplained arousal produced more significant effects in highly hypnotizable subjects compared to controls, leading to misattributions and a search for negative causal explanations.
• Persinger's Corner: Richards, Persinger, and Koren explored the modification of narrative activation and evaluation properties by weak complex magnetic fields that simulate limbic burst firing. Their experiments suggested that pulsed magnetic fields could influence narratives, leading to lower activation and evaluation scores.
• Hypnosis: Sheehan, Garnett, and Robertson examined the effects of cue level, hypnotizability, and state instruction on responses to leading questions. They found that highly susceptible subjects under hypnotic instruction were more likely to accept false information, but the results did not firmly support the involvement of hypnosis itself, highlighting the influence of linguistic and social factors.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the nature of consciousness, the search for meaning, and the exploration of anomalous experiences. The articles collectively suggest that certainty can be a barrier to spiritual and psychological understanding, while questioning, doubt, and the acceptance of ambiguity are crucial for growth. The concept of the Axial Age highlights a historical shift towards individual introspection and critical thinking, a shift that the authors advocate for in a modern context. The psychological exploration of encounter experiences and hallucinations emphasizes the subjective and often metaphoric nature of these phenomena, suggesting they are not necessarily indicative of pathology but rather of complex internal processes. The research on astrology and NDEs points towards potential, yet unproven, correlations between celestial events and profound human experiences, underscoring the ongoing quest to understand the connections between the individual, the cosmos, and the nature of reality. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these complex and often controversial topics, encouraging critical examination while acknowledging the limitations of current understanding.

Title: Bulletin of Anomalous Experience
Issue: Volume 5 Number 2
Date: April 1994
Publisher: Bulletin of Anomalous Experience
Country: USA
Language: English
ISSN: 1073-7608
Cover Headline: Inadvertent hypnosis during interrogation: False confession due to dissociative state: Mis-identified multiple personality and the satanic cult hypothesis.

Articles and Content

Inadvertent Hypnosis During Interrogation: False Confession Due to Dissociative State: Mis-Identified Multiple Personality and the Satanic Cult Hypothesis

This article by Richard J. Ofshe, published in the International Journal of Clinical & Experimental Hypnosis, presents the case of a 43-year-old man who, after undergoing hypnosis and suggestion during an interrogation, developed pseudomemories of raping his daughters and participating in a baby-murdering Satanic cult. These pseudomemories, combined with the influence of authority figures, convinced him of his guilt for six months. Despite extensive investigation, no evidence supported his guilt, and substantial evidence indicated no crime had been committed. An experiment demonstrated the subject's extreme suggestibility, leading to the conclusion that the cult did not exist and the confessions were coerced, internalized false confessions. Two psychologists involved in the investigation diagnosed the subject with a dissociative disorder similar to multiple personality, though they were predisposed to find evidence of satanic cult activity.

The Active Participation of Highly Hypnotizable Subjects in Generating Their Hypnotic Experiences

This study by Gorassini DR, Hooper CL, and Kitching KJ, published in Imagination, Cognition and Personality, investigated whether hypnotized individuals are detached from the control of their suggested behavior or actively self-generate their experiences. The research found that highly susceptible hypnotic subjects engaged in imaginative activity to produce experiences of involuntariness, similar to subjects who were instructed to imagine during suggested responding. The findings have implications for neodissociation and social psychological theories of hypnotic responding.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: The Body Keeps the Score: Memory and the Evolving Psychobiology of Post Traumatic Stress

This review by van der Kolk BA, from Harvard Review of Psychiatry, discusses how trauma is stored in somatic memory and expressed through changes in the biological stress response. Intense emotions during trauma initiate long-term conditional responses to reminders, leading to chronic alterations in the physiological stress response and characteristic amnesias and hypermnesias of PTSD. The article notes that in PTSD, failure of declarative memory can lead to trauma being organized on a somatosensory level, making it difficult to extinguish. Cortical activity can inhibit these subcortically based emotional memories, with effectiveness depending on physiological arousal and neurohormone activity. This has implications for psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy of PTSD.

Transpersonal Psychology: Transpersonal Experiences in Childhood: An Exploratory Empirical Study of Selected Adult Groups

This study by Hunt HT, Gervais A, Shearing-Johns S, and Travis F, published in Percept Mot Skills, explored adult recall of transpersonal experiences in childhood. A questionnaire assessed mystical experiences, out-of-body experiences, lucid dreams, ESP, and negative states like nightmares. In two exploratory studies, the questionnaire was given to subjects with high estimated transpersonal experiences and meditators, along with controls. The findings suggest that proclivity to early childhood transpersonal experience is not necessarily associated with trauma or self-deficit, and can be linked to developmental precocity and cognitive skills, particularly in meditators. However, for other subjects, frequent transpersonal experiences may be associated with night terrors and nightmares, and potentially lower levels of imaginative and spatial abilities.

