Miracles [3 Volumes]: God, Science, and Psychology in the Paranormal (Psychology, Religion, and Spirituality)

Brief Description:

Can science, psychology, and biology explain miracles? This three-volume set attempts to answer that question, presenting the latest, as well as classic, thinking and research regarding miracles from fields that include psychology, psychiatry, theology, biology, and history. We have all heard of what seem miraculous events, which have surfaced across history. They range from stigmata and bleeding icons to deadly tumors that disappear and healers who succeed just by laying hands on the afflicted; from people who can predict unexpected events to so-called mediums and those who can allegedly see and speak with the dead. These books, led by an eminent scholar who serves as series editor for the Praeger series Psychology, Religion, and Spirituality, examine miracles of body, mind, and spirit, presenting the most recent research and writing on these uncommon events, aiming to bring hard science to some of the most persistent and peculiar phenomena associated with the human race.

Can science, psychology, and biology explain miracles? This three-volume set attempts to answer that question, presenting the latest, as well as classic, thinking and research regarding miracles from fields that include psychology, psychiatry, theology, biology, and history.

From news of a crippled woman who left her wheelchair and walked after an evangelist prayed over her, to stories of people who died on the operating table only to be revived to tell of bright lights and the pathway to the afterlife, we've all heard of what seem miraculous events. They have surfaced across history. They range from stigmata and bleeding icons to deadly tumors that disappear, and healers who succeed just by laying hands on the afflicted; from people who can predict unexpected events to so-called mediums and those who can allegedly see and speak with the dead. Some miracles are intricately tied to religious beliefs, but there are millions of people who ascribe to no particular religion, yet still believe that things happen that defy all laws of nature, and thus defy scientific explanation.

In these books, eminent scholar J. Harold Ellens and his team of expert contributors examine miracles of body, mind, and spirit, presenting the most recent research and writing on these uncommon events as they aim to bring hard science to some of the most persistent--and peculiar--phenomena associated with the human race.

Volume 1 Religious and Spiritual Events

Series Foreword Introduction J. Harold Ellens

1. Biblical Miracles and Psychological Process: Jesus as Psychotherapist J. Harold Ellens

2. Distorted Reality or Transitional Space? Biblical Miracle

Stories in Psychoanalytic Perspective Petri Merenlahti

3. Jesus and Miracles in Psychological, Historical, and Theological Perspective Wayne G. Rollins

4. Miracles in the Old Testament Antti Laato

5. Old Testament Figures as Miracle Workers Erkki Koskenniemi

6. Moses' Competition Wwith Pharaoh's Magicians Andre LaCocque

7. The Religious-Historical Background of the New Testament Miracle Erkki Koskenniemi

8. The Miracle of Christ's Birth John W. Miller

9. That They May Believe: Distinguishing the Miraculous from the Providential Steve Pullum

10. Through Signs and Wonders: Religious Discourse and Miracle Narratives Benjamin Beit-Hallahmi

11. Healing in the Gospels: The Essential Credentials Kamila Blessing

12. What We Can Learn fFrom Miraculous Healings and Cures Patrick McNamara and Reka Szent-Imrey

13. Are Miracles Essential or Peripheral to Faith Traditions? Louis Hoffman and Katherine McGuire

14. Religious and Spiritual Miracle Events Iin Real Life Experience Russ Llewellyn

15. How Religious or Spiritual Miracle Events Happen Today William P. Wilson

16. The Limitations of Scientific Investigation: Miracles and Prayer Richard Gorsuch

Conclusion J. Harold Ellens

Volume 2 Medical and Therapeutic Events

Series Foreword

Introduction J. Harold Ellens

1. God and Science J. Harold Ellens

2. The Enduring Fascination of Miracles Ilkka Pyysiainen

3. Redefining, Relocating, Reanalyzing Miracles Daniel Gaztambide

4. Miracle Attributions, Meaning, and Neuropsychology Ray Paloutzian, Steven A. Rogers, Erica L. Swenson, and Deborah A. Lowe

5. What iIs a Medical or Therapeutic Miracle? Myrna M. Pugh

6. History of Research on Faith, Prayer, and Medical Healings Kevin Eames

7. Psychoimmunology and Healing Miracles Daniel Gaztambide

8. The Phenomenology of Transformation and Healing Anthony De Orio

9. Miracles and Crowd Psychology in African Culture Olufemi A. Lawal

10.Sacred Bleeding: The Language of Stigmata Stanley Krippner and Jeffrey Kirkwood

11.Miracles in Kongo Religious History: Evaluating Ritual Healing Theory James McClenon

