Druids and GSS questions of the paranormal

[KellyP]

In their discussion of The Pagan Census, a survey of witches and neo-Pagans in the United States conducted from 1993 to 1995, Berger et all [1] find differences among the responses received to a set of paranormal related questions when grouped by "sects". For their analysis, a sect represented what may more commonly be referred to as a path here at MW: Goddess worshippers, Dianists, shamans, druids, etc.

The five questions included in The Pagan Census originally appeared in the General Social Survey (GSS) conducted by the National Opinion Research Center. They were used in The Pagan Census as a means of comparing responses from the survey with those of the general American population. I thought the questions and our responses would make for enjoyable discussion. I will allow a few weeks for interested folks to post then start a new thread with the results from The Pagan Census. By doing so, we can compare our answers and ideas with those obtained in the survey and the analysis of the original authors.

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How often have you had any of the following experiences?"

1. Thought you were somewhere you had been before, but knew that it was impossible.
.....Never.....Once or Twice.....Several Times.....Often

2. Felt as though you were in touch with someone when they were far away from you.
.....Never.....Once or Twice.....Several Times.....Often

3. Saw events that happened at great distance while they were happening.
.....Never.....Once or Twice.....Several Times.....Often

4. Felt as though you were really in touch with someone who had died.
.....Never.....Once or Twice.....Several Times.....Often

5. Felt as though you were very close to a powerful, spiritual force, that seemed to lift you out of yourself.
.....Never.....Once or Twice.....Several Times.....Often

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[1] Berger, H.A., Leach, E.A., and Shaeffer, L.S., "Voices from the Pagan Census: A National Survey of Witches and neo-Pagans in the United States"

[Maggie]

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How often have you had any of the following experiences?"

1. Thought you were somewhere you had been before, but knew that it was impossible.
Several Times

2. Felt as though you were in touch with someone when they were far away from you.
Never

3. Saw events that happened at great distance while they were happening.
Never


4. Felt as though you were really in touch with someone who had died.
Several Times

5. Felt as though you were very close to a powerful, spiritual force, that seemed to lift you out of yourself.
Once or Twice



Maggie

[squerrik]

1. Thought you were somewhere you had been before, but knew that it was impossible.
Often

2. Felt as though you were in touch with someone when they were far away from you.
Several Times

3. Saw events that happened at great distance while they were happening.
Once or Twice

4. Felt as though you were really in touch with someone who had died.
Once or Twice

5. Felt as though you were very close to a powerful, spiritual force, that seemed to lift you out of yourself.
Several Times

[Twig]

1.
Often

2.
Often

3.
Never

4.Once or Twice

5.
Often

[LittleRhiannon]

How often have you had any of the following experiences?"

1. Thought you were somewhere you had been before, but knew that it was impossible.
Once or Twice

2. Felt as though you were in touch with someone when they were far away from you.
Several Times

3. Saw events that happened at great distance while they were happening.
Never

4. Felt as though you were really in touch with someone who had died.
Once or Twice

5. Felt as though you were very close to a powerful, spiritual force, that seemed to lift you out of yourself.
Several Times

[Ron]

How often have you had any of the following experiences?"

1. Thought you were somewhere you had been before, but knew that it was impossible.
Often

2. Felt as though you were in touch with someone when they were far away from you.
Often

3. Saw events that happened at great distance while they were happening.
Once or twice (september 11th, 2001 - once and only)

4. Felt as though you were really in touch with someone who had died.
Often

5. Felt as though you were very close to a powerful, spiritual force, that seemed to lift you out of yourself.
Often

[skilly-nilly]

1. Thought you were somewhere you had been before, but knew that it was impossible.
Several Times

2. Felt as though you were in touch with someone when they were far away from you.
Once or Twice

3. Saw events that happened at great distance while they were happening.
.....Never

4. Felt as though you were really in touch with someone who had died.
.Once or Twice

5. Felt as though you were very close to a powerful, spiritual force, that seemed to lift you out of yourself.
Often

[younghawk]

1. Thought you were somewhere you had been before, but knew that it was impossible.
Often

2. Felt as though you were in touch with someone when they were far away from you.
Often

3. Saw events that happened at great distance while they were happening.
Once or Twice

4. Felt as though you were really in touch with someone who had died.
Often

5. Felt as though you were very close to a powerful, spiritual force, that seemed to lift you out of yourself.
Often

[KellyP]

:bumpsmili

Bumping this thread up to allow everyone a chance to post.

Hope everyone is well.

Kelly

[Bansheekisses]

"How often have you had any of the following experiences?"

