and GfS... I know the idea about 'open doors' and 'fuller experiences'. I have been told about many things that if I 'opened my self' to new ideas and ummmm... certain interesting concepts, it might ... well... broaden my horizons....or something like that. (The more explicit form was "one has to believe in order to know!" Over the years, my translation of that became "don't doubt or question...just accept, no matter what truth MAY be")

I have 'opened myself' all thru my life to various ways of thinking. I even began as a simple, ordinary, believing Methodist. No one twisted my arm to do anything else. I just read everything I could find on how one thinks and decides about thinking. The more I read, the more I had to come to terms with information & ideas in many areas that didn't seem to make sense if I asked penetrating questions. (My mother told me when I was about 12 that 'tornados come from the southwest. She couldn't explain why, and I couldn't imagine why wind would do that... so I waited until I saw the scientific reason it is often true.)

I hear many anecdotes about supposed experiences others have had ... both historical and personally... and it makes me curious.... but 10 or 25.. or 1000 anecdotes do not constitute any truth except that some people seem to have had 'experiences' (assuming they all are telling the truth). I can't experience THEIR experiences... I can only shrug.
I am 94.287% convinced that most others simply LIKE certain explanations as more 'interesting' or 'comforting'... and I can certainly understand the temptation!
Why not me? ummm... I just take little comfort in staking my own ideas other's maybes. There are SO many fascinating, wonderful, amazing, mind-blowing facts and replicable things to explore that I don't need vague 'maybes'.... except as a phenomenon in itself. Why DO people believe in ghosts, Tarot cards, elves... and other things?

I have been told there are ummm... unpleasant consequences.. for my reluctance. So be it.... we shall see... or not see.