12.Where Medicines End, and Miracles Start, in Mysterious Healings Myrna M. Pugh

13 Faith: An Existential, Phenomenological, and Biblical Integration Philip Brownell

14 The Healing Power of the Will Joanne Hedgespeth

Conclusion J. Harold Ellens

Volume 3 Para Psychological Perspectives

Series Foreword

Introduction J. Harold Ellens

1. Sensed Presence as Coping Resource in Extreme Environments Peter Suedfeld and John Geiger

2. Mysticism and the Paranormal Ralph W. Hood, Jr.

3. Multistate and Entheogenic Contributions to the Study of Miracles and Experimental Studies Thomas Roberts

4. The Miraculous and Mental Illness Louis Hoffman and Marika Kurzenberger

5. Miracles in the Frontal Lobes, A Neuropsychological Approach

to the Way We Make Miracle Attributions Steve Rogers

6. An African Perspective on Miracles Nicolene L. Joubert

7. Hallelujah, Thank You, Jesus: Selling the Miraculous in the Preaching of Faith Healers Steve Pullum

8. Miracles in A Course in Miracles Robert Perry

9. The Miracle of Psychotherapy Ronald Johnson

10. Spiritualizing the Unknown Louis Hoffman and Steve Fehl

11. Personal Experience, Self- Reporting, and Hyperbole Philip Brownell

12. Biochemistry, States of Mind, and Transcendental Experiences Candace Alcorta

13. Revelation, Prophecy, and Rabbi Nachman Dan Merkur

Conclusion J. Harold Ellens

About the Contributors

About the Series Editor and Adviseors

About the Contributors

J. Harold Ellens is a Research Scholar at the University of Michigan, Department of Near Eastern Studies, an ordained minister, and retired Presbyterian theologian. He is also a retired U.S. Army Colonel, and a retired Professor of Philosophy, Theology, and Psychology. Ellens is series editor for the Praeger series Psychology, Religion, and Spirituality. He has authored, co-authored, edited or co-edited 164 books and more than 165 journal articles. He served 15 years as Executive Director of the Christian Association for Psychological Studies and as Founding Editor and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Psychology and Christianity.

"... [P]apers are carefully constructed explorations of ways in which miracle can be understood today, particularly from a psychological perspective. These essays will be helpful to those interested in a serious investigation of this topic. Recommended - upper-division undergraduates through professional/practitioners."

Choice

"...[F]or those psychologists and mental health professionals who are truly interested in broadening their understanding of some of the more unusual aspects of religion and health, several of the chapters are worthy of their time."

PsycCRITIQUES

"This series in Psychology, Religion, and Spirituality intimates Praeger's commitment to the field of psychology of religion, a commitment for which they--especially D. Carvalko, S. Staszak-Silva, and J. H. Ellens--should be praised....Highly recommended."

Religious Studies Review

"I would recommend this to anyone interested in how contemporary academia is dealing with the subject of miracles..."

Pneuma: The Journal of the Society for Pentecostal Studies

Can science, psychology, and biology explain miracles? This three-volume set attempts to answer that question, presenting the latest, as well as classic, thinking and research regarding miracles from fields that include psychology, psychiatry, theology, biology, and history. We have all heard of what seem miraculous events, which have surfaced across history. They range from stigmata and bleeding icons to deadly tumors that disappear and healers who succeed just by laying hands on the afflicted; from people who can predict unexpected events to so-called mediums and those who can allegedly see and speak with the dead. These books, led by an eminent scholar who serves as series editor for the Praeger series Psychology, Religion, and Spirituality, examine miracles of body, mind, and spirit, presenting the most recent research and writing on these uncommon events, aiming to bring hard science to some of the most persistent and peculiar phenomena associated with the human race.

Can science, psychology, and biology explain miracles? This three-volume set attempts to answer that question, presenting the latest, as well as classic, thinking and research regarding miracles from fields that include psychology, psychiatry, theology, biology, and history.

From news of a crippled woman who left her wheelchair and walked after an evangelist prayed over her, to stories of people who died on the operating table only to be revived to tell of bright lights and the pathway to the afterlife, we've all heard of what seem miraculous events. They have surfaced across history. They range from stigmata and bleeding icons to deadly tumors that disappear, and healers who succeed just by laying hands on the afflicted; from people who can predict unexpected events to so-called mediums and those who can allegedly see and speak with the dead. Some miracles are intricately tied to religious beliefs, but there are millions of people who ascribe to no particular religion, yet still believe that things happen that defy all laws of nature, and thus defy scientific explanation.

In these books, eminent scholar J. Harold Ellens and his team of expert contributors examine miracles of body, mind, and spirit, presenting the most recent research and writing on these uncommon events as they aim to bring hard science to some of the most persistent--and peculiar--phenomena associated with the human race.

Review Citations:

• Reference and Research Bk News 11/01/2008 pg. 22 (EAN 9780275997229, Hardcover)
• Choice 03/01/2009 (EAN 9780275997229, Hardcover)
• Library Journal Supplements 11/15/2008 pg. 66 (EAN 9780275997229, Hardcover)

Contributor Bio:Ellens, J Harold

J. Harold Ellens is a Research Scholar at the University of Michigan, Department of Near Eastern Studies, an ordained minister, and retired Presbyterian theologian. He is also a retired U.S. Army Colonel, and a retired Professor of Philosophy, Theology, and Psychology. Ellens is series editor for the Praeger series Psychology, Religion, and Spirituality. He has authored, co-authored, edited or co-edited 164 books and more than 165 journal articles. He served 15 years as Executive Director of the Christian Association for Psychological Studies and as Founding Editor and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Psychology and Christianity.