1. Thought you were somewhere you had been before, but knew that it was impossible.
**Often

2. Felt as though you were in touch with someone when they were far away from you.
**Often

3. Saw events that happened at great distance while they were happening.
**Often

4. Felt as though you were really in touch with someone who had died.
**Once or Twice

5. Felt as though you were very close to a powerful, spiritual force, that seemed to lift you out of yourself.
**Once or Twice

[The_Justin_angel]

How often have you had any of the following experiences?"

1. Thought you were somewhere you had been before, but knew that it was impossible.
Never

2. Felt as though you were in touch with someone when they were far away from you.
Never

3. Saw events that happened at great distance while they were happening.
Never

4. Felt as though you were really in touch with someone who had died.
Often

5. Felt as though you were very close to a powerful, spiritual force, that seemed to lift you out of yourself.
Question unclear...

[KellyP]

:bumpsmiliOne more bump. In a few days we'll tally the results and see how they compare to the results of the census.

Thanks to everyone who has posted!

Kelly
druid and loving it!

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

1. Thought you were somewhere you had been before, but knew that it was impossible.

Never

2. Felt as though you were in touch with someone when they were far away from you.

Often

3. Saw events that happened at great distance while they were happening.

Never

4. Felt as though you were really in touch with someone who had died.

Several Times

5. Felt as though you were very close to a powerful, spiritual force, that seemed to lift you out of yourself.

Once or Twice

[Nantonos]

1. Thought you were somewhere you had been before, but knew that it was impossible.
Several Times

2. Felt as though you were in touch with someone when they were far away from you.
Often

3. Saw events that happened at great distance while they were happening.
Never

4. Felt as though you were really in touch with someone who had died.
Once or Twice

5. Felt as though you were very close to a powerful, spiritual force, that seemed to lift you out of yourself.
Several Times

[Ceffyl]

How often have you had any of the following experiences?"

1. Thought you were somewhere you had been before, but knew that it was impossible.
Several Times

2. Felt as though you were in touch with someone when they were far away from you.
Often

3. Saw events that happened at great distance while they were happening.
Several Times

4. Felt as though you were really in touch with someone who had died.
Once or Twice

5. Felt as though you were very close to a powerful, spiritual force, that seemed to lift you out of yourself.
Several Times

[KellyP]

:bumpsmili

Alright, last call for responses. I will hopefully find time to post the results and some related topics for discussion during the weekend.

Hope all is well with everyone!

Kelly
out standing in his field :seehearsp

[mothwench]

alrighty then.

:weirdsmil oh, hey... i don't consider myself a druid. i'm interested in it, and celtic reconstructionism makes up a large part of my path, but i am not. a. druid. just thought you should know that just in case you don't want to use answers from non-druids. :kooky:

1. Thought you were somewhere you had been before, but knew that it was impossible.
Once or Twice

2. Felt as though you were in touch with someone when they were far away from you.
Often

3. Saw events that happened at great distance while they were happening.
Never

4. Felt as though you were really in touch with someone who had died.
Once or Twice

5. Felt as though you were very close to a powerful, spiritual force, that seemed to lift you out of yourself.
Once or Twice

[KellyP]

Exellent! We had 13 replies, which seems like a fitting number. Let's tally up the responses we received. Of course this is not a random sample so we can throw any of those methods out the window. The percentages I supply below are rounded and not guaranteed to sum to 100% in each case.

For question 5 we had one person express confusion about the statement and was not able to provide a response. Thus the percentages there are calculated from a sample size of 12 persons.

I have started a new thread (http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?p=1550057#post1550057) to contain discussions on the results listed here and those from The Pagan Census of Berger et al.

KellyP
just read 'em as i see 'em

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1. Thought you were somewhere you had been before, but knew that it was impossible.
Never : 2 (15%)
Once or Twice : 2 (15%)
Several Times : 4 (30%)
Often : 5 (40%)

2. Felt as though you were in touch with someone when they were far away from you.
Never : 2 (15%)
Once or Twice : 1 (8%)
Several Times : 2 (15%)
Often : 8 (62%)

3. Saw events that happened at great distance while they were happening.
Never : 8 (62%)
Once or Twice : 3 (23%)
Several Times : 1 (8%)
Often : 1 (8%)

4. Felt as though you were really in touch with someone who had died.
Never : 0
Once or Twice : 8 (62%)
Several Times : 2 (15%)
Often : 3 (23%)

5. Felt as though you were very close to a powerful, spiritual force, that seemed to lift you out of yourself.
Never : 0
Once or Twice : 4 (33%)
Several Times : 4 (33%)
Often : 4 (33%)