Dissociative Disorders: Hypnotizability, Absorption, and Subscales of the Dissociative Experiences Scale in a Nonclinical Population

This study by Smyser CH and Baron DA, in Dissociation, examined the relationship between hypnotizability, absorption, and three sub-dimensions of dissociation (Amnestic Experiences, Absorption, and Depersonalization). Fifty-three normal volunteers completed the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES), the Tellegen Absorption Scale (TAS), and were assessed for hypnotizability using the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale (SHSS:C). The DES Absorption subscale correlated strongly with both SHSS:C and TAS, while the DES Depersonalization subscale correlated less strongly. The DES Amnestic Experiences subscale showed only a weak correlation with SHSS:C and no correlation with TAS. The findings are interpreted as supporting J.R. Hilgard's theory of two developmental pathways to hypnotizability: one through absorption and the other through trauma. The weak correlation for amnesia is attributed to the selection of subjects without histories of trauma.

Parapsychology: Does Psi Exist? Replicable Evidence for an Anomalous Process of Information Transfer

This article by Daryl J. Bem and Charles Honorton, in Psychological Bulletin, argues that replication rates and effect sizes from the 'ganzfeld' procedure are now sufficient to warrant attention regarding the existence of psi. They review competing meta-analyses and present results from 11 new ganzfeld studies. Ray Hyman, in a comment, acknowledges the methodological superiority of the autoganzfeld experiments but questions the adequacy of their randomization procedures and notes inconsistencies with previous ganzfeld experiments, suggesting a need for independent replication. Bem responds to Hyman, defending the consistency of the results and presenting new analyses of randomization procedures.

Reincarnation: Birthmarks and Birth Defects Corresponding to Wounds on Deceased Persons

Ian Stevenson's article in the Journal of Scientific Exploration investigates cases where children claiming to remember previous lives have birthmarks and/or birth defects that correspond to wounds on the deceased person from their past life. Out of 210 investigated cases, about 35% showed such correspondences. The birthmarks were often hairless, puckered skin, or hypopigmented/hyperpigmented nevi, and birth defects were typically rare. In cases where a deceased person was identified, a close correspondence was found between the child's marks/defects and the deceased's wounds, often confirmed by medical documents. The article suggests that a paranormal process is required to account for these details, with little evidence of parental imposition.

Experiencers' Section

On Comparing Disbelief of the Holocaust to Disbelief of Anomalous Experiences by Georgia Flamburis
Flamburis argues that comparing disbelief in the Holocaust to disbelief in anomalous experiences is an inappropriate analogy. She states that genocide is a real physical and emotional experience, magnified by disbelievers, whereas anomalous experiences, while potentially traumatic and leading to ridicule, are not fully understood in terms of their reality level. She suggests that such comparisons can increase public dismissal and diminish the credibility of those reporting anomalous phenomena.

Alien Abductions and Childhood Sexual Abuse: Personal Notes by Ann Livingston
Livingston reflects on the relationship between alien abductions and childhood sexual abuse memories, calling the rivalry a 'false issue' or 'red herring.' She asserts that both issues are important to the experiencer and can co-exist. She shares personal experiences where aliens may have impersonated her stepfather or created a 'screen memory.' Livingston also discusses her past psychiatric treatment, where repressed memories of childhood sexual abuse were attributed to her anxiety. She challenges the idea that doctors can explain everything through repressed memories and emphasizes the importance of resolving anger towards parents to investigate the past objectively. She suggests that while acknowledging emotional suffering, one can also entertain alternative theories, including those with an alien-related component.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The Bulletin of Anomalous Experience consistently explores phenomena that lie outside mainstream scientific understanding. This issue highlights the complexities of human consciousness, memory, and perception, particularly in relation to altered states of consciousness (hypnosis, dissociative states), subjective experiences (transpersonal, psi, reincarnation), and trauma (PTSD). The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these anomalous experiences, providing a platform for researchers and experiencers to share their findings and perspectives, even when they challenge conventional paradigms. The inclusion of personal accounts and debates between researchers (e.g., Bem and Hyman) indicates a commitment to exploring controversial topics and fostering critical discussion within the field of anomalous experiences.