Deepak Chopra seems to use the word sceptic as though being sceptical is a transgression. I think what he really means is anyone who finds his writings and views to be in need of honest and decent proof. Like most mystics he delivers platitudes and romantic rose coloured views on the awesomeness of his God. To overcome good honest scepticism all he needs to provide is a basic level of proof which takes nothing on faith and speculation as sound reasoning.  Sadly, this never happens just more of the same old ‘a man without faith is nothing’. The fact that this man is responsible for producing over 50 books on health, success, relationships and spirituality, including his most recent, “Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul” is little more than a great way for him to earn a great deal of cash. His undoubted eloquence to me makes him a very smooth salesman with a silver tongued gift of the gab. Like so many charlatans that have gone before him. The fact that Mr Chopra writes for the gullible is of no surprise either as there are so many of them who are out there seeking the panacea of all ills. Or perhaps, just someone to rule their lives for them.

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Chopra makes the inexcusably careless mistake of conflating skepticism with cynicism. Cynics may deserve Chopra’s ire, but skeptics, who may be very positive, optimistic people, do not. 

Many a time have I caught the bug of joyous enthusiasm from the likes of Dawkins and co. as they expound on the majesty of life and the universe. Skeptics they may be, but cynics they are not.

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Silly Chopra. I guess he can’t see through those designer frames very well. If he could, he might notice that he’s the one sitting by the side of the road with the “you’re wrong” sign.

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Obviously, it’s just a typo.  He meant to write, “ALL great discoveries and advancements are made by skeptics.”

I’m sure he’ll be putting out a correction soon.

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did you see the outright lie about his 90 min interview that got cut to 30 seconds.

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I somehow doubt that Chopra wants the unused footage where he appears to be very nervous standing with a skeptic. I thought Dawkins gave him every opportunity to present his ideas in their strongest form. I was going to post them, the unused footage was on youtube but i can’t find it anymore, anyway Chopra did not aquit himself better with more camera time. Anyone else have this?

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The guy has always given me the creeps

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Please try to understand Deepak Chopra’s point. If people everywhere started thinking critically, no one would buy his palpable pulp. No one would listen to him.  He has a personal interest to protect.

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To put things in context, this is the kind of mumbo jumbo nuttiness that Mr Chopra espouses and which he criticises us for not agreeing with. This one is about ageing which he is apparently against:

“If you have happy thoughts, then you make happy molecules. On the other hand, if you have sad thoughts, and angry thoughts, and hostile thoughts, then you make those molecules which may depress the immune system and make you more susceptible to disease.”

Here’s another one about flying:

“As the meditator begins to practice, he lays down a pattern of repetition in which the body more and more begins to understand what the mind wants. In scientific parlance this is called behavioral conditioning. In common language, he is simply acquiring a habit. Mundane as it sounds, flying is simply a habit. Over time, the body stops shaking and, unexpectedly, while doing nothing more than the same practice he has done in the past, the person accomplishes the result. His body lifts up and goes forward.”

Terrible sceptical me for laughing.

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“No skeptic, to my knowledge, ever made a major scientific discovery or advanced the welfare of others.” .

I stopped reading right there.  Such utter stupidity coming from an educated man is just too painful to continue to endure.

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Orac has a good response:
http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2009/12/deepak_chopra_and_his_choprawoo_take_my.php

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“No skeptic, to my knowledge, ever made a major scientific discovery or advanced the welfare of others.”

Hmm… how can he expect to be taken seriously when he so thoroughly demonstrates the depth of his ignorance.

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”...and am amazed that they mistake self-righteousness for happiness.”

I am so sick of people like this telling us how we feel about anything.  “You may THINK you’re happy, but you’re not.” 

I’m happy, okay?  Really.  The Universe amazes me.  I love to listen to music.  I see beauty in a decomposing deer on the side of I-196.  I don’t believe in an invisible man with magic powers listening to my thoughts.  I’m good with that.  Peace on, brutha!

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Just another reason to file Deepak Chopra under the category “laugh-out loud retarded.”

Is it just me or does being cynical every now and then seem natural? Comb through the local section of a metro newspaper and you’ll find stories about people doing terrible things to one another.

I say cynical every now and then because I mostly enjoy life. Music, books, video games, family, sex, soccer, nature, pets, helping people, the vastness of space, coming into a large sum of money — all things that make life enjoyable and keep me optimistic. But the flakiest people I know are upbeat about everything all the time. I assume it’s just an act, and someday they’ll take a tire iron to an old woman’s car for double-parking them in at a family restaurant.

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Deepak Chopra should first read what is skepticism in the dictionary.

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A skeptic wouldn’t say “You’re Wrong”, that is the absolutist or the authoritarian. The skeptic would be more likely to say “How do you know?”

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I consider myself a skeptic.  I also love poetry, art, music, and dance.  I get my ‘spiritual’  fulfillment from the great works of humanity.  I think my sense of wonder and awe about this planet increased manifold when I realized as a teenage Astronomy student how insignificant our species is and unique our planet is in the universe.  You cannot assert that the path to sound mental and physical health lies in the slavish adherence to ancient belief systemsand discount the testimony of those like myself.

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