Lourdes effect

The term Lourdes effect has been coined by the renown Belgian philosopher of science and skeptic Etienne Vermeersch to account for the fact that some supernatural powers seem to have a sort of resistance to manifesting themselves in a completely unambiguous fashion. According to Vermeersch, should the miraculous power of Lourdes actually exist there would be no reason to think that it would be more difficult for the Virgin Mary or God to reattach a severed arm than to cure paralysis or blindness. The visions and photos of, for instance, the Loch Ness Monster and the Yeti also lack reliability and clarity due to a similar effect. [ [http://www.etiennevermeersch.be/artikels/pseudo_wet/wetenschappelijke-aprioris-tegen-het-paranormale "Scientific apriori's against the paranormal"] by Prof. Etienne Vermeersch.] [Vermeersch, E., "Het paranormale ter discussie", Studiumgenerale, nr 9107, Utrecht University, 1992, pp. 81-93 (English title: "The paranormal questioned").] [Vermeersch, E., "Epistemologische Inleiding tot een Wetenschap van de Mens", Brugge, De Tempel, 1966.]

Vermeersch uses this term to mock the selective and uncritical approach to so-called miracles, or the frivolous attribution of supernatural gifts to human beings. Skeptics note that the number of fatal accidents that occur on the way to and from Lourdes is considerably higher than the 67 alleged miracles due to faith healing recognized in 2005, and then only by the Vatican. [ [http://www.nieuwsblad.be/Article/Detail.aspx?articleID=gn2pdd21"Lourdes needs a miracle"] - interview with prof. Etienne Vermeersch and prof. med. Willem Betz, Het Nieuwsblad, March 12, 2006.]

ources

*Etienne Vermeersch, "Van Antigone tot Dolly. Veertig jaar kritisch denken", Antwerpen, Hadewijch, 1997, 256 pp. (i.e. "From Antigone to Dolly: Forty Years of Critical Thinking")

References