eISSN: 2393-1744, cdISSN: 2392-9928
printISSN: 2457-9297, ISSN-L 2392-9928
Session 1. Psychological Dimensions of Bias and Acceptance
DIALOGO JOURNAL 10 : 2 (2024) 45 - 61
DIALOGO
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SECTION 1
ABSTRACT
As a child, I lived in an interrelated world where I could communicate with plants, trees,
and animals. However, I, influenced by others’ perceptions of reality, eventually rejected
my experiential reality. Later, I also initially cast aside my belief in a soul as I did not
find it reflected while studying psychology. To understand more about the repudiation
of my own experiences, I explore the mechanisms we use to influence the reality of
others when children are young and later in the academic environment. I also refer to
research that backs up or reflects some of my experiences. As society is seen here as a
“collection of minds”, this author contends it is impossible to understand unconscious
psychological biases without considering the biases in the prevailing group or subgroup
of society that reflect the collective thought of its members. Psychology and its various
branches constitute a subgroup where the prevailing understandings of psychology and
its branches change depending on the unconscious metaphysical biases and preferences
in vogue among their members. To understand these biases, I share some metaphysical
understandings of reality according to the three principal schools of Indian Spirituality
(Advaita, Dvaita and Vishishadvaita), Theravada Buddhism and the three Abrahamic
religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam). To overcome these biases, educators
should be aware of and openly declare their metaphysical position so others can assess
their teachings according to the shared framework. It is also recommended that the
metaphysical positions, including those not mentioned here, be taught in Psychology
and Transpersonal Psychology. Through accepting differences, we can show respect for
each other’s understanding, yet at the same time, we can be true to our position, as it
affects all we think, say and do. However, in the end, only knowledge based on our lived
experiences can finally put a stop to our questions.
ARTICLE INFO
CC BY-NC-SA
Article history:
Received 05 May 2024
Received in revised form 07 May
Accepted 10 May 2024
Available online 30 June 2024
doi: 10.51917/dialogo.2024.10.2.3
Keywords:
Metaphysics; Spirituality; Buddhism;
Advaita; Dvaita;Vishishadvaita; mind;
Abrahamic religions; perception; lived
experience; knowledge;
Copyright © 2024 Tina Lindhard. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which
permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Citation: Lindhard, Tina. “Is it true? Another view in the conversation between science, pseudo-science and faith.”
DIALOGO, ISSN: 2393-1744, vol. 10, issue 2 (June 2024): pp. 45-61. DOI: 10.51917/dialogo.2024.10.2.3
Tina Lindhard, PhD
Dept. of Consciousness Studies
International University of Professional
Studies (IUPS)
Maui, Hawaii. USA
Should Scientists Sit on the Fence
regarding their Metaphysical
Understanding of Reality?