Book Review: Review of 'The Articulate Dead'-Kailua Author Michael Tymn Takes Readers Back to a Time When Mediumship Flourished

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As a scientist for most of my adult life, I rarely thought about mediums. When I did consider them, I thought they were fortunetellers or just plain charlatans. In 1997, after evaluating my near-death experience (NDE), I became interested in spirituality, religion and paranormal phenomena.

This led to my joining the Academy of Spirituality and Paranormal Studies (ASPSI), becoming the editor of its journal, and writing ‘Searching for Eternity: A Scientist’s Spiritual Journey to Overcome Death Anxiety.’

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In researching that book, I evaluated a variety of paranormal phenomena, including NDEs, out-of-body experiences (OBEs), apparitions, visions, dreams, mediumship, electronic voice phenomena, past life regressions, and other evidence for reincarnation.

I concluded that the best evidence for a surviving soul, the existence of an afterlife, and the reality of God came from NDEs. I changed my previous belief about mediums and realized that although many were charlatans, there were a few who apparently did make contact with deceased entities. Nevertheless, even with those I was still not convinced of their veracity.

As a result of several submissions to ‘The Journal of Spirituality and Paranormal Studies’ and from meetings of the Academy, plus watching popular mediums such as John Edward and James Van Praagh, I realized that there were few current mediums who appeared to be authentic, and many more in the late 1800s through the mid-1900s who also seemed to have made contact with the deceased.

However, I believed that those previous reports might have been deceptions because of the lack of good scientific investigations in those years. After reading this book I realized that I was wrong on both counts, i.e., scientific investigations and reliable medium contacts. There were several eminent scientists, such as Sir William Crookes, Sir Oliver Lodge, Dr. Alfred Russel Wallace, and Dr. Charles Richet who began as skeptics, but after thoroughly investigating mediums they became convinced that some were genuine. For them, the evidence appeared incontrovertible.

Why were there so many more medium reports in those days (and so many eminent scientists willing to examine the evidence) and so few medium reports currently with only a few scientists willing to investigate mediums? I believe the answer is that before movies, cable television, VHSs, DVDs, computers, the Internet, iPods, rapid air travel, and cell phones, scientists and people in general had a lot more free time and were willing to wait the lengthy time it often took for medium contacts to take place. It could be that it is difficult for discarnate spirits to make contact with us, and that is why it took so long for contact to be made in the past.

Nowadays, with rapid mass communication and so much to do, most scientists and people in general do not have the time or patience to investigate mediums and wait for events to unfold. Many believe that today’s science is so much better than that of the late 1800s to the mid-1900s that even apparently good investigations of mediums by eminent scientists of that era would not be reliable. However, after reading The Articulate Dead and discussing its conclusions with eminent current scientists, I am convinced that even had those previous scientists the use of modern technology they would have come to the same conclusions.

ln a thoroughly enjoyable manner, Michael Tymn takes us back to that era when mediumship flourished. We accompany the scientists and the mediums as they divulge amazing results. It is difficult to remain a real skeptic after reading this outstanding book. Even though not everyone will be convinced that mediums can and do communicate with deceased entities, most people will come away from The Articulate Dead with a new appreciation and understanding of mediums and their uncanny abilities.

‘Dr. Donald Morse is professor emeritus in the science department at Temple University. He is now the editor of The Journal of Spirituality and Paranormal Studies.’

”Biography of Michael Tymn”

A 1958 graduate of the School of Journalism (B.A. Public Relations) at San Jose State University, Mike Tymn has contributed more than 1,400 articles to some 35 newspapers, magazines, journals, and books over the past 50 years. While most of his articles have dealt with subjects from the sports arena, Mike has done business, travel, metaphysical, and human interest features. He won the 1999 Robert H. Ashby Memorial Award given by The Academy of Religion and Psychical Research for his essay on Dying, Death, and After Death. Writing assignments have taken him to such diverse places as Bangkok, Panama, Glastonbury (England), Jerusalem, Hollywood, St. Paul, and Tombstone. He has interviewed and written about more than 40 Olympians. Mike’s book, The Articulate Dead, was released by Galde Press in December 2008.

As a public affairs officer in the U. S. Marine Corps, Mike won the Silver Anvil presented by the American Public Relations Association for the best military PR program of 1960. After leaving the military in 1961, Mike worked primarily as an insurance company claims adjuster, supervisor, and manager. He holds the professional designations of Chartered Property & Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Associate in Claims (AIC). Before retiring from the insurance industry in 2002, Mike lived in Hawaii for 31 years while working for a major insurance company. Prior to that, he handled claims in his native California (San Francisco Bay Area), Japan, South Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, and Guam. He served as president and managing director of Malayan Adjusting Company, Ltd. and was on the board of directors of Singapore Adjusters and Surveyors. He taught insurance for seven years at the University of Hawaii and served for many years as a special arbitrator for Arbitration Forums, Inc. His experience in insurance gave Mike a broad exposure to many disciplines, especially law and medicine.

From 1978 until 2002, Mike served as a stringer for The Honolulu Advertiser, covering distance running, ocean swimming, cycling and triathlons while also writing a regular column on endurance sports. He has been a monthly columnist for National Masters News since 1980. He served as a columnist and contributing editor for Runner’s World for six years and is now a senior writer for Running Times. Mike Contributed to Biographical History of American Sports with biographies of eight famous thoroughbreds and to Sports Encyclopedia North America with essays on Aging and Athletic Performance, Athlete, and Athletic Heart. He currently serves as editor of the ARPR Bulletin, a quarterly publication for The Academy of Religion and Psychical Research of which he is vice-president. His metaphysical articles have appeared in FATE, Mysteries, Atlantis Rising, Vital Signs, Venture Inward, Nexus, Christian Parapsychologist, Two Worlds, Dark Lore, Psychic News, Alternatives, Alternate Perceptions, and The Honolulu Advertiser.

A runner since 1954, Mike won four national masters championships during his 40s. As a 42-year-old grandfather, he won the historic Maui Marathon in 1979 with a time of 2 hours, 28 minutes, 43 seconds and was twice named Hawaii’s “Runner of the Year.” He coached the Hawaii state team in the international Ekiden competition in New York City in 1988 and 1989. He is married to the former Gina Bernard of Kaneohe, Hawaii and has two daughters, both registered nurses, and four grandchildren.

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