Amos,

I am troubled by the "use of experience" thing. It seems to me that what is being used is not the experience, but the individual's interpretation of that experience. There seems to be an unspoken assumption that people remember their experiences correctly. (that is, as the occurred, in the correct sequence and so on). Another assumption is that people have access to the memory of everything that has ever happen to them. You don't really forget, its all buried down their somewhere. And finally, there is the need to explain the why of things.

Given the above, (and for the first two there is enough experimental evidence to convince most people that neither assumption is correct), is a wonder that even the minimally skeptical would question fringe interpretations.

And I concur that belief is necessary. Its is the starting point for much, including science. I don't think it should be the ending point.

Ebbie,

I have read your postings with interest. I found your comment that "skeptics will often lay it to whatever turns them on" puzzling. The implication seems to be that skeptics create explanations that suit them out of what they want to believe. Which is our point about those who elevate "I know because I know" to the level fact. Maybe what I call skepticism isn't what you call it. Seems that there maybe a confusion/combination of skepticism with cynicism. As a cynic, I might use the various explanations you offered to "explain" your experience. My motives would be essentially ego gratification. As a skeptic, I would look at your experience, ask a series of questions, see if there was a way to reproduce the experience, maybe suggest a way to test it. Look at how the various explanations fit with the rest of what is known about the nature of reality.

Cynicism is as much a belief system as Christianity. Skepticism is a way of trying to understand things. It doesn't preclude the experiences you had but as a system of knowledge, it requires a higher proof. Cynicism disguised as skepticism is one of the 'dark side" things I talked about. If I fall into that trap, I hope to be called on it